Oilers Look to Rebound as They Begin Back-to-Back Road Set Against Blues and Blackhawks

The Edmonton Oilers will look to snap a two-game skid as they hit the road for a back-to-back set against Central Division opponents. After closing out their six-game homestand with consecutive losses—falling 3-2 in a shootout to the Detroit Red Wings before a disappointing defeat against the Toronto Maple Leafs—the Oilers now shift their focus to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday before facing the last-place Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.

Edmonton Aims to Avoid Rare Three-Game Skid

Edmonton has not lost three consecutive games since opening the season with an 0-3 start. While the Oilers secured a 4-2 victory over St. Louis in their last meeting on December 7, the Blues have had their number at home. Edmonton has lost its last two trips to St. Louis and has dropped three of its last four games at Enterprise Center dating back to December 2021. The last 10 meetings between the two teams have been evenly split.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch is sticking with the same top-six forwards, keeping Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Corey Perry together on the top line, while Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Viktor Arvidsson round out the second line. However, adjustments are being made to the bottom-six in an effort to generate more secondary scoring.

Goaltending Decisions Loom for Oilers

Edmonton’s goaltending situation is a key storyline heading into the back-to-back set. Stuart Skinner has struggled recently, losing four of his last five starts. In Saturday’s loss to Toronto, he allowed three goals on just 1.34 expected goals in the first period, putting the Oilers in an early hole.

With two games in as many nights, Knoblauch may opt to give Skinner a break and turn to backup Calvin Pickard. Pickard has won his last five starts and is expected to play in one of these upcoming games—it’s just a matter of which one.

Blues Looking to Build Off Recent Win

St. Louis snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over the Utah Hockey Club on Sunday. Now, the Blues begin a six-game homestand that extends beyond the 4 Nations Face-Off break. However, home-ice advantage has not been a strength this season.

The Blues have a home win percentage of just .440, their worst mark since the 2020-21 season. After winning over 56 percent of their home games in the last three years, they will look to avoid their fourth consecutive home loss when they host Edmonton.

Blues Showing Improvement Under Montgomery

Since Jim Montgomery took over behind the bench, the Blues have shown notable progress in key areas. Under previous coach Drew Bannister, St. Louis ranked 26th in shot attempts and 28th in expected goals at even strength. Those numbers have improved to 18th and 21st, respectively, under Montgomery.

Offensively, the Blues have gone from a bottom-10 team to performing like a top-10 scoring unit. They ranked 25th in goals per 60 minutes under Bannister, but since the coaching change, only seven teams have been more productive in that category.

Defensively, St. Louis has also taken a major step forward. They ranked 25th in goals against per 60 minutes earlier in the season but have been the fourth-best team in that category since Montgomery took over.

Special Teams Remain a Concern for St. Louis

Despite their overall improvement, the Blues have experienced a slight dip in their underlying numbers over the last month. Their power play remains mediocre, and their penalty kill has struggled significantly, ranking as the third-worst in the NHL since Montgomery took charge.

As the Oilers look to rebound and the Blues aim to build on their recent victory, Tuesday’s matchup will serve as an important measuring stick for both teams. With Edmonton eager to avoid another losing streak and St. Louis seeking stability on home ice, this Central Division clash sets the stage for a compelling showdown.

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