TALE OF THE TAPE:
Game: Edmonton Oilers (22-32-6, 50 pts) vs Ottawa Senators (28-26-6, 62 pts)
Location: Rexall Place, Edmonton
Time: 7:00 PM MT
Where to find it: TV: Sportsnet West – Radio: 630 CHED
Edmonton Oilers Preview:
Audition season is open.
After a brief, six game stint last season, Jordan Oesterle has once again been recalled to the NHL. In his six games, he posted one assist along with seven shots on net. He posted a 52.9% CF in 14.9 TOI/gm.
In practice this week, he took reps on the third pairing with Brandon Davidson and Adam Clendening. Oesterle is a really interesting prospect for the Oilers. He was signed right out of the NCAA after he had a successful three year stint with Western Michigan University.
Since then, his game has transitioned really well into the AHL. In two seasons with the OKC Barons/Bakersfield Condors, he has scored 48 points in 108 games. His game could transition well to the NHL and given that he is one of the only teams right handed defensive prospects.
He says his confidence has really been elevated from AHL year one to year two. He is seeing around four more minutes of ice time in Bakersfield, which is a good sign for his development.
Oesterle made a great first impression in his stint.
“He was really, really good,” Ference said. “He had great composure, fantastic skating ability, he was so calm. I remember my first game, I didn’t want to touch the puck and he’s handling and skating up the ice really well and making great plays. It was very impressive.” – Feb. 22, 2015.
“I think over the last six weeks, Jordan Oesterle has been by far our best defenceman overall. His positioning defensively, his ability to skate the puck out of trouble, his ability to make plays both defensively and offensively has elevated our defensive corps as a group.” – Condors Head Coach Gerry Fleming on Oesterle. Feb 17 2016.
I think more recalls of AHL guys like Oesterle could be coming soon.
Tonight, the Oilers look to capitalize on a team they dominated earlier in the month, winning 7-2 where five Oilers had multi-point nights.
Ottawa is a team that is currently fighting for their playoff lives and are likely going to miss a playoff berth. Desperation is setting in for the team, and the deal for Dion Phaneuf the other week suggests that. Given the beating the Oilers laid down on Feb. 4, I would imagine that the Senators are going to be coming out of the gates blaring. No team likes to lose that way.
If the team needs a night to gain some confidence on the power play, tonight would be a good place to start as the Senators currently have the league’s 29th ranked penalty kill.
Oscar Klefbom leads Oilers D in TOI (21:53) Oilers are 9-17-4 w/o him.
RNH leads Fwd’s TOI 19:50 Oilers are 3-9-1 w/o him— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) February 23, 2016
Predictions for tonight:
- Oilers win 4-3.
- Jordan Oesterle impresses, and gets on the score sheet.
- Connor McDavid has a multi-point night.
Senators Preview:
Goalie Craig Anderson is expected to start for Ottawa. Anderson was named the NHL’s third star of the week after winning three games with a .951 save percentage. Forward Clarke MacArthur, who sustained a concussion in the fourth game of the season, joined the Senators for the three-game Western Canadian swing. Coach Dave Cameron said MacArthur is close to being cleared to play. Forward David Dziurzynski, who hasn’t played since Feb. 4, was reassigned to Binghamton of the American Hockey League. Ottawa has won three straight to move within six points of the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. “We set a goal last week to get six [points] at home and we did,” forward Bobby Ryan told the Senators website. “We’re going to have to try to do that again on this trip in three pretty tough buildings.” Edmonton-born and raised defenseman Dion Phaneuf will play his final game at Rexall Place. – nhl.com
Line Combos and Starting Goalies c/o Left Wing Lock:
Oilers (Cam Talbot):
Taylor Hall – Leon Draisaitl – Teddy Purcell
Benoit Pouliot – Connor McDavid – Jordan Eberle
Zack Kassian – Mark Letestu – Nail Yakupov
Lauri Korpikoski – Matt Hendricks – Iiro Pakarinen
Andrej Sekera – Justin Schultz
Darnell Nurse – Mark Fayne
Brandon Davidson – Adam Clendening/Jordan Oesterle
EDM Injuries: Oscar Klefbom (undisclosed), Andrew Ference (hip), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (hand), Eric Gryba (knee).
Scratched: Adam Clendening/Jordan Oesterle, Anton Lander
Ottawa Senators (Craig Anderson):
Mike Hoffman – Kyle Turris – Mark Stone
Ryan Dzingel – Mika Zibanejad – Bobby Ryan
Zack Smith – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Alex Chiasson
Nicholas Paul – Curtis Lazar – Chris Neil
Marc Methot – Erik Karlsson
Dion Phaneuf – Cody Ceci
Chris Wideman – Mark Borowiecki
Any ideas on how to improve my game previews? Send me an email at zjlaing@gmail.com.
