Look, nobody needs “keys to the game” here.
This is going to be short and sweet. The Edmonton Oilers need to stomp the #&$! out of the Arizona Coyotes and that’s all there is to it. Somewhere, there are stats that suggest the Coyotes have destroyed the Oilers, and that the Oilers have sucked at early afternoon games for a decade or more. Those stats might even be true. BUT TODAY WE WILL DEFY THE ODDS.
Seriously though. Can we just beat the worst team in the NHL? Just once? Can we do it without blaming Jordan Eberle for everything now that Taylor Hall is gone?
Can we ACTUALLY WIN AN EARLY AFTERNOON GAME!?
Had you asked me before McDavid, I would have said no. But we have Connor Friggin’ McDavid, and by Gord I believe we can win this game on his effort alone. I apologize in advance if he goes pointless because I wrote things.
Anyways, I don’t expect much in the way of lineup changes for the Coyotes, and I’m not sure it really matters anyways. Arizona could ice their AHL affiliate and still threaten the Oilers like the short fat bully kid that takes their lunch money and just needs a punch in the face.
As for the Oilers, we could see some line shuffling. I’m not entirely convinced that Benoit Pouliot did enough last game to stay in the mix, but given the fact he makes millions of dollars, Todd McLellan probably needs to find a place for him again (despite the fact the team was winning without him). He could sit, he could play. It’s 10 am and I don’t have a clue. Ask Bob Stauffer.
I’d imagine Cam Talbot will get the start this afternoon, and if the Oilers have any pride, they will play this game for Talbot alone after he kept them in the game for a point the last time these two teams met. Seriously. Talbot was literally the only reason that game went to OT. Well, him, and Connor McDavid. It also could have been 6-2 for the Oilers, had McDavid’s linemates converted on his feeds, but we’ll leave that one for another blog.
This is a must win game. We need offense from Eberle, RNH, and Draisaitl. We love McDavid and we know he’ll drag this team kicking and screaming into the realm of respectability but this team needs more players on board. We all know who the scoring threats are for the lowly desert dogs. Domi. Duclair. OEL. Shane Doan (just because).
Just get it friggin done. This is a beatable team, and it’s time to put Mike Smith in his place. Who the $*!% has a goalie named “Mike Smith” anyways? The Arizona Coyotes do. That’s who.
I’m going against the grain here. I’ve thrown caution to the wind. Forget “keys to the game”, “players to watch”, and “gameday predictions”.
Just win, because if you aren’t first you’re last, or something like that. *Shake ‘n Bake*
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