OILERS (12-10-2) at JETS (11-12-2)
8 p.m. ET; SNOL, TSN3, NHL.TV
Oilers team scope
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid did not participate in the optional morning skate but will play. "[McDavid] is fine," coach Todd McLellan said. "He has been encouraged to miss a few every now and then." Leon Draisaitl is expected to replace Jesse Puljujarvi at right wing on a line with McDavid and left wing Milan Lucic. Draisaitl has played with McDavid recently. "We had little bit of chemistry there," Draisaitl said. The Oilers lhave a three-game losing streak (0-2-1) and have five goals in that span; they are 3-7-1 in their past 11 games. Goaltender Cam Talbot will start for the seventh consecutive game after being pulled in a 4-2 home loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. "Flat-out defending better," McLellan said when asked what he wanted from his players Thursday. "Our 5-on-5 play hasn't been where it needs to be. We've got to get back to being a fast team and executing properly." The power play is 2-for-37 in the past 11 games. The Oilers are 7-4-2 on the road. Defenseman Mark Fayne was recalled from Bakersfield of the American Hockey League on Wednesday but will not play.
Jets team scope
The Winnipeg Jets will have forward Mathieu Perreault and defenseman Toby Enstrom back in the lineup. Perreault missed 14 games because of an upper-body injury. He'll start on the fourth line, replacing rookie Kyle Connor. "It's very exciting," Perreault said. "It almost feels like my first game of the season for me. I've just got to use the energy that I have." Coach Paul Maurice said, "We have all seen the Perreault forecheck where he comes back to the bench with half of his equipment." Enstrom missed three games because of a family issue and will replace Mark Stuart. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will start his sixth consecutive game. Center Mark Scheifele, whose 26 points are tied for second to McDavid's NHL-leading 31, is eager for the challenge. "He is a guy that you like to challenge yourself against because he is so good," Scheifele said. "Whenever you're playing against someone like that there is always extra motivation to show you're the real deal." The Jets have won five in a row at home, outscoring opponents 21-6.
Oilers projected lineup
Milan Lucic -- Connor McDavid -- Leon Draisaitl
Benoit Pouliot -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Jordan Eberle
Tyler Pitlick -- Drake Caggiula -- Anton Slepyshev
Patrick Maroon -- Mark Letestu -- Jesse Puljujarvi
Darnell Nurse -- Matthew Benning
Cam Talbot
Scratched: Mark Fayne, Matt Hendricks, Zack Kassian
Injured: Brandon Davidson (upper body), Eric Gryba (undisclosed), Iiro Pakarinen (knee)
Jets projected lineup
Drew Stafford -- Bryan Little -- Blake Wheeler
Nikolaj Ehlers -- Mark Scheifele -- Patrik Laine
Marko Dano -- Adam Lowry -- Brandon Tanev
Mathieu Perreault -- Andrew Copp -- Chris Thorburn
Josh Morrissey -- Dustin Byfuglien
Toby Enstrom -- Jacob Trouba
Connor Hellebuyck
Scratched: Alexander Burmistrov, Kyle Connor, Mark Stuart
Injured: Joel Armia (lower body), Shawn Matthias (lower body), Tyler Myers (lower body), Nic Petan (lower body)
Status report
Hendricks and Kassian are expected to be healthy scratches; Caggiula and Slepyshev will replace them. … Dano was hit by a high stick in a 3-2 home win against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday but will play. Chiarot will take Stuart's spot with Postma.
Who's hot
McDavid has six goals and six assists during his six-game point streak. Lucic has two goals and six assists during a five-game point streak. Draisaitl has nine points (four goals, five assists) in his past eight games. … Hellebuyck has a .926 save percentage in his past five starts.
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