Edmonton @ Anaheim preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 10, 2019 ) Edmonton 6, Anaheim 2

The Edmonton Oilers may have found the fast track to the playoffs in the form of Andreas Athanasiou and they'll put their new acquisition to work when they visit the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. The speedy Athanasiou has struggled this season with Detroit, the worst team in hockey, but could return to his 2018-19 form that produced a career-high 30 goals should he join Connor McDavid's line - a move that might turn defensemen into turnstiles.

Edmonton general manager Ken Holland has made two trades in two days with his former team as he acquired defenseman Mike Green from the Red Wings on Sunday. "It's exciting. I've been on the other side where you're losing friends to trade and all that, so it's nice to be on the other side where you're acquiring guys and trying to make a push," McDavid told the media. The Oilers are three points behind first-place Vegas in the Pacific Division with two games in hand but only three points clear of being in a wild-card spot in the spirited Western Conference playoff race. McDavid returned Sunday after missing six games with a quad injury and produced a goal and two assists in Edmonton's 4-2 victory at Los Angeles.

TIME: 10 p.m. ET. TV: Prime Ticket, Sportsnet West

ABOUT THE OILERS (33-22-7): Leon Draisaitl leads the league with 98 points and scored his team-high 36th goal Sunday after recording four scores and eight assists in McDavid's absence. McDavid is tied for third in the NHL with 84 points despite his absence but is minus-7, and along with Draisaitl's minus-9 are the only two minus ratings among the league's top 12 in points. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored Sunday and has three goals along with two assists in his last three games, and sits third on the club with 49 points.

ABOUT THE DUCKS (24-30-8): Anaheim was also busy at the trade deadline, acquiring among others Danton Heinen from Boston for Nick Ritchie, getting Matt Irwin from Nashville for Korbinian Holzer and Sonny Milano from Columbus for Devin Shore, while dealing Derek Grant to Philadelphia and Daniel Sprong to Washington. Heinen's production has tailed off some this season with seven goals in 58 games after recording a total of 27 in the previous two campaigns, but he adds much-needed depth up front and could flourish with more playing time. Cam Fowler has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury, including Sunday's 6-5 loss to Vegas that extended Anaheim's losing streak to four games.

OVERTIME

1. The Ducks on Monday also claimed LW Andrew Agozzino on waivers from Pittsburgh. Agozzino, 29, had seven points and a plus-2 rating in 38 games with the Penguins and Colorado.

2. The Oilers won the first of four meetings this season 6-2 on Nov. 10 behind a hat trick from McDavid.

3. Anaheim has killed 7-of-7 penalties over its last four games as it braces for the league's No. 1 power-play unit that clicks at 29 percent.

PREDICTION: Oilers 3, Ducks 2