The Edmonton Oilers take on the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on Thursday in the second game of a back-to-back.
You can watch the game on Sportsnet West or listen live on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED, beginning at 6:30pm MT.
Subscribe to Oilers+ to unlock the Pre-Game Show that will begin at 6:00pm MT, along with more exclusive live and behind-the-scenes content.

YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS

GAME DAY VIDEO
OILERS TODAY | Pre-Game vs. CHI
PRE-GAME RAW | Coach Woodcroft
PRE-GAME RAW | Warren Foegele
RECENT VIDEOS
OILERS TODAY | Post-Game at STL
POST-RAW | Coach Jay Woodcroft
POST-RAW | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
POST-RAW | Stuart Skinner
BY THE NUMBERS
Oilers Statistics
Blackhawks Statistics
Stats Comparison
Game Notes
RECENT BLOGS & ARTICLES
BLOG: Oilers hit the road
POST-GAME: Rallying Cries
VIEWING INFORMATION
You can watch Tuesday's game on Sportsnet West at 6:30 PM MT.

PRE-GAME REPORT

CHICAGO, IL - Early returns from the Chicago Blackhawks after an off-season of doubts have shown they aren't prepared to accept the fate that much of the extended NHL community has projected for them.
In a year labelled as a rebuild for the Blackhawks, who've won three Stanley Cups in the last 12 seasons, tonight's opposition for the Edmonton Oilers have raced out of the gate with a 4-2-0 record including four-straight wins.
The Blackhawks have a six-game point streak at the United Center against the Oilers (4-0-2), winning three of the last four while owning a 7-3-0 record in their last 10 games overall against the Blue & Orange.
While the strong start for the Blackhawks to the 2022-23 season is something to consider for Head Coach Jay Woodcroft towards drawing up a game plan on how to approach the second of back-to-back games tonight, the focus remains internally as the Oilers continue to carve out a strong stretch of form for themselves.
"I can tell you that we will not underestimate them heading into this game," Woodcroft said to the media Thursday morning from the team hotel. "We understand what we're in for, but at the same time, we feel confident that if we bring our game and our work ethic, we will be in a good spot.
"I think where our focus right now is on our team first. We're trying to build a connected way of playing. We've seen some good efforts here over the last few, we're building each day, but at the same time, you got to give Chicago credit for their start to the season."
The Oilers are completing back-to-back road games after a tough battle against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night that ended in a 3-1 victory, giving Edmonton its first win streak of the season with two wins in a row. Stuart Skinner made 37 stops in a strong performance, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' 200th career goal in the third period ended as the game-winner.

"I thought we started the game well," Woodcroft added. "I thought last night, with the way St. Louis plays, it's almost a turf war for zone time against them. I thought we did a really good job establishing a footing early in the hockey game, establishing the way we wanted to play, and certainly as the game wore on, both teams punched but we stuck with it for the full 60 minutes. When we did, were able to come out on top. I thought it was a well-played game between two really good hockey teams."
Woodcroft has liked the fight and the process he's seen from his side early on in the year despite a handful of difficult moments. Overall, he feels the Oilers are in a good position to build on their game and build some momentum with the opportunity to win their third-straight game.
"We've had this discussion over our first seven games -- I haven't seen a tonne of poor efforts," he said. "There have been moments we want to have back or stretches where that we want to have back, but I think everyone's working."
"We're in the early forming stages of our team right now, figuring out who this year's team is and the way this year's team needs to play to have success."
THIRD-LINE LIFT
So much was said about Skinner's 37 saves and the 200th goal of Nuge's career on Wednesday, but the opening goal created by the Warren Foegele, Ryan McLeod and Jesse Puljujarvi line showcased the line's strengths and importance to the Oilers offensive depth up front.
"I think we're playing pretty consistent," Foegele said. "We're in the o-zone for the most part, and I think that just happens from just playing simple, using our speed and playing hard on the forecheck."
Puljujarvi got the decisive tip at the end of a play that began in the neutral zone on the Finnish forward's own stick. After his cross-ice pass led to Foegele wheeling behind the net with speed and passing it out in front to Darnell Nurse, the defender's shot was deflected in the slot by Puljujarvi and past netminder Jordan Binnington for the opening goal and his first of the campaign.
"I thought it was a good play by Jesse to see me moving," Foegele said. "I just tried to take my speed and go wide and throw it out front. We were fortunate enough to get one in there. I think our line is playing pretty well and we'll try to keep it going."
The trio is a strong blend of speed, skill and size that can cause havoc on the forecheck and on the cycle for defenders with a straightforward and north-to-south style.

