EDMONTON, AB - The Colorado Avalanche comes rolling in.
When the Avalanche settles on Rogers Place for tonight's meeting with the Edmonton Oilers, it'll be a clash between two of the Western Conference's top teams.
Even without the support of regulars Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen due to injury, Colorado has been able to rattle off three-straight wins with the help of depth scoring, the always-present threat of Nathan McKinnon, and defenceman Cale Makar who's tracking the Calder Trophy as the league's best rookie with five goals and 13 assists through 18 games this season.
"A lot of speed, a lot of skill up front. Their back end has skill too," said forward Leon Draisaitl, who's riding a 10-game point streak (9G, 11A) into the first game of a mini two-game home stand for the Oilers tonight.
"They have a very good team over there. You have to be ready. Obviously we want to bounce back after last game's effort, so it's going to be a good challenge for us."
Tonight's tough contest for the Oilers comes with the added challenge of putting lessons into practice from a 6-3 defeat to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday that was characterized by a slow start of three goals allowed in the opening 11:12 of the game.
"You have to learn from every game," goaltender Mike Smith said. "I think it's important. Whether you win or lose, you're taking stuff out of games that's going to help you move forward as a group."
Goaltender Mike Smith, who stopped 19-of-25 shots in defeat last time out, will return to the crease tonight for his second-straight start. The netminder is 11-1-4 all-time against Colorado.
"It's obviously kind of an embarrassment coming out the way we did, but everyone in here owes it to themselves to come out with a better effort tonight - myself included - and we learn from every game."
The Oilers receive reinforcements on the back end from Caleb Jones, who draws into the lineup for the first time this season on the right side of the second pairing with Oscar Klefbom.
In 17 games last season during his first NHL stint, the blueliner had a goal and five assists.
"I think having had the call-up last year and having played at this level, I know what to expect now," Jones said. "I feel ready to go and I think a little bit of adrenaline tonight for sure. I'll be excited."
CALEB'S CALL
Wednesday's practice for the Bakersfield Condors concluded, and Jones and his teammates were putting in the final preparations for a trip to Colorado for a two-game set with the Eagles.
Little did he know, a few hours later, he'd be skipping the bus ride to Loveland, Colorado and getting on the next flight to Edmonton.
An injury to Brandon Manning necessitated the recall for the defenceman, but his promotion to the NHL is well warranted. In 13 games for the Condors this season, Jones has found the net twice and added eight helpers while displaying versatility as a defender who can play in all situations and on both sides of the blueline.
