GAMEDAYDALLAS

The Oilers finish up their brief two-game road trip at American Airlines Center with a 7:30 p.m. MT contest against the Dallas Stars.
You can watch the game on Sportsnet One or listen live on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED.
Subscribe to Oilers+ to unlock the Pre-Game Show that will begin at 7:00 p.m. MT, along with more exclusive live and behind-the-scenes content.

YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS

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INSIDE THE OILERS

News and notes from Oilers practice on Tuesday, including Jesse Puljujarvi scoring with his dad in attendance...
>> READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE OILERS BLOG

PRE-GAME REPORT

DALLAS, TX - The Oilers are looking to end their Dads Trip on a high note with a win against the Dallas Stars.
"I think everybody here is focused on making sure we put it in a good effort versus the Central Division leading team. We weren't happy with the game we played against this team at home, so we're expecting a big response, and to do that in front of our family and friends, I think it's important," Head Coach Jay Woodcroft said about tonight's contest. "I think the people that we brought on this trip, it's a galvanizing force and we're looking to make them proud of us."
The trip has come at an important juncture in the Oilers schedule. The team believes they have left a few points on the table over the last week with a couple of extra-time losses and a game where they thoroughly outplayed the Anaheim Ducks, but a spectacular goaltending performance forced them to leave the contest empty handed. The Oilers head coach hopes that the shared experiences of this trip can bring the team together against a top-tier opponent on Wednesday night.
"What I like about these dads and mentors trips, and this is probably about my 14th or 15th year in the NHL, but what I like about them is that I think it galvanizes the group, especially in the middle of the season," Woodcroft said. "The dads and mentors bring in energy about them and I think that players really want to perform in front of their special guest."
The Oilers dads have been involved in all aspects of their son's day-to-day rigors of being a National Hockey League player. They've flown on the team charter, they've attended the practices, and shared meals and meetings with the group.
"I know that one thing our staff believes in is being open with everybody. Our guests are around us, they're sitting in meetings, they're in on the game plan," Woodcroft said.
Like any stereotypical hockey dad, they may even have a few suggestions for the man who is 43-23-5 since becoming an NHL head coach.
"I know that they have some advice for the coach sometimes as well and my ears are open," Woodcroft joked. "No, just kidding, but we're excited to have everybody with us, that's for sure."

PRE-RAW | Jay Woodcroft 12.21.22

DEFENSIVE DUO

One constant for the Oilers has been the duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl playing on the same line for most of the last month.
While the league's first-and-second leading scorers dominate much of the headlines, there is another Oilers duo that has gotten pretty familiar with one another in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Mattias Janmark. The pairing has been doing the much appreciated, but less lauded defensive heavy lifting for the team in their 157:51 time-on-ice together.
"I think we kind of have the attitude that we're going to work to get pucks back and create offense off of that," Nugent-Hopkins said about the line. "We obviously don't want to give anything up easy on defense and just try to play as much in the O-zone as we possibly can."
Janmark has become an important defensive contributor for the Oilers since his call-up from the Bakersfield Condors. The long-time NHL veteran has said the start of the season did not go according to script for him, but he's made the most of his opportunities since then.
"He's come up in this opportunity since (Evander) Kane went down, and he's gradually carved out a little bit more and more of a role," Woodcroft said. "One of the things that has happened is that playing together with Nugent Hopkins, they've developed a little bit of chemistry. They do it five-on-four, they can do it four-on-four, and they've done it five-on-five. I think on a personal level for him, he'd probably like to see a little bit more conversion on some of the offensive chances that he's created."
Their play has given Woodcroft the flexibility to stack the deck and play the NHL's two best players on a line with each other. McDavid has recorded a point in every game since he and Drasaitl were reunited, racking up 27 points (12G, 15A) in the process.
With the Stars deploying a stacked top line of their own in Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Joe Pavelski -- having a duo the Oilers can rely on to play those tough minutes at a moment's notice is a huge benefit for the Oilers coach.
"Those two together can go on the ice against anybody in the National Hockey League because of their defensive conscience and we're going to keep that together tonight with those two, for sure," Woodcroft said.

