Oilers Gameday – Vs. Senators

The Oilers continue a homestand tonight with a battle against the Ottawa Senators, who are making a rare appearance at Rexall Place. It will be the second and final meeting of the year between the sides, who met in Ottawa back in October. Edmonton won that game by a final score of 3-1.

The Oilers, who have scored one goal in two games following the break, get a boost tonight as Nail Yakupov returns to the lineup after missing Saturday’s matchup. Defender Anton Belov is on the IR with an oblique injury, and obviously won’t play tonight. Defender Phil Larsen was assigned to OKC today, while Corey Potter was placed on waivers. Mark Fraser is expected in the lineup.

For the Sens, they are preparing to make changes as well. The team waived defender Joe Corvo along with young forward Corey Conacher. Tough guy Matt Kassian is expect to find his way into the lineup for the Sens, who are fresh off of a big victory in the Heritage Classic Sunday over Vancouver.

Ben Scrivens will start for Edmonton just one day after agreeing to a two-year contract extension, while the Sens are expected to go with veteran Craig Anderson.

Keys To The Game:

Edmonton: It’s sad I have to write this, but for the Oilers tonight’s key to the game is compete. The Oilers have basically went through the motions in their last two games, and it has shown. The team has only scored one goal, and lost to both the Wild and the Flames, both of which were winnable games. The Oilers need something to build on going into the off-season, and it starts with compete and effort.

Bring it for a full sixty tonight, if they do that, they can beat this Ottawa team.

Ottawa: For Ottawa, the key to the game tonight is pucks to the net. It seems simple enough, but this is a team that has struggled doing that at times this season. The Sens offense finally woke up on Sunday afternoon, and there is a big chance to build some real momentum for a playoff push tonight.

The Oilers defense is, in my mind, the worst unit in the NHL. If Ottawa can get pucks to the net, the Oilers defense will likely fold like a cheap lawn chair under the pressure, and will likely result in an offensive show from the Sens. Expose the weakness, and they’ll get two big points.

Players To Watch:

Edmonton: It’s a farewell tour tonight for long time Oiler Ales Hemsky. I’ll say there is a 90% chance he is traded before the deadline hits tomorrow afternoon. Hemsky has been an Oiler for over a decade now, and has brought forth some of the best Oilers moments in that decade. I expect one more Ales Hemsky moment tonight, and I’ll be watching his every move.

Ottawa: This one was too easy. The Oilers struggle defending skilled centers. Enter Jason Spezza, one of the most skilled in the game. Spezza is the big gun on this Ottawa team, and I suspect he helps lift his team in a must-win game tonight against the Oilers. Spezza is a guy well worth watching, and a player Oilers fans should hope RNH turns into.

Gameday Prediction:

The Sens are going to be desperate. They need to win a majority of their games to get into the playoffs, and games like tonight are absolute must-win games. The Oilers are simply going through the motions right now, and not playing inspired hockey, in fact it’s a little tough to watch.

With Ottawa being desperate and gunning for a playoff spot, it’s tough to pick against them. I’ll say Hemsky gets a beautiful goal, but it’s for nothing as Ottawa wins 4-1.

The Lines:

Edmonton Oilers Lines:

Taylor Hall – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Nail Yakupov

Ales Hemsky – Sam Gagner – Jordan Eberle

Matt Hendricks – Boyd Gordon – David Perron

Luke Gazdic – Ryan Smyth – Ryan Jones

Nick Schultz – Justin Schultz

Martin Marincin – Jeff Petry

Andrew Ference – Mark Fraser

Ben Scrivens

Ottawa Senators Lines:

Milan Michalek – Jason Spezza – Chris Neil

Bobby Ryan – Mika Zibanejad – Erik Condra

Colin Greening – Kyle Turris – Clarke MacArthur

Matt Kassian – Zack Smith – Mike Hoffman

Erik Karlsson – Marc Methot

Jared Cowen – Chris Phillips

Eric Gryba – Cody Ceci

Craig Anderson