PRE-GAME REPORT: Oilers vs. Golden Knights

The Edmonton Oilers host the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Place on Tuesday in their first game back from the NHL All-Star break.
You can watch the game on Sportsnet West or listen on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED.
Video: OILERS TODAY | Pre-Game at VGK

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GAME DAY VIDEO
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PRE-GAME RAW | Kane
PRE-GAME RAW | Draisaitl
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BY THE NUMBERS
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Game Notes
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VIEWING INFORMATION
You can watch Tuesday's game on Sportsnet West at 7:00 PM MT.
News and notes from Monday's practice at Rogers Place, including status updates on goaltenders Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen as well as several other roster moves.
**>> READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE OILERS BLOG**
EDMONTON, AB - Get ready to run the gauntlet.
The Edmonton Oilers begin the back-half of the 2021-22 National Hockey League schedule Tuesday at Rogers Place against the Vegas Golden Knights as they prepare to hit the ice for the remaining 40 games over 81 days.
"Our schedule to make up those games is full-scale, every second day," Head Coach Dave Tippett said. "There are points available and we got to make sure we take advantage."
The Orange & Blue returned to form recently with a 5-0-1 mark in their last six before getting a few days off with the 2022 NHL All-Star Weekend. After being hampered by injuries and undergoing a seven-game losing streak, the Oilers were able to bust the funk with a 5-3 win in the Battle of Alberta and haven't looked back, suffering just one overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators since.
"Most importantly, we're healthy," Leon Draisaitl said Tuesday following an optional skate.
"It makes our lineup a lot deeper and makes us a tougher opponent to play against. We found a way to beat Calgary and kind of just kept it going from there and the confidence has come back."
VISION ON THE DIVISION
With an eye on a Pacific Division playoff spot, matchups such as Tuesday's tilt with Vegas have come into focus.
Edmonton rests fifth in the Pacific with 49 points -- six back of the Anaheim Ducks for third -- and are three ticks behind the Calgary Flames for the last Western Conference wild card position. The squad has a number of matches in hand on most of their opponents but the significance of tonight's contest isn't lost on members of the Oil.
"Those are the teams you're battling with, right? If you beat them, those are always four-point games," Draisaitl said. "Every game is big for us from now on but I think there's a little more emphasis on your division."
When it comes to divisional dates, the Oilers have fared well in the '21-22 campaign. The squad is 10-2-0 versus Pacific competition and holds a 17-6-0 record against the Western Conference. In two meetings with Vegas at T-Mobile Arena this year, the Oilers have also come away with wins by outscoring the Golden Knights 8-5 and are 3-1-1 head-to-head at Rogers Place.
"They'll come out hard and we have to make sure we're ready," Draisaitl, who is second in NHL scoring with 63 points, said. "It's a great test to kick off the second half."
Video: PRE-RAW | Leon Draisaitl 02.08.22
SCHMIDDY UP
The crease is calling, Mike Smith.
After activation from Injured Reserve before Monday's practice at Rogers Place and with Mikko Koskinen sidelined due to COVID-19, 39-year-old keeper Smith will 'tend the twine for his seventh appearance of the campaign. The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder's season has been marred by injury, from a lower-body issue that kept him on the shelf for two months before the torn thumb he sustained against the New Jersey Devils on New Year's Eve.
The hope -- for Smith, his teammates and the Oilers coaching staff -- is that netminder can remain healthy and see routine reps in the blue paint down the stretch drive.
"We'd liked to see him stay healthy, without a question," Tippett said on Monday. "That's a big factor for it, but he's ready to go. He was ready last week and we decided to give him the break to get through it."
Smith was a workhorse in the COVID-shortened '20-21 campaign, backstopping Edmonton with a 21-6-2 record, 2.31 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and three shutouts.
That year, the net-protector underwent a similar situation by overcoming injury before taking the ball and running with it. Koskinen held down the fort for 10 games in January, collecting four wins, then Smith returned in February and never recorded more than three losses in a month.
