Avalanche at Oilers preview

AVALANCHE (11-5-2) at OILERS (12-6-2)
9 ET; SNW, ALT, NHL.TV

Werner made 40 saves in a 4-0 win at the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday in relief of Pavel Francouz, who was injured 31 seconds into the game. The 40 saves were the most made by an Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques goalie in his NHL debut.
Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl will attempt to extend his point streak to 11 games. He has 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) during his 10-game point streak and leads the NHL with 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) in 20 games.

Players to watch

Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had two goals and two assists against the Jets. He has eight points (three goals, five assists) in his past three games.
Oilers center Connor McDavid has eight points (five goals, three assists) during a five-game point streak.

They said it

"They have two of the best players in the world so it's always a tough challenge for every team that's facing them. They've done well. Hopefully we can manage their chances tonight. We know they're going to get their chances, we just have to limit them." -- Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon
"We just weren't ready. Games like that, you just forget about. You park it and move forward. We know that's not the way our team looks, the way it plays. That game's in the past and now we're focused on Colorado." -- Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl on the 6-3 loss at the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday

Avalanche projected lineup

Joonas Donskoi -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Matt Calvert
Valeri Nichushkin -- Nazem Kadri -- J.T. Compher
Matt Nieto -- Tyson Jost -- Andre Burakovsky
Jayson Megna -- Vladislav Kamenev -- T.J. Tynan
Samuel Girard -- Erik Johnson
Ryan Graves -- Cale Makar
Ian Cole -- Kevin Connauton
Adam Werner
Antoine Bibeau
Scratched:Mark Barberio, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare
Injured:Mikko Rantanen (lower body), Gabriel Landeskog (lower body), Colin Wilson (lower body), Nikita Zadorov (jaw), Philipp Grubauer (lower body), Pavel Francouz (head)

Oilers projected lineup

Leon Draisaitl -- Connor McDavid -- Zack Kassian
James Neal -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Josh Archibald
Joakim Nygard -- Gaetan Haas -- Alex Chiasson
Jujhar Khaira -- Riley Sheahan -- Patrick Russell
Darnell Nurse -- Ethan Bear
Oscar Klefbom --
Caleb Jones
Kris Russell -- Matt Benning
Mike Smith
Mikko Koskinen
Scratched: Markus Granlund, Sam Gagner, Joel Persson
Injured: Adam Larsson (leg), Brandon Manning (hand)

Status report

Bellemare took part in the morning skate and will be a game-time decision after missing the Jets game because of a head injury. … Bibeau was recalled from Colorado of the American Hockey League to back up Werner. … Connauton will make his season debut. … Edmonton placed Manning on injured reserve. Jones was recalled from Bakersfield of the AHL and will make his season debut.

Stat pack

Makar can become the fourth rookie NHL defenseman with a goal in four consecutive games, and the first since Brian Benning with the St. Louis Blues in 1986-87. He has seven points (four goals, three assists) during a four-game point streak. … Kassian has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past four games. Nurse will play his 300th NHL game.