The Oilers will catch the NHL's best team without one of their best players tonight when Edmonton opens a home-and-home set with the Anaheim Ducks.

The Ducks announced on Tuesday that Corey Perry would miss 3-to-4 weeks with a knee injury that he suffered last week.

The Oilers (7-16-5), tied with Carolina for the fewest points in the NHL at 19, slid back into the loss column after Tuesday's 5-2 loss at San Jose. Prior to that they beat the Sharks 2-1 to end their 11-game losing streak.

"We're getting enough chances to score three goals," coach Dallas Eakins said. "If we continue with two, it's not going to be a fun year. We have to put ourselves in a better spot."

Jordan Eberle scored to give him a team-leading 18 points. However, he's had only two multi-point games this season, most recently in a win over the Hurricanes on Oct. 24. The right wing had two points against Anahaim on April 6, giving him nine in 10 meetings.

David Perron has one point in each of the last five games after finding the net in the last two. The left wing also scored in the latest meeting with Anaheim after collecting five assists in the previous three.

Anaheim (18-6-5) leads the league with 41 points after a four-game win streak in which each contest was decided by a goal. The margin for error may be even tighter after Perry's injury was announced.

Perry's 14 goals lead the Ducks and he has 22 points in the last 23 games. He's already missed six contests - including five last month due to the mumps - and Anaheim has gone 2-0-4 when he does not skate.

The Ducks won their latest without him Sunday, getting a goal from Kyle Palmieri 53 seconds into overtime for a 4-3 victory at Winnipeg.

Devante Smith-Pelly, who has 11 points, is expected to fill in for Perry at right wing on the top line.

"Corey isn't going to be replaced, but someone has to go in there and do his job," coach Bruce Boudreau told the team's official website. "Smith-Pelly is a natural right winger even though he was doing well at center. He was the leading scorer in (AHL) Norfolk last year and he was a 50-goal scorer in junior. We know he has good hands."

The same could be said of Ryan Getzlaf, who has 10 points in five games after collecting three assists against the Jets, including one on Palmieri's winner.

The center has 33 points in 30 career meetings with the Oilers.

The Ducks are 17-3-1 in their last 21 against Edmonton and have won eight of 10 meetings at home after scoring three unanswered goals - two by Perry - in the third period of a 3-2 victory April 2.

Anaheim, though, fell 4-2 at Edmonton four days later in a game that featured a combined 66 penalty minutes with six fighting majors and two game misconducts.

These teams will meet again Friday in Edmonton.

Oilers (19PTS) at Ducks (41PTS) - 10PM

ANA was 3-1-1 vs EDM last season
ANA has won 4 straight at home vs EDM
Teams meet again Friday in EDM
ANA (18-6-5):
won 4 straight, all by 1G, 10/15 on PK
4-1-0 past 5 at home, 1/12 on PP, 16/17 on PK
Getzlaf (2G, 8A) 5 game PT streak
EDM (7-16-5):
1-8-4 past 13 games, 2 or fewer Gf in 10 of the games
0-3-3 past 6 road games, 11GF, 0/11 on PP
Eberle (1G, 1A) past 2 games