The Olympic Torch was supposed to have the day off. No such luck.

While the torch won't be paraded along Edmonton city streets today, it will make an appearance at tonight's NHL game between the Oilers and the visiting Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

The torch will be saluted prior to the opening face-off and will include athletes bound to the Vancouver Olympics (women's hockey players Meaghan Mikkelson and Shannon Szabados) and former Olympians such as speed skater Catriona Le May Doan, figure skater Jamie Sale and freestyle skier Deidre Dionne.

"The Oilers are thrilled to welcome the Olympic Flame and some of Oil Country's world famous athletes to Rexall Place tonight," said Oilers' president and CEO Pat LaForge.

"Tonight's game is an incredible opportunity for Oilers fans to feel the power of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games."

Edmonton oach Pat Quinn may be happy to see the torch, too. He might also want to stick under his players' bench to fire up his lagging charges.

The Oilers have managed just 37 points in 45 games, sit last in the Northwest Division, last in the Western Conference and have lost their 12 of their last 13 games.

On top of that, the team announced yesterday its No. 1 goaltender, Nikolai Khabibulin, is about to undergo surgery for a herniated disc. The 37-year-old Khabibulin has been sidelined since Nov. 16 and is expected to miss the balance of the season.