The Oilers begin their three-game road trip in Montreal against the Canadiens.
You can watch the game on Sportsnet or listen live on 630 CHED and the Oilers Radio Network.

YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS

GAME DAY VIDEO
OILERS TODAY | Chris Wescott reports on the key storylines prior to tonight's game
PRE-GAME RAW | Davidson
PRE-GAME RAW | Draisaitl
PRE-GAME RAW | Todd McLellan
BY THE NUMBERS
Stats Comparison: Oilers vs. Canadiens
Media Game Notes: Oilers vs. Canadiens
2017-18 Oilers Player Statistics
2017-18 Canadiens Player Statistics
Head-to-Head: Oilers vs Canadiens
2017-18 NHL Standings

RECENT VIDEOS
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PRACTICE | Friday at Rogers Place
PRACTICE RAW | Walker
PRACTICE RAW | Davidson
PRACTICE RAW | Klefbom
PRACTICE RAW | Strome
COMMUNITY | Hospital Visits
RECENT BLOGS & ARTICLES
GENE'S BLOG: A packed road trip
BLOG: Walker, Davidson expected to bring fresh energy
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Inside The Oilers Blog

INSIDE THE OILERS

News and notes from Friday's Oilers practice and media availability prior to departure for Montreal.
>> READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE OILERS BLOG

PRE-GAME REPORT

MONTREAL, QC - The Oilers will indeed have two fresh faces in the lineup tonight as they open their three-game Eastern Conference road trip against the Montreal Canadiens.
As was expected based on line formations and comments from Thursday and Friday's practices back in Edmonton, Nathan Walker and Brandon Davidson will see their first action since being claimed via waivers.
Up front, Walker - the first Australian to play in the National Hockey League - will make his debut after being picked up from the Washington Capitals on Friday, Dec. 1.
And on the back end, Davidson will begin his second stint with the Oilers, coincidentally against his former team, which placed him on waivers one week ago and lost him to Edmonton's claim the following day.
Head Coach Todd McLellan will look for his squad to rally around the new blood as they attempt to rebound from a 4-2 defeat to the Philadelphia Flyers at home on Wednesday.
"You're hoping that happens," McLellan said. "In our case, it has happened some games and it hasn't in others. We can't just rely on new bodies coming into the lineup for that energy. The guys that are there and playing anywhere from 20 to 10 minutes a night have to bring their own personal energy and their own detail to the game. Everybody else will do the same and then we're up and running."
From their quest to stay in the hunt in the Western Conference standings, to playing their lone game of the season in the raucous environment that is the Bell Centre, the Oilers will have no shortage of motivation sources tonight.
"It's Saturday night, we're in Montreal, Hockey Night in Canada," McLellan said. "You'd think the guys will step up and respond. I know I would be excited if I was playing."
"We have to find a way to use that (environment) to our advantage tonight," added Leon Draisaitl. "We know it's going to be loud. It's a very emotional place to play, but at the same time it's a lot of fun."
DAVIDSON DETERMINED
Davidson was selected by the Oilers in the sixth round of the 2010 NHL Draft and went on to play his first 91 NHL games with the orange and blue.
However, prior to the 2016-17 trade deadline, Edmonton dealt the defenceman to the Canadiens in exchange for winger David Desharnais. The native of Taber in Southern Alberta played 13 games (10 regular season, three playoff) with Montreal to close out last season and 13 more during the current campaign before he was placed on waivers.
"It's definitely ironic that I'm back here for my first game," he said, reflecting on a whirlwind past week. "There were some hard feelings that I didn't do my job properly (with Montreal). Definitely a feeling of defeat, but also a feeling of a second chance."
Davidson recorded one assist in his 13 games with Montreal this season. He hasn't suited up for a game since Wednesday, Nov. 22 against the Nashville Predators, so he's been chomping at the bit for his next chance to play.
"I definitely want to get off to a good start," he said. "I haven't played in a couple weeks, but I've been preparing, waiting and I've got to make the best of my opportunity here tonight."
The game plan? Play simple, play physical and move the puck effectively.
"There are no grey areas out there tonight," he said. "What they're looking for is a physical game from me. They really want me to break the puck out from our own end and play that kind of solid game from the back end up. I think that's something I can provide… I'm just going to do my best and make sure I'm helping out."
TALBOT GETTING CLOSER
Prior to Oilers morning skate in Montreal, injured netminder Cam Talbot had an on-ice session with Goalie Coach Dustin Schwartz as he continues to recuperate from an upper-body ailment.
Talbot originally suffered the injury during the team's five-game road trip in late November, and although he played and got the 3-2 overtime win when the team returned home to face the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday, Nov. 28, he was placed on Injured Reserve two days later.
When asked about Talbot's status, Coach McLellan said the goalie told him he "felt pretty darn good" following Saturday's session but the team won't be rushing him back into game action.
"If it was as simple as just going in and making the simple save, I think we'd have a great goaltender, but there's a lot more to it," McLellan said. "There's the athleticism and the desperate save that we want to make sure he can make and feel good after. We're going to take our time with him, but I think he's getting closer."
In the meantime, Laurent Brossoit will make his fourth consecutive start between the pipes. He's 1-5-1 on the season with a 3.71 GAA and .877 save percentage.
PROJECTED LINEUP
With Walker and Davidson slotting in, the Oilers lineup is projected as follows:
Lucic-McDavid-Puljujärvi
Maroon-RNH-Cammalleri
Walker-Draisaitl-Strome
Khaira-Letestu-Kassian
Nurse-Russell
Klefbom-Benning
Auvitu-Davidson
Brossoit
Ellis
-- Ryan Frankson, EdmontonOilers.com

