A coaching change hasn't helped the Edmonton Oilers end their losing ways.

Things likely won't get any easier Sunday when the Oilers look to avoid a seventh consecutive defeat and halt their home struggles against the Dallas Stars, who will try for a season-high fourth straight victory.

Oilers centre Leon Draisaitl will be a healthy scratch.

A pair of one-goal losses since Monday's firing of coach Dallas Eakins has shown Edmonton (7-20-6) remains competitive, but hasn't done much to lower the frustration level.

"Close isn't good enough," said forward Boyd Gordon, who scored the first goal of Thursday's 4-3 loss at San Jose. "We're struggling to win games the whole season and (Thursday's) a prime example of that."

Mired in a 1-12-5 stretch, the Oilers do have something positive to build on after scoring more than two goals for the first time in nine games and holding a 3-2 lead after two periods against the red-hot Sharks.

"I thought our guys went to the net hard," Gordon told the Oilers' official website. "Look at our goals, they were hard-working goals. If we continue to do that, it'll continue to happen where the bounces go our way."

Interim coach Todd Nelson likes the encouragement he hears amongst the players on the bench, and like Gordon, agrees the Oilers' prolonged struggles aren't due to a lack of effort.

"I thought we competed hard (Thursday)," said Nelson, who was in his fifth season coaching Edmonton's AHL affiliate in Oklahoma City before the promotion. "I thought we scored goals the way we have to. It was a good effort by everybody.

"It's a start and a move in the right direction. Putting 60 minutes together, (though), there were a few lapses there - those things happen."

The Oilers have suffered too many lapses at home, where it has lost 10 of 11 while averaging 1.63 goals.

Dallas (13-13-5) has won five straight in Edmonton by a combined 16-5 score and enters this visit looking to complete a perfect three-game road trip. The Stars are also seeking a fourth win in a row overall, which would mark their longest winning streak since a five-game run in April 2013.

Jamie Benn had a goal with an assist and Kari Lehtonen made 21 saves in Friday's 2-1 victory at Calgary.

"It's been nice to play a few good games in a row now," Lehtonen told the Stars official website after making his fifth straight start. "That gives confidence to everybody."

Lehtonen has stopped 48 of 49 shots on the trip following a 2-2-1 stretch during which he posted a 3.82 goals-against average.

"He's been great," teammate Trevor Daley said. "He's challenging the shots a lot more, he's coming out to the top of his crease. He's doing what he does."

Lehtonen has an 0.99 GAA and one shutout during a five-game winning streak at Edmonton. He beat the Oilers for the 12th time in 15 overall starts after making 35 saves in a 3-2 home victory Nov. 25.

Dallas' Tyler Seguin scored two of his league-leading 23 goals in that contest. He has four goals with two assists in five games against the Oilers.

Edmonton's Taylor Hall hasn't recorded a goal in a career-high 11 straight contests since scoring in last month's loss to the Stars.