For two periods, the Edmonton Oilers played solid hockey against the Jets and if they played to that level over the course of a full game against every opponent they have faced this season than I believe Edmonton would be a top 3 team in this division no contest. Unfortunetly that was not the case and Edmonton collapsed to the Jets onslaught in the third period. Natural Stat Trick listed the high danger scoring chances in the 3rd period 6-0 in favor of the Jets.
With the exception of maybe one or two games, this has been the Achilles heel of the Oilers this season and until they find a way to change that than this is a bottom three team in the division.
Tonight Edmonton faces off against the Leafs. Both Edmonton and Toronto have played 8 games but while Toronto sits 1st in the division with 12 points, the Oilers sit 5th with 6. That is a kind #5 spot as the Flames who sit one point back of the Oilers also have three games in hand.
We are already 1/7 of the way through the 20/21 season. The clock is ticking and every loss makes the climb to a playoff position even more difficult.
OILERS LINE COMBINATIONS
RNH-McDavid-Puljujarvi Kahun-Draisaitl-Yamamoto Neal-Turris-Kassian Nygard-Shore-Archibald
Nurse-Bear Koekkoek-Barrie Jones-Larsson
Koskinen
LEAFS LINE COMBINATIONS
Hyman-Matthews-Marner Mikheyev-Tavares-Nylander Vesey-Kerfoot-Simmonds Anderson-Boyd-Engvall
Rielly-Brodie Muzzin-Holl Lehtonen-Bogosian
Andersen
4 THINGS TO WATCH FOR
1.) Tightening Things Up - The Leafs are a more offensively skilled team as a whole than the Edmonton Oilers right now. So far this season Edmonton has held their opponent to 2 goals or less only twice out of their 8 games. One of those was against Toronto and I expect Tippett to try and have his lineup frustrate the Leafs with a more cautious style.
2.) A (Nearly) Complete Lineup - With the exception of maybe Bouchard over Larsson, this is likely the best lineup that Edmonton can ice tonight. Puljujarvi has shown to be a far better fit on the top line than Kassian, Koekkoek moves the puck better than Russell, and Shore has shown to be superior to Khaira. Tippett is icing a lineup that should be competitive but it's up to the players to put in the work.
3.) Standings Watch - Here is the crazy part about a full season between a single division. If Edmonton manages to win both games against Toronto in regulation, they are only two points back of the team currently in first. If they lose both, they are 10 points back. So far these two games are the most important of Edmonton's season.
4.) No Place Like Home - Edmonton has the worst record in the North Division at home right now at a 1-3-0 record. Even Ottawa has a 1-2-1 and Montreal somehow hasn't actually played a game at home yet. There may not be a home crowd to spur the team on but Edmonton should be receiving more favorable line matches but inexplicably haven't been able to capitalize on them.
EDMONTON WINS IF... They can pull off a boring defensive first win like they did in their first match against Toronto.
TORONTO WINS IF... They can turn the game into a track meet and hem in the bottom six that can't keep up.