Follow @SMaloughney I’ve officially had my fill of pre-season. We are just under two weeks until the beginning of the regular season. Most of the prospects have been sent down to their respective teams. Is there anyone who thinks the league wouldn’t be better off have 4 pre-season games, start the season the third week of September and then be done the season before the end of March?
Tonight the Oilers ices a roster that almost resembles a full NHL lineup. We will see roughly the same group play over the next few games in the hope that they form chemistry going into Game 1. LINEUP
OILERS
RNH-McDavid-Rattie Lucic-Draisaitl-Yamamoto Rieder-Khaira-Puljujarvi Chiasson-Brodziak-Kassian Kleflbom-Larsson Russell-Bouchard Garrison-Jerabek Talbot
CANUCKS Goldobin-Horvat-Boeser Baertschi-Pettersson-Eriksson Leipsic-Beagle-Roussel Schaller-Granlund-Motte Hutton-Tanev Pouliot-Stecher Del Zotto-Gudbranson Nilsson
Strome has a groin injury but McLellan expects him to start opening night, in the meantime Khaira will centre that line and perhaps McLeod will get a few more reps in as well.
THINGS TO WATCH FOR 1) Rieder Losing Ground. Rieder started training camp with the inside track on a top 6 job. In only a couple games Yamamoto, Puljujarvi, and Rattie have climbed the ranks past Tobias. Rieder signed a one year deal with Edmonton because he believed he could improve his point totals and garner a better contract. If he wants that he needs to start showing something. 2) Last Chance. Jerabek, Garrison, and Chiasson are playing for their jobs tonight. Jerabek has a one year deal but it could easily be buried in the minors. None of these players have done enough to impress yet and need to have a fantastic game to get their coach to notice them. 3) Potential Third Pairing On Display. McLellan stated in his last presser he expects Bouchard to have a chance at making the opening night roster. If he does so it will likely be next to Kris Russell. I have feelings on that pairing and none of them are good. A Russell and Bouchard pair feels like a duo that will be hemmed in their own zone most of the night. Tonight we will find out. 4) Draisaitl To Yamamoto. Draisaitl drew the short stick this season for playing on a line without any wingers of similar skill. Rieder and Lucic looked to be his default linemates but tonight Yamamoto gets a shot.