PRE-GAME REPORT

SAINT LOUIS, MO - Check back following the morning skate for a full report.
-- Marc Ciampa, EdmontonOilers.com

PREVIEW

OILERS (13-12-2) at BLUES (9-13-3)
TV: 6:00 p.m. MST; Televised on Sportsnet
Head-to-Head:
Tonight's game is the first of three meetings between the Oilers and Blues. They'll meet again on December 18 in Edmonton. 
Last year, the Blues won twice and Oilers won once in the three meetings. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had four assists in three games to lead the Oilers in assists and points against St. Louis. Brayden Schenn had eight points (four goals) in three games for the Blues. 
Oilers team scope:
The Oilers had won three straight games before dropping a 4-1 decision to the Dallas Stars on Monday night. They are three points behind the San Jose Sharks for the third place in the Pacific Division while also holding a game in hand. 
Connor McDavid continues to lead the team in scoring with 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 26 games. McDavid missed Monday's game due to an illness but stated on Tuesday that he expects to play tonight. 
Cam Talbot is expected to get the start tonight. He has a 5-9-1 record in 15 starts with a 3.29 goals-against average and .889 save percentage. 
Blues team scope:
The Blues have dropped three of their last four games, including a 6-1 loss at the hands of the Arizona Coyotes this past Saturday. They haven't played since that game. They are tied for last in the Western Conference (and NHL) with 21 points and a 9-13-3 record. St. Louis is 11 points back of the final playoff spot in the West, which is the Minnesota Wild who hold the second wild card spot with 32 points. 
Ryan O'Reilly leads the Blues with 28 points through 25 games. He's also tops on the club with 12 goals. O'Reilly is also second in the team in plus/minus with a +5 rating. Defenceman Colton Parayko is +6 and has seven points in 25 games. 
By the Numbers:
The Blues are 9-1-1 this season when leading after two periods and 0-11-2 when trailing after 40 minutes. ... Oilers are 5-1-0 when leading after two and 2-9-1 when trailing after two.
Considering the Blues are tied for last in the NHL standings, their power play and penalty kill are both respectable. The Blues power play is 9th in the NHL at 23.8% and the penalty kill is 10th at 81.7%. ... Blues have a +5 goal differential in the first period, -2 goal differential in the second and -12 in the third. Oilers have a -6 goal differential in the first, -12 in the second and +2 in the third. 
Blues are 4-4-0 versus the Pacific Division and Oilers are 5-4-0 against the Central. 
Injury Report:
OILERS - Andrej Sekera (achilles) is out; Tobias Rieder (upper body) is out; Connor McDavid (illness) is probable; Ryan Spooner (illness) is probable
BLUES - Erik Foley (concussion) is on IR; Carl Gunnarsson (upper body) is day-to-day; Jaden Schwartz (undisclosed) is day-to-day; Alex Pietrangelo (hand) is on IR; Alex Steen (concussion) is day-to-day; Robby Fabbri (shoulder) is on IR
-- Marc Ciampa, EdmontonOilers.com