Oilers Gameday – vs Phoenix

Happy New Year! The Oilers are back in action today for a 2pm start against Phoenix.

Here’s hoping 2016 starts better than 2015 ended, at least for the Oilers.

Last Games

Edmonton

I didn’t watch, but my twitter feed and texts from friends told me that the game on NYE against the Ducks was particularly Oilersy. Of course the only goal was scored by Ryan Getzlaf who had been in a million-game slump, and the Oil got beat by a hot goalie. I was told that Hall played well (of course he did), but I don’t know much more than that.

Phoenix

Don’t know. Don’t really care, except that I’m anticipating Phoenix to score 5 today, because they’re playing the Oilers who can’t get it together on the PP or the PK or at evens.

Keys to the Game

Edmonton

SCORE. A. POWER. PLAY. GOAL.

(And also get in front of the net and stop playing the perimeter so much. Shots from the boards aren’t dangerous, that’s for sure.)

Phoenix

Get lots of penalties. They’ll probably get a shortie or two.

In all seriousness, it doesn’t seem hard to beat the Oilers lately. Crash the net a bit, stand in the middle of the slot, lob a knucklepuck in the general direction of the goal and let the Oilers do the rest.

Players to Watch

Edmonton

Taylor Hall, always and forever. It’s hard to see him so frustrated, so I really hope that today is a breakout game for him. I want 3 points, including the GWG. (Really though, watch him. He’s really good, even when he’s not scoring.)

Phoenix

Is Max Domi playing? I hope so. Kid’s unreal. He’s awesome to watch, and from the looks of it Team Canada could absolutely use him this year.

Projected Lineups

Edmonton

Taylor Hall – Leon Draisaitl – Teddy Purcell

Benoit Pouliot – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jordan Eberle

Matt Hendricks – Mark Letestu – Lauri Korpikoski

Rob Klinkhammer – Anton Lander – Jujhar Khaira

Darnell Nurse – Justin Schultz

Andrej Sekera – Mark Fayne

Brad Hunt – Brandon Davidson (or maybe Eric Gryba??)

Cam Talbot

Phoenix

Max Domi – Antoine Vermette – Mikkel Boedker

Jordan Martinook – Brad Richardson – Shane Doan

Tobias Rieder – Viktor Tikhonov – Anthony Duclair

All-Star captain John Scott – Kyle Chipchura – Craig Cunningham

Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Connor Murphy

Nicklas Grossman – Michael Stone

Klas Dahlbeck – Zbynek Michalek

Louis Domingue

Final Thoughts

Connor McDavid was on the ice at practice yesterday with the team, leading stretches. He’s close guys. So close.

(Also this might be my last post forever because tomorrow I get to meet Taylor Hall and I might die.)

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