The Oilers are back in action today against the red-hot Florida Panthers. We are nothing if not streak breakers, right??
Last Games
Edmonton
On Friday night, the Oilers scored 5 goals against Tampa Bay and lost the game 3-2. I didn’t watch, but the highlights made me think of the French army.
Can’t win, even when they’re fighting themselves.
Florida
The Panthers have won their last 11. So they’re pretty good. Better hold on to your hats, guys. It’s probably going to be a barn burner.
Keys to the Game
Edmonton
Stay out of the goalie’s way and don’t deflect (or shovel) the puck into your own net. Score a PP goal or two. Have some fun out there and try not to think about Connor McDavid not returning until after the All-Star break.
Florida
They’ve won 11 in a row. They literally need to keep doing what they’ve been doing.
Players to Watch
Edmonton
Do I even need to say it at this point? Taylor Hall. He’s good at hockey and plays with an almost reckless abandon that brings me joy.
Florida
Jaromir Jagr. He’s 43 and on pace for a million goals in his career. If he hadn’t played in the KHL, I wonder where he’d be goal-wise.
Aaron Ekblad. (My buddies Avry and BaggedMilk know why)
Projected Lineups
Edmonton
Taylor Hall – Leon Draisaitl – Teddy Purcell
Benoit Pouliot – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jordan Eberle
Matt Hendricks – Mark Letestu – Lauri Korpikoski
Rob Klinkhammer – Anton Lander – Iiro Pakarinen
Andrej Sekera – Brandon Davidson
Darnell Nurse – Justin Schultz
Brad Hunt – Eric Gryba
Cam Tal-Bot
Florida
Jaromir Jagr – Jaromir Jagr – Jaromir Jagr
Jaromir Jagr – Jaromir Jagr – Jaromir Jagr
Jaromir Jagr – Jaromir Jagr – Jaromir Jagr
Jaromir Jagr – Jaromir Jagr – Jaromir Jagr
Aaron Ekblad – Aaron Ekblad
Aaron Ekblad – Aaron Ekblad
Aaron Ekblad – Aaron Ekblad
Roberto Luongo (Maybe?)
Final Thoughts
We found out yesterday that Connor McDavid and Oscar Klefbom won’t be back until after the All-Star break. I know it’s crappy, but we weren’t making the playoffs anyway. It’s all good. They’ll come back and maybe (just maybe) we’ll have a game or two with a full line-up and see what kind of magic they can make happen.
Also. Stop trying to trade RNH for bags of pucks. That’s ridiculous. He’s good. Maybe not a 1st-line guy on most teams, but he plays hard minutes and isn’t soft at all, and I like him a lot.
(I’d say more but there’s a football game on. GO PACK GO!)
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