The Edmonton Oilers finally get back to the friendly confines of Rexall Place as they begin a four-game homestand against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday. Edmonton will be back on home ice following a franchise-record nine-game road trip during which it went 3-4-1. The Oilers completed what began as a disastrous trek with back-to-back triumphs over Chicago and Colorado, two clubs that had gone a combined 19-2-2 at home prior to hosting Edmonton.
Detroit has gone 0-2-1 since posting a 3-0 home victory over Edmonton on March 7 to improve to 10-0-1 in the last 11 meetings between the teams. The Red Wings, who conclude their three-game road trip Saturday at Vancouver, began the trek with a 5-2 loss to the Flames in Calgary on Wednesday. The one bright spot for Detroit was the return of Valtteri Filppula, who scored a power-play goal after missing seven games with a shoulder injury.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, FSN (Detroit), RDS2, Rogers Sportsnet (Edmonton)
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (12-10-5): Detroit is looking to complete a sweep of the three-game season series with Edmonton. The Red Wings won the first two meetings at home by a combined 5-1 score. Detroit will become a member of the Eastern Conference beginning in 2013-14 as the NHL officially announced its realignment plans. The Red Wings will be in an eight-team division that will include three other Original Six teams - Montreal, Toronto and Boston. "I think it's a great time for our fans," defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. "We're not going to be heading out west as much. They'll be able to watch our games in prime time a lot more than they have in the past."
ABOUT THE OILERS (10-11-5): The league's realignment will put Edmonton in a division that currently includes four teams from the Pacific, as well as current Northwest rivals Calgary and Vancouver. The Oilers have played only 10 of their first 26 games at home, with the most recent being a 3-2 shootout triumph over the Phoenix Coyotes on Feb. 23. Left wing Ben Eager cleared waivers and was assigned to Oklahoma City of the American Hockey League, while defenseman Mark Fistric was activated from injured reserve. Fistric has missed seven games with an elbow injury. "I've just been taking it day by day," he said. "I've been feeling better every day I wake up, so that's a positive sign."
OVERTIME
1. Detroit is just 3-6-2 on the road this season and has won only six of its last 26 games away from home.
2. Filppula's goal on Wednesday was the Red Wings' first on the road with the man advantage this campaign. They were 0-for-37 on the power play away from home prior to the tally.
3. Edmonton captain Shawn Horcoff has scored a goal in each of the team's last two games after missing the previous 15 with a broken knuckle.
PREDICTION: Red Wings 4, Oilers 2