The Detroit Red Wings will take on the Edmonton Oilers in the second game of their Western Canada trip Tuesday night from Rogers Place. Puck drop is set for 9 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. MT on Bally Sports Detroit Extra and the Red Wings Radio Network.
The last time the Red Wings and Oilers faced off on Nov. 9, Vladislav Namestnikov scored two goals and Dylan Larkin and Moritz Seider each scored in Detroit’s 4-2 win at Little Caesars Arena.
Video: Namestnikov, Nedeljkovic lead Red Wings to victory
Detroit remains focused on being a difficult team to play against, and re-establishing the aggressiveness that was prevalent earlier this season.
“If you look back to the beginning of the season, through the middle part of the year, our fight was great,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “We just gotta get that fight back, regardless if bad things happen at different times in games.”
According to Blashill, maintaining a strong mental game will also be key to ending the losing streak and having a successful road trip.
“We each gotta find a way, ourselves, to be mentally tough,” Blashill said. “That’s just the reality. I use that word a lot, but I think it’s a huge factor in success, both individually and as a group. Mental toughness, I think, matters as much as anything else.”
Video: Jeff Blashill | 3/14 Practice
The Oilers, who are third in the Western Conference’s Pacific Division with a 32-23-4 record, are coming off Saturday’s 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Connor McDavid is on pace for a career season and is tied for first in the NHL with 83 points and tied for third with 51 assists. Leon Draisaitl is not far behind, ranking second in the NHL in both points (81) and goals (39). Goalie Mikko Koskinen has a 21-9-3 record in 32 starts with a .906 save percentage.