Senators at Oilers
THE STORY: Rexall Place finally has its primary tenant back in the fold - and the Edmonton Oilers couldn't be happier to be home. The club returns from a six-game road trip Thursday night with a game against the Ottawa Senators. Edmonton won just twice on the marathon trek, and will undoubtedly be pumped for its first home game since Oct. 30 as it looks to halt a three-game slide. The Oilers have been sensational in their own building so far this season, going 6-1-1 to help offset their struggles away from Edmonton. Ottawa is playing the second of a three-game swing through Western Canada. The trip began on a positive note, with the Senators defeating the Calgary Flames 3-1 on Tuesday night. Ottawa has been bulletproof on the penalty kill of late, fending off 26 consecutive man-advantage situations.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, Rogers Sportsnet Ontario, Rogers Sportsnet East
ABOUT THE SENATORS (9-9-1): Ottawa has had Edmonton's number in recent history, winning seven of their last eight meetings since 2005-06. The Senators have been especially tough in Edmonton, prevailing five straight times there - including a 5-3 triumph in their last encounter on Feb. 12. Senators rookie winger Colin Greening had a sensational October but has been virtually invisible in November, going scoreless with a minus-four rating in seven games so far this month.
ABOUT THE OILERS (9-6-2): Taylor Hall isn't used to playing through prolonged slumps. The first overall pick in the 2010 draft has been an elite player at every level of hockey, but is struggling early in his second season in the NHL. The 20-year-old has gone eight games without a goal and has recorded just 10 points in 16 games so far. The grueling road trip was especially rough on Hall, who had a lone assist and was a minus-five.
OVERTIME:
1. Hall should find things a little easier at Rexall Place, where he has three goals and six assists in eight games. The sophomore winger has yet to score on the road this season.
2. A victory would give the Oilers their first five-game home winning streak since March 2008.