"I think we're all pretty quick skaters," Foegele added. "I think we all got size, and I think the way Mac is just transporting the puck, it makes it a lot easier for Jesse and me as wingers to get moving and play a north game. I think us playing down low and playing simple has been helping us out a lot."
McLeod's speed and puck-moving ability has been the engine for the third line, with the young centre chipping in with three goals in seven games so far this season as he continues to build on a strong showing in last season's Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"He's certainly playing hard. I thought he really blossomed in the playoffs last year and down the stretch, but he skates well," Woodcroft said. "I think that line has been a very good hockey line for us. I think they have the elements of a good forechecking, cycle-and-grind line. They're big, they can all skate, and they've had numerous chances that haven't gone in. I was pleased that one did go in for them, but certainly, Ryan is a driver. He's helping make that line go with Foegele and Puljujarvi. It's been a really good line for us."
Puljujarvi has looked a good fit alongside Foegele and McLeod, and the Finn's goal on Wednesday was a reward for a player whose positive play this season wasn't being reflected in his offensive returns on the scoresheet.
"I think that line has been really strong and Jesse should feel good about his personal game. I was happy to see him get on the board last night," Woodcroft said.
"I really like that line. Since it's been put together, I feel good anytime they're on the ice."
LINEUP NOTES
Among only a handful of skaters at the Oilers morning skate was Dylan Holloway, who wasn't confirmed to be in the lineup tonight by Jay Woodcroft, but he was also not omitted.
If the Calgary, AB product is good to go for tonight, it gives the bench boss flexibility to revert back to a standard 12-forward, six-defencemen set-up if he sees it beneficial.
"I think all options are on the board," Woodcroft said. "I think the team's played very well here over the last few. We've given up five goals in three games against some really good opponents. We've won three of our last four, so we'll see. All options are on the table for us tonight.
"I think it's positive anytime people get healthy and give you the ability to have those options."
Following Skinner's strong play in St. Louis on Wednesday will be Jack Campbell, who'll get the start between the pipes in the second of back-to-back games tonight for the Oilers.
He'll be opposed by former Oilers netminder Alex Stalock, who's found a groove in the crease for the Blackhawks with three straight wins since earning the victory in relief over the Detroit Red Wings back on Oct. 21.
"It's nice to see a good person get rewarded because he works hard and he's someone that I've really enjoyed being around in my time as a coach in the NHL," Woodcroft said.
Stalock never made a regular-season appearance for the Oilers, mainly influenced by his bout with Myocarditis as a symptom of contracting COVID-19, but he was well-liked and appreciated during time split between Bakersfield and Edmonton while with the organization.
"I think when Alex came down to Bakersfield, he was just happy to get playing again, to be around a team, and to enjoy the camaraderie of his teammates," Woodcroft said. "He's got a big personality in a great way. He comes to the rink with a lot of juice, and to see him have the start that he's having here in Chicago, personally, I'm happy for him.
"But our team, the Edmonton Oilers, are going to be prepared for him tonight."
-- Jamie Umbach, EdmontonOilers.com

