The Penguins are back in Pittsburgh after splitting a four game road trip they wrapped up with a 2-1 loss in a shoot out at San Jose. They should be well motivated to get back on track with a big win here facing one of the worst teams in the NHL. The Edmonton Oilers are coming off five straight losses, and I think they're in for more pain tonight against a Penguins team that have dominated them over recent seasons.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. The Oilers Defense - Only the Buffalo Sabres have a worse goals against per game average than the Oilers and their 3.31. They've been particularly poor of late, conceding 12 goals over their last two games. Ben Scrivens is likely to tend the net, and he is a pathetic 2-8-6 with a 2.94 GAA over 19 outings outside of Edmonton. He'll have his work cut out for him here, facing a Penguins team that averages 3.03 goals per game on home ice and has scored10 goals over its last two at CONSOL Energy Center.

2. Special Teams - Edmonton has scored six goals over its last two games, with three of those coming on the man advantage. I doubt they'll have much success on the power play tonight though as Pittsburgh's penalty kill ranks among the best in the league and has killed off eight straight penalties. Conversely the Oilers have given up a goal on four of their last eight shorthanded situations and the Pens are converting on a respectable 20.1% of their power play opportunities on the season.

3. X-Factor - Evegni Malkin has been held without a point over his last two games after averaging one goal and one assist per game over a seven game point-streak prior. He scored one of the goals when the Pens won 2-0 at Edmonton earlier in the season, and this is as good of an opportunity as any for him to get back on the scoresheet.

Selection: This is a play on the Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5(9*)