Preview of Oilers vs Sens & Leafs vs Oilers=WOW Jan 31
Let us start this off by saying wow the game last night was one for the ages. Oilers vs Leafs, McDavid vs Matthews! It was way better than the ones previous and that is putting it lightly. Now obviously the Oilers fans are very happy with the outcome of the game, as a Leaf fan you have to be ok with that loss.
It was a very good win for the Oilers, a much needed win for the Oil as well. A loss there would put them near the basement of the North Division with the next opponent on the schedule, the Ottawa Senators. The Oilers started very well and got some secondary scoring, FINALLY! Dominik Kahun scored his first as an Oiler on a great individual effort and Josh Archibald scored off a sweet feed by McDavid. We will get to him a little later. I want to talk about the secondary scoring for a minute. Finally guys not named McDavid/Draisaitl/Nuge/Yam scored last night. Yes it's only a couple of goals but it just shows that the team has a little bit of depth and hopefully can keep this up. Now, Connor McDavid:
It just seems like he loves playing against the Leafs. Just looking at that goal again shows how amazing he actually is. He was hooked, held and just about hugged. Still he weaves through people and scores a beauty.
Injury Bug:
It was bound to happen, injuries are apart of the game. Ethan Bear took a hit during the game which I thought was harmless. Apparently it wasn't the hit. There was a report that he got hit in the head by an errant puck that was sent into the bench. So realistically it should open the door for Evan Bouchard to come in right? WRONG! He is still dealing with a back injury so what do we expect to see tonight vs the Sens? Let us get into it.
Oilers (4-6)
RNH - McDavid - Puljujarvi
Kahun - Draisaitl - Yamamoto
Neal - Turris - Kassian
Ennis - Shore - Archibald
Nurse - QUESTION MARK
Jones - Larsson
Koekkoek - Barrie
Skinner
So there was an optional skate this morning but nothing was really decided as far as the lines go. Who will fill in for Bear? Maybe Lagesson? Maybe Bouchard if he is healthy? Is Janne Niinimaa coming out of retirement? That spot is really up in the air! What really is strange to me is that Stuart Skinner will be starting for the Oilers tonight. What I can assume is that Troy Grosenick is not ready to start for the Oilers. He was practicing with the team and was at the skate this morning. Are they just giving Skinner the start because he has been a good trooper? If that is the case, somebody needs to be fired. I am hoping that it is something behind the scenes that we don't know about. However, if you were to give Skinner his first NHL start, this is the team you do it against.
Senators (1-6-1)
Tkachuk - Norris - C. Brown
Stützle - Tierney - Batherson
Paul - White - Dadonov
Paquette - Stepan - Watson
Reilly - Zaitsev
Coburn - Gudbranson
J. Brown - Zub
Murray
This is coming from the Sens Twitter page. Not sure who the starter will be tonight as that wasn't announced. This team is 1-6-1 yes. However they do compete and make you work for your goals. Besides a tough 3 game stretch vs Vancouver they have been in every game. Now let's call a spade a spade. The Sens have won 1 game, that game being the 1st game of the year. Since then, they have lost every game. Matt Murray hasn't been the goalie that they traded for and signed a 4 year $25 million deal before the season. Posting a 4.39 GAA and an .859 sv% this season so far but a lot can stem around some bad defensive play as well. Another thing against the Sens tonight is their best player, Thomas Chabot, will not play after suffering an injury on Thirsday vs Vancouver.
3 Oil Drops for Victory:
More secondary scoring. The game last night was a great start for some secondary scoring! Gotta eep that up tonight. Goals from the 3rd and 4th lines tonight will be huge going into the middle fo the season.
Attack the Defense. It is mixture of old and slow defense & young and inexperienced. It is something you have to attack tonight. Without Chabot this core looks weak and on paper look far more experienced and ultimately better. The Oilers have to take advantage of the fact they are down a pretty important piece.
Help out your goalie. It is Stuart Skinners first NHL start tonight. Help out your goalie as much as humanly possible. Make sure he can see the pucks coming in. Communicate with him. Don't let up any odd man rushes. Make it an easy night for the young goalie.
Who do you think will score tonight? How do you think Skinner will look in his first game?
Comments