Oilers to try Pouliot at center with McDavid, Nugent-Hopkins out

It'll be trial by inferno for Benoit Pouliot.

Pouliot will shift from wing to center Thursday when the Edmonton Oilers take on the explosive Dallas Stars, matching up with some of the sport's elite pivots in what'll be his first taste of the position in a decade.

"It's been a long time," he said. "To start a game at center and be on a line right away, I haven't played that since junior."

It's desperation born of necessity for the Oilers, who are without two top-six centers they entered the season with in Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who are out with injuries.