LOS ANGELES — Usually, when you’ve been on the road for eight days the way the Edmonton Oilers have, you’re in your fourth or fifth city playing your fourth or fifth hockey game.

On this trip, however, the Oilers haven’t left the state of California, and they’ve only made a couple of quickie flights between Los Angeles/Anaheim and San Jose.

It seems like too many days away for too few games, honestly. Like a trip that would be awesome mid-season, but not in October, when guys want to play games.

Just talking to guys around the Oilers room, there’s been too much dead time and not enough game time.

“Sometimes it’s just easier if you play the next day, right?” agreed head coach Mike Babcock, speaking after the morning skate. “But just getting regrouped here today is important.

“This trip would be unbelievable in January or February, wouldn't it be? The temperature in Edmonton, the temperature here… But the reality is we have a game here today. We can talk about all........

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