OILERS (7-1-1) vs WILD (2-6-0)
TV: 6:00 p.m. MT; Televised on Sportsnet Oilers
Head-to-Head:
Tuesday will be the first of three games contested between the Oilers and Wild, with the following contest after tonight's meeting coming back at the Xcel Energy Center before the season series concludes at Rogers Place on February 21.
During the 2018-19 season, the Oilers were 2-1-0 and outscored the Wild 14-7 in three contests.
Oilers team scope:
Despite being shutout in a cagey 1-0 shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday, spirits in the Oilers locker room were still high thanks to a 7-1-1 start that has the club tied for top spot overall in the NHL through nine games.
Goaltender Mike Smith made all 23 saves and got credit for the shutout, but didn't receive any offensive help from a group ranked top-10 in goals for (30) and a league-best power play of 38.5 percent that went 0-for-2 against the Jets. The Oilers penalty kill is 15-for-15 on the road this season and ranks third overall in the league (90.3 percent) after going 4-for-4 against Winnipeg.
Connor McDavid, despite being held off the scoresheet in his last two games, ranks second in league scoring with five goals and 12 assists in nine games. He hasn't gone three straight games without a point since December 29, 2017 to January 2, 2018.
Wild team scope:
It hasn't been the start imagined for the Wild to begin their season with an overall record of 2-6-0, but a 4-3 comeback win over the Montreal Canadiens last time out has the club poised to build off a positive performance in order to get back into the early race in the NHL's Central Division.
Their record is tied for the second-worst start to a season in franchise history, and their 32 goals allowed this season is the most they've ever allowed through the first eight games of a new campaign.
Former Oiler goaltender Devan Dubnyk is 1-5-0 with a 4.18 goals-against average and .874 save percentage in six starts this season, but Alex Stalock - who the Oilers could see in goal for the Wild on Tuesday - is in fifth place overall behind Mike Smith for the lowest GAA this season (2.07).
The Wild aim to win back-to-back games for the first time since a five-game win streak between February 21 and March 2 last season.
By the Numbers:
The Oilers 7-1-1 start is their fifth-best nine-game start in franchise history... The Oilers are allowing the fifth-fewest goals per game (2.22) to opponents this season after allowing 3.30 the previous campaign...
Despite the second-fewest shots-per-game this season, the Oilers have the third-best shooting percentage (12.3 percent)... Leon Draisaitl leads the NHL in points over his last 43 games, with his 32 goals being 12 more than the next-closest player in that span...
Injury Report:
OILERS - Adam Larsson (fibula) is on IR; Joakim Nygard (ribs) is on IR; Joel Persson (concussion) is day-to-day.
WILD - Greg Pateryn (bilateral) is on IR; Mason Shaw (ACL) is on IR; Mats Zuccarello (lower body) is on IR; Victor Rask (lower body) is day-to-day; Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) is day-to-day.
-- Jamie Umbach, EdmontonOilers.com