Was planning to skip the NHL tonight after another utterly inexplicable result last night involving the Blackhawks on the West Coast, but the Devils have opted to start backup Jake Allen in Edmonton and that's enough for me to play this. Allen has allowed 12 goals over his past two and hasn't been good for years. Had it been No. 1 Jacob Markstrom, likely no play as the Oilers are still without Connor McDavid. Yet they have won four of five. It's the end of a three-game swing through Canada for the visitors, who are a little short at forward missing lower-line guys Curtis Lazar and Nathan Bastian. NJ is 2-5 in its past seven.

Will the Devils who walloped the Canucks 6-0 to begin this road trip show up tonight at Rogers Place? Or will it be the New Jersey that was subsequently whipped 3-0 at Calgary? While we ponder these inconsistencies, we note the recent form of Edmonton; with the exception of last Monday's game in Columbus when the Oilers sagged after Connor McDavid's ankle injury, four of the other last five games have been superb, outscoring foes 16-5 in the four wins. Cal Pickard is slated in goal for Kris Knoblauch tonight, with Edmonton winning his last three starts. Oilers are also a spotless 2-0, outscoring the opposition a combined 9-3, as they circle the wagons in the first two games of McDavid's absence. Play Oilers