Oilers Gameday vs Vancouver: First Place?!

The Oilers are back in action tonight at Rogers Place, where with a win (combined with a Ducks regulation loss), they’ll take first place in the Pacific Division.

If you’re keeping track, it’s been 84 many years since they last won their division in the regular season.

Times are changing, Oiler fans. Embrace it

Keys to the Game

Edmonton

• Put Connor McDavid on the ice in every possible situation, in all positions, at the same time.
• Don’t get hurt.

Vancouver

• Know that Connor McDavid will be on the ice in every possible situation, in all positions, at the same time and try to neutralize that.
• Don’t goon it up.

Players to Watch

Edmonton

• Connor. He’s got 98 points on the year, and I can’t imagine he doesn’t want to break the century mark. Look for him to light it up.
• Leon Draisaitl has been on a hot streak, and I can’t wait to see him take that offence forward to the playoffs.

Vancouver

• Bo Horvat is (probably) the future of the franchise. He’s pretty good to watch.

PROJECTED LINEUPS

Edmonton

Patrick Maroon – Connor McDavid – Leon Draisaitl

Milan Lucic – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jordan Eberle

Benoit Pouliot – David Desharnais – Zack Kassian

Drake Caggiula – Mark Letestu – Iiro Pakarinen

Oscar Klefbom – Adam Larsson

Andrej Sekera – Kris Russell

Darnell Nurse – Matt Benning

Laurent Brossoit

Vancouver

Daniel Sedin – Henrik Sedin – Nikolay Goldobin

Reid Boucher – Bo Horvat – Brock Boeser

Michael Chaput – Brandon Sutter – Jayson Megna

Griffen Molino – Drew Shore – Alex Biega

Alexander Edler – Troy Stecher

Luca Sbisa – Chris Tanev

Ben Hutton – Nikita Tryamkin

Ryan Miller

Notes

After 81 games with a new-look roster, the Edmonton Oilers are not only in the playoffs, but they’re playing their first round with home ice advantage. For a team that was perpetually in the basement of the league, a time during which they drafted first overall FOUR times, this is quite the turnaround.

Playoffs begin gin on Wednesday, and while the Oilers opponent is yet to be determined, it’s safe to say that the Oilers fan base is ready for playoffs.

Enjoy the ride; you never know when it’ll happen again.

H/T to my friend Katherine for helping me out with this. We’re at the bar and there’s baseball (and golf) on.