"I'm hoping, for him, he comes in like last year," Tippett said. "He missed a bit of time then came back in the second half and was really strong."
Video: PRE-RAW | Dave Tippett 02.08.22
LINEUP NOTES
The Oilers recalled Stuart Skinner to be backup for Smith on Tuesday. The 23-year-old could see action soon as Tippett attempts to manage the workload for his guardians. "We got a lot of games in a short amount of time, so you could see us using both of them," the coach said.
With defenceman Kris Russell being moved to IR, William Lagesson will draw into the lineup after being recalled from the Bakersfield Condors a day prior. Tippett divulged details about Russell's injury on Tuesday. "He got hit back in the Vancouver game and it was a tough hit but he was feeling alright. On the road trip, he wasn't feeling right. So, we kind of shut him down for a couple of days here."
Any changes to the lineup will be made apparent during warmups.
Video: PRE-RAW | Evander Kane\ 02.08.22
-- Paul Gazzola, EdmontonOilers.com
OILERS vs. GOLDEN KNIGHTS
STREAM: 7:00 PM MT; televised on Sportsnet West
Oilers Team Scope
The Oilers got back to work Monday following the NHL All-Star break, converging at Rogers Place for a full-pull practice.
Before they hit the ice, the team announced a number of roster moves including the activation of goaltender Mike Smith from Injured Reserve, the placement of Kris Russell on IR, the recall of William Lagesson and the assignment of netminder Olivier Rodrigue to the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League.
The Orange & Blue were back on the right track prior to breaking for the All-Star festivities, going 5-0-1 in their last six games after dropping their previous seven contests. Over the six-game stretch, Edmonton has averaged 4.00 goals for per game, 2.50 goals against and has held a 21.4 percent power play.
Golden Knights Team Scope
The Vegas Golden Knights enter Rogers Place on a two-game winning streak by edging the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 before dispatching the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 last Tuesday.
Vegas sits atop the Pacific Division standings with a 27-16-3 record, .620 points percentage and 57 points overall. The club is 5-3-2 in their last 10 games and have proven to be a strong road team this season with a 13-6-1 mark when playing away from T-Mobile Arena.
The Golden Knights got some good news on Monday as superstar acquisition Jack Eichel participated in his first full-contact practice with his new squad after undergoing disc replacement surgery on his neck in November. The centre skated alongside Nolan Patrick and Michael Amadio.
Video: PRE-RAW | Leon Draisaitl 02.08.22
By The Numbers
Edmonton is 3-for-24 (12.5%) on the power play in their last 12 games but rank 3rd in the NHL overall with a 33-for-116 mark this season (28.4%) ... The Oilers have killed 35 of 55 shorthanded opportunities in the last 20 contests (63.6%), which is the worst penalty kill in the League since Dec. 5, 2021 ... EDM has trailed first in 12 of their last 14 but are 12-0-0 when scoring first and leading after the opening period ... Draisaitl is the first Oilers player with 32 goals through the first 42 team games of a season since Jimmy Carson had 33 in 1988-89 ... The German also has 11 multi-goal games this year and an NHL-high 60 power-play goals since '18-19 ...
The Golden Knights are 4-1-1 in their last six games, outscoring the opposition 16-15 ... Vegas keeper Robin Lehner is 10-3-1 in his last 14 games after starting the year 9-9-0 ... VGK has tallied 124 even-strength markers this year, which ranks 4th in the NHL ... The visitors have outscored their opponent 48-35 in the first period this season.
Injury Report
OILERS - Kris Russell (undisclosed) is on IR;
GOLDEN KNIGHTS - Zach Whitecloud (undisclosed) is day-to-day; Nicolas Hague (undisclosed) is on IR; Chandler Stephenson (COVID-19); Dylan Coghlan (COVID-19); Adam Brooks (undisclosed) is on IR; Alec Martinez (upper body) is on IR; Jake Bischoff (undisclosed) is on IR; Jack Eichel (neck) is on IR.
-- Paul Gazzola, EdmontonOilers.com