PRE-RAW | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 12.21.22

PLAYING WITH FIRE

The last time the Oilers and Stars got together, the Texas team flirted with disaster, but their fourth-ranked penalty kill got them out of trouble. Edmonton earned six power-play opportunities on the night, but was only able to take advantage once, with Leon Draisaitl scoring from his trademark spot at the right circle.
Stars Head Coach Peter DeBoer stated before the game that if the Stars hope to have success tonight, they need to limit the Oilers top-ranked power play.
"I'm not selling state secrets here. If you put Edmonton on the powerplay, there's probably a good chance you're losing tonight. If you're going to give Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and that group rush and open ice, you're probably going to lose tonight," DeBoer said. "Every coach in the league is preaching the same things, and we did get away with it in Edmonton, but we can't do that again tonight."
The Oilers have used their speed to draw the fourth-most power play opportunities in the league and they have made teams pay for it. Their 40 goals with the man advantage paces the NHL and it is the type of unit that can keep coaches up at night.
"We have a pre-scout meeting on every team we're playing, and I can tell you it's significantly longer on a morning like this against Edmonton than it is against some other teams," DeBoer said.
-- Michael Arcuri, EdmontonOilers.com

PREVIEW

OILERS vs. STARS
STREAM: 7:30 p.m. MT; televised on Sportsnet One
Oilers Team Scope
The Oilers wrap up their short road trip on Wednesday night at American Airlines Center against the Dallas Stars.
The last time the two teams met was back on Nov. 5 at Rogers Place, where the Stars came out with a big 6-2 win over the Oilers. The game is one that Head Coach Jay Woodcroft doesn't remember fondly.
"We weren't happy with the result that night. I thought that was one of the only eggs we laid all year in terms of effort and execution level," Woodcroft said. "We think we can show a lot better than we did that day. It wasn't our finest hour, but we get another crack at them tomorrow."
The Oilers only two goals came off the sticks of Darnell Nurse and Leon Draisaitl, while Jack Campbell made the start and stopped 30 of 36 shots to take the loss on the evening.
Edmonton will certainly need a better effort against the Central Division leading Stars who also pace all Western Conference teams in goal differential with a plus-27 mark on the season.
The Oilers are coming off three-consecutive losses, with all three game being separated by essentially a coin flip. St. Louis and Nashville both came out on top outside of regulation, while the Ducks overcame a 32 shot deficit to steal the one goal win last Thursday at Roger Place.
"We felt all three of those games were winnable games," Woodcroft said. "We were right there, but it's that one play here or there that we have to make that we haven't been able to do consistently enough."

RAW | Jay Woodcroft 12.20.22

Stars Team Scope
The Dallas Stars come back home after wrapping up a five-game road trip with a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday.
Emerging superstar Jason Robertson scored what would become the game-winning goal into the empty net with 1:07 left in the contest. The tally was the 23-year-old's 24th goal of the season and 47th point in the first 33 games of 2022-23. Robertson is coming off an outstanding campaign last year where he lead the Stars with 41 goals, while finishing second to Joe Pavelski in points with 79.
"One of the top players in the game obviously, really good from the blue line in," Woodcroft said about the Stars forward. "(He) finds a way to score in multiple different fashions, is dangerous on the power play, dangerous off the rush, and dangerous on the cycle. He plays with two really good players as well and Hintz and Pavelski, that's been one of the top lines, and most consistent lines over the last few years. He's someone that we're going to have to pay attention to, but that whole line is a line that we're going to have to pay attention tomorrow."
The aforementioned Joe Pavelski has been a thorn in Edmonton's side for well over a decade now. The 38-year-old comes into the contest with 31 points (11G, 20A) in 33 games, but he has been an Oilers killer throughout his NHL career with 59 points in 61 games.
Woodcroft is well aware of what the veteran can do, having coached him for years as an San Jose Sharks assistant.
"He's someone who has a true passion for the game. He's someone who works at his craft on a day in, day out basis," Woodcroft said about Pavelski's longevity. "I don't think he's blessed with some of the gifts that other players are blessed with, but what he does have is a desire to be the best that he can be. He's got a real brain to navigate himself all around the rink and he's someone that, as I said, you're going to have to pay attention to, because he can hurt you in different fashions."

RAW | Jesse Puljujarvi 12.20.22

By The Numbers
Connor McDavid enters the game with a 13-game point streak registering 29 points (12G, 17A) over that stretch... Tyson Barrie has recorded an assist in in seven-straight games and has 11 assists over that time... The streak is the second-longest-assists streak by a defenceman this season, only behind Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey... The Oilers have scored 45 goals in the third period of games and have a plus-10 differential in the final frame this season...
Joe Pavelski's 26 goals against the Oilers is the second-most the forward has scored vs. any NHL team... The Oilers are 26-59-4-11 all-time against the Stars... Jamie Benn's 23 goals against the Oilers are the most by the forward against any NHL club... Benn recorded a hat trick against the Oilers back on Nov. 5 at Rogers Place...
Injury Report
OILERS - Oscar Klefbom (shoulder) is on IR; Mike Smith (undisclosed) is on IR; Evander Kane (wrist) is on IR;
Ryan McLeod
(undisclosed) is on IR;
Philip Broberg
(undisclosed) is day-to-day; Ryan Murray (undisclosed) is day-to-day.
STARS - Nick Caamano (undisclosed) is on IR.
-- Michael Arcuri, EdmontonOilers.com