Before I begin discussing tonight's game against the Nashville Predators, I want to extend a warm thanks to the Columbus Blue Jackets and LA Kings for beating the Canucks and Golden Knights respectively in regulation last night. As for the Panthers...
The Western Conference is still a tight race that won't be decided until the end of March but slowly we are starting to get an idea of who is for real and who is simply hanging on.
Currently the Golden Knights, Oilers, and Flames hold the top 3 spots in the Pacific with the Canucks, Predators, Jets, Coyotes, and Wild realistically fighting for the remaining two spots. St Louis, Colorado and Dallas are all firmly entrenched in the Central and I don't see any of those being ousted.
Below is my guess for how the Western Standings will finish:
Golden Knights - Top team in the Pacific Division Oilers - Believe they will hold this spot, want to see the full roster healthy Predators - They are going to be the surprise climbed. Hynes has this team playing strong. Flames - Toss up between Preds and Flames. Flames producing chances at will right now. Canucks - The deadline additions will be enough to squeak this team in. Need Boeser back. Jets - Just on the outside, need Schiefele to go supernova for a month. Wild - Have turned things around but it will be too little too late for Minnie Coyotes - Will be a team to watch this summer. Was first in the Pacific and added Hall in December and now could finish as low as 23 or 24th in the league.
How do you all think the standings will look in a month?
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Nashville is like that kid we all knew in high school that you see a few years later and go "wow." Since hiring John Hynes as coach on January 7th, the Predators have won the 7th most games in the league and have taken 27 points from the 23 games they played in that period.
Similar to the Oilers, the Preds have also had some pretty devastating injuries to their lineup but are now healthy once more. The most notable ones, Victor Arvidsson and Ryan Ellis have recently returned to the lineup and are integral parts of this roster. Surviving a tough injury and still being able to get wins is the kind of thing that can unify a team and really provide a boost when said player returns to the lineup.
As of the time of writing this blog it is unconfirmed who will play tonight but Kailer Yamamoto, Oscar Klefbom, and James Neal are all with the team on this three game road trip. A healthy Klefbom and Yamamoto are just as crucial to the Oilers as Arviddson and Ellis are to the Preds.
With the team playing tonight and tomorrow, Tippett might elect to keep both out one more game and not bring them into a back to back scenario for their return. That being said if the guys are ready to play then let them play.
LINEUP
OILERS RNH-Draisaitl-Yamamoto Athanasiou-McDavid-Ennis Archibald-Sheahan-Kassian Khaira-Haas-Chiasson
Jones-Larsson Nurse-Bear Russell-Benning
Smith
UPDATE - Yamamoto will draw in tonight but Klefbom will not. Looks like Smith gets the nod tonight so expect Koskinen tomorrow against the Stars.
PREDATORS
Jarnkrok-Duchene-Arvidsson Forsberg-Turris-Granlund Blackwell-Johansen-Sissons Grimaldi-Bonino-Smith
Josi-Ellis Tinordi-Ekholm Hamhuis-Fabbro
Rinne
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3 KEYS TO VICTORY
1.) Do The Special Teams Thing - Pardon the cliche but Edmonton played a full 60 minutes against the Winnipeg Jets but it was their powerplay that got the job done, going 2/2 on the PP. While Nashville has been winning games, it hasn't been off their special teams. PK issues were a problem under Peter Laviolette and continue to be under Hynes. Nashville has allowed the 6th most PP goals against since Hynes took over.
2.) Athana-would like to see you more - Andreas Athanasiou didn't have a great game against the Jets and Tippett actually pulled him off that line for a stretch of the game. Athanasiou has the skill and speed to play with McDavid but he needs to be sharper and Tippett is showing his new player quickly what he expects of him. Look for a bounce back game from him.
3.) Quest For 100 - Part 2 - Connor McDavid is a modest enough young man that he is honestly happy for his teammate Draisaitl on having such a great season, reaching 100 points against the Jets. McDavid is also competitive enough that you can bet he wants to do the same. In past years we have seen McDavid really peak in the late months of the season and with more on the line this year than in the past it's going to happen again. McDavid has 89 points right now... over under 7 games for #97 to reach 100?
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FILM OF THE DAY
Separation and divorce is never an easy thing for anyone and it can take a long time to work through it. Some things can make it take longer than expected to get over... like murder. Enjoy a scene from The Girl On The Train. NSFW for language.