PREVIEW

OILERS vs. BLACKHAWKS
STREAM: 6:30 p.m. MT; televised on Sportsnet West
Oilers Team Scope
Edmonton's three-game road trip got started on the right note with a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday night.
Goaltender Stuart Skinner was exceptional, making 37 saves on 38 shots (including 20 in the second period) to secure his first win of the season and improve his record to 1-1-0, his goals-against average to 1.44 and save percentage to .957.
"Unbelievable," Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said. "Both guys have been great for us when we've needed them, and Stu tonight in the second period made some massive saves to keep us going, keep us in it, and really without them they probably would've had a few more."
Nugent-Hopkins had no idea he was sitting on 199 career goals coming into Wednesday, but his 200th NHL tally came with 6:16 left in regulation and went down as the game-winner before Zach Hyman added an empty-netter.

The Oilers are now winners of two straight and have allowed only five goals in their last three games after rectifying their 2-0 shutout defeat to the very same Blues back at Rogers Place on Saturday afternoon.
"I thought that game at Rogers Place was maybe a little bit tighter-checking than tonight was. Fewer chances," Head Coach Jay Woodcroft said. "Tonight was a higher pace, and we skated at the level that we felt good about. That one in Rogers was decided in the first five minutes on a special team, but we felt good about a lot of things in that game."
"We got a great goaltending performance from Stuart Skinner, we found a way to stick with things in a tough building, and it's a chance for us to build on this as we head into Chicago tomorrow."
Blackhawks Team Scope
They've been discounted by many this season, but the Chicago Blackhawks have now won four straight games after leading for all three periods in a 4-2 win on Tuesday over top opposition in the Florida Panthers.
After last season's struggles with a 28-42-12 record and seventh-place finish in the Central Division, the Blackhawks are 4-2 to begin the year and riding some serious momentum after back-to-back losses to the Colorado Avalanche and Begas Golden Knights in their opening two games.

""It's fun," Patrick Kane said. "I think last year we didn't win a game until our 10th or 11th game, so it's nice to get off to this start this year. I think when you get off to a good start, you can really propel that throughout the season, so hopefully that's the case."
Kane had a goal and assist, while former Oilers netminder Alex Stalock continued his hot start to the season with 29 saves on 31 shots. Stalock has put together a few solid starts in a row and is 3-1-0 on the year with a 2.09 GAA and .938 save percentage
By The Numbers
The Oilers went 4-5-1 in the second game of a back-to-back last season... Chicago is one of the few teams Connor McDavid hasn't consistently lit the lamp against with only three goals in 14 games... Leon Draisaitl is on a nine-game point streak against the Blackhawks with 16 points (6G, 10A) during that stretch... In 11 career matchups against each other, Evander Kane has 12 points while playing Patrick Kane, who has 16 points versus the Oilers forward... Tyson Barrie's 30 points in 34 games is the most the defender has against any NHL opponent...

The Blackhawks lead the NHL in shorthanded goals with four... Chicago has the NHL's second largest discrepancy in powerplay time versus time short handed at -21:39 on the season... Chicago enters the game on a four-game win streak with a plus-seven goal differential during that time... Patrick Kane will tie Brent Seabrook for the third most games played in Blackhawks history with 1,114 on Thursday night, trailing only Stan Mikita and Duncan Keith... Kane has the most points among active NHLers vs. the Oilers with 59...
Injury Report
OILERS - Tyler Benson (knee) is on IR; Oscar Klefbom (shoulder) is on IR; Mike Smith (undisclosed) is on IR; Carter Savoie (lower-body) is on IR; Raphael Lavoie (undisclosed) is on IR; Vincent Desharnais (wrist) is on IR; Dylan Holloway (upper-body) is day-to-day
BLACKHAWKS - Tyler Johnson (lower body) is day-to-day; Petr Mrazek (groin) is on IR; Boris Tkachouk (ankle) is on IR; Jalen Luypen (rotator cuff) is on IR; Ian Mitchell (wrist) is on IR.
-- Jamie Umbach, EdmontonOilers.com