Avalanche and Oilers Gear Up for Saturday Night Showdown
Rogers Place in Edmonton is set to host a highly anticipated clash between the Colorado Avalanche and the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, November 8, 2025. The Avalanche, currently leading the Central Division with an impressive 8-1-5 record, will face off against an Oilers team striving to find consistency, holding a 6-5-4 record.
Projected Lineups
Colorado Avalanche:
The Avalanche are expected to field the following lineup:
- Forwards: Artturi Lehkonen - Nathan MacKinnon - Martin Necas / Ross Colton - Brock Nelson - Valeri Nichushkin / Gabriel Landeskog - Jack Drury - Victor Olofsson / Parker Kelly - Zakhar Bardakov - Gavin Brindley
- Defense: Devon Toews - Cale Makar / Josh Manson - Brent Burns / Ilya Solovyov - Sam Malinski
- Goaltenders: Scott Wedgewood / Mackenzie Blackwood
Gavin Brindley is set to return to the lineup after recovering from concussion protocol, marking his first game since October 31. The Avalanche have also recalled forward Danil Gushchin from the AHL's Colorado Eagles. Ilya Solovyov is expected to play after being a healthy scratch in their previous game. However, defenseman Samuel Girard will remain sidelined due to an upper-body injury despite practicing recently. Joel Kiviranta is also out with a lower-body injury, and Logan O'Connor is recovering from hip surgery.
Edmonton Oilers:
The Oilers are projected to counter with the following lineup:
- Forwards: Leon Draisaitl - Connor McDavid - Jack Roslovic / Vasily Podkolzin - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Andrew Mangiapane / Isaac Howard - David Tomasek - Matthew Savoie / Adam Henrique - Noah Philp - Trent Frederic
- Defense: Mattias Ekholm - Evan Bouchard / Darnell Nurse - Alec Regula / Brett Kulak - Jake Walman
- Goaltenders: Stuart Skinner / Calvin Pickard
Coach Kris Knoblauch is making significant line changes, reuniting Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the top line with Jack Roslovic. Alec Regula is expected to return to the lineup after recovering from an early-season injury, partnering with Darnell Nurse on defense. Stuart Skinner is slated to start in goal. Zach Hyman is still out with a wrist injury but is expected to make his season debut next week. Mattias Janmark, who has yet to play this season due to an undisclosed injury, could return against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. Kasperi Kapanen is also on injured reserve with a knee injury. Troy Stecher may be a potential player to be released from the roster.
Keys to the Game
The game is crucial for the Oilers, who are looking to elevate their performance against a top-tier opponent and start a winning streak. The Avalanche's offensive prowess, led by Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas, poses a significant threat. MacKinnon has 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists), while Necas, recently signed to an $11.5 million extension, has 18 points. Cale Makar leads all NHL defensemen with 18 points as well. Edmonton will need to focus on containing Colorado's speed and skill in transition.
Oilers' captain Connor McDavid has called for more urgency and better execution from his teammates, particularly in closing out games. McDavid has 21 points (4 goals, 17 assists) this season. The Oilers' power play has been a bright spot, operating at 35%, and they will need to capitalize on those opportunities.
The Avalanche have won five of their last six road games against the Oilers. However, the Oilers have been strong at home, with a 4-0-2 record at Rogers Place.
The game is set to begin at 10 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on CBC, TVAS, SNE, SNO, SNW, ALT2, and KTVD.
