Bounce Back vs the Pens

Look at the two faces of hockey!

It is safe to say that the Oilers have not started the way we all wanted them to! It is also safe to say that the season is a grind and we cant get ahead of ourselves over 5 games. In what is sure to be a very fun matchup tonight vs the Pens, we have to ask the question: Do the Oilers know that the game starts at 6PM?

Vs Pens

The answer is hopefully they do because they NEED to have a better start than what they are currently doing! They have been scored on first 4 out of the 5 games this season and have had to claw back in each game. Last game vs the Blues they just couldn't do that! The stars were held pretty much in check with Draisaitl and McDavid looking pretty pedestrian. With the 4-0-1 Pens in town they need to start quicker and with more urgency.

The Oilers

So, I don't like that Yam continues to get opportunities on the top line while not contributing much to the action. He is bottoms on the team in expected goals and just points in general. He has 1 assist and he hasn't been the Yams of old where he was going down and getting pucks to his teammates. Hopefully he changes for tonight's game. Everything stays the same relatively for the Oilers and Jack Campbell starts tonight.

Dylan Holloway was on the ice this morning for morning skate but wasn't doing anything too crazy so don't expect him tonight but maybe on the road trip starting in St. Louis.

Penguins

Sidney Crosby has been Sidney Crosby so fa this season with 10 points in the first 5 games. Some bad news for the Pens as Jake Guentzel is out for a this game with an upper body injury. The Penguins have been hot to start the year, 2nd in the league in goals for and 3rd in goals against. They are also getting contributions from every line with 12 players with 4 points or more in 5 games. Tristan Jarry will start for the Pens tonight. He of course was an Edmonton Oil King so expect him to be fired up!

3 Keys!

1. Stop 87. Seems easy on paper but tougher to do on the ice. Crosby has 10 points this season with Danton Heinen on his line! He seems to always get points with these 3rd-4th line players and he is doing it again. Make sure to contain Sid's grindy game and try and keep the puck in the Pens zone when he is on the ice

2. Start quick. I feel like I have said this 5 times now but please get the 1st goal! It is so very painful crawling back from 1-0, 2-0, 3-1...you get it! Start quick and maybe Woodcroft should tell them the game starts at like 4 or 5 o clock so that they are ready for the 6 PM puck drop!

3. Outlet the puck better/Don't Turn it over. The defense has been a big bad hunk of poo when the outlet the puck to their forwards to start the year. Darnell Nurse has 14 giveaways, Evan Bouchard has 8 giveaways and Ryan Murray has only had 3 turnovers but 2 of them have led directly to goals. Please find your forwards and let them move the puck up and get those chances that the Oilers have been getting! However this time they will capitalize on those chances!

Control the puck, start quick and don't give the puck to 87! Seems easy right? Hopefully it is! What do you think? What is the final score for tonight?