Oilers at Flames
The Edmonton Oilers had scored six goals during a four-game skid before matching that total in their last outing. The Oilers aim to keep the offense in gear on Saturday when they open Pacific Division play with the first installment of the Battle of Alberta against the host Calgary Flames, who have scored just six goals during their last four contests (1-3-0).
"The Battle of Alberta definitely gets you wound up and gets you going. Any time you play a rival, the fans get excited about it and the players get excited about it," Edmonton coach Todd McLellan said. The well-rested Oilers, who have been idle since skating to a 6-2 win over Montreal on Tuesday, will need to maintain that excitement as they begin a stretch of seven of eight games against divisional foes. Matthew Tkachuk scored twice as Calgary opened its four-game homestand with a 3-2 setback to the Canadiens on Thursday, tying the 20-year-old with Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan with a club-best nine goals. Tkachuk has made himself a favorite of the Flames' faithful by recording 14 of his team-high 21 points in eight home games this season.
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ABOUT THE OILERS (9-8-1): Ryan Strome's time in Edmonton came to an end on Friday after the team shipped him to the New York Rangers in exchange for Ryan Spooner, who mustered just two points (one goal, one assist) in 16 games this season after recording 16 (four goals, 12 assists) in 20 contests in 2017-18. "At the end of the day, I just wasn't really playing up to my standard," the 26-year-old Spooner said. "There are no excuses for that, and the fresh start here will do me good. There's a lot of skill there and I think I'll be able to fill in. I'm excited to join them." Spooner will be reunited with general manager Peter Chiarelli, who held the same position in Boston when he called his name with the 45th overall pick of the 2010 NHL Draft.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (10-8-1): Mike Smith will have a chance to redeem himself on Saturday after he allowed two third-period goals to the Canadiens -- including a 40-foot wrist shot that saw the puck squeeze between his pads. "When you feel like you let your team down, it's probably the biggest frustration, disappointment that could ever happen in your career; when you drop the ball," the 36-year-old said. Smith takes a less-than-desirable 3.48 goals-against average and .876 save percentage this season into a tilt with Edmonton, against which he won two of three decisions with a shutout in 2017-18.
OVERTIME
1. Lindholm is expected to play versus Edmonton despite sitting out practice Friday after blocking a shot with his foot, coach Bill Peters said.
2. Edmonton's Mikko Koskinen will draw the start on Saturday while fellow G Cam Talbot will face Vegas the following day, McLellan said.
3. Tkachuk has scored three goals in seven career meetings with the Oilers.