PRE-GAME REPORT: Oilers vs. Panthers

The Edmonton Oilers look to break out of a six-game slump on Thursday night when the Florida Panthers visit Rogers Place.
You can watch the game on Sportsnet or listen on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED.
Video: OILERS TODAY | Pre-Game vs FLA 01.20.22

YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS
GAME DAY VIDEO
OILERS TODAY | Pre-Game vs. FLA
PRE-GAME RAW | Coach Tippett
PRE-GAME RAW | McDavid
PRE-GAME RAW | Bouchard
RECENT VIDEOS
THE PANEL | Stepping Up
RAW | Mikko Koskinen
RAW | Cody Ceci
BY THE NUMBERS
Oilers Statistics
Panthers Statistics
Head-to-Head
Game Notes
RECENT BLOGS & ARTICLES
RELEASE: New dates for Oilers games announced
BLOG: Preparing for the Panthers
BLOG: Wednesday practice notes
VIEWING INFORMATION
You can watch Thursday's game on Sportsnet at 7:00 PM MT.
News and notes from Oilers practice, including the team preparing for Thursday night's meeting with the juggernaut Florida Panthers.
>> READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE OILERS BLOG
EDMONTON, AB - No more talk about practice, man.
After three days of up-tempo team skates, the Edmonton Oilers will put the practice time to use against the Florida Panthers Thursday at Rogers Place.
The cat's out the bag for the Orange & Blue, who are in the middle of a six-game skid and 2-10-2 stretch and would like nothing more than to get back on the right track in the win column as they continue to vie for their first victory of 2022.
"We need to get some rhythm with some games," Head Coach Dave Tippett said after the club's optional pre-game skate. "Our players are anxious for it. We've been sitting around here for what seems like forever."
For the players, it's been difficult to gain any traction in the results-driven National Hockey League with few games on the docket but Connor McDavid discussed the benefits of the recent break, which saw the club compete in a pair of matches over a two-week span.
"The best part is you can work on things," the Oilers captain said, "things that you want to kind of touch up. But obviously, it's not nearly as much fun as playing games. It's been a long, long two weeks here and we're looking forward to playing a game."
Puck battles, system structure, pace and special teams were points of emphasis for the Oilers this week. The sessions were physically demanding but healthy for the team overall and necessary to shake from the funk. Tippett commended his team for bringing their best to the rink, whether on the ice or in the video room.
"I give the players credit, they're trying to get better and trying to get on top of this," the coach said.
"Instead of using that energy on each other, use it against the opponent."
PROWL OF THE PANTHERS
With 26 wins in 2021-22 - tying a franchise record for most victories through 39 bouts - it's been a game of cat and mouse for the Panthers all season.
Video: PRE-RAW | Dave Tippett 01.20.22
The Panthers have become one of the most feared opponents in the NHL, scoring four goals or more in 24 matches and tallying 128 even-strength goals to prompt the third-best points percentage in the League at .731.
Florida's success this season isn't lost on the Oilers, who are approaching Thursday's action as a difficult yet healthy challenge.
"They're one of the hottest teams right now. It's always a good challenge to go up against the League's best," McDavid said of the visitors.
"They've been a good team for the last couple of years and obviously this year, they've gotten off to a really good start and maintained it."
It's been almost two years since the Oilers and Panthers last met after Edmonton was limited to North Division competition in the 2020-21 campaign. There is an element of the unknown against Florida, apart from the publicity of superstars Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau and Aaron Ekblad, but Tippett divulged into how his group prepped for the test.
"They're a high-skill team," he said. "There are a lot of players that have been around, so you know the players well. They've got it going here, stumbled a little bit in Calgary but they're a team that likes to make a lot of plays."
Florida is coming off their first regulation lapse since Dec. 16 with a 5-1 falling to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. While the Panthers have experienced plenty of success in the '21-22 season, their game has dipped on the road with a 12.8 percent power play (28th) and 73.1 average on the penalty kill (30th) to culminate in a 5-5-5 showing away from FLA Live Arena.
"It gives our group some confidence that they're beatable and anyone can win in this League," Cody Ceci said following practice Wednesday.
"We're going to have to play a similar game to what they (Calgary) did and get it done."
LINEUP NOTES
There could be some new line combinations for Thursday's game, based on the formations from the past three skates.
Although Brendan Perlini departed Wednesday's practice early, he is expected to flank McDavid and Kailer Yamamoto on the top line.
"As a player, he's really gifted," McDavid said of his new linemate. "He shoots the puck well, skates well and is a big man. He's gifted offensively."
