Hockey is back for the Edmonton Oilers as they prepare for back-to-back matinees this weekend. They’ll kick things off this afternoon for a 2 p.m. puck drop visiting the Los Angeles Kings, taking on the Anaheim Ducks 24 hours later.

1. Viktor Arvidsson will make his return to Los Angeles for the first time since he signed with the Oilers this summer in free agency. He had originally joined the Kings on July 1st, 2021, when the Nashville Predators traded him to the West Coast for a second-round pick that year, and a third in 2022. Arvidsson appeared in 161 regular season games in L.A., scoring 52 goals and 123 points, while adding a goal and 10 points in 11 playoff games, all of which came against the Oilers.

2. This afternoon’s game will see Arvidsson return to the spot he held on the second line prior to injury alongside Leon Draisaitl and Vasily Podkolzin. Those three saw 94 minutes at five-on-five earlier this year, generating expected goals and scoring chances at a solid clip, struggling to convert. It’s something that Podkolzin and Draisaitl have begun to do since Arvidsson was injured, as in their 141 five-on-five minutes, they’re scoring 3.4 goals per hour of ice-time against 3.77 expected goals per hour.

3. Arvidsson isn’t the only player in this game facing an old foe, as Warren Foegele will square up against the Oilers since he signed with the Kings this summer. He’s continued his productive ways as he did in Edmonton, racking up nine goals and 18 points in 34 games this season, per-game rates virtually identical to his regular season numbers last year.

4. The Kings have enjoyed a solid regular season so far, going 19-10-5 through their first 34 games, but sputtered into the Christmas break going 2-2-2. Darcy Kuemper is the projected starter for the Kings, according to Daily Faceoff, and despite playing fewer games than David Rittich — 16 to 19 — Kuemper has posted stronger numbers, with an 8-2-5 record, .909 save percentage and a 2.40 goals against average. Kuemper has been solid against the Oilers in his career, posting a 10-3 record, .918 save percentage and a 2.48 goals-against average in 17 games. Despite that, his last two games facing the Oilers has seen him go 0-2 with a .810 save percentage, allowing 12 goals against in games with the Colorado Avalanche and Washington Capitals.

5. Kuemper arrived this summer when the Kings acquired him from the Washington Capitals in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois, as Los Angeles managed to get out of the latter’s disastrous contract. He, however, has had a strong season in the American capital, scoring five goals and 26 points in 34 games. Another trade this summer saw them acquire Tanner Jeannot from the Tampa Bay Lightning, but his struggles have continued, scoring just four goals and seven points in 31 games.

6. The Oilers enter this afternoon’s game on a hot streak against the LA Kings, having gone 8-2 in their last 10 games against them, including a 4-1 stretch in the playoffs last season, outscoring them 37-26. Other notable stretches have seen Connor McDavid record a point in six of his last seven regular season games and 17 in his last 21 against the Kings, while Leon Draisaitl has a point in five of his last six regular season games and Evan Bouchard has 11 in his last 9.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist, making up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.

Sober Carpenter is raising a glass to 5 incredible years of brewing award-winning non-alcoholic craft beer! Since 2019, we’ve been redefining what non-alcoholic can be, offering everything from bold IPAs to smooth Irish Reds, all crafted with care and flavour-first passion. Whether you’re exploring new options or sticking to your favourites, there’s a Sober Carpenter brew for every moment. Available at Sobeys, Loblaws, and Farm Boy, or shop online at sobercarpenter.com for delivery right to your door. Cheers to 5 years of crafting beers that are anything but ordinary—perfect for those who sip differently!