PRE-GAME REPORT: Oilers vs. Flames

The Edmonton Oilers host the Battle of Alberta Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada.
You can watch the game on CBC, Sportsnet & Citytv or listen on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED.
Video: OILERS TODAY | Pre-Game vs CGY 01.22.22

YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS
GAME DAY VIDEO
OILERS TODAY | Pre-Game vs. CGY
PRE-GAME RAW | Coach Tippett
PRE-GAME RAW | Draisaitl
PRE-GAME RAW | McLeod
RECENT VIDEOS
THE PANEL | Stepping Up
RAW | Coach Tippett
RAW | Sceviour
RAW | Foegele
BY THE NUMBERS
Oilers Statistics
Flames Statistics
Game Notes
Stats Comparison
RECENT BLOGS & ARTICLES
BLOG: Preaching the positives
RELEASE: Oilers recall Griffith from Condors
BLOG: Friday's optional from Rogers Place
VIEWING INFORMATION
You can watch Saturday's game on CBC, Sportsnet & Citytv at 8:00 PM MT.
News and notes from Friday's optional practice, including a look at how the team is staying optimistic during a rough patch in the season.
>> READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE OILERS BLOG
EDMONTON, AB - It's time to battle back.
The clock in the Oilers locker room reads rivalry time with the Calgary Flames set to enter Rogers Place on Hockey Night in Canada for the latest rendition of the Battle of Alberta since Oct. 16.
Connor McDavid recorded a hat trick and Jesse Puljujarvi had a goal and two assists back in a 5-2 win for the Orange & Blue over their provincial rivals.
The foes from opposite ends of Highway 2 have both struggled as of late, with the Flames 3-6-1 in their last 10 games and the Oilers looking to avoid their eighth-straight defeat after being shut out 6-0 on Thursday night by the Florida Panthers.
The rivalry represents a great opportunity for the players to right the ship in the turbulent waters of a 2-11-2 stretch in their last 15 games.
"It's always a special game," forward Leon Draisaitl said pre-game. "We've had some great battles with that group over the last couple of years and had some success, so we're obviously looking to get out of this slump or last little stretch here. Tonight will be a great time to start that."
Despite being marred in this seven-game slide, the Oilers are blocking out the outside noise and keeping comradery up knowing the solution to this skid will have to come from their own efforts and actions.
Video: PRE-RAW | Ryan McLeod 01.22.21
"At the end of the day, it's us in the room that have to stick together and have to get the job done," Draisaitl added. "We're sticking together, no matter what. It's been like that all year and it's going to continue to be like that."
Saturday night also brings the added motivation of handing Oil Country and its fans a victory in an important rivalry.
"I think it's a great opportunity for our team to get back on track," forward Ryan McLeod said. "It's a big game for the fans and our team playing Calgary, and it should be a lot of fun with good competition.
"I don't think we really listen to the outside noise too much. I think we're keeping together as a group; we win as a group, and lose as a group."
GET THE BALL ROLLING
A busy stretch of 47 games in 100 days began Thursday for the Oilers, and the players are looking forward to getting back into game mode and competing almost every other night over the plethora of practices they've had over the last two weeks.
"I think it'll help a lot," Draisaitl said of the busy schedule. "The last couple of weeks were hard on the whole League, and I think more so on the Canadian teams than the American teams, but it'll be nice to get into a groove and play every other day and not practice as much. I think everyone's been itching to play some games and everyone's ready to go."
The Oilers looked the better side in the first two periods in the first match of this jam-packed schedule against the Panthers on Thursday as they pushed the agenda against a top-three team in the NHL with plenty of pressure and shot opportunities.
Edmonton led on the shot clock 29-13 through two periods before a 2-0 deficit quickly got out of hand in the final frame.
Video: PRE-RAW | Leon Draisaitl 01.22.21
"Obviously, you can't collapse like we did in the third," Draisaitl said. "That's unacceptable and we know that, but I thought our first two periods were really good. Especially in the first one, we dominated against a top-three team in the League right now, so we're not that far away, but there's also a lot of things we need to do better."
"Have that same intensity that we played with in the first two periods and I think eventually, things will turn around for us."
The Oilers couldn't break through early against the Panthers and have struggled early in games by giving up the first goal in 26 of their 36 total games this season, including 14 of their last 15 contests.
"I don't think we're getting the bounces we'd like to right now," McLeod said. "It'd be nice to get the first goal of the game and not get behind so quick, but I think it's going to be a good test tonight. We're all looking forward to it."
To Draisaitl, failing to score early has been one of the big differences between success and struggles.
