It’s been nearly three weeks since the Detroit Red Wings won a hockey game. So should we just give them the two points, skip this one, and simply head on to Columbus? These sorts of games are supposed to be gimmes for the Oilers and somehow someway, they always seem to muff it up. Well, they cannot afford to do that this time around. It’s time for these gentlemen to sack up and show the league, the media, and hockey fans around the world that the beginning of the season is no mirage.
This ten-game block is as important a section of the schedule as there’s going to be all season. If they can get to American Thanksgiving and still be in the top-3 of the conference, it would take an epic collapse to keep them out of the playoffs.
The Next Ten Games
The first ten games of the 2019/20 season went quite well for the Oilers, more so at the start than the end, mind you. I predicted they’d go 6-4-0 and they ended up going 7-2-1. It’s not going to be as easy in these ten games, but it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility if they did better than anticipated.
10/24 Washington: 7-2-2 (h) – I like Washington here. Too much depth and firepower (LOSS) WIN
10/27 Florida: 4-2-3 (h) – If Barkov is still out, I’ll take the Oilers. (WIN) LOSS
10/28 Detroit: 3-7-0 (a) – It was a tough go in their first meeting, but I reckon Edmonton turns it up in Detroit for their GM. The first game in a B2B for the Oilers. (WIN)
10/29 Columbus: 4-3-2 (a) – Edmonton has had trouble with tough-checking teams so far but Columbus’ goaltending doesn’t impress me. The second game of the B2B for Edmonton. (WIN)
11/2 Pittsburgh: 6-5-0 (a) – Crosby and co. are an intimidating bunch. I’ll go with a shootout loss here. (S/O LOSS)
11/4 Arizona: 5-2-1 (h) – Coyotes are a lot deeper than years previous. (LOSS)
11/6 St. Louis: 4-2-3 (h) – The champs will give the Oilers are really hard time. However, the Blues will be on the latter half of a B2B. (LOSS)
11/8 New Jersey: 2-4-2 (h) – New Jersey’s defense and goaltending just isn’t coming together. The Devils will be playing the 2nd game of a B2B as well. (WIN)
11/10 Anaheim: 6-4-0 (a) – John Gibson has been amazing and this team is rallying behind Dallas Eakins. These games are usually very intense and this one shouldn’t be any different. (WIN)
11/12 San Jose: 3-5-1 (a) – Martin Jones has completely lost the plot and Vlasic is coming up in trade rumors now? (WIN)
*Records as of October 24th, 2019.
Three Players to Watch for the Red Wings (3-8-1)
- Brendan Perlini – If he’s in the lineup for Detroit, keep an eye on him. He’s got speed, he’s big, and he can shoot like a mutha f*cka. Consistency is his problem though.
- Anthony Mantha – He has TWENTY shots in his last five games and only one goal. He’s due. Edmonton shut him down before, but he’s at home now and they’d best be careful with him.
- Dennis Cholowski – He’s back for the Red Wings and playing with Mike Green on the top pair for Detroit. Drafted 20th overall in 2016, Cholowski is one of Steve Yzerman’s premier blue-chip defenders.
The Red Wings will be without four big contributors from the last time these two teams met. Justin Abdelkader, Dan DeKeyser, Luke Glendening, and recent acquisition Adam Erne. Here are the lines they ran vs. St. Louis in their last game.
Bertuzzi-Larkin-Mantha
Athanasiou-Filppula-Helm
Hirose-Nielsen-Svechnikov
Ehn-de la Rose-Smith
Nemeth-Hronek
Cholowski-Green
Daley-Bowey
Bernier
Three Player to Watch for the Oilers (8-3-1)
- Tomas Jurco – I thought that Jurco had an inspiring game when Edmonton played the Red Wings just over a week ago. He’s had more peaks and valleys than the Rocky Mountains this year, and the pressure is mounting. He’s got to do something to make an impact on this roster.
- Leon Draisaitl – Has Six points in his last five games and leads the team in that category. I’m curious to see if Tippett keeps Leon and Connor together for the entire 60 minutes here.
- Oscar Klefbom – ZERO points in his last five. After starting the season on fire, Klef has slowed down a bit. It’s time for him to get his name on the scoresheet.
There’s some speculation that Joel Persson is near ready to return to the lineup and Gord knows how badly the Oilers could use another puck-moving defender. Not sure who’ll be starting in net. I don’t believe anybody planned for Mike Smith to get pulled in the Florida game. Here are the preliminary line combos,
Draisaitl – McDavid – Kassian
Chiasson – Nugent-Hopkins – Neal
Khaira – Sheahan – P. Russell
Jurco – Granlund – Gagner
Nurse – Bear
Klefbom – K. Russell
Manning – Benning
Koskinen
Edmonton is starting to come back down to Earth, folks. They’re 2-2-1 in their previous five games after going 6-1-0 to start the year. Smith and Koskinen have been standing on their heads in games where the forwards and defense have failed to show up. The skaters on this team have to pull one out for the goalies now and show everyone that they’ve got their backs. Tippett and co. need the two points tonight.
Let’s Go Oilers!
