Oilers Gameday @ San Jose: HOME ICE?!?!

The Oilers are back in action tonight at the ~~HP Pavilion~~ SAP Center where they will face the Joe Thornton-less San Jose Sharks. (Thornton got hurt last week, but he says he’ll be ready for the playoffs.) What’s on the line tonight? HOME ICE ADVANTAGE in the playoffs.

In case you were wondering, that’s not something the Oilers have had since 1991. It has been 84 26 years since the Oilers started a playoff series at home. That’s a lifetime for most of the guys on the team, and almost a lifetime for this writer.

I still think we’re in the upside down, and I’m just looking for Barb.

Keys to the Game

Edmonton

Jump on the Sharks early and don’t let go. Tuesday’s game in LA was Not Good, and even though the Oilers scored 4 goals, the Kings scored 6 and the Oilers looked Bad. Considering it was against a non-playoff team, that’s not promising.
Keep the lanes in front of Talbot clear so he can see the puck. Might be easier for him to stop the puck. Maybe.

San Jose

Get on the scoreboard first, and don’t let up. The Oilers have shown that they can be beat, and the Sharks could use a win to get themselves back on track.
Don’t let Connor get behind the defence. He’s too fast and too good and that’s almost a sure thing.

Players to Watch

Edmonton

Connor. I don’t really need to get into it, do I?
Leon Draisaitl is on a hot streak (11-game point streak, in fact) and it has been a delight to watch him play this season. He’s big and strong and is the perfect compliment to Connor McDavid.

San Jose

Patrick Marleau is my favourite Shark and always has been. I want him to win the Stanley Cup more than anyone else (yes, even including he-who-shall-not-be-named) in the NHL because he’s old and is going to retire one of these days.