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G23 - Oilers @ Sharks - The Biggest Road Trip Of The Season

November 19, 2019, 2:09 PM ET [12 Comments]
Sean Maloughney
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Over the next few weeks, you are all likely going to here about the magical effect that Fake Thanksgiving has... also know simply as Thanksgiving to you Americans. Teams that are in a playoff position by that magical date have a greater than 75% chance of making it to the post-season. With Edmonton sitting first in the division with 29 points, they are already in a great position.

Through the last 4 games the Edmonton Oilers have played just about every type of hockey. They've dominated 60 minutes against Anaheim, fell flat early and failed to keep up against the Sharks, allowed an early goal against but rebounded massively against the Avs, and held a strong lead going into the 3rd and letting it slip away against the Stars. Those last 4 games left Edmonton with 5 of a possible 8 points. To remain a playoff lock and not have to worry about a Wild Card position, that is the pace the Oilers should aim to continue from this point onward.

Back to this road-trip, Edmonton plays against four Division rivals and one Conference rival through their next 5 games. The point gap is closing rapidly among most of these teams, with the exception of the LA Kings. These four point games have massive standings implications. Three wins should be the minimum goal for Edmonton here.

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The road trip starts with potentially it's toughest game against the San Jose Sharks. San Jose more than doubled their total wins on the season as they are currently on a six game win streak and now sit 10-10-1 on the season. After spending the first month of the season, failing to cash in on chances, things have completely changes with the Sharks scoring 26 goals during this stretch. In comparison the Oilers haven't exactly slouched themselves with 25 goals in that same period.

The schedule has likely factored into the Sharks favour a bit during this stint. They won against Anaheim, who at that point was on a 5 game losing streak, the Red Wings who sit second last in the league, the Wild who are last in the league, and the Predators who have struggled as much as the Sharks have. Having said that, they made Edmonton look like the worse team when they last matched up and that needs to be fresh in the Oilers minds.

LINEUPS

OILERS


Draisaitl-McDavid-Kassian
Neal-RNH-Archibald
Nygard-Haas-Chiasson
Khaira-Sheahan-P Russell

Nurse-Bear
Klefbom-Jones
Russell-Benning

Koskinen

SHARKS

Kane-Couture-Lebanc
Meier-Hertl-Goodrow
Sorensen-Thornton-Marleau
Radil-Gambrell-Karlsson

Simek-Burns
Vlasic-Karlsson
Dillon-Ferraro

Jones

OILERS PLAYER PROFILE - DARNELL NURSE

As my last blog suggested, I haven't been wild about the recent play of Darnell Nurse. #25 can be a productive player on the Oilers backend for years to come but he needs to clean up some areas of his game. Too often through the last 5 games he has been the last Oilers player to touch the puck before a goal was scored against Edmonton. The Sharks will pounce on pucks if Edmonton allows them to linger in their own end for too long.

SHARKS PLAYER PROFILE - MARTIN JONES

Jones standing on his head, hasn't been the reason San Jose is on this winning streak. His 0.893, 0.906, 0.875, 0.960, and 0.808 numbers in the last 5 starts do not suggest Jones is on a hot streak. The more challenged Jones is, the more likely he will break.

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3 KEYS TO VICTORY

1.) Start Like You Did Against Dallas -
Through the first two periods against the Stars, Edmonton was the dominant team. Puck battles were won by the Oil, and the entire team was forechecking harder than I have seen in a few weeks. It is that kind of intensity that needs to be replicated tonight.

2.) Don't End Like You Did Against Dallas - Edmonton collapsed as hard as they could have against the Stars, being hemmed in their own end and peppered with shots until eventually falling in overtime. Whether it was fatigue or nerves, trying to keep a lead against a hot team that cannot happen again tonight.

3.) Watch The Game Tape Khaira - Khaira had his best game of the season against Dallas, not only scoring a couple of goals, but being engaged on both sides of the puck all game. If I was Tippett I would tell him if he doesn't match that same level of play tonight, he is sitting for a couple of weeks. Short bursts from Khaira can no longer be tolerated and something needs to happen to get him to play like that every game.

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FILM OF THE DAY

Tonight is all about Edmonton not falling for the same tricks as they did last time against San Jose. Getting beat like that once isn't ideal but it does happen. For Edmonton to put themselves into that position again...... oh good grief.... Here is a clip from A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

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