The expectation of the coaching staff is that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will return from his cracked ribs tonight against the Rangers. Edmonton has been without their 2C since January 13th, and it shows. RNH was having a fantastic season, on pace for a career high in goals until his chest was caved in.
The Nuge remains the 3rd leading scorer on the Oilers with 31 points. He’s tied with Milan Lucic despite the fact that Lucic has played 18 more games. Nuge is, sadly, still tied for 2nd in PP scoring with 7 points. With Nuge back it gives McLellan better options down the middle. Or, rather, it gives him better options on the wings.
Draisaitl is a fine centerman, but he is a deadly winger for McDavid. Milan Lucic has had the best results when he was actually RNH’s winger. McLellan might eventually try RNH on the wing and make Draisiatl a fulltime centerman, but the chemistry between McDavid and Leon is so powerful that it’s probably too tempting.
I mean, the Head Coach couldn’t avoid playing them together for 18 games without RNH when doing so meant he DIDN’T HAVE A SECOND LINE CENTER. I personally like the idea of trying Nuge at 1LW, because he’s never done it. He’s never had a role with such low defensive responsibility since he joined the NHL. I’d like to see Nuge just going all out for offense.
With Letestu gone, Nuge is now the center with the highest rate of defensive zone faceoffs on the team. During this final death march to the end of the season, I anticipate he will become McLellan’s top option for defensive responsibilities. It just goes against everything McLellan has ever done as Oiler Head Coach to believe Nuge wont be tasked with those DZ roles.
RNH has 16-15-31 in 46GP. He was their 2C for the majority of the season and having him return is a major boost for the Oilers. He is a huge key to Oiler success and makes life easier for 97, 27, and 29.
LINEUP
Nuge returns!
Aberg McDavid Draisaitl Lucic Nuge Slepyshev Cammalleri Strome Puljujarvi Caggiula Khaira Kassian
Klefbom Benning Nurse Russell Sekera Bear
Talbot
OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME
1) Nuge Is Back. For the Oilers, the best part of Nuge’s return might be its impact on Milan Lucic. The two players have spent 307:42 with each other and Lucic has a 2.14 P/60 while playing with the Nuge. It is easily the best offensive production he has had with a regular linemate this season. There’s no guarantee that chemistry or success will continue as Lucic’s productivity has nose-dived, but it might be his best foot forward. The added benefit is that 97 wont be dragging 27 around anymore. 2) Tanking? The Rangers traded their Captain, JT Miller, and Rick Nash at the deadline. They were supposed to see a major decline and push downward in the standings. However, they’ve won their last 2 games, including one last night against the Flames. The Oilers will be playing a team on short rest, but it is a team that has shown resiliency since their team went into flux. Lundqvist played yesterday. We should expect to see a backup tonight. Neither team really benefits from winning any more, but Edmonton believes it could be back to Win-Now mode as early as next season and the Rangers will likely continue to sell off.
3) Unbearable. Ethan Bear played his first NHL game against the Preds and by my eye, it looked exactly like what you would expect. I thought he moved the puck pretty well, but he was hesitant on several occasions and it ended up in the back of the net multiple times. He wasn’t to blame for all three goals that he was on the ice for, but him not knowing exactly what to do certainly contributed. When Bear is done with this Oiler stint, he will have a real appreciation for what it will take to make the NHL club – the speed, the reads, the positioning. Bleeding a few goals against while he learns NOW is better than it happening next fall.
Puck drops at 8:30PM Mountain Time on CBC. Tank On! Follow me on Twitter @Archaeologuy