The Oilers are back in action tonight in Dallas, facing Ales Hemsky and the Stars.
This is the second game without Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who is having surgery on his broken hand as we speak (or maybe hours ago…. I got distracted while writing this). Andrew Ference is also apparently having surgery on his hip, and will be out for the season.
Last Games
Edmonton
The Oilers Oilered pretty hard on Tuesday night, but no one was as Oilery as Robert Anders Nilsson, who gave up the game winner on a failed attempt at a poke check against, of all people, Brian Boyle.
Usually, when the Oilers score 4 goals, they’ll win. But on Tuesday, they scored 4 and Tampa scored 6 and it was not a brilliant outing by any account. Taylor Hall got benched at the end of the second period, and it must have worked, because he got an assist. You know, because he’s good at hockey and stuff.
Dallas
Don’t know. Probably a win? Maybe? (I mean, they’re 2nd in the Central, so they must have won, right?)
Jamie Benn probably scored, because he is also very good at hockey.
Keys to the Game
Edmonton
Just win. In regulation. Play smart like they did in Florida, and score more goals than the other team, and for the love of god get some pucks to the net through the slot.
Dallas
*shrugs* Do what they’ve been doing most of the season, because it’s quite obviously working for them. (Also, screen the goalie. Seems to work well.)
Players to Watch
Edmonton
Taylor Hall.
Rob Klinkhammer is back up, and is going to be skating with Eberle and Pouliot, so that should be an adventure.
Dallas
Patrick Sharp. Why? Why not. 😉
Projected Lineups
Edmonton (this is from morning skate, so who knows….)
Rob Klinkhammer – Benoit Pouliot – Jordan Eberle
Taylor Hall – Leon Draisaitl – Teddy Purcell
Matt Hendricks – Anton Lander – nail Yakupov
Zack Kassian – Mark Letestu – Iiro Pakarinen
Andrej Sekera – Mark Fayne
Brandon Davidson – Justin Schultz
Darnell Nurse – Eric Gryba
Cam Talbot
Dallas
Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Patrick Sharp
Valeri Nichushkin – Cody Eakin – Jason Spezza
Antoine Roussel – Mattias janmark – Ales Hemsky
Colton Sceviour – Vernon Fiddler – Patrick Eaves
Alex Goligoski – John Klingberg
Johnny Oduya – Jason Demers
Esa Lindell – Jyrki Jokipakka
Antti Niemi
Final Thoughts
Stepping away from the Oilers for a minute…
When I get all wrapped up in my team because of whatever reason, I sometimes forget that they are not, in fact, gods. They are men, and men are fallible, and it will do us well to remember that fact.
I saw this today on Twitter, and I read through and I’m horrified. If what’s there is true, the league and the Blackhawks need to take a stand and do something about this.
(I don’t want to get into specifics, because this maybe isn’t the place, but the NHL is a league I have chosen to support, however indirectly, through watching my team. And it stings a bit to know that the league does not, in fact, care about the brand they’re selling. If they did, things would be different.)
Click that link above, and then click this one, if for nothing more than perspective.
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