Oilers Gameday: Time to Close the Chapter

June 19, 2006 was the last Oilers playoff game. It was a game that bookmarked a wonderful journey to what could have been a 6th Stanley Cup. So powerful was that run, that the winter, spring, and summer that ultimately lead to that 7th game in Raleigh were seasons that this city and its citizens will forever cherish. The fondness that these fans show for that dark horse squad has only grown in time.

In fact, that period of time was so joyous, that it is perhaps the reason why Oilers fans have, for the most part, stood so strongly behind this team in the dark times that have followed. Yes there was the occasional jersey tossing, and the billboards on Kingsway Avenue bemoaning certain members of Oilers management, but through it all, Oilers fans found a way to peel into the Rexall Place parking lot, winter after winter. We cheered loudly for Sam Gagner on his 8 point night, just the same as we did for Ryan Smyth, albeit with tears in our eyes, when he called it a career in 2014.

Oilers fans can take pride in their long-served passion tonight as their team takes the ice against the Kings. In return, the boys in blue and orange have a chance to reward that loyalty with a win of any kind; for it is a lone win against the Kings that can guarantee a 2017 playoff birth.

It is time to officially close the chapter of the last decade.

Oilers, Kings, 7 p.m., Rogers Place.

Oilers Keys to the Game

1. Improve on the last 3 games. Yes, the Oilers have won 2 straight games going into tonight’s game, but the effort that was brought in the last 3 will not suffice against the Kings. The best that the Oilers have looked over the previous 3 games was in the first 20 against Anaheim, and in the final 20 in Denver. In those periods, they were the team that got them to where they are in the standings today. Emulate that effort for 60 this evening, and victory is likely.

2. Special teams stay hot. The Oilers power play continues to buzz along, and after a few hot games, now sits at 3rd in the league on the year. That’s impressive considering the poor start it had in October. On the flip side, the Oilers PK, after some sever struggles in the new year, has now gone 5 straight games without giving up a goal against. Both cylinders are firing at the right time, and on any given night, a win in the special teams department can aid significantly in the final score.

Players to Watch

Edmonton Oilers

• Connor McDavid: The Oilers best player is taylor-made for games like this. He is the franchise, and the biggest reason why the Oilers have made such a drastic turnaround. On a night when the postseason can be secured, expect big things from the superstar.

Los Angeles Kings

• Drew Doughty: One of the league’s best defencemen had a journey and a half dealing with Connor the last time these two teams met. He joked about it afterwards saying, “in that last instance with him I obviously didn’t throw him off, because he owned me.” The head-to-head matchup between these two elite players will be a fun one.

https://twitter.com/BarSouthNCelly/status/844006647504814082

The Lineups

Edmonton Oilers

Patrick Maroon – Connor McDavid – Leon Draisaitl

Milan Lucic – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jordan Eberle

Benoit Pouliot – David Desharnais – Zack Kassian

Drake Caggiula – Mark Letestu – Anton Slepyshev

Oscar Klefbom – Adam Larsson

Andrej Sekera – Kris Russell

Darnell Nurse – Eric Gryba

Cam Talbot

Los Angeles Kings

Marian Gaborik – Anze Kopitar – Jarome Iginla

Tanner Pearson – Jeff Carter – Tyler Toffoli

Adrian Kempe – Nic Dowd – Brodzinski Jonny

Andy Andreoff – Trevor Lewis – Dustin Brown

Derek Forbort – Drew Doughty

Jake Muzzin – Paul Ledue

Brayden McNabb – Alec Martinez

Jonathan Quick

Game Notes

• Eric Gryba draws into the lineup with Matt Benning sidelined day-to-day after taking a puck to the knee on Saturday.
• Leon Draisaitl is currently on a 7 game point streak, with 14 points in that span. He is having a remarkable year.
• Connor McDavid also has a 7 game point streak, with 13 points in that time frame. The duo of McDavid and Draisaitl, and their 158 points on the season, are the most of any two teammates in the NHL.
• The Oilers have won 5 straight games at Rogers Place.
• It will be worth it to watch Andrej Sekera closely tonight. The former King has 5 points in his last 2, and 35 on the season.
• Jonathan Quick most likely gets the start against Edmonton, and has historically been very good against the club. In 26 career games against the Oilers, he is 19-2-5, with a .935 save % and 1.74 GAA.
• The season series between the Kings and Oilers currently sits at 2-1, with Edmonton owning the pair of victories. They will play each other once more on April 4th.

Prediction

There is no chance on Earth that I am not predicting an Oilers win, so lets call it a win for the home team, 4-3. And just for fun, let’s say it ends in overtime.

Draisaitl and McDavid combine for 2 points each to get the team to the extra frame, and it is stone cold Sekera who ices the game in 3 on 3.

There has been so much talk of the key pillars of improvement for this team, and I think the signing of Andrekj Sekera is one that gets underrated a bit. He has been a very good player for this club, and shows his worth tonight.

I joked about it on Twittter, but I will be lucky enough to attend tonight’s game. With a potential clinch on the line (even though it is all but wrapped up anyways), I feel like running to the game Ultimate Warrior style. I am sure many of you feel the same way. Let’s go Oilers!

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