The Oilers started the season with three wins, lost seven straight, won five in a row, and have now lost the last two. Somehow that bumpy path has led to equilibrium and an 8-8-1 mark.
Edmonton gave up two goals in the final two minutes of Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators, one night after losing 4-0 in Dallas.
Jarret Stoll and Ryan Smyth had the Oiler goals against the Predators.
Jarret Stoll has five goals and nine assists for Edmonton. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Michael Peca, out of the lineup for four games after suffering a concussion in a collision with Columbus forward Rick Nash, took the pre-game skates on both occasions and should be ready to play Friday.
"I feel good," Peca told the Edmonton Sun. "The idea was to get a couple of good practices in and morning skates don't quite qualify as good practices as far as doing things that are game-like.
"It was good to skate the last couple of days on a line and do drills and forecheck and those things. I feel sharp and ready to go."
Marty Reasoner is recovering from a swollen right hand from blocking a shot against Detroit, and may also be ready to provide help up front for a forward group that has struggled this week after an offensive outpouring during their last win streak.
The Oilers also claimed forward Krys Kolanos off the waiver wire from Phoenix on Friday. The Calgary native had two goals and an assist in nine games with the Coyotes this season.
On the blue-line, Cory Cross, Igor Ulanov and Marc-Andre Bergeron have been out of the lineup with injuries. Danny Syvret and Dan Smith have each played three games in their stead since being called up from the AHL.
Bergeron was activated from injured reserve and could see action on Friday.
While Jussi Markkanen has played well in the net for the Oilers, the Finnish goalie will be making his 13th consecutive start against the Blue Jackets.
With Ty Conklin put on injured reserve due to a groin injury, and Mike Morrison just recently removed from the East Coast Hockey League, the Oilers look to be riding Markkanen for a while yet.
Columbus (5-11-0) have taken two steps back with every step forward so far this season. The absence of star forward Nash due to an ankle injury contributed to a slow start, and the big winger returned for just two games before sustaining a knee injury that put him back on injured reserve.
Just when the team thought it couldn't get worse, defenceman Rostislav Klesla returned to the lineup for a mere four games before breaking his hand in Wednesday's 3-1 win over St. Louis. He's expected to miss at least six weeks.
Klesla was involved in fight with Eric Brewer after the final whistle, the third altercation in a chippy game.
The victory against the Blues was the team's third straight at home. David Vyborny had two goals, with Todd Marchant also scoring.
Nikolai Zherdev and Manny Malhotra each had two assists as Columbus won for the first time in five games.
Marc Denis set aside 24 shots and was just 37 seconds away from a shutout.
Friday's outcome is guaranteed to be different than the last three times the teams played at Nationwide Arena, which all ended in ties.
Edmonton is 7-0-3 in the last ten head-to-head encounters.
On Nov. 1, the Oilers skated to a 5-1 win in Edmonton. Ales Hemsky had two goals, with Todd Harvey, Ryan Smyth and Raffi Torres also scoring.
The Oilers have three games to go on a seven-game road trip, and will next play in Chicago on Sunday.
