YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS
BY THE NUMBERS
2016-17 Head-to-Head: Oilers vs. Sabres
Oilers/Sabres Stats Comparison
Game Notes: Oilers at Sabres
2016-17 Oilers Player Statistics
2016-17 Sabres Player Statistics
2016-17 NHL Standings
GAME DAY VIDEO
OILERS TODAY | Tom Gazzola reports on the key storylines prior to tonight's game
PRE-GAME RAW | McDavid
PRE-GAME RAW | Hendricks
PRE-GAME RAW | Letestu
PRE-GAME RAW | Oilers head coach Todd McLellan
MORE INFORMATION
You can watch tonight's game within the Oilers region on Sportsnet West.
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INSIDE THE OILERS

New line combinations at Oilers morning skate in Buffalo, plus news and notes from the Oilers two weekend games on home ice.
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PRE-GAME REPORT

BUFFALO, NY - The Oilers square off against the Buffalo Sabres tonight to kick off a three-game road trip. Both teams are coming off of overtime losses their last time out. For Edmonton, it was on Sunday against Minnesota and for the Sabres they lost last night in Washington.
Playing back-to-back games with travel, the Sabres will be going with former Oilers netminder Anders Nilsson between the pipes as he will face his old team for the first time in his career.
Edmonton has decided to make some lineup changes up front, reinserting forwards Jesse Puljujarvi and Matt Hendricks with Anton Slepyshev and Benoit Pouliot on the outside looking in.
Oilers lines tonight:
Lucic - McDavid - Draisaitl
Maroon - Nugent-Hopkins - Eberle
Puljujarvi - Caggiula - Kassian
Hendricks - Letestu - Pitlick
Russell - Larsson
Klefbom - Fayne
Sekera - Benning
Cam Talbot gets the start in goal.
HENDRICKS LOOKS FORWARD TO RETURN
Matt Hendricks talked about getting back into the lineup after a three-game absence.
"I just need to bring my game," he said. "Hard work, team first, block shots, try to win some face-offs. Just try to be a small piece of this puzzle."
He added that he's been trying to find his groove but it's been a challenge between injuries and being in and out of the lineup.
"It feels like a little bit of a roller coaster, the way the season started with getting injured in training camp, missing the last few games of exhibition and the first 18 of the regular season. Then coming back, feeling okay, not feeling great about my game and then coming out of the lineup, getting back in, then coming out," Hendricks continued.
"It's a lot different watching a game on TV or up in the press box," he said. "The frustration level is something you've really got to keep an eye on. Especially me. I get angry and I want to be in the lineup but I understand where this organization is going and the direction we're headed (but) I've gotta swallow that part of my pride a little bit and continue to be the team-first guy that I am."
FULL TEAM GAME NEEDED
The media story in tonight's game is Connor McDavid versus Jack Eichel as the top two players taken in the 2015 NHL Draft go head-to-head but Oilers head coach Todd McLellan cautioned that his squad needs to concentrate on the full team game in order to have any success.
"The way we view it is it's Edmonton and Buffalo, and Buffalo taught Edmonton a pretty good lesson a number of weeks ago. In fact, that lesson probably set us up to have a little bit of success moving forward," he began, adding that the Sabres recent injury troubles also shouldn't affect his team's preparation. "I know there's talk about their back-end and them being beat up. I think that's a trap put together so we could fall into and I'm going to warn our players.
"They still seem to play a very structured and strong game and I know we've had our own injury problems on the back-end. Teams with good depth battle through it and Buffalo's done a good job with that."
Oilers captain Connor McDavid chimed in agreeing that no matter the personnel, the Sabres play very good team defence.
"They're always a pretty strong defensive team. They don't give up much on the rush," he said. "That's up to us to try and solve that."
SUCCESS ON THE ROAD
The Oilers have the NHL's best record on enemy ice at 8-4-2. They also have the most goals (45), the fourth-best power play (26.8%) and the second-most power play goals (11).
"We seem to be comfortable playing on the road," McLellan started. "We find ways to win games. We've been able to win without our A Game. We'll get good goaltending, a timely goal. We're probably not getting all of that at home on a consistent basis."
Pat Maroon agreed with his head coach.
"Hopefully we can keep having that success on the road and hopefully we can find ways to win back home," he began. "I know we started off in October with a lot of home games and we were pretty successful there. Sometimes you get on the road and always think about ways to try and find wins on the road, focus on the road. The guys are just trying to play hard every night, trying to compete for a playoff spot every night and be a contender throughout the season."
McDavid added that less pressure without having to worry about putting on a good performance for the fans probably also contributes.
"Guys are just looser. I don't know how to explain it but a little bit more go out and play and not worry about anything," he stated.
-- Marc Ciampa, edmontonoilers.com

PREVIEW

OILERS (14-10-3) at SABRES (9-10-6)
TV: 5:00 p.m. MST; Televised on Sportsnet West
Head-to-Head:
This is the second and final meeting between the Oilers and Sabres this season and the lone game in Buffalo. The last time these teams met in Buffalo was on March 1st in Buffalo, where Edmonton won 2-1 in overtime. Connor McDavid scored both Oilers goals in the win.
The last time these teams met was on October 16th in Edmonton where the Sabres won by a score of 6-2. Benoit Pouliot and Milan Lucic scored for the Oilers.
Oilers team scope:
The Oilers own the NHL's best road record, with 8 wins, 4 losses and 2 overtime losses, and a .643 winning percentage.
On the road, the Oilers also have the most goals (45), the fourth best power play (26.8%) and the second most power play goals (11).
In two games against the Sabres in his career, Connor McDavid has a pair of goals, including the overtime winner last season in Buffalo.
Zack Kassian has seven assists and eight points in seven career games versus the Sabres.
Forward Patrick Maroon registered his eighth goal of the season on Dec. 4 vs. Minnesota, in his 27th game of the season. Only Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have more goals for Edmonton than Maroon. He has also has +8 plus-minus rating, ranking third on the team. Through 43 games with Edmonton since joining the team in a trade in 2017, Maroon has 27 points (16G, 11A).
Sabres team scope:
At 9-10-6, the Sabres sit second-last in the Eastern Conference at 24 points. They have, however, picked up points in six of their last eight games (4-2-2). This stretch has come after going winless in six (0-5-1).
Jack Eichel has missed most of the season due to injury. The number-two overall pick the year that McDavid was selected first has played four games this season since injuring himself in warm-up of the team's season opener. He has three goals and an assist in those four games.
Kyle Okposo leads the way for the Sabres with 17 points (8 goals, 9 assists) in 24 games.
-- Marc Ciampa, edmontonoilers.com