Oilers Gameday @ Nashville

The Oilers are back in action tonight taking on the Predators in Nashville. After Tuesday’s game, where the Wild ran roughshod over the Oil, this will hopefully produce better results.

Both teams are currently in playoff positions, and are both 3rd in their divisions, though the Oilers have 8 points on the Preds at this point in the season. It’s a safe bet to assume that both teams will make the postseason this year, though it’s not entirely clear how far they’d get.

The Predators are without Roman Josi on the blueline, as he’s battling a concussion. The Oilers are, inexplicably, with Matt Hendricks. There’s nothing to say about that, it’s just utterly inexplicable.

Jujhar Khaira should return to the Oilers lineup sooner rather than later, but no timetable has been set yet. Once he’s back, it’s easy to imagine that we’ve seen the last of Matt Hendricks.

Keys to the Game

Edmonton

• Last game was awful, so the Oilers need to be better in their own end. Kris Russell, everyone’s favourite whipping boy, has his worst showing as an Oiler, leaving the game with a -4 rating and no upside to speak of. Hopefully they can tighten up a bit on the back end and keep the Preds from getting too many pucks on net.
• Cam Talbot was pulled last game, and he’s getting the start again. He needs to be way sharper in net in order to get the Oilers the 2 points tonight.

Nashville

• Get a quick start. If the Oilers get behind, or are seriously outplayed, they do still struggle at getting back into it.
• Force the Oilers to take bad penalties. The PK isn’t terrible, but when the Oilers take lots of penalties they get off their rhythm and it’s easier for other teams to capitalize.

Players to Watch

Edmonton

• It feels repetitive to keep saying Connor, but he’s so great to watch all the time.
• Leon Draisaitl has been on FIRE of late, and it’s been really great to see him really find his game this year. I’d wager that he’s been the Oilers best player over the last 10 games, and I hope that continues.

Nashville

• You can’t not watch PK Subban. He’s fun and breathes life into a game that’s otherwise a little dull. Obviously he’s one of the better defnders in the league, and I love to see him getting right into the play.

Projected Lineups

Edmonton

Patrick Maroon – Connor McDavid – Leon Draisaitl

Benoit Pouliot – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jordan Eberle

Milan Lucic – Drake Caggiula – Anton Slepyshev

Matt Hendricks – Mark Letestu – Zack Kassian

Oscar Klefbom – Adam Larsson

Andrej Sekera – Kris Russell

Brandon Davidson – Matt Benning

Cam TalBot

Nashville

Filip Forsberg – Ryan Johansen – Viktor Arvidsson

Austin Watson – Mike Fisher – Craig Smith

Colin Wilson – Calle Jarnkrok – James Neal

Cody McLoed – Colton Sissons – Harry Zolnierczyk

Mattis Ekholm – PK Subban

Matt Irwin – Ryan Ellis

Anthony Bitetto – Yannick Weber

Pekka Rinne

Notes

This is the start of a ridiculous month for the Oilers, one which could determine the outcome of the season. Sure, they’re better on the road than they are at home, but with 9/12 on the road this month, including an 11-day, 6 game road trip at the end of February, the Oilers are going to need to really pull together and at least keep pace with some of their divisional and conference opponents.

This is the latest in the season they’ve been in a playoff spot since before I was a teacher, and I’m not sure what to do with that. We’re getting to the point that playoffs are almost certain; they need to get ~31 ppoints in their next 32 games in order to clinch a playoff spot (assuming that 95 points will earn them a playoff spot). That means that they can legitimately not play 0.500 hockey between now and April 8th and still get into the postseason. That’s something we haven’t had in a long while.

All the speculation is fine, but for the Oilers to make it that far, they’re going to need a big month on the road to help them get there. If they go 8-4 through February, things are looking pretty good.