The Oilers return to the ice tonight in Pittsburgh for the fourth game of a five game road trip and the second and final meeting with the Penguins on the season. This will also open a back-to-back set for Edmonton, while Pittsburgh returns home from a west coast road trip.
The Oilers will be down F Taylor Hall tonight, while D Nikita Nikitin will also miss the affair. Nikitin is expected back in the line-up on Friday night in Columbus. F Benoit Pouliot took a maintenance day on Wednesday and is questionable. The Penguins will be without F Pascal Dupuis and D Olli Maata tonight.
Ben Scrivens starts for Edmonton, while Marc-Andre Fleury goes for the Penguins.
Last Game:
Edmonton: The Oilers were in Detroit on Monday night for a decent battle against the Wings. Edmonton dominated the opening frame, out-shooting the Red Wings 14-7 and getting the majority of the scoring chances. The Oil were rewarded, too, as Rob Klinkhammer jammed home a rebound at the 2:15 mark.
The Wings would quickly even things in the middle frame however, as Niklas Kronwall scored a power-play goal just 21 seconds in with a quick wrist-shot from long range. The Wings would turn the heat up and gain a lead just under 14 minutes later, as Riley Sheahan was left wide-open in front of the net.
Edmonton would control the early goings of the third-period in an effort to even the affair, but Teemu Pulkkinen would give Detroit insurance at the 10:40 mark. Nail Yakupov would get Edmonton within a goal in the final two minutes, but empty net goals from Justin Abdelkader and Pavel Datsyuk would seal the 5-2 Wings win.
Pittsburgh: The Penguins were in San Jose back on Monday night in a game that was actually highly entertaining. The Penguins dominated the pace in the first period, but Antti Niemi would stop all 15 shots, while Matt Nieto would score in the final minute to put the Sharks up one after twenty.
The Sharks would use their momentum to carry the play in the middle frame, but Fleury would stop 15 shots to keep his team within just a single goal. That would prove massive as Sidney Crosby would tie things up 7:22 into the third to force overtime.
OT solved nothing, so the sides ironically headed to the shoot-out to determine this game. The sides would trade goals in the first three rounds, but would then go scoreless until Tommy Wingles gave San Jose a 2-1 win in the eighth round.
Last Meeting:
The Oilers and Penguins met back in early February in Edmonton in a boring affair. The Penguins toyed with Edmonton throughout the first forty minutes, out-shooting Edmonton 24-12 and surrendering minimal attempts to Edmonton.
Evgeni Malkin would open the scoring 24 seconds into the second period, while David Perron would add insurance with less than a second remaining in the period. Edmonton would attempt a comeback in the third, firing ten shots on net, but it was way too little too late.
Marc-Andre Fleury would stop 22 shots for a shut-out victory in the Penguins 2-0 win.
Keys To The Game:
Edmonton: A fast start for Edmonton is huge. The Penguins are returning home from a lengthy road trip out west, and might need some time to get their legs underneath them. If the Oil can apply pressure right from the start and make the Penguins feel uncomfortable, they’ll have a chance.
Pittsburgh: Exploiting match-ups is huge tonight. With two dominating lines, the Penguins can really exploit Edmonton’s many weaknesses here. If the Pens can get Crosby out there against Schultz/Klefbom with any regularity, then this could be an easy two points for the Pens.
Players To Watch:
Edmonton: F Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is a stud in the making, honestly. This kid is an awesome two-way hockey player who scores at even strength and is still getting better. Honestly, it’s fun watching this guy play. Tonight, on a stage against Crosby and Malkin, I expect him to show up like the last two games.
Pittsburgh: The Pens re-acquired D Ben Lovejoy from the Ducks at the NHL’s trading deadline. Lovejoy emerged as a legit NHL defender in Anaheim, and was brought back to provide grit and physical play to the Penguins’ blue-line. I’ll be watching him tonight to see the dynamic he brings.
Quick Hits:
The Oilers assigned D Jordan Oesterle to the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons on Tuesday, meaning D Keith Aulie will dress tonight in his place. D Nikita Nikitin is expected to return to the line-up on Friday night against the Blue Jackets. The Oilers and Penguins have split the last two meetings, with both of them coming in Edmonton.
The Lines:
Edmonton Oilers Lines:
Benoit Pouliot – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jordan Eberle
Teddy Purcell – Derek Roy – Nail Yakupov
Matt Fraser – Anton Lander – Ryan Hamilton
Matt Hendricks – Boyd Gordon – Rob Klinkhammer
Oscar Klefbom – Justin Schultz
Martin Marincin – Mark Fayne
Andrew Ference – Keith Aulie
Ben Scrivens
Pittsburgh Penguins Lines:
David Perron – Sidney Crosby – Patric Hornqvist
Chris Kunitz – Evgeni Malkin – Blake Comeau
Daniel Winnik – Brandon Sutter – Beau Bennett
Nick Spaling – Max Lapierre – Steve Downie
Paul Martin – Kris Letang
Derrick Pouliot – Ben Lovejoy
Rob Scuderi – Ian Cole
Marc-Andre Fleury
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