EDMONTON - Stringing together wins in consecutive games was such an undertaking for the Edmonton Oilers that they hadn’t won two in a row since November.

Not since October had the Oilers even collected points in three or more straight games. So maybe it’s only natural that the mood around their quarters has lightened considerably.

The Oilers, 3-0-1 after a skid of 5-18-2, host the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night.

“You need to get winning to feel that,” said goaltender Devan Dubnyk. “It doesn’t matter how many good things you do. If you’re not on the right end of it after the game, you’re never going to feel that good.

“We all agree there’s some things we need to tighten up, but if we can adjust and get better while we’re winning, that’s even better.”

Additionally, with rookie Ryan Nugent-Hopkins set to return for Saturday’s game and defenceman Tom Gilbert likely to make his way back from an ankle sprain on Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Oilers, for the first time this season, will have a full roster.

“Everybody goes through injuries, but for whatever reason it seems like our injuries are always significant and seem to all happen at the same time,” Dubnyk said. “You’ll get a better idea of who we are and what we’re capable of.

“At the same time, that means we have to go do it. Not that we were making excuses before, but we won’t be now that everyone is back.”

Last season, the Oilers lost Ryan Whitney, Ales Hemsky, Sam Gagner, Shawn Horcoff and eventually Taylor Hall to season-ending injuries. In 2011-12, the players are at least heading out the exit door of the medical room.

“When the injuries started coming, I did think, ‘not again,’ ” said Gilbert, “but it has actually turned out better. We still have 30 games left and we’re playing better, so it’s going to be good to have the full team. These are the guys who are going to be around here for a while, so you want to get some chemistry.”

Nugent-Hopkins ready to go

Nugent-Hopkins will slide between Shawn Horcoff and Hemsky for the Red Wings game, leaving Gagner with Hall and Jordan Eberle. The trio, sparked by Gagner’s eight-point night, collected 18 points in an 8-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.

“You definitely can’t split that up,” said Nugent-Hopkins, who left the lineup on Jan. 2 with a shoulder injury. Despite missing 13 games, he’s still sitting at the top of the NHL’s rookie scoring chart. The New Jersey Devils’ Adam Henrique has missed seven games with a groin injury. He left the lineup with 34 points, one less than Nugent-Hopkins.

“I just need to get into the game right away, whether it’s taking a hit, throwing a hit, or taking a couple of shots on goal,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “I just think it’s really important that, right at the start, I get into the game and get my legs back.

“It’s been a long road, but I’m just excited to get back out there.”

Oilers head coach Tom Renney said because Nugent-Hopkins has missed so much time — his first extended spell away from the game at any level — he won’t be flying out and putting in a Gagner-like performance. He does expect the Burnaby, B.C., native will be effective against the Red Wings, however.

“He’s just so smart with how he navigates his way through a game. He’ll have an impact on what we do well. No question about that.”

Whitney ends drought

It was one year and one surgery ago that Ryan Whitney last snapped in a goal for the Oilers, which is why he left Thursday’s game with much lighter shoulders.

He had a goal and an assist against the Blackhawks, upping this season’s meagre point total to six.

“I was just relieved to be a part of something good,” he said.

Whitney’s last goal was back on Dec. 26, 2010, two days before he left the lineup with a dislocated ankle tendon and a head-turning 27 points in 35 games.

His comeback has been interrupted twice this season — once with a knee injury and again with more ankle problems. Whitney has said he will spend another off-season looking to remedy the situation, but wants to spend the remainder of this season in the lineup.

“It’s only the weakness now. I don’t have much pain,” he said. “You can tell. I’ve played much better.

“I can battle through one thing, but I just couldn’t do it when it was both.

“I can get through the rest of the year with what I’m dealing with now. It feels so good not to have that pain. It was just so debilitating — mentally and physically.”

Barker speeds up return

Cam Barker, who was to sit out one more game before returning from a surgically repaired ankle, stepped in against the Hawks, replacing Theo Peckham.

Peckham had taken a stick in the face during Tuesday’s game and was then walloped by a puck at practice the next day. He did skate in the morning, but was suffering some congestion later in the day. He’s since undergone a concussion test.

Enter Barker, whose last game was on Nov. 10.

He left the game against the Hawks with a goal and 14 minutes of ice time.

“Puck movement is so critical,” said Renney, “and with respect to the guys who have been slugging it out, a guy like Cam comes in who has the poise to deal with what’s going on around him and show just enough deception to maybe look somebody off and make a great play that springs somebody, or gets us out of trouble.

“He’s a big strong guy who can absorb the hit when he needs to and continue to make a play. It’s just so valuable.”

Cornet sent back to Barons

Following Thursday’s game, his second in the NHL, Philippe Cornet was re-assigned to the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League. He played 10:16 against the Blackhawks and was pointless but even in the plus-minus rating department. In his big-league debut on Tuesday, he picked up an assist against the Colorado Avalanche.

jireland@edmontonjournal.com

Twitter.com/jirelandEJ