Preview: Blues vs. Oilers

BLUES VS. OILERS

TEAM SNAPSHOTS

BLUES The Blues went 1-2-0 on a three-game road trip last week, but perhaps the biggest concern is that they lost several key players to injury. Alexander Steen was feeling concussion-like symptoms after a hit from Erik Johnson in Friday's game against the Avalanche, Alex Pietrangelo left the game late in the third period with a hand injury that could require surgery, and Robby Fabbri seperated his shoulder the next night in Arizona.
Before the trip, the Blues were already without Jaden Schwartz (upper-body) and Carl Gunnarsson (upper-body).
"We all know what situation we're in and the key players being out, but at the same time, we're not using this as an excuse," said Blues forward Brayden Schenn. "This is an opportunity for myself and other guys to step up and try to win some hockey games."
"It gives other guys opportunities that are going to be presented to them now," said Blues Head Coach Craig Berube. "Everybody just has to step their game up. Injuries happen in this league, that's part of it all. Every team goes through it."
To deal with the injuries, the Blues recalled Chris Butler, Jordan Kyrou and Jordan Nolan from the San Antonio Rampage on Monday afternoon. All three players could be in the lineup for the Blues on Wednesday.

OILERS A familiar face is behind the bench in Edmonton.
The Oilers hired former Blues Head Coach Ken Hitchcock to replace Todd McLellan on Nov. 20, and since, the Oilers are 4-2-1.
Edmonton lost their last matchup 4-1 in Dallas, with Jujhar Khaira scoring the lone goal for the Oilers. Connor McDavid missed the game with an illness. It was the first time McDavid missed a game since January of 2016 - a span of 222 consecutive games. The Oilers were also without Ryan Spooner, who was a late scratch with an undisclosed injury
"Obviously when you lose two guys like Connor and (Spooner), it's going to impact you," Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins told NHL.com after the game. "But the way you respond shows a lot, and I thought we actually did respond to that well."
McDavid leads the Oilers in goals (14), assists (21) and points (35) this season. Leon Draisaitl (30 points) and Nugent-Hopkins (24 points) rank second and third, respectively.

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATS Wednesday's game is the first of three meetings between the Blues and Oilers.
The Blues went 2-1-0 against the Oilers last season.
The Blues are 10-4-1 against the Oilers in the last 15 games overall, which includes points in six of the last seven meetings at Enterprise Center (5-1-1).
On Nov. 21, 2017, the Blues scored eight goals against the Oilers, which was their highest total of the 2017-18 season.

BLUE NOTES

Pat Maroon spent parts of three seasons with the Oilers, posting 86 points (49 goals, 37 assists) in 154 games with Edmonton. He recorded an assist on Drake Caggiula's game-winning goal against the Blues in their last meeting (Dec. 21, 2017)... Kyle Brodziak, who played three seasons with the Blues, joined the Oilers as a free agent last summer. Brodziak has two goals and one assist in 25 games this season... Brayden Schenn has five goals and five assists (10 points) in his last four games against the Oilers... Ryan O'Reilly has 16 points in his last 14 games against Edmonton (nine goals, seven assists).