Edmonton Oilers' Jean-Francois Jacques, left, checks Calgary Flames' Jarome Iginla to the ice during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Calgary, Alberta, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jeff McIntosh)

AT THE MORNING SKATE:

After playing his first game in over two months Thursday vs. St. Louis, Mike Comrie is not expected to play tonight in Calgary. Patrick O'Sullivan moves back into the line-up and should play with Ryan Potulny and Gilbert Brule.

Dustin Penner, Sam Gagner and Robert Nilsson skated together on the top line at morning skate, while Ethan Moreau, Shawn Horcoff and Fernando Pisani formed line number two. Jean-Francois Jacques, Marc Pouliot and Andrew Cogliano round out Edmonton's list of forwards.

Hometown boy between the pipes

After Jeff Deslauriers earned the start in Edmonton's two games earlier this week, Devan Dubnyk moves back between the pipes for tonight's game. The Calgary native will perform in front of family and friends at the Saddledome, but he is trying not to get caught up in the excitement of making his home NHL debut.

"It's going to be a lot of fun. More so, I'll probably look back after the game and think that it was a lot of fun."

Something's gotta give

The level of fun will likely depend on the outcome of tonight's contest. The Oilers and Flames carry a combined 21 consecutive losses into tonight's game, and both clubs are eager to put an end to their respective streaks.

"I can't say that I follow closely exactly what's going on with Calgary, but they're going through tough times and everybody knows we have been struggling to find ways to be good -- never mind win a game, we want to be good," Head Coach Pat Quinn said after the morning skate.

"That's a good team down the hall that had success and now it's not happening for them. This is a good bunch here, learning how to be better, and good things haven't happened for it."

Dubnyk added that it's best not to think about streaks and numbers on gameday.

"The game starts at 0-0 for everybody, so that's pretty much all you can do to try to break out. If you start thinking that you don't want to get your 13th in a row or whatever, it's not going to help. It's just going to add to the pressure.

"The only way you're going to get out of it is get back to work the next game," he said. "It's easy to let the pressure build after each loss and the only thing you can do is just start over."

For their part, the Flames are also taking things game-by-game.

"We've been approaching every game lately like you have to win, and this is no different," Calgary's Jay Bouwmeester said. "Until you start winning some games and get out of this, every game's just more important than the last one.

"[The Oilers are] kind of in the same boat, so that's a dangerous opponent when you haven't been having some success."


OILERS (16-30-6) at FLAMES (26-20-8)

Last 10 -- Edmonton 0-8-2; Calgary 1-6-3

Season series -- Five games in the books in the Battle of Alberta, and all have gone to the Flames. On Dec. 31, Craig Conroy scored the decisive goal with 10 seconds remaining in the second period of a 2-1 victory.

Big Story -- Something has to give tonight as the Calgary Flames have lost nine straight heading into the game while the Oilers have lost 12 in a row. Times have been tough for Edmonton but the team is relishing the opportunity to hand Calgary their 10th straight defeat on Hockey Day in Canada.

Mike Comrie was back in the lineup for the Oilers for the first time in 31 games on Thursday in a 2-1 loss to the Blues. In mid-November, Comrie was diagnosed with mononucleosis and went nearly two months without stepping foot on the ice. He started practicing with the team last week and was playing with Ryan Potulny and Gilbert Brule on Thursday. Comrie took 2 shots in 13:12 of ice time.

"I think when you're in a situation like this, the biggest thing is to create some energy and hopefully generate some chances," Comrie said of his first game in over two months. He hasn't scored more than 7 goals since the 2007-08 campaign when he notched 21 with the New York Islanders.

Team Scope:

Oilers -- The Oilers have hit rock bottom, ranked 30th in the NHL for the first time in franchise history. They have lost 12 straight and 19 of their last 20 games.

Defenseman Sheldon Souray has been rumored to be on the trading block. Souray admitted he'd waive his no-trade clause before it expires July 1 if the team inquiring happens to be the right fit. Souray has already submitted a list of 10 teams he'd be interested in playing for to GM Steve Tambellini.

"I've talked to Steve and I've talked to my agent about it," Souray said. "They both know my feelings. One of the big reasons I signed here is to be close to my kids. My family is from here, so when my kids come in (from Los Angeles, where they live with his ex-wife) they can be with (their) grandma and with my sister's kids and things like that."

Flames -- The situation has also been difficult in Calgary, where the Flames suffered their ninth straight defeat on Thursday following a 3-2 shootout loss to Phoenix. How bad has it been? Well, right wing Jarome Iginla snapped an 11-game goal drought on a first-period tally against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday in a 4-3 shootout loss.

Who's Hot -- Calgary defenseman Jay Bouwmeester holds the longest current ironman streak in the NHL at 396 straight appearances. In six-plus seasons in the League, however, Bouwmeester has never participated in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Injury Report -- The Oilers are without forward Ales Hemsky (shoulder) and Ryan Stone (knee), defensemen Steve Staios (concussion) and Ladislav Smid (concussion) and goalie Nikolai Khabibulin (back surgery). ... Calgary forwards David Moss (shoulder), Nigel Dawes (leg) and Conroy (knee) are out.

Stat Pack -- Calgary has a 20-1-2 record when leading after two periods -- the lone regulation loss coming in Anaheim on Jan. 17 when the Flames dropped a 5-4 decision after leading 4-3 through 40 minutes. … Edmonton's Brule, who is in his fifth NHL season, will be playing in his 200th career game when he steps on the ice against the Flames.

Puck Drop -- Iginla notched career assist No. 467 on Thursday against the Coyotes to move into second place on the franchise's all-time list in that category -- one ahead of Theoren Fleury. Defenseman Al MacInnis ranks first with 609 helpers.