Red Wings, Oilers Face Off, Each Looking for Fourth Straight Win

Two of the NHL’s hottest teams meet Thursday night as the Detroit Red Wings visit the Edmonton Oilers, with both teams looking to extend their three-game winning streaks.

Red Wings Hitting Their Stride Under McLellan

Detroit (11-4-1 since Dec. 26) is surging under new head coach Todd McLellan, who has quickly turned the Red Wings into a dangerous contender.

They’re coming off a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, powered by:

• Lucas Raymond (1G, 3A) – Now leads Detroit with 56 points in 50 games
• Marco Kasper (2G, 1A) – Breakout performance
• Elmer Soderblom – Scored his first goal of the season

McLellan praised Raymond’s consistency:
“You don’t realize how impactful he is. Night after night, so competitive, so consistent.”

The 6-foot-8, 246-pound Soderblom has been making his presence felt since being recalled from Grand Rapids.

“I feel like I’ve grown as a player and I’m starting to use my size, my skills, and my shot to my advantage,” he said.

Detroit is expected to get Vladimir Tarasenko (illness) back, but Patrick Kane (upper body) and J.T. Compher (upper body) remain out.

McDavid Returns, Oilers Keep Rolling

Edmonton (7-2-0 in last nine) continues its strong run after a 4-2 win over Seattle, which featured:

• Connor McDavid scoring in his return from a three-game suspension
• Mattias Ekholm (1G, 1A) contributing from the blue line
• Backup Calvin Pickard (26 saves) stepping up while Stuart Skinner was away for the birth of his son

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McDavid and Leon Draisaitl remain among the NHL’s elite:

• Draisaitl: 75 points (35G, 40A) in 50 games
• McDavid: 66 points (21G, 45A) in 44 games

Head coach Kris Knoblauch credited their leadership:
“Your best players, McDavid and Leon, putting up numbers consistently, that’s a big reason for our success.”

Goaltender Stuart Skinner is back, but defenseman John Klingberg (hip surgery) won’t debut until Saturday.

A Playoff Atmosphere in Edmonton

With both teams surging and looking to solidify playoff positioning, Thursday’s game promises to be a high-intensity battle. Can Detroit maintain its momentum on the road, or will Edmonton’s offensive firepower be too much to handle?

Puck drop in Edmonton is set for 9:00 PM ET.