Tonight Edmonton will for the first time this season be wearing their Retro Jerseys and hopefully we have a retro performance from the team. I'm not talking about an 80's 8-4 performance, I'm talking about a 19/20 performance.
The Oilers last season were able to pull out one goal victories, knew how to hold a lead. This year this roster can't seem to get out of their own way and have constantly shot themselves in the foot. Last game against Toronto there were a number of mistakes but a couple big ones come to mind. Mikko Koskinen made a terrible play with the puck on the first goal and later in the game Yamamoto had an opportunity to make a clear but failed and it resulted in another goal against.
Moral victories or sticking with the Leafs is not where this roster needs to be. Through 9 games Edmonton has 3 wins. No more excuses, Edmonton needs to win.
OILERS LINE COMBINATIONS RNH-McDavid-Puljujarvi Kahun-Draisaitl-Yamamoto Neal-Turris-Kassian Ennis-Shore-Archibald
Nurse-Bear Koekkoek-Barrie Jones-Larsson
Koskinen
LEAFS LINE COMBINATIONS Hyman-Matthews-Marner Mikheyev-avares-Nylander Vesey-Kerfoot-Simmonds Spezza-Boyd-Barabanov
Reilly-Brodie Muzzin-Holl Lehtonen-Bogosian
Andersen
4 THINGS TO WATCH FOR
1.) The Dam To Break For Puljujarvi: Puljujarvi sits at the bottom of the league in lowest goals expected at -4.6 Essentially what that means is based on the shots and scoring chances he has had, Puljujarvi should have at least 4 goals. The chances are there and if JP keeps getting the chances he has, eventually some will start going in.
2.) On That Note: Kahun is in the same boat of the above category at -1.9. Kahun hasn't played bad but he has still played too much perimeter hockey. The top six is rolling at a good pace but these guys need to start producing as well.
3.) A Skinner Start Soon? - Tonight Edmonton will start Mikko Koskinen. It is likely we will then see Stuart Skinner get his first NHL start tommorow against the Sens. A win tonight puts some pressure off Skinner for tomorrow. If Edmonton loses tonight Tippett may feel forced to go back to Koskinen.
4.) Hold a Lead - Last game against Toronto the moment Edmonton scored and put some pressure on, Toronto pushed back. The Leafs are an elite team on the forecheck and the Oilers defense needs to find a way to force them back at the blue line.
THE OILERS WIN IF... The complimentary guys in the top six can score and force the Leafs to guard them as well as McDavid and Draisaitl
THE LEAFS WIN IF... They continue to hem Edmonton into their own end and capitalize on their special teams.