|
G60 Oilers vs Avalanche: Establishing Youth |
|
|
|
|
|
The Oilers are playing this game without Caggiula and Maroon, which should give us a sneak peek into life after the Trade deadline. McDavid is down his two wingers, which ought to see Jesse Puljujarvi get another push forward.
Like many other Oilers, Puljujarvi’s game has hit a snag. He has been relegated to the 4th line and his off wing for a couple weeks, and the results are as expected. He should see time with McDavid or Draisaitl tonight barring some more bizarre decisions from McLellan. The big Finn hasn’t hit the 15 minute mark in a game since February 9th.
Puljujarvi hasn’t scored a goal or picked up an assist in 12 games. He’s hitting goose-eggs out there. It’s not quite as bad as the goalless droughts for Letestu, Lucic, or Cammalleri, but it’s a bad situation. Basically, all these wingers need RNH to get healthy again ASAP. There is a pronounced lack of scoring from the wings and they need a boost.
Hopefully, with Maroon and Caggiula out, other players will be given an opportunity to make things happen. For Oiler fans as well as the coaching staff, this will probably closely resemble the remainder of the lineup post-deadline. At least, give or take a call up for Rattie, Malone, and maybe Bear gets a game.
Edmonton’s unestablished players will have to show their worth. Anton Slepyshev is another player who needs to take this opportunity to show he is better than the collection of individual qualities he possesses. He is big. He can skate. He has a wonderful release. Why does he only have 18 points in 81 career NHL games?
I’ll be watching for Puljujarvi, Slepyshev, Khaira, Pakarinen, and Auvitu tonight. Someone has to step up from this group and show they really want to take a job away from an established player.
LINEUP
Sounds like no Maroon or Caggiula due to injury and illness
Lucic McDavid Puljujarvi
Khaira Draisaitl Cammalleri
Pakarinen Strome Slepyshev
Auvitu Letestu Kassian
Klefbom Russell
Nurse Larsson
Davidson Benning
Talbot
OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME
1) Stay Healthy. If Patrick Maroon and the rest of the Oiler trade fodder hopefuls are going to play in the next few games then all Oiler fans can pray for is good health. Patrick Maroon took a maintenance day yesterday and looked banged up in the previous game. He wasn’t on the ice for the optional skate today either. He will not play this game. He is Edmonton’s most valuable deadline asset. They cannot afford him to go down with a knee or ankle injury 4 days away from the deadline. One has to wonder if the Oilers protect their other assets before the deadline and keep him out of games. Stay safe, Letestu.
2) Eyeing Up Barrie. There has been a desire to Tyson Barrie in an Oiler uniform for a long time, albeit at various levels of interest. He’s a right shot defender with an offense first mentality that has never seemed to get the full buy-in from Colorado. Edmonton is looking for everything he brings to the table. I don’t think Barrie is going anywhere right now, with the Avs 3 points out of a playoff spot. However, one has to wonder if in the summer Oil won’t be kicking tires on this player. He has 2 more seasons at $5.5M, which is a reasonable price for an offensive defender.
3) No Power. The Oilers are getting the shaft when it comes to Power Play opportunities. They are 31st in the NHL and have 16 fewer than the 30th placed Columbus Blue Jackets. McDavid has drawn 19 penalties through 59 games (0.322 per game) but last year he drew 40 over 82 games or 0.488 per game. I’m not trying to suggest there is a grand conspiracy to screw over the Oilers, but McDavid isn’t getting mugged any less than he was before. He’s the fastest player in the NHL and the team’s primary puck transporter. Based on last year’s pace for drawing penalties he should have 10 – TEN – more penalties drawn already. What’s going on, NHL?
Puck drops tonight at 7PM Mountain Time on Sportsnet One. Tank On!
Follow me on Twitter @Archaeologuy
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»