"No one would've complained if we went into the first intermission up 2-0 or 3-0, then it's a completely different game," he said. "But that's not the case, and we can't really harp on things that didn't turn out the way that they might've or how they're supposed to. We have to work through it and stick with it as I said, and it's frustrating that the pucks aren't bouncing our way and going in, but eventually, they will."
"I think the hockey gods have always been really fair with that kind of stuff, so hopefully tonight's the night where stuff goes in our direction."
LINEUP NOTES
Tyson Barrie will be out of the lineup tonight after Head Coach Dave Tippett said during his pre-game media avail that the defenceman is currently nursing both an upper and lower-body injury from Thursday's loss to Florida.
Forward Zack Kassian will miss out with a non-COVID-related illness, meaning Kyle Turris will slot back into the lineup on the third line with Ryan McLeod and Tyler Benson after clearing waivers Saturday morning.
Goaltender Stuart Skinner cleared COVID-19 Protocol on Friday night and will back up Mikko Koskinen, who's 12-8-1 with a 3.02 goals-against average and .905 save percentage.
Video: PRE-RAW | Dave Tippett 01.22.21
Centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins skated with the group during today's pre-game skate and will practice again on Monday with the team in hopes of being an option for the Orange & Blue during next week's three-game road trip out east to Montreal, Ottawa and Washington.
"I think next week," Tippett said. "He skated today with the group and he'll practice with them on Monday, then we'll see where he's at. But I think he's getting closer to where he's hopefully an option next week."
Mike Smith, currently recovering from a torn ligament in his thumb, remains out with no immediate timetable for a return to the Oilers crease.
"Smith skated again this morning but isn't close right now. If they can't do something, that can turn into a weakness in a hurry," Tippett said. "He plays the puck so much that it comes into play a lot, but he's getting better day-by-day. He's keeping his conditioning, so when his hand does feel better he can get up and going."
Oilers Projected Lineup vs. Calgary
-- Jamie Umbach, EdmontonOilers.com
OILERS vs. FLAMES
WATCH: 8:00 PM MT; televised on CBC, Sportsnet & Citytv
Oilers Team Scope
Seven losses in a row and a 2-11-2 mark since starting the season 16-5-0 have the Edmonton Oilers holding an 18-16-2 record and 38 points through 36 games for seventh in the Pacific Divison.
Over the last 15 games, the Oilers have been outscored 62-35, have converted at an 18.4 clip on the power play and killed 63 percent of their penalties. Since Dec. 3, the club is last in points percentage (.200), goals-against per game (4.13), save percentage (.865) and goal differential (minus-27).
After an optional skate on Friday, forward Warren Foegele spoke about the disappointing stretch and how the players are vying to turn things around.
"For us to get out of this, we all have to do our part," he said. "We all feel responsible right now. It's been frustrating but we got to keep digging away and pounding away. That's the only way to get out of it."
Flames Team Scope
The Flames routed the Florida Panthers Tuesday at Scotiabank Saddledome by a score of 5-1 to improve to 5-4-4 at home and 18-11-6 overall. However, Calgary has gone 3-6-1 over their past 10 contests.
Johnny Gaudreau is the team's scoring leader with 15 goals, 28 assists and 43 points and Andrew Mangiapane serves as the highest goal-scorer with 18. Forward Matthew Tkachuk has also fared well this season with 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points.
In goal, Jacob Markstrom has backstopped the Flames with a 13-8-5 record, 2.18 goals-against average, .926 save percentage and five shutouts.
Calgary sits fifth in the Pacific Division with 42 points and a .600 points percentage.
Video: PRE-RAW | Leon Draisaitl 01.22.21
By The Numbers
The Oilers have the second-best power play (29.4%) and 22nd penalty kill (77.5%) ... Edmonton is 7th in the faceoff circle with a 52.3 percent mark ... EDM averages 32.8 shots for per game (12th) and 32.6 against (10th) ...
Calgary has the 11th-ranked power play (22.6%) and 5th-best penalty kill (84.6%) ... The Flames hold a plus-22 goal differential this season (8th). ... Markstrom's five shutouts lead all goaltenders this season ...
Injury Report
OILERS - Tyson Barrie (undisclosed); Stuart Skinner (COVID-19 Protocol) is day-to-day; Mike Smith (torn thumb) is on IR; Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (lower body) is on LTIR.
FLAMES - Tyler Pitlick (undisclosed) is day-to-day; Tyler Parsons (ankle) is on IR.
-- Paul Gazzola, EdmontonOilers.com