AT THE MORNING SKATE

The Oilers held an optional morning skate Wednesday, with only about 15 skaters taking to the ice. Among them was Steve Staios, who donned a maroon "no contact" jersey for his first team practice since suffering a concussion January 16 in San Jose.

Staios will not play tonight vs. Philadelphia and has no timeline for his return.

"I honestly haven't looked at the schedule," he said after the skate. "I've really been focused on how I was feeling and coming to the rink and doing everything I can to get ready.

"There's a couple of skating tests that I have to get through, one that I did today that I was close on, and I know that that will improve over the next few days, and then I'll go from there."

Healthy scratches

Joining Staios as players who were at the morning skate but will not play tonight are Robert Nilsson and Fernando Pisani. The game will mark Pisani's second consecutive as a healthy scratch, and Head Coach Pat Quinn explained that "it's about maintaining a level of intensity."

"I pulled him out because I didn't think that he was playing with energy," Quinn said. "I haven't spoken to him about it necessarily, but to me it's just part of his recovery (from ulcerative colitis).

"When we were using them (Pisani, Ethan Moreau & Shawn Horcoff) as a checking unit, they were logging lots of time going out against the opposition's best lines. So that kept the minutes up, but if you're not right on top of your physical game, then the quality of play comes down."

Potulny faces former teammates

Ryan Potulny was the other Oilers forward to miss Monday's game vs. Carolina, due to flu-like symptoms, but the 25-year-old will be back in the line-up tonight to face his former teammates.

Potulny played 44 games with the Flyers from 2005 to 2008, and he has fond memories of those seasons as a rookie.

"It was fun playing there. It's a good organization -- they take care of the players pretty well, much like here," Potulny recalled. "My first year with the Flyers was my first year in the league. You don't know what to expect as much. I'm getting a better role to play here with Edmonton. I'm playing a lot more than I did in Philly my first year, and I'm more of a pro. I've learned the ropes a little bit, I've been around a while now with my fourth year, so I've figured things out a little bit better so it's easier to make the transition.

"They're going to be a hardworking team and we're going to have our hands full, but I think we're ready for it."

Associate Coach Tom Renney agreed.

"These guys play one way and one way only, and they have forever, and that's 100 miles an hour, north-south," he said. "I think it's going to expose some character, if you will, and I think it will help others to provide more of it. We have to compete right from the get go, there's no question about that."

Starting goalie Jeff Deslauriers added that the Oilers need to build on Monday's success with a solid effort tonight.

"We know Philly is a pretty good team, a pretty skilled team too, and they're going to come hard, so if we want the game we're going to have to work harder than them," he said. "It's going to be the same thing as last game. I think we played a good game against Carolina and we have to bring back that work ethic in the game tonight."

Favourite Things continues

The Oilers Favourite Things charity auction continues at tonight's game, with Ethan Moreau and Jason Strudwick auctioning off their favourite items on the Rexall Place concourse.

• CHECK OUT THE GIFT BASKETS

FLYERS (28-23-3) at OILERS (17-31-6)

Last 10 -- Philadelphia 6-4-0; Edmonton 1-8-1

Season series -- This is the only meeting of the season between the two clubs. They last played at Philadelphia on Nov. 2, 2008, a 5-4 win by the Oilers. Edmonton has won the last four games between the teams.

Big story -- Aside from the obvious re-return of Chris Pronger to Edmonton, the big story is, can the Oilers make it two wins in a row? Can the Flyers make it three wins in a row? Edmonton's 4-2 win over Carolina on Monday night was the Oilers' first in 2010, and their first win in 13 games, ending an 0-11-2 drought. The Flyers are trying to right all the wrongs from the early part of their season, and are doing a fine job of it. They have won back-to-back games, five of their last seven and are 13-5-1 since Dec. 23.

Team Scope:

Flyers -- Mike Richards scored two goals and Ray Emery needed to make only 18 saves to lead the Flyers to a 3-0 win over reeling Calgary on Monday night. It was the first of three straight road games for Philadelphia after it went 4-2 on a homestand to close January. Richards had scored only one goal in his previous 10 games. In search of help on the back end, the Flyers recently signed Lukas Krajicek, who left the AHL's Norfolk Admirals. Krajicek debuted for the Flyers in Calgary and played 25 shifts totaling 18:25 in ice time. They're going to need him with Ryan Parent and Danny Syvret sidelined with injuries. Philadelphia is getting solid goaltending from Emery, which is why they have been able to climb back into a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Emery is 5-2-0 with a 1.73 goals-against average and two shutouts in his last seven starts.

Oilers -- It's time to break 'em up. Well, that might be what GM Steve Tambellini is thinking, but we're just joking around really because the Oilers finally, finally won a game Monday night. It was a long time coming for this team that has just been decimated by injuries and illnesses all season long. The latest is defenseman Sheldon Souray's broken hand, which will sideline him indefinitely. Souray reportedly had just given Tambellini a list of teams he would agree to be traded to. The Oilers have lost more than 300 man-games to injury this season. However, there was reason to celebrate, or at least enjoy the game of hockey late Monday night. J-F Jacques, Marc Pouliot, Gilbert Brule and Sam Gagner all scored and Jeff Deslauriers made 33 saves for the Oilers first win since Dec. 30.

Who's hot -- Emery is probably the Flyer most worthy of being in this category right now, but Richards did score two goals in Calgary on Monday and Claude Giroux has two goals and an assist in the last three games, but his numbers don't actually tell how well he's been playing. For the Oilers, Gagner has goals in back-to-back games and points in three straight and five of his last six.

Injury report -- The Flyers are still without defensemen Danny Syvret (shoulder) and Ryan Parent (back). The Oilers' long injury list includes Souray (hand), Ryan Stone (knee), Nikolai Khabibulin (back), Ales Hemsky (shoulder), Steve Staios (concussion) and Ladislav Smid (concussion).

Stat pack -- The Oilers haven't won back-to-back games since they went on a five-game winning streak from Dec. 3-11 … Pouliot's goal Monday night was his first of the season. … Edmonton is 5-0 with a tie against the Flyers since Philadelphia won 4-2 at Rexall Place on March 19, 2001.

Puck drop -- "It's obviously a great feeling," Gagner said of finally winning a game. "You never want to be in that situation. But it was great to have fun again. It's only one win. Hopefully it gives us some confidence."

-- Dan Rosen, NHL.com