Perlini has three goals and four points in 18 appearances while averaging 8:21 of ice time per game. He'll slot in alongside the streaking Yamamoto, who has three markers and seven points in his last seven games.
"He's been playing well and you can see his confidence growing and growing," said McDavid of Yamamoto. "I'm looking forward to playing with a guy like that."
On the back end, Tippett confirmed the NHL's all-time leading shot blocker with 2,015 - none other than the Kris 'Caroline Cowboy' Russell - will suit up in his first game since Dec. 9. He's expected to patrol the blueline with Evan Bouchard.
"It helps tremendously to have someone like that on your team who's played a long time," Bouchard said of his defence partner. "It's no fluke that he's played this long. He's a great player and someone that is really easy to play with and makes it easy on his D partner."
Goaltender Mikko Koskinen is slated to get the start in goal. He's backstopped the Oilers with a 12-7-1 mark alongside a .900 save percentage and 3.16 goals-against average.
-- Paul Gazzola, EdmontonOilers.com
Video: PRE-RAW | Connor McDavid 01.20.22
OILERS vs. PANTHERS
STREAM: 7:00 p.m. MT; televised on Sportsnet
Oilers Team Scope
The Edmonton Oilers are set to entertain a strong Florida Panthers side at Rogers Place on Thursday night as the Blue & Orange look to break out of a six-game losing streak.
The Oilers put together three solid practices in the build-up to Thursday where the intensity and drive were scaled up with plenty of battle drills and puck duels between teammates.
"That's key for us. We've worked hard, they've competed hard in practice," Tippett said. "We're trying to elevate our game to the place where we can improve and hopefully get better results."
The players are honing in on the details and ramping up the competitiveness knowing that despite who their next opponents might be, the answer will need to come from within the locker room if the club is going to improve on a 2-10-2 stretch in its last 14 games.
"It shouldn't matter who's coming in here right now," said Head Coach Dave Tippett. "You recognize your opponent, you recognize their strengths, their weaknesses but we got to worry about what we're doing here. Every other game, you got a good team coming in and we've got to prepare accordingly."
Defenceman Kris Russell is expected to rejoin the lineup on Thursday, with forward Brendan Perlini still an option for the match after leaving late in Tuesday's practice and being held out of action on Wednesday as a precaution.
Video: PRE-RAW | Evan Bouchard 01.20.22
Panthers Team Scope
The Florida Panthers are one of the League's top offensive outfits this season with a 26-8-5 record that's good enough for second in the Atlantic Division - just two points out of the top spot held by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Florida is coming off a 5-1 loss to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday that was the club's first regulation loss since December 16. Despite that, the Panthers are still 8-1-1 in their last 10 games while scoring 55 goals - the most in the NHL during that 10-game span.
"They'll embarrass you if you don't come to play," defenceman Cody Ceci said from the Oilers Hall of Fame Room on Wednesday. "We're definitely going to have to be focused."
The Panthers have been vulnerable on the road with a 5-5-5 record, including 10 losses in their last 12 games away from home.
By The Numbers
Florida's 57 points most through 39 games to begin 2021-22 is the club's highest in franchise history... The Panthers are one of five teams that are undefeated when leading after the second period this season (19-0-0)... Jonathan Huberdeau's 53 points through 39 games are tied for third in the League with Connor McDavid and one back of Leon Draisaitl (54)... Huberdeau had an eight-game point streak snapped in Tuesday's loss to Calgary...
The Oilers have allowed a power-play goal in 11 of their last 13 games and still own the League's top power-play percentage at 30.3 percent (30-for-99)... Edmonton's 16-6-0 record and .727 win percentage against Florida is the club's highest against any NHL opponent since 2002-03... The Oilers started the season 9-1-0 at home but are 1-6-0 in their last seven games at Rogers Place... Draisaitl has 26 points (10G, 16A) in 17 home games this season and is currently riding a nine-game point streak against the Panthers (4G, 8A) dating back to January 18, 2016.
Injury Report
OILERS - Stuart Skinner (COVID-19 Protocol) is day-to-day: Mike Smith (torn thumb) is day-to-day; Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (lower body) is on IR; Dylan Holloway (wrist, COVID-19 Protocol) is on IR.
PANTHERS - Jonas Johansson (COVID-19 Protocol) is on IR; Markus Nutivaara (lower body) is on IR; Noel Acciari (upper body) is on IR.
-- Jamie Umbach, EdmontonOilers.com