As we continue to preview the Edmonton Oilers 2026-27 schedule since it's release, we are looking at the start of 2027 and the month of January.
Unlike the previous month of December and their most grueling month in November, January is a month that is a little nicer to the club. However, they start the month on the back half of a six game road trip before taking a six game homestand. They end the month with a four game road trip and followed by two games at home, which is the beginning of a near month long stay at home.
The Oilers also have no back-to-backs this month, allowing them plenty of proper rest between games.
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) July 16, 2026
In total, they play eight out of 15 games at home and the strength of their opponents by and large is hit and miss.
Oilers opponents are a mixed bag
There are a number of strong teams from the Montreal Canadiens to the Vegas Golden Knights, even the Tampa Bay Lightning and winner of two of the last three Stanley Cups, the Florida Panthers.
However, there are also a few that appear to be teams on the bubble of the playoff picture or worse. The Nashville Predators are a team that have formally committed to a rebuild with teams like the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders trying to crawl out of one.
There is one team of the bunch that stands out, this team being the Oilers' Western Canada rival, the Winnipeg Jets. This is mainly due to one player, former Oilers starting goaltender Stuart Skinner. There is another game involving a player and his former team as the Oilers visit the Pittsburgh Penguins, the place newly inked free agent signing defenceman Ryan Shea called home for years.
Oilers face familiar foe
There is the potential for a homecoming epic on Sunday January 17th as Skinner is set to return to the Oilers after he was traded last December. He signed with the Jets this summer and seems poised to either slot in as the backup behind Connor Hellebuyck or as a tandem, should the star netminder be moved.
Skinner could face off against the man he was traded for in Tristan Jarry depending on the circumstances, which could be a scary proposition for Oilers fans.
Although Skinner has already made his return to Edmonton, doing so last season with the Penguins. However, with the Oilers goaltending situation being what it is, it will surely present a big narrative heading into the game.
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