Hot News: 40 Edmonton Oilers take to the ice as split squads face Flames; Jeff Petry ...

Oilers Game(s) Day: Preseason Games 1 & 2 vs. Calgary

The 2014-15 NHL preseason kicks off tonight, and will be marked in this province by simultaneous Battles of Alberta in both Edmonton and Calgary. Both the Oilers and Flames will ice 'split squads', split about 50/50 between NHL-calibre players and prospects.

The Oilers released their line-ups for the two games earlier today. Jeff Petry will sit out with a minor shoulder injury he sustained in camp on Friday, while Jordan Eberle will also sit up top so that the club can give junior winger Greg Chase a look with the big boys.

Let's have a look at the line-ups in detail, starting with what the home fans can expect to see at Rexall Place tonight:

Chase draws in on the right side with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Taylor Hall in what will surely be an unforgettable night for the newly-signed winger. (Of course, it took approximately 5 milliseconds for the 'Eberle's being traded!' rumours to start on the ever-reliable Twitter.)

All eyes will be on Leon Draisaitl, who gets his professional baptism playing between veteran wingers Benoit Pouliot and David Perron in a trio mischieviously dubbed 'The Maginot Line' by one wag on the internets. The bottom six consists mostly of prospects and minor leaguers, with only Will Acton and Kevin Westgarth likely to factor in for the big club in the immediately upcoming season. Acton will line up between a pair of players likely returning to junior this season in Marco Roy and Kyle Platzer. The union of the former Flames' tough guy Westgarth with the 'Mutt and Jeff' Russian duo of Vladimir Tkachev and Bogdan Yakimov has plenty of potential for humour, even as the game is serious business for the protaganists, especially the pint-sized training camp invite Tkachev.

With Petry unavailable, Darnell Nurse gets a different partner in the form of Justin Schultz. Existing definitions of 'Chaos D' might be in need of revision. Brad Hunt gets a push in an undersized duo with captain Andrew Ference, while massive newcomer Keith Aulie gets his Oilers debut with emerging blueliner Oscar Klefbom. Routine choices between the pipes with local boy Ben Scrivens to get the start and OKC Barons returning #1 Richard Bachman likely to draw in at the midway point.

Meanwhile, down in Calgary:

Arguably the first three trios are the Oilers third, fourth, and fifth lines on the depth chart (though listed above as 3-5-4). Players of interest will be Oilers' debutants Teddy Purcell and Iiro Pakarinen. The last unit consists of 2012 draftees/new professionals Mitch Moroz and Jujhar Khaira along with Chris Baltisberger, a low-scoring training camp invite from the Swiss League.

Oilers' two major off-season acquisitions on the blue, Nikita Nikitin and Mark Fayne, will team up on a very interesting pairing. They looked real good to my eye in Saturday morning's scrimmage, but will bear watching throughout the preseason, whether together or separately. Last year's top rookie Martin Marincin will team up with recent college grad Dillon Simpson on a puck-moving pair, while the duo of Jordan Oesterle and David Musil both seem destined for Oklahoma City this upcoming season. Once again the goaltending will be split between a twosome bound for Edmonton (Viktor Fasth) and OKC (Laurent Brossoit) respectively.

Besides Petry and Eberle, perhaps the most surprising absence from tonight's 'all hands on deck' exhibitions is winger Tyler Pitlick, who sits out while the likes of Chase, Platzer, Westgarth and Baltisberger all suit up on the right wing. Pitlick is in a serious battle to make the Oilers roster and will need every chance to make a positive impression. Look for him to be in the line-up Wednesday when the Oilers face the Jets, by which time several of those playing tonight will have been cut from the training camp roster.

Both games will be streamed on the Oilers website at 18:00 MDT. If it sounds like it will be impossible for Oilers fans to watch both games, fear not. Here at the Cult of Hockey Jonathan Willis will cover the game down in Calgary, while I'll review the one here in Edmonton. Between us we'll provide game reviews with commentary on all 40 Oilers players who see action tonight. Recently at the Cult of Hockey Willis: Wide-open battle for final wing spot on Oilers' starting 12 Staples: Schultz contract called 'most illogical' of the summer by veteran New York hockey writer Willis: Dallas Eakins praises Lander, Pakarinen on Day 3 of training camp McCurdy: Oil Kings raise two new banners as 2014-15 WHL season set to begin McCurdy: Centre battle key story line as Oilers take to the ice in Day 2 of camp Willis: Eakins' bluntly states that the Oilers 'have two NHL centremen' Follow Bruce McCurdy on Twitter

Post By http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2014/09/21/40-edmonton-oilers-take-to-the-ice-as-split-squads-face-flames-jeff-petry-jordan-eberle-to-sit/