SoCal NHL Preview

Los Angeles (17-27-2) at Edmonton (21-21-4), 6:00 pm, FSN
EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) - The Edmonton Oilers are turning a corner. Mathieu Garon will attempt to help the Oilers complete a perfect five-game homestand when they host the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night. Edmonton still sits in last place in the Northwest Division, but has rallied for its first four game winning streak in over a year. Shawn Horcoff scored a power-play goal and assisted on the eventual game-winning goal to lead the Oilers to their season-high fourth straight win, a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Sunday. Horcoff has three goals and five assists in the last four games. Garon has also been a key component in Edmonton's turn around since unseating Dwayne Roloson as the club's No. 1 netminder. Garon, a former King, is 4-0-0 with a 1.23 goals-against average over the homestand. Los Angeles is looking for its third consecutive victory, concluding a six-game homestand with a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars on Saturday. Jason LaBarbera has been good - in limited experience - against the Oilers in his career, posting a 2-0-0 record with a 1.00 goals-against average and .966 save percentage.

Dallas (25-17-5) at Anaheim (24-17-6), 7:00 pm
ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - If the Anaheim Ducks wish to win the Pacific Division for the second straight season, they will need to find a way to beat the Dallas Stars. After besting the division leaders, the Ducks will try to overtake second place by defeating the Stars for the first time this season when they meet Tuesday night. Anaheim, which has lost all three meetings with Dallas this season, is also looking to record its seventh consecutive victory at the Honda Center. The Ducks, who are coming off a 4-3 overtime triumph over the division-leading San Jose Sharks, have managed just two goals against the Stars this season. Mike Ribeiro has enjoyed a lot of success against Anaheim this season, notching two game-winning goals and three assists. The 27-year-old center leads the club with 22 goals and 49 points. Defenseman Sergei Zubov missed Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings with a foot injury, but is expected to be back for Tuesday's contest. The Russian has four tallies and a team-leading 31 assists this season. The Stars, who remain one point ahead of the Ducks and two points behind the Sharks, will try to avoid their third straight loss.