PREVIEW

OILERS (11-15-2) at CANADIENS (13-13-4)
TV: 5:00 p.m. MST; Televised on Sportsnet One
Head-to-Head:
The Oilers and Canadiens are playing each other for the first time this season. In two meetings last year, Edmonton split with Montreal. They beat them 1-0 in a shootout on February 5, in Montreal, but lost 4-1 at home on March 12.
These two teams meet again later this month in Edmonton, as Montreal visits the Oilers on December 23.
Oilers team scope:
The Oilers look to rebound from Wednesday's disappointing home loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. They continue to search for consistency in performance from game to game. Before that 4-2 defeat, they had beaten Calgary 7-4. Overall, Edmonton has won three of their last five games.
Edmonton hopes to get their special teams clicking on this trip. Their penalty kill is last in the NHL at just 72.34%, and their power play is 26th at 16.66%.
Canadiens team scope:
The Canadiens have lost two straight games since a 10-1 victory over Detroit began this five-game home stand.
Brendan Gallagher leads the team in scoring with 19 points (13-6-19) in 30 games. Max Pacioretty, Phillip Danault and Jonathan Drouin are all tied for second with 17 points on the season.
The Canadiens penalty kill has also struggled this year, with them killing at just a 78.78% rate.
By the Numbers:
The Oilers have four shorthanded goals in their last 11 games. Milan Lucic has 12 goals and 13 assists in 44 career games against Montreal.
Connor McDavid remains the Oilers scoring leader with 33 points (11-22-33) in 28 games. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is tied with him for the team lead in goals with 11 on the season.
-- Chris Wescott, EdmontonOilers.com
Injury Report:
OILERS - Andrej Sekera (knee) is on IR; Adam Larsson (upper body) is on IR; Cam Talbot (upper body) is on IR
CANADIENS - A. Hemsky (upper body) is on IR; N. Scherbak (knee) is on IR; A. Montoya (concussion) is on IR; A. Lehkonen (lower body) is on IR; J. Drouin (lower body) is day-to-day
-- Chris Wescott, EdmontonOilers.com