PRE-GAME REPORT: Oilers vs. Blackhawks

The Edmonton Oilers continue a three-game homestand with the second of back-to-back games on Wednesday night at Rogers Place against the Chicago Blackhawks.
You can watch the game on Sportsnet or listen on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED.
Video: AROUND THE RINK | All-Star 2022

YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS
GAME DAY VIDEO
PRE-GAME RAW | Coach Tippett
RECENT VIDEOS
OILERS TODAY | Post-Game vs. VGK
POST-RAW | Hyman & Nugent-Hopkins
POST-RAW | Coach Tippett
HIGHLIGHTS | VGK 4, EDM 0
BY THE NUMBERS
Oilers Statistics
Blackhawks Statistics
Head-to-Head
Game Notes
RECENT BLOGS & ARTICLES
GAME RECAP: Golden Knights 4, Oilers 0
RELEASE: Skinner recalled from Condors
VIEWING INFORMATION
You can watch Wednesday's game on Sportsnet at 6:00 PM MT.
News and notes from Oilers practice on Monday, including Mike Smith's return from a thumb injury and start Tuesday's game against the Golden Knights.
**>> READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE OILERS BLOG**
EDMONTON, AB - Straight back to it.
The Edmonton Oilers won't have to wait long to rectify Tuesday's shutout at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights with the Chicago Blackhawks set to serve as opposition on Wednesday night for the second game of a back-to-back at Rogers Place for the Blue & Orange.
"There's no time to sit around and think on it," forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said post-game on Tuesday. "We play 40 games in 80 days, so we're literally playing every second night. You've got to play. You've got to bring it every night and against Vegas] we didn't, but [Wednesday] we get another chance. You've got to move on and put our best foot forward."
Edmonton shook off a seven-game slide and entered the NHL All-Star break on a 5-0-1 run, but the Oilers came out the other end of the break looking sloppy and lacking execution against a Pacific Division opponent in the Golden Knights who proved their position as the 'golden' standard of the division in Tuesday's 4-0 blanking of Edmonton.
"Obviously being able to fight out of a stretch like that and put together a winning streak is a positive thing for our group," Nugent-Hopkins said. "It shows the character we have in the room, and obviously this is just one game.
"We finished off that road trip before the break and we were working hard, and [Tuesday], there was no lack of effort. A few mistakes and a lack of execution cost us, but we know we have the group able to bounce back quickly. We have to show that and bring it."
The Oilers won their previous two road meetings against the Golden Knights, earning 5-2 and 3-2 wins, so the players and coaches know the platform to contest Vegas for the Pacific Division crown is there if some of Tuesday's shortcomings can be ironed out in the busy stretch ahead.
[Video: POST-RAW | Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins 02.08.22
Forward Zach Hyman didn't fault the effort in his post-game comments, attributing the defeat to the lack of attention to the little details as his team quickly regroups to contest two important points and mount a response against a Blackhawks team that's lost three straight and six of their last seven games.
"We've played them twice before and beat them twice in Vegas," Hyman said. "I think we're a really capable team, but obviously, in the standings, it's a divisional game. We're chasing them and we have games in hand, and it was a big one. You don't want to lose that one, but we're really confident in our group. It was just a sloppy game from us."
ALL ABOUT EXECUTION
Throughout last night's post-game comments from Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins, and Head Coach Dave Tippett, the word execution was used to describe their team's performance 10 separate times.
There was no debate in the Oilers dressing room following Tuesday's divisional defeat about where improvement is needed.
"I thought our execution wasn't near what it needed to be tonight," Tippett said. "From puck-moving in our end, to getting up the ice, to passing up some shots and net-drive stuff that was over-passed or overlooked, the execution wasn't near at the level it needed to be at."
The Oilers had plenty of pressure on the Vegas net in the opening 10 minutes, with an early giveaway by Evan Bouchard in the defensive zone on the first shift leading to a good chance for Mark Stone that would foreshadow a tough final 50 minutes for Edmonton.
"I thought our start was good," Hyman said. "There was a lot of 'almost' chances we just missed on a play or were just a half-second late. Our timing was a little bit off, and those half-second plays lead to chances and goals."
The Oilers doubled up the Golden Knights on shots 12-6 through 20 minutes, but it was a clash of quality of quantity. Brett Howden was sprung by Shea Theodore for the opening goal right before the half-way mark of the frame, beating Mike Smith five-hole in his return to action from a month on the shelf with a torn ligament in his thumb, before a turnover off a blocked Tyson Barrie shot led to a shorthanded 2-on-0 for Rielly Smith and William Karlsson that was converted to double the Vegas lead seven minutes later.
The Golden Knights outchanced the Oilers 8-1 off the rush and 16-4 on shots from the slot.
