The Edmonton Oilers have 14 sets of back-to-back games this season. Thus far this season, they are 0-2 in the second game of a BTB, with a 4-1 loss to Calgary and a 6-1 loss in Columbus. They will be looking for a much better effort tonight.

After starting the season 0-3, which included the 4-1 loss to Calgary, the Oilers have found their stride, and are 6-2-1 in their last nine. The only bad performance in those nine was the 6-1 drubbing in Columbus. Connor McDavid was injured on the first shift, so maybe that impacted them mentally, but it was also their third game in four nights so maybe fatigue was part of it. Edmonton has rebounded with victories in Nashville and Calgary without McDavid in the lineup and look to make it three in a row tonight.

The Devils lost 3-0 in Calgary last Friday, after crushing Vancouver 6-0 two nights earlier. The Devils spent this past weekend in Canmore. They had a day off Saturday and yesterday had an open practice in Canmore. They should be refreshed after a weekend in the beautiful and scenic Alberta mountain town.

The Devils and Oilers have similar records, but how they’ve gotten there is different. The Devils have won half of their games going 7-5-2, while the Oilers are 6-5-1. New Jersey is higher in the standings, because they’ve played the most games in the league with 14.

The Devils had a great start. They went 5-2 and outscored teams 22-14. Their PK was 89.5%, their PP was 18.5% and they outshot teams by an average of 29.9 to 26.6. Their goalies had a combined .929Sv% with Jacob Markstrom (.918 in five starts) and Jake Allen (.974 in two starts).

However, since then they are 2-3-2 and have allowed 28 goals, while also scoring 28. Their PP has been unreal at 44.4%, their PK is 77.3% and they’ve outshot teams 31.4 to 28.9. Their goalies combined Sv% has dipped to .870 with Markstrom (.895 in five starts) and Allen (.821 in two starts).

The Oilers started poorly going 0-3 and were outscored 15-3. They couldn’t score and didn’t get many saves. However, they’ve started to find their game as of late.

They are 6-2-1 in their last nine. Their goalies have a combined .911Sv% and 2.44 GAA. Their offence took a bit longer to get going, but they have produced 28 goals in these nine games. Their power play is still not as dynamic or productive as the past five seasons, but with four goals on 18 chances (18.2%) it has shown the odd glimmer of light.

Edmonton will have to be aware of the Devils’ offence, which ranks 10th at 3.57 goals/game, but they also need to try and exploit the Devils who have been leaking goals the past few weeks.

— The SN broadcast has mentioned Leon Draisaitl’s career numbers without Connor McDavid the past two broadcasts. McDavid has now missed 58 games in his career, but Draisaitl only played in 56 of those. They both sat out the season finales in 2022 and 2024.

McDavid missed 37 games in his rookie season. Draisaitl started that year in the minors. He was recalled for the Oilers’ 11th game of the season. McDavid was injured in game #13. Draisaitl produced 9-21-30 in the 37 games without McDavid, which is pretty impressive for his first full NHL season.

Since 2018-19, McDavid has been quite healthy, missing only 21 games. Draisaitl played in 19 of those.

McDavid missed four games in 2019 and Draisaitl produced 2-4-6.

In seven games without McDavid in 2019-20, Draisaitl tallied 4-8-12.

In one game in 2022 Draisaitl scored 1-0-1.

Last season he scored 1-3-4 in five games.

In the last two games Draisaitl has 3-3-6.

Since 2018-19 Draisaitl has produced 11-18-29 in 19 games without McDavid for 1.52 points/game. In his other 443 games he’s scored 630 points (1.42 pts/game). Any suggestion Draisaitl is not elite on his own is beyond ignorant.

— The entire team has stepped up in McDavid’s absence. They have six different goal scorers the past two games and 13 skaters have at least one point. Zach Hyman has scored his first two goals of the season, while Viktor Arvidsson got his first.

— Stuart Skinner was the main reason the Oilers won in Calgary last night. Edmonton had an excellent first period, but Calgary took over for the final 40 minutes and Skinner made many key stops before Hyman scored the game-winner on the power play. The Oilers skaters will need a better effort tonight in front of Calvin Pickard.

— Pickard is 3-0 in his last three starts with a .938Sv% and 1.67 GAA in two wins over Nashville and one in Detroit. New Jersey will be the best team he’s faced all season, and the Oilers are hoping for another strong effort from their backup. I expect Skinner to play Wednesday v. Vegas.

— Brett Kulak was excellent yesterday in Calgary. He made some key defensive plays that I don’t think show up accurately on the scoresheet. If you look at his overall game, it has him outshot 9-7 and outscored 1-0. But I don’t think those numbers reflect his play at all. When he and Nurse were paired together, they were quite strong. My one concern with playing Travis Dermott over Troy Stecher is that it forces Kulak and/or Nurse to play the right side more. I know they can do it, but for continuity I’d rather have Stecher in. I understand why Dermott plays some games, because they don’t want him sitting out too long, but when he’s dressed there is less continuity in the bottom two pairs.

— McDavid was on the ice for this morning’s optional skate, which is a good sign. After the skate he wouldn’t rule out playing Saturday in Vancouver. He’s highly motivated and disciplined, so him coming back before two weeks wouldn’t be a shock. But players always want to play. It is in their DNA, but the Oilers need to be very cautious. If he doesn’t play Saturday, they don’t play again until next Tuesday, which is 72 hours more recovery time.

Podkolzin – Draisaitl– Arvidsson
Skinner – Nugent-Hopkins – Hyman
Janmark – Henrique – Brown
Ryan – Philp – Perry

Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Stecher
Kulak – Emberson

Pickard

Derek Ryan and Stecher draw in for Drake Caggiula and Dermott. The Henrique line needs to get going 5×5 and they will need to better as the Devils’ top three lines have all produced.

Meier – Hischier – Mercer
Palat – Hughes – Bratt
Cotter – Haula – Noesen
MacDermid – Dowling – Tatar

Dillon – Hamilton
Siegenthaler – Kovacevic
Hughes – Pesce

Allen

The Nico Hischier and Erik Haula lines have been very dangerous 5×5. They have a combined 21 goals 5×5. Hischier and Cotter are tied for the team lead with five goals, while Timo Meier and Stefan Noesen are tied for the most 5×5 points with eight. It will be interesting to see how Kris Knoblauch matches lines. The Devils will want Hischier out against Draisaitl, but I think Knoblauch would like the bigger Draisaitl going up against Jack Hughes’ line at times.

Jake Allen will start after Markstrom started the last three games.

GAME DAY PREDICTION: Oilers haven’t been good on second night of BTBs this year. That continues tonight with a 4-3 loss.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Draisaitl continues to produce. Adds another two points.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Podkolzin scores his first goal as an Oiler.