2. OIL SURPLUS
The Oilers are riding their best hot streak of the season entering tonight with wins in four of their last six contests, including three of four... In that four-game span, the Oilers have averaged 4.5 goals per-game, but have also allowed an average of 3.75 goals per-game in that stretch... Despite their potent offense, Edmonton has not scored a power-play goal in their last seven games and have gone 0-for-16 over an eight-game span.
3. TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER
Oilers captain Connor McDavid leads the team across the board in goals (11), assists (21) and points (32)... His 32 points are tied for 11th in the NHL, while his 21:30 of average ice-time are third-most among forwards... Jakub Voracek leads the Flyers in assists (26) and overall points (33)... His 26 helpers are tied for third in the NHL, while his 33 points are tied for ninth... McDavid's 24 even-strength points rank third in the NHL, while Voracek and Sean Couturier are tied for fifth 23 even strength points.
4. OIL COUNTRY
The Flyers are in nearly the same position as they were before their game at Calgary on Monday - they have lost the last three games playing at Edmonton with their last win coming just before New Year's Eve in 2013 with a 4-3 OT win on Dec. 28 in a game where Michael Raffl scored the game-winning shootout goal... In fact, the Flyers have won just once at Edmonton in their last eight meetings dating back to the 2000-01 season, going 1-5-2... Back to this season, the Oilers are tied for the second-most regulation losses on home ice this season with a 5-8-0 mark at Rogers Place.
5. PLAYERS TO WATCH:
FLYERS (RW: #17 - Wayne Simmonds)
Simmonds tallied goal vs. Calgary after being paired on the top line with Giroux and Couturier... He has three points (2g-1a) in his last six games... He has also seen his ice time increase in the last two games, averaging 19:55 early in December compared to just 17:31 in all of November... In the first meeting with the Oilers, Simmonds factored into both goals with a goal and an assist, and has 13 points (6g-7a) in 21 career games against Edmonton.
OILERS (LW: #27 - Milan Lucic)
Connor McDavid's linemate has heated up after a slow start... He had three points in his last game (1g-2a) and has not gone two straight games without recording a point in over a month, (Oct. 28-Nov. 1)... He has 16 points (8g-8a) in 28 games against the Flyers, but has just two points (1g-1a) in his last eight games dating back to the 2014-15 season.
