The Oilers head to Minnesota for a quick one-game road trip matinee contest at Xcel Energy Center.
You can watch the game on Sportsnet West or listen on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED.

YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS
GAME DAY VIDEO
OILERS TODAY | at Wild Pre-Game
PRE-GAME RAW | Talbot
PRE-GAME RAW | McDavid
PRE-GAME RAW | Benning
PRE-GAME RAW | Oilers Head Coach McLellan
BY THE NUMBERS
Stats Comparison: Oilers vs. Wild
Media Game Notes: Oilers vs. Wild
2017-18 Oilers Player Statistics
2017-18 Wild Player Statistics
Head-to-Head: Oilers vs. Wild
2017-18 NHL Standings
RECENT VIDEOS
THE PANEL | The Return of the Talbot
RECENT BLOGS & ARTICLES
MIC INJURY REPORT: Talbot activated from IR
BLOG: Practice updates 12/15
RELEASE: Talbot activated from IR
GENE'S BLOG: Nurse and Nurse
BLOG: Oilers excited for Talbot's return
BLOG: Oilers unfazed by backup goalies
MORE INFORMATION
You can watch Saturday's game on Sportsnet West.
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Inside The Oilers Blog

INSIDE THE OILERS

News and notes from recent Oilers practices and media availabilities, plus Cam Talbot activated from injured reserve.
>> READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE OILERS BLOG

PRE-GAME REPORT

EDMONTON, AB - Friday saw Edmonton activate goaltender Cam Talbot from Injured Reserve. The keeper, who is 10-10-1 this season with a .903 save percentage, 3.00 goals-against average and one shutout, has the group charged by his return.
"Activating him leads us to believe that he's ready to go and it shows his teammates that he's ready to go," said Oilers Head Coach Todd McLellan. "We have him scheduled to play tomorrow in Minneapolis and I think the group is excited about it."
In Talbot's absence, the Oilers rode backup Laurent Brossoit. The netminder held his own and McLellan alluded to it.
"We can't disrespect the job that LB did," he said. "He came in and played some pretty darn good games. There was the odd goal that he'd like to have back but that was his first foray into stringing a bunch of games together."
McLellan expressed minor concern with Talbot not having participated in a full practice this week.
"He has been able to practice, not a complete practice - so there is some concern there - but at some point, he's going to have to play his first game. The sooner, the better."
SHORTHANDED SHORTCOMINGS
In Thursday's 4-0 loss to the Predators, the Oilers allowed two power play goals against on three opportunities.
This season, the club ranks last in the League on the PK at 72.1 percent. McLellan noted that he wants his club to stay clear of the penalty box but also explored the options he has shorthanded going forward.
"We could change the personnel, although the personnel that we're using now is equipped to penalty kill," said McLellan. "Then there are adjustments systematically, which we have been making, and we have seen improvements in the numbers. We wouldn't even be talking about this if our (penalty kill) number started with an eight."
The shorthanded shortcomings have hampered the team recently, not necessarily due to a lack of execution.
"You look at the lost stick that Nuge has, that creates a disadvantage for us, then the puck bounces a couple times to a player that's open," said McLellan.
There are improvements that could be made, however.
"5-on-3, we can do a better job," McLellan said. "I thought we got spread out and put our goaltender in a bad situation. Those are areas to improve on."
LUCK OF THE PUCK
The pucks haven't been bouncing in the Oilers favour this season and last night's game displayed some evidence of that.
The Predators' first goal appeared to have been deflected by Pontus Aberg's stick above the cross-bar. Then, the Oilers were handed a few unfavourable ricochets when the Preds made it 2-0.
"It's tough to say that it's just been luck stopping us from winning," said Oilers Captain McDavid. "Last night, you put up that many shots (46) and we really didn't give up many shots (23) but ultimately the ones we did were good chances."
McDavid couldn't deny that the luck of the puck hasn't benefitted the Oilers recently.
"A point shot that was tipped and may or may not have been a high stick," he said of Aberg's tally. "Then a power play that just bounced around and ended up on a stick.
"A lot of weird bounces that just didn't go our way."
LINEUP NOTES
It appeared as though the Oilers skated in the same line formations as Thursday's game. That could change based on line rushes during warm-ups on Saturday.
Lucic - McDavid - Puljujarvi
Maroon - Nugent-Hopkins - Cammalleri
Khaira - Draisaitl - Strome (Caggiula rotating in)
Slepyshev - Letestu - Kassian (Walker rotating in)
Defence
Nurse - Russell
Klefbom - Benning
Auvitu - Davidson
Goal
Talbot
-- Paul Gazzola, EdmontonOilers.com

PREVIEW

OILERS (13-17-2) at WILD (17-11-3)
TV: 12:00 p.m. MST; Televised on Sportsnet West
Head-to-Head:
The Oilers and Wild are meeting for the first time this season. They'll play two more times this season: in Edmonton on March 10, and in Minnesota on April 2.
Last season, the Oilers dropped all three against Minnesota, two beyond regulation.
Oilers team scope:
The Oilers are looking to rebound from Thursday night's 4-0 loss to Nashville.
In that game, Edmonton fired 46 shots on net but Juuse Saros stopped all of them.
Edmonton is 6-5 in their last 11 games.
In their last four games, the Oilers have averaged 41.25 shots on net. In their last two wins, the Oilers have outscored their opponents 13-4.
Wild team scope:
The Wild have won four straight games, matching their longest streak of the season. They've also won five straight home games, and have at least a point in eight straight games in Minnesota.
Their last game ended in a 2-0 blanking of Toronto on Thursday.
By the Numbers:
Connor McDavid leads the Oilers in scoring with 39 points (12-27-39) in 32 games.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is tied for the team lead in goals with 12.
Eric Staal sits atop the Wild's scoring with 27 points (12-15-27) in 31 games. The Wild have three players with double-digit goal totals (Staal, Jason Zucker and Nino Niederreiter).
Injury Report:
OILERS - A. Sekera (knee) is on IR; A. Larsson (upper body) is on IR.
WILD - Z. Parise (back) is on IR; J. Spurgeon (illness) is on IR; D. Dubnyk (lower body) is on IR.
-- Chris Wescott, EdmontonOilers.com