The Toronto Maple Leafs don't appear to have too many promising chances to end their franchise-record losing streak in their upcoming schedule, but a visit from the Western Conference's last-place team would seem like one.

The Edmonton Oilers, though, have gotten some better results lately and will seek another win Saturday night in Toronto.

Toronto (22-27-4) took its 11th consecutive defeat Friday, 4-1 in New Jersey and eclipsed its 10-game skid from 1966-67.

"These are not the kind of records you want to set," forward Tyler Bozak said. "It's awful."

That 1966-67 team rebounded in a big way with a 10-game unbeaten streak and the franchise's most recent Stanley Cup.

Toronto will try to begin its rally with the matchup against the Oilers (14-29-9), who have an eight-point gap to the next-closest team in the West. After Saturday's game, the Maple Leafs face three consecutive teams that are in playoff position - the New York Rangers, New York Islanders and Montreal - then another that's fighting for a spot, Florida on Feb. 17.

"When things are going the way they're going, we have to find a way to rally around each other," goaltender James Reimer said. "We have to smarten up and play with passion, play like men, play with resolve. We don't have that right now."

Reimer will get the start after the Leafs announced Jonathan Bernier will miss the game with an illness. Antoine Bibeau has been recalled to backup Reimer.

Edmonton had won four of six before a 2-0 home loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The Oilers have taken three of four on the road - with all those victories in shootouts - since a franchise-record 14-game losing streak there. Their last regulation road victory came Nov. 9.

"I think we've taken a lot of steps," said forward Rob Klinkhammer, who was acquired from Pittsburgh on Jan. 2. "I've seen a lot of improvement, which is a good sign, a lot of positives. I think we're heading in the right direction but we can obviously clean up a lot of things."

Edmonton will try to end a five-game skid to the Maple Leafs and earn its first victory in Toronto since Dec. 2, 2010, in the first of a season-high six consecutive road contests. Those games will be played in a span of 10 days.

"I think we just take it game by game," coach Todd Nelson said. "We have to move past the Pittsburgh game. I think we didn't have a lot of jump for whatever reason. We'll focus on the positives of what we did in (a 5-4 shootout win in San Jose on Monday) and try to mirror that (Saturday)."

It's unclear when the Oilers will get two of their top goal scorers, Taylor Hall and Benoit Pouliot, back from leg and foot injuries, respectively. They're both expected to join the team on the trip.

Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf will sit out again tonight and has missed the past five games because of a hand injury. He has been placed on IR. The veteran defenceman has two goals and six assists in his last seven contests against Edmonton..

Phil Kessel has eight goals and seven assists in his last eight matchups against Edmonton, but he's been held to one goal and two assists during the losing streak. Nazem Kadri had two goals and three assists in last season's two victories against the Oilers, and James van Riemsdyk scored three goals.