Oilers Look to Break Slump Against Flyers Wednesday Night

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Edmonton Oilers will begin a seven-game road trip on Wednesday night as they face the Philadelphia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. This matchup marks the start of a back-to-back set for the Oilers, who are coming off a comeback victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Head Coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed that he’ll stick with the lineup from Monday’s win, rewarding those players with another chance to build momentum despite the pressing need for improvement. “There were a lot of positives,” Knoblauch said. “We gave up fewer chances, but we need better execution with the puck to create more scoring opportunities.”

Key forward Zach Hyman will not play against the Flyers; however, he could potentially make his season debut on Thursday against the Blue Jackets, according to Knoblauch. The Oilers will also be without Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who is expected to miss the rest of the week due to an undisclosed injury.

The Flyers, under the guidance of Coach Rick Tocchet, are coming off a challenging stretch, having lost their last three home games. “They are a good team with a lot of skilled players,” said Oilers winger Andrew Mangiapane, noting the importance of starting strong on the road.

For the Oilers, Connor McDavid leads the team with 24 points this season, while Leon Draisaitl has collected 10 goals. The Oilers have struggled early in the season, but McDavid’s recent performance has indicated he is keen to turn things around.

On Philadelphia’s side, Trevor Zegras is leading the Flyers’ offense with 16 points so far. The Flyers have succeeded at home against the Oilers in recent years, with a 6-1-0 record at Xfinity Mobile Arena since the 2016-17 season.

Stuart Skinner will start in goal for Edmonton, while Dan Vladar takes the crease for Philadelphia. Both teams look to establish themselves early in the season, with the Oilers hoping to regain their footing after a rocky start.

As the teams prepare to face off, the tension builds. Will the Oilers finally find their rhythm, or will the Flyers take advantage of their struggles? The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. ET.