The Edmonton Oilers have not lost back-to-back games since since mid-March when the dropped two-in-a-row to the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames. They subsequently followed those losses up with three wins on trot vs. Calgary and Winnipeg outscoring the opposition 13-6.
Prior to that, the Oilers worst losing streak was the three losses to Toronto. Do you remember how they responded to that? If you said a four-game winning streak, you’re right!
So, that’s the mindset I’m taking into tonight’s game.
A lot of folks are under the impression that the sky is falling and to speak to their fears, Edmonton isn’t in a good place but they’re not out of it by any means. If you remember, in 1990, the Jets were up 3-1 in the series and halfway through game five they were winning 3-1 as well. Everything looked rosy for Dale Hawerchuck and his boys but we all know how that series ended up…
Should they be in the lineup, here are three players that I think you should keep an eye on for the Jets tonight,
- #64 Logan Stanley – He’s been the kryptonite to Edmonton’s offense. His stickwork has been outstanding to date and he’s a massive unit which makes it very difficult for the Oilers’ forwards to get anywhere near Winnipeg’s net for a scoring chance. Plus, Edmonton doesn’t have anybody big enough to simply bulldoze the guy out of the way and I reckon Stanley knows this…
- #13 P.L. Dubois – Wasn’t noticeable at all in game two, but he’d been out a little while. Now that he’s back and has had a game to get sorted, I’m curious to see how the rest of his series goes. He’s got a Mark Messier-like toolkit when he’s on his game…
- #37 Connor Hellebuyck – Did this guy find out what Corey Crawford was drinking in the bubble last year or what? How in the world does a netminder shit the bed against one team all year and then all of a sudden flip the switch at a moment’s notice like this? I’ll be watching him all series until he either reverts to his old form or keeps it going because this kind of form is the kind that drags a team to a Stanley Cup…
With regards to Edmonton, If they’re in the lineup, I’ll be watching these three individuals closely,
- #74 Ethan Bear – Bear’s been decent this year. At times the forecheck has gotten to him but nothing like last year. Tippett’s also moved him up the lineup a few times in critical moments, so that’s a good sign. There’s more to give there though and that’s what I’m waiting to see.
- #22 Tyson Barrie – The NHL’s highest scoring defenseman has nothing to show as we hit the third game of the playoffs. WPG’s aggressiveness seems to be slowing him down a bit and their forwards are blocking shots at every opportunity. The Oilers need more from this player and he needs to give it or else the rest of the league is going to see this and it could affect who pursues him this summer and how much he’s offered.
- #56 Kailer Yamamoto – One of the few players getting in the muck for Edmonton. He’s paid the price a few times and you have to respect a player like this. That said, we need more of it. What about this idea? Put Zack Kassian on the LW of Leon and Killer’s line and then tell Yamo he’s got carpe blanche to go where ever he wants… Sure Kassian might not provide a lot of offense but the combination of the three players might just spark some emotion out of the Oilers.
Oilers Notes
At the time of writing (8am-ish Edmonton time), I am under the impression that we might see a lineup change. I don’t know who but the feeling I get is that Dominik Kahun might get the night off and Devin Shore could make his series debut. There is a small chance that Gaetan Haas could come in instead or as well at the expense of someone else, maybe James Neal.
Those aren’t official moves or ones that I was told, just guesses (more or less) on my part. I reckon that there’s not enough speed in Edmonton’s lineup right now. The chip and chase that’s being implemented is getting thwarted because the Oilers can’t get into Winnipeg’s zone fast enough to retrieve the puck.
If I as doing up the lines, this is how I’d run them,
RNH-McDavid-Pulju
Kassian-Draisaitl-Yamamoto
Archibald-McLeod-Chiasson
Shore-Khaira-Haas
Nurse-Bear
Kulikov-Larsson
Koekkoek-Barrie
Smith
Edmonton isn’t out of this series and they have a nuclear deterrent at their disposal…
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