Video: POST-RAW | Dave Tippett 02.08.22
"A lot of turnovers that led to quick chances against," Tippett said. "You look at the 2-on-0, the 2-on-1, and how many chances came when we turned the puck over. Barrie turned it over once more, Bouch turned it over, Nursy turned one over. You're giving chances away. Your forwards are taking off thinking we're going and the pucks not getting to them, you're going to end up giving up chances in your own zone. That's what happened."
It was a tough night in all areas for the Oilers, including the power play allowing a shorthanded goal and going 0-for-3 on the night to sink to 3-for-27 (11.1 per cent) in its last 13 games.
"When we're feeling it 5-on-5, it translates on the powerplay," Nugent-Hopkins said. "When you're executing, you're executing all over the ice, and tonight we had a couple of looks on the powerplay."
"But the bottom line is that we can be better than that and execute at a higher level."
LINEUP NOTES
Goaltender Stuart Skinner is expected to start the second of the back-to-back after being recalled from the Bakersfield Condors on Tuesday to replace Mikko Koskinen, who was placed into COVID-19 Protocol on Monday.
The 23-year-old is undefeated in regulation with the Condors this season in the AHL, posting an 8-0-2 record, two shutouts, a 1.97 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage. Skinner is 5-6-0 with a 2.85 GAA and .908 SV% in 12 NHL appearances with the Oilers this season, having won three of his last four starts.
During his post-game avail, Tippett was asked about the potential of shaking up the back end by deploying new defence pairings against Chicago on Wednesday night.
"We've thought about it a lot," the bench boss said. "But we'll see."
-- Jamie Umbach, EdmontonOilers.com
OILERS vs. BLACKHAWKS
STREAM: 6:00 p.m. MT; televised on Sportsnet
Oilers Team Scope
The Oilers were blanked 4-0 by the Vegas Golden Knights in their return from the NHL All-Star break on Tuesday night after former Oilers netminder Laurent Brossoit made all 28 saves and both William Karlsson & Reilly Smith registered two points apiece.
"We were working. Obviously, we made the bigger mistakes and they capitalized on those mistakes," Nugent-Hopkins said post-game on Tuesday night. "We were pushing early, even in the second period, but we couldn't find a way to beat Brossoit there."
Goaltender Mike Smith made 24 saves in his first start since Dec. 5 against Toronto after returning to the lineup from a torn ligament in his thumb. Despite the loss in his first start in over a month and being in & out of the lineup for multiple extended periods this season, Tippett's team lacked offensive support and execution in front of the veteran.
"We gave up some Grade-A chances. He had a 2-on-0, the first one was a 2-on-1. We got to get him back up and going," Tippett said. "In the third period, I thought he battled. He made some good saves in the third period. It was the first one in a while for him and we got to get him back up and going."
Blackhawks Team Scope
The Blackhawks were blanked 5-0 by the Minnesota Wild in their final game before the NHL All-Star break as they get set to begin the second half of their season on Wednesday night against the Oilers.
Chicago is 16-23-7 this season and seventh in the Central Division, having lost three-straight games and seven of their last eight contests.
Wednesday's return to action at Rogers Place for the Blackhawks will be the first of three games on the road through Edmonton, St. Louis and Winnipeg before they return to the United Center for seven-straight games. The finale of that homestand will feature a visit from the Oilers and defenceman Duncan Keith's first trip back to his former home of 16 NHL seasons as opposition.
The Oilers were victorious 5-2 in their only meeting this season back on Nov. 20 at Rogers Place.
By The Numbers
The Blackhawks' nine regulation wins are the third-fewest in the NHL this season... Chicago has not scored a power-play goal in three-straight games (0-for-6)... Patrick Kane has at least a point in 12 of his last 15 games (4G, 13A) and six points in last four games (2G, 4A)... Marc-Andre Fleury has lost six of his last seven starts after winning his previous four... Fleury is 14-16-3 with a 2.93 GAA, .908 save percentage and three shutouts this season...
Edmonton is 12-0-0 when scoring first this season and are the only undefeated team in the NHL when scoring first this season... Darnell Nurse's 26:32 time on ice per game this season ranks second in the NHL... Evan Bouchard has 24 points through 42 games this season (9G, 15A)... His nine goals are five more than the next Oilers defencemen (Nurse)...
Injury Report
OILERS - Kris Russell (undisclosed) is on IR... Mikko Koskinen (COVID-19 Protocol) is day-to-day...
BLACKHAWKS - Jonathan Toews (concussion) is day-to-day... Kevin Lankinen (hand) is on IR... Jujhar Khaira (back) is on IR... Riley Stillman (shoulder) is on IR... Reese Johnston (fractured clavicle) is on IR... Tyler Johnson (neck) is on IR...
-- Jamie Umbach, EdmontonOilers.com