DETROIT, MI - Is there a better place to rev the engine than in the Motor City?
After stalling out at home in a 6-2 affair against the Florida Panthers on Sunday, the Oilers will look to hit the gas pedal on the road Tuesday night when they line up with the Detroit Red Wings, who have struggled as of late with just a single point in their past eight contests.
Edmonton, who defeated the Red Wings by a score of 2-1 on Oct. 18, enters Little Caesars Arena with a 3-2-1 road record and 2-2-1 showing in their last five. The club is cognizant of the desperation on the other side but is driven to recalibrate their own game.
"I understand they're a desperate team," said Tippett of the Red Wings. "But we haven't played very well in two of the last three. We have to get our game in order, so that's what we're concentrating on today."
BALANCING THE ATTACK
In an attempt to provide better balance throughout the lineup and generate more offence, Oilers Head Coach Tippett shuffled up his lines Tuesday at morning skate.
Jujhar Khaira was on the left side of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with Sam Gagner to the right and Gaëtan Haas - who was recalled on Saturday after a stint with the American Hockey League's Bakersfield Condors - was in the pivot position between James Neal and Alex Chiasson.
Riley Sheahan, meanwhile, played middleman between Tomas Jurco and Patrick Russell.
"The bottom end of our lineup hasn't been very productive," Tippett said.
"They've had a few chances, not as many as you'd like, but there's always more there. It's not from lack of effort or lack of trying. There's some execution stuff that just needs to be a little better. If we can balance some of the skill, maybe it can help some of them out."
Both Gagner and Khaira have previous experience playing with Nugent-Hopkins. With their assortment of speed, skill and size, the trio hopes to break out and provide some relief for the top line of Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and Zack Kassian.
"We need to find a way to create some offence," Gagner, who had two goals and two assists in four games with the Condors, said.
"At some point, we got to get some results. I think that you look at the way the lines are set up, there's an opportunity for some guys to get some chemistry and try to build something."
As for Haas, he'll have an opportunity alongside the shooting ability of Neal and the forecheck of Chiasson.
"I have to show up," Haas said.
The Swiss centre was assigned to the Condors last week to get better acclimated with the North American game. In his two matches played, Haas registered one assist but saw plenty of ice.
"Right away when Ken (Holland) and Tipp told me I was going to go down for a couple of games and play more, I was not disappointed," Haas said.
"I took out a positive, knew there was a good team down there and I was happy to go and get a little more ice time."
