EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers know the game against San Jose Sharks at Rexall Place (9:30 p.m., ET; SNOL, CSN-CA) on Wednesday is an important one not only in the standings, but also to their coach.

Todd McLellan spent seven seasons in San Jose before going to Edmonton last offseason and is facing his former team for the first time.

"We'll be trying to get this win for Todd," Oilers defenseman Brandon Davidson said. "We'll definitely be putting our best foot forward tonight. Anything we can do to get this win, to try and get this win, we'll do that."

The Oilers (11-15-2) are on a three-game winning streak and four points behind the Sharks (14-13-0) for second place in the Pacific Division standings.

EDMONTON — Buffalo Sabres rookie center Jack Eichel will have to wait to play his first NHL game against Edmonton Oilers rookie center Connor McDavid.

McDavid will not be in the lineup when the Oilers host the Sabres at Rexall Place on Sunday (8 p.m. ET; SN, MSG-B) because of a fractured clavicle sustained against the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 3.

It is the first game between the Oilers (10-15-2) and Sabres (11-12-3) since Edmonton selected McDavid with the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft and Buffalo took Eichel second.

Despite McDavid's absence, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma believes the Oilers are still a dangerous team.

EDMONTON -- Edmonton Oilers goaltender Anders Nilsson will make his fourth consecutive start and eighth in the past nine games Friday against the Dallas Stars (9 p.m., ET; FS-SW+, SNW).

Nilsson made his Oilers debut in a 4-2 loss at the Stars on Oct. 13, making 48 saves.

"I think I've developed in a few areas since then," Nilsson said. "I've adapted to the North American style of hockey and I've gotten a little more comfortable out there. I've played a few more games and I definitely feel more comfortable. Every goalie likes to play a lot of games and play consistently; I feel it helps mentally and it helps prepare going into the games."

EDMONTON -- The well-rested Boston Bruins look to extend their five-game winning streak against the struggling Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place on Wednesday (9:30 p.m. ET; SN1, NESN).

Boston (13-8-1) has not played since a 4-3 win against the New York Rangers on Friday. The Bruins arrived in Edmonton on Monday waiting for the Oilers to return from a season-long, five-game road trip.

"It's a little unusual to have this many days off during the season and I think we've done a good job practicing and trying to work on our game," Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask said. "We also took a day off and came in here early to really get focused, and now it's just about getting back on the ice and in game mode, because they're going to come out hard."

EDMONTON -- The Edmonton Oilers are desperate for a win against the New Jersey Devils on Friday (9 p.m. ET; MSG+2, SNOL) with a season-long, five-game road trip up next on their schedule.

But Oilers coach Todd McLellan is not putting extra importance in the game despite losing three straight and five of the past six.

"This is Game 20, it's big," McLellan said. "Game 21 is big, Game 22 is big. It would be great to have a positive result heading out on the road, but we're not just going to hang our hat on that. We want the reward for the effort that we will put in tonight. We want to get an honest effort, cut our mistakes down by a few, try and win the special-teams battle and look up at the end of the night and see what the score is. That will be the approach."

EDMONTON -- The Edmonton Oilers are expecting a tough challenge from the Chicago Blackhawks at Rexall Place on Wednesday (9:30 p.m. ET; SN1, CSN-CH), particularly the tandem of right wing Patrick Kane and rookie left wing Artemi Panarin.

Kane and Panarin have combined for 19 goals and 46 points this season for Chicago (10-7-1), accounting for over 37 percent of its scoring.

Kane has scored a goal in his past seven games and is on a 13-game point streak.

"It looks like they have two Patrick Kanes on one line now," Oilers coach Todd McLellan said. "It makes it that much more difficult for the rest of the League."

EDMONTON -- Right wing Jordan Eberle will make his season debut Friday for the Edmonton Oilers, who begin life without center Connor McDavid against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Rexall Place (9 p.m. ET; SN, ROOT).

Eberle missed the first 13 games of the season with a shoulder injury sustained on Sept. 29 in a preseason game against the Arizona Coyotes.

Eberle returns to the lineup, admittedly nervous, a game after McDavid fractured his left clavicle crashing into the end boards in a 4-2 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.

The No. 1 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft is out of the Oilers lineup indefinitely.

"I think there are always nerves when you're beginning a new season," Eberle said. "I've been in the League long enough that when you start playing, you get into the rhythm of the game. There is a lot of excitement though, you train all summer, then something happens and you don't get to start the season with the guys and you have to watch it. It kind of just keeps building and building, and finally I get to get rid of it today."

EDMONTON -- Forward Matt Hendricks will return to the Edmonton Oilers' lineup Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers after missing the past seven games with a foot injury.

Hendricks sustained the injury blocking a shot in the third period of a 5-2 win at the Calgary Flames on Oct. 17.

"I look forward to getting back, being in the [locker] room, being able to talk amongst the group," Hendricks said. "I think in terms of preparation we're right where we need to be, we just need to be ready from the start."

The Oilers (4-8-0) missed Hendricks' work ethic and physical play, losing four of their past five games.

"The energy and the passion that he brings to the bench, he's vocal but in the right way, he creates a stir around the guys," Oilers coach Todd McLellan said. "You could sense it in practice [Monday] and I think our group needs that right now. We have a quiet group that needs to be stirred a little bit and Matt tends to do a very good job of that."

EDMONTON -- Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid had a breakout performance in his first game against the Calgary Flames this season.

McDavid scored two goals and had an assist in a 5-2 win on Oct. 17, and has since been on a seven-game point streak.

Going into his second game against Calgary on Saturday at Rexall Place (10 p.m. ET; CBC, TVA Sports), McDavid leads the Oilers in scoring with five goals and seven assists for 12 points.

"I think the two things go hand-in-hand, when things are going well for the team, that's when individual success is going to happen," McDavid said. "I thought the team played well [that night against Calgary] and that meant a couple of guys were going to get a few points, which is always good."

EDMONTON -- Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl will make his season debut against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; SN, SN360, RDS) after being recalled from Bakersfield of the American Hockey League.

Draisaitl, 20, has one goal and one assist in six AHL games. Last season he had two goals and nine assists in 37 games with Edmonton (3-7-0), but was returned to Kelowna of the Western Hockey League, who he helped reach the Memorial Cup final.

He was not in Edmonton in time for the morning skate.

"He [Draisaitl] started slow and picked it up [in Bakersfield]," Oilers coach Todd McLellan said. "He started slow initially and then picked up over the last weekend. Their schedule hasn't been ideal for development playing-wise. It's been good for development practice-wise, but actually playing, they've been a weekend team that hasn't played a lot of games."