It has become uncomfortable, this whole Jeff Skinner thing here in Edmonton. He’s being asked to make a mid-season adjustment to a role that, frankly, he may not be equipped to execute.

Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch revealed that Jeff Skinner will remain a healthy scratch, and the team will use 11 forwards and 7 defence for today's game against the Los Angeles Kings.

They may be without defenceman Mattias Ekholm for the first time all season. Ekholm was absent at the Oilers' morning skate today, and head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters that he'll be a game-time decision for tonight's game.

Connor McDavid and Viktor Arvidsson also scored for the Oilers (25-12-3), who have won four straight and seven of nine (7-1-1). Brett Kulak had two assists, and Leon Draisaitl had his 14-game point streak (12 goals, 15 assists) come to an end.

Evan Bouchard scored with 6:55 left and the surging Edmonton Oilers overcame a three-goal deficit to beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 on Thursday night.

It has become uncomfortable, this whole Jeff Skinner thing here in Edmonton. He's being asked to make a mid-season adjustment to a role that, frankly, he may not be equipped to execute.

On January 5, in an article about Jeff Skinner‘s future with the Edmonton Oilers, I cited comments from Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal, who wrote, “Much ink has been spilled over what Jeff Skinner is not.

The Oilers will alter their approach by going with 11 forwards and seven defencemen on Monday night when they host the Kings in a Pacific Division battle at Rogers Place

In a wild track meet of a game, with Colorado scoring the first three goals, then Edmonton the next four, the Oilers won 4-3 in Denver on Thursday night. In total, the Grade A shots were 17 for the Oilers, eight for the Avs, with the subset of more dangerous 5-alarm shots nine for Edmonton, five for Colorado.

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch refused to elaborate on what exactly is going on with the hiking Swedish defender. Though it wasn’t said in his pre-game availability, OilersTV’s Tony Brar confirmed that Ekholm will be a game-time decision for the club tonight.

Preview tonight's game as the Oilers face the Wild: Pickard starts, Ekholm a game-time decision, and Philp returns to the lineup.