YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS
BY THE NUMBERS
2016-17 Head-to-Head: Oilers vs. Wild
Oilers/Wild Stats Comparison
Game Notes: Oilers at Wild
2016-17 Oilers Player Statistics
2016-17 Wild Player Statistics
2016-17 NHL Standings
GAME DAY VIDEO
OILERS TODAY | Tom Gazzola reports on the key storylines prior to tonight's game
PRE-GAME RAW | Draisaitl
PRE-GAME RAW | Caggiula
PRE-GAME RAW | Oilers head coach Todd McLellan
THURSDAY'S POST-GAME VIDEOS
OILERS TODAY | Post-Game at Philly
POST-GAME RAW | McDavid
POST-GAME RAW | Nugent-Hopkins
POST-GAME RAW | Oilers head coach Todd McLellan
THURSDAY'S ARTICLES & BLOGS
GAME STORY: Flyers 6, Oilers 5
BLOG: McDavid's comments on Manning
MORE INFORMATION
You can watch tonight's game within the Oilers region on Sportsnet West.
View Oilers Line Combinations
Injury Report
Set your lineup for tonight with Oilers Fantasy Hockey
UPDATES
Inside The Oilers Blog

INSIDE THE OILERS

McDavid's thoughts on Brandon Manning plus news and notes from Wednesday's Oilers practice and media availability.
>> READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE OILERS BLOG

PRE-GAME REPORT

SAINT PAUL, MN - One day after the craziest game of the season, which saw the Oilers give up a couple of two-goal leads before ultimately losing in regulation, the team has a redemption opportunity in the form of a back-to-back game with the road trip finale in Minnesota.
"If you score five, you should be able to win a game," said Oilers head coach Todd McLellan, looking back on last night's 6-5 loss. "I know I said last night, there were some individuals that were flat out red rotten last night. It's hard to hold the complete team accountable for that type of performance but we are a team and we've got to move on tonight. We're playing a very sound, checking, tight, well-goaltended team that isn't going to give up very much.
"If we play as loose as we did last night and get into a run-and-gun game with them, it doesn't matter how well Talbs or any individual play we'll likely come out on the losing end."
With that comment, McLellan essentially confirmed that Cam Talbot will be between the pipes tonight after Jonas Gustavsson played on Thurdsay night. With his morning comments, the head coach also confirmed that Jesse Puljujarvi will be out of the lineup with Tyler Pitlick drawing back in. No other lineup changes are expected.
WIth most of the group from Thursday night getting back in there, McLellan talked about that group wanting the ability to bounce back from the tough defeat.
"It doesn't hurt. I know if it was me, I wouldn't want to wallow in that for too long. I'd want to get back out and lift my performance level back up and try to show my teammates and the rest of the group that 'you know, I had a bad night but I'm going to be there for you.'"
Specifically, McLellan was asked about Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Oscar Klefbom.
"They're going to get that opportunity real quickly. I expect both of them to bounce back and perform at a level that they're very capable of performing at. We don't expect them to hit homeruns. They're not homerun hitters but every now and then you've got to chip in with singles and take care of your defensive play for nine innings - using a baseball analogy. The two of them have to do a much better job than they did last night."
One player who has done very well as of late is Leon Draisaitl, who scored his 12th of the season on Thursday and has provided the team with a much-needed alternative option on offence to Connor McDavid.
"He's done that for the past three weeks, in my opinion. He's certainly helping Connor out in that area, becoming a premiere power forward. He still has some things to learn defensively as well and a few game management things but overall we couldn't be happier with what he's been giving us. It's a real good evolution process how he's grown his game.
"A couple of others who have been in the League awhile should take a look. I just think of faceoffs as a prime example. He struggled in the past and his numbers are way up. There's pride in it, there's work on it, there's homework being done. He's watched other players around the League, he's thinking about technique, he's asking questions. Or you can just keep putting your equipment on and going in the circle and doing the same thing and getting the same results year after year. To me, that's how Leon has grown as a player. He strives to get better every night - and still needs work - but has become very effective."
-- Marc Ciampa, edmontonoilers.com

PREVIEW

OILERS (14-11-4) at WILD (13-8-4)
TV: 6:00 p.m. MT; Televised on Sportsnet West
Head-to-Head:
This is the second of three meetings this season between the Oilers and Wild. The two clubs met earlier this week, on Sunday, with Minnesota prevailing 3-2 in overtime.
Oilers team scope:
The Oilers are now winless in three straight games, but have picked up a point in two of those contests.
Oilers RW Jordan Eberle has 20 points (6 goals, 14 assists) in 24 games against Minnesota. … C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins owns eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) in 17 games… LW Benoit Pouliot has eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) in 10 contests.
In goal, Cam Talbot is 2-3-0 with a 2.44 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage in five career starts against the Wild. … Jonas Gustavsson is 3-1-1 with a 2.19 GAA and a .923 SV% in five career starts.
Wild team scope:
Minnesota is coming off a five-game road trip primarily through Canada. All five games were decided by one goal, two going to a shootout and one decided in overtime. Of Minnesota's 25 games this season, 17 have been decided by a single goal - with the Wild posting a 6-7-4 record.
In games decided by more than one goal, Minnesota is 7-1-0, outscoring opponents 32-8 in the seven wins, and only falling to the Islanders on Oct. 23, by a 6-3 margin.
The Wild returns to Saint Paul for its first game at Xcel Energy Center in 14 days. Minnesota has posted two straight wins and a 7-3-0 record on home ice this season, outscoring opponents, 30-17. Last season, the Wild earned a point in 25 of its 41 games as the home team (21-16-4, including a 6-1 victory vs. CHI in the Stadium Series at TCF Bank Stadium).
Mikko Koivu leads the Wild with 44 points (7 goals, 37 assists) in 57 games against Edmonton, his highest total against any team. … Defenceman Ryan Suter has 20 points (5 goals, 15 assists) in 42 games. … Chris Stewart owns 18 points (11 goals, 7 assists) in 26 contests. … Eric Staal has 17 points (4 goals, 13 assists) in 13 matches versus the Oilers.
Former Oiler Devan Dubnyk is 7-1-0 stopping 195-of-205 shots faced for a 1.23 goals-against average, a .951 SV% and one shutout in eight career starts vs. the Oilers. … G Darcy Kuemper is 3-1-1 with a 1.58 GAA, .937 SV% and one shutout in five starts.