PROJECTED LINEUP: Savoie soaring to top line against Canadiens

EDMONTON, AB – Savoie's chance to shine.

Matt Savoie will get an opportunity to play alongside superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the top line on Thursday night when the Edmonton Oilers play host to the streaking Montreal Canadiens in a one-off homestand at Rogers Place.

Head Coach Kris Knoblauch will go with the same lineup that came away with a 3-2 overtime victory over the Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Tuesday, with winger Vasily Podkolzin swapping spots with Savoie by moving to the third line with Noah Philp and Trent Frederic.

The 21-year-old Savoie is coming off a strong performance in Ottawa with an assist on defenceman Jake Walman's game-winner and a couple of excellent chances at picking up his first career NHL goal.

"He's playing really well," McDavid said. "He's got a great engine on him. He skates really well, and with a little bit of luck, he scores one or two last game and he's off and running. But he's playing really well. He's dug in defensively, done a great job on the penalty kill, and done everything that's asked of him, so that the offensive side will come.

The St. Albert product has an assist in seven games this season and two helpers over 12 career NHL games.

Montreal has been surging as of late, winning six of their last seven games to assemble a 6-2-0 record after defeating the Calgary Flames last night in the first of back-to-back games to begin their four-game Western road trip.

Goaltender Calvin Pickard will be tasked with guarding the crease against the Canadiens after taking the pre-game skate in the starter's net, with the 33-year-old making 18 saves on 22 shots in his last appearance in a 5-3 defeat to the Devils on their previous five-game road trip.

With the start tonight, Pickard is expected to start two of the next three games for the Oilers, with the club set to head back out on the road this weekend for back-to-back games against the Seattle Kraken and Vancouver Canucks on Saturday and Sunday.

"We take everybody seriously," Pickard said. "I watched a bit of their game last night. Very high-flying, a lot of talented players, a lot of skill. They're an exciting team to watch and off to a really good start this year, but it's about us. We're trying to play a full 60 minutes, and the road trip didn't go as planned, so we're back on home ice now and we're excited to get back out there."

View the Oilers Projected Lineup vs. Montreal below:

Draisaitl - McDavid - Savoie
Mangiapane - Nugent-Hopkins - Roslovic
Podkolzin - Philp - Frederic
Howard - Henrique - Tomasek

Ekholm - Bouchard
Nurse - Walman
Kulak - Emberson

Pickard
Skinner