Before I get into this blog, I first wanted to say I've sent a little wager over to my fellow blogger James Tanner. The terms are simple. Whoever loses tonight's game has to write a post game wrap up blog that is pro-opposing team.
With that said, let's get into some pre-game coverage.
Edmonton is red hot right now, with only one regulation loss in their last 10 games. McDavid and Draisaitl currently lead the league in points and have been doing so while playing on separate lines. Never again do I want to hear someone suggest that Draisaitl is only good because he plays with McDavid.
Connor McDavid is by far the best player on the team (and league) but Leon Draisaitl might be the team MVP this season. #29 leads the league in points and plays more minutes a night than any other forward in the league. He has been excellent on both the powerplay and the penalty kill and is an absolute workhorse for Dave Tippett.
McDavid doing McDavid things will always be spectacular to watch, but having another elite player in Draisaitl drive what has essentially become another top line for the Edmonton Oilers is the reason why the team is fighting for top spot in the Pacific Division.
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Meanwhile, much further south, the Arizona Coyotes have cooled off significantly. Coming back from the All-Star break, the Coyotes are 0-1-2 and were 4-5-2 through the month of January. Some less intelligent individuals have tried to state that the team has this record since they traded for winger Taylor Hall.
Correlation does not equal causation.
Antii Raanta and Darcy Kuemper who are both high end goalies have dealt with injuries through this period, leaving the 23 year old Hill to pick up the slack. Through the first two three months of the season the Coyotes were getting elite goaltending and even though their score-shares were nothing special, they were coming out on top of most games.
Tonight Antii Raanta will be in net. Last time these two teams met the Oilers shelled him for a total of 6 goals on 18 shots. The same Edmonton that came out and slaughtered the Flames on Saturday need to come out for the start of this game.
- No official word on the Oilers lineup yet but it doesn't look like Tyler Benson will be getting in tonight. Tippett likely wants to keep the lineup that rolled the Flames together.
1.) Coyotes Top Line? - Hall has come as advertised for the Coyotes with 17 points through his first 19 games with the team. It's curious though to see who they have slotted him with. Conor Garland leads the Coyotes in goals with 17 but also only scored twice through the entire month of January. Dvorak is on a bit of a heater but realistically is also a third line player. Hall is being expected to carry this line somehow.
2.) Plus/Minus Is Garbage But... - There is far too much wrong with +/- as a stat to go into but some good things can be discussed. Kailer Yamamoto is a +11 through his first 11 games this season. Yamamoto attacks the puck so good despite his stature and always seems to be on the right side of play. Yamamoto might be the best add for the team this season, regardless of what they do at the deadline.
3.) Not Worth 8 Million - On another day we can discuss what a future Darnell Nurse contract should look like but if the rumours are to be believed, Nurse's camp is starting at 8 million in terms of negotiation. Nurse can do some great things at 5 on 5, but seeing how he handled himself in front of the net on the Flames third goal on Saturday is something else we see consistently still in his game.
Right now Darnell Nurse is a good second pairing defenseman but is far from the elite players. For Holland to even consider something close to that, Nurse needs to remove the noticeable and big gaffs from his game. He can start tonight.
FILM OF THE DAY
With my bet against James tonight, I'll pick a betting related movie. Enjoy a scene from a younger Tom Cruise in The Color of Money
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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