\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s only fitting that things have been mercurial early into coach Woodcroft\u2019s tenure, with visions of a more complete elite team mixed in with glimpses of the roster\u2019s fatal flaws. Personally I\u2019m inclined to be on the more positive side of things, but regardless of how any of us feel the Oilers have an important and telling road trip ahead of them, starting tonight with the reigning back to back champion Tampa Bay Lightning. With stops against other top teams in Florida and Carolina on the horizon the substance and mettle of our Oilers will be thoroughly measured in the coming games.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Not to be overlooked, the tall task on hand tonight will be the NHL\u2019s most complete team, the Lightning. Save for some forward depth that earned raises through free agency, the roster that has terrorized the past 2 postseasons remains intact. Star players at each position are punctuated with a consistency of purpose and effort, forged in the fires of disappointments. The Lightning solidified their place as a legendary team with their second Cup win and certainly embody the platitudes that Oilers GM Holland reiterates in regards to his Detroit teams.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Oilers are obviously not as far along on their journey, yet the urgency and desperation of time running out for them has loomed over the past few months. With each loss the anxieties of an era\u2019s doom swell, case in point regarding Smith\u2019s small and inconsistent sample size this season. The carousel of concern rotates to the goaltending position once more. It is certainly understandable that these concerns exist, but another way that the Lightning are the cut above the rest of the league lies with Vasilevskiy. Many contenders, from Colorado, to Florida, to Toronto, to Washington, to Carolina, are somewhat uneasy with their current situations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The key for the Oilers is that they have 3 reasonable options at a reasonable collective cost, and since the beginning of the season I have been suggesting the best case scenario is to split starts between them as evenly as possible. Easier said than done, and there\u2019s still much to be gained by upgrading the position, but there\u2019s absolutely no excuse to play any of Smith, Koskinen, or Skinner at more than a 50 game pace, especially given the condensed schedule before us.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019re expecting to see Smith tonight, but Woodcroft cannot be shy about starting Koskinen (who has been the Oilers best goalie this season, despite being the most criticized) against top teams.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n KEYS TO THE GAME<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Edmonton<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Tampa Bay<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n EXPECTED LINEUPS<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Edmonton<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n McLeod \u2014 McDavid \u2014 Hyman<\/span><\/p>\n Kane \u2014 Draisaitl \u2014 Yamamoto<\/span><\/p>\n Foegele \u2014 Nugent-Hopkins \u2014 Ryan<\/span><\/p>\n Shore \u2014 Sceviour \u2014 Benson<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Nurse \u2014 Bouchard<\/span><\/p>\n Lagesson \u2014 Ceci<\/span><\/p>\n Niemelainen \u2014 Barrie<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Smith<\/span><\/p>\n Koskinen<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Tampa Bay<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Palat \u2014 Point \u2014 Kucherov<\/span><\/p>\n Killorn \u2014 Stamkos \u2014 Joseph<\/span><\/p>\n Colton \u2014 Cirelli \u2014 Raddysh<\/span><\/p>\n Maroon \u2014 Bellemare \u2014 Perry<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Hedman \u2014 Sergachev<\/span><\/p>\n McDonagh \u2014 Cernak<\/span><\/p>\n Rutta \u2014 Foote<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Vasilevskiy<\/span><\/p>\n Elliott<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PLAYERS TO WATCH<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Edmonton<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For the first time in the Woodcroft era it seems as though we\u2019ll see a more traditional balance of forwards to defencemen. <\/span>McLeod<\/b> jumps up to Puljujarvi\u2019s spot, allowing the potential endgame 2nd line some time together. Any talk about Puljujarvi not playing well this season is not very productive, insightful, or even accurate in my opinion. In general I think that his best play is still ahead of him as well, and he would most certainly be a player I\u2019d happily include in my team\u2019s core.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s great, and frankly past due, that <\/span>Benson<\/b> scored his first NHL goal. Hopefully we see his confidence take off from here. This might be his best chance at asserting himself as a bonafide everyday NHLer.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n McLeod seems to have done exactly that as of late, as has <\/span>Lagesson<\/b> and to an extent <\/span>Niemelainen<\/b>. To bank on these players effectively holding huge roles in September would have seemed far fetched, yet here we are. It\u2019s a credit to them and their work, as well as the coaching staff for being able to recognize and support that fact.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Tampa Bay<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Perhaps it\u2019s because he missed last regular season, but it cannot be overstated that <\/span>Kucherov<\/b> is one of the NHL\u2019s top players, easily in the same category as McDavid and Draisaitl on a shift by shift basis. Point isn\u2019t far behind, but honestly it seems as if he saves his best for the playoffs. <\/span>Stamkos<\/b> isn\u2019t quite what he used to be but he is well supported to play to his strengths. <\/span>Killorn<\/b> and <\/span>Palat<\/b> being a workmanlike effort and a refined effectiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On the rise <\/span>Cirelli<\/b> and <\/span>Joseph<\/b> have cemented themselves as integral pieces of this lineup, especially considering their affordable cap hits. Both should be in line for long careers given their skills and experience as 2 time champions. To a lesser degree, <\/span>Colton<\/b> and <\/span>Raddysh<\/b> are useful in a similar context, Colton bringing lots of speed and Raddysh a history of scoring through his minor and junior career.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The fourth line is truly a unique unit. 3-peat champion <\/span>Patrick Maroon<\/b> is joined by new teammates, former Hart winner and super pest <\/span>Corey Perry<\/b>, and one of the premiere defensive fourth line centres of the past 5-or-so seasons <\/span>P.E. Bellemare<\/b>. It\u2019s a tough, gritty, veteran trio that will only become more effective as the season grows longer and the stage grows brighter.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The blueline is completely intact, featuring the key talented defenders that have delivered success to Tampa. Classics like <\/span>Hedman<\/b> and <\/span>McDonagh<\/b> are still at their relative peaks, while <\/span>Sergachev<\/b> is coming into his own nicely. <\/span>Foote<\/b> is still developing, but in all it\u2019s a group without much blemishes, if any, featuring an ideal blend of skills. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Edmonton (28-19-3) at Tampa Bay (32-11-6) \u00a0 \u00a0 It\u2019s only fitting that things have been mercurial early into coach Woodcroft\u2019s…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":1258120,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[191955770],"tags":[8066,287709],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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