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GD35: Oilers @ Canadiens - Oilers Best In North? |
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By the numbers the Oilers have been the best team in the North Division since the beginning of February. Edmonton has a record of 16-7-0 in that time. The fact that each of these wins have been in regulation makes it all the more impressive. The Oilers Point% in that time is 0.696%, that number is good enough to be 5th in the entire NHL.
Toronto sits 11th at 0.614%
Winnipeg sits 12th at 0.609%
Montreal sits 18th at 0.543%
Calgary sits 20th at 0.520%
Vancouver sits 22nd at 0.479%
Ottawa sits 27th at 0.417%
Edmonton continues to be a dominant scoring team so there isn't much else that needs to be said there but on the defensive side the Oilers aren't being discussed enough. Since the start of February Edmonton has allowed 42 goals at 5 on 5, which is 15th in the league and 3rd in their own division.
Montreal has allowed 35 GA in 23 games
Toronto has allowed 37 GA in 22 games
Edmonton has allowed 42 GA in 23 games
Winnipeg has allowed 47 GA in 23 games
Vancouver has allowed 51 GA in 24 games
Calgary has allowed 52 GA in 25 games
Ottawa has allowed 63 GA in 24 games
Right now things are running on all cylinders for the Edmonton Oilers; the offense is going, the defense has stabilized and the goaltending is sharp regardless of which netminder is in net. As we have seen with the Leafs over the past couple weeks that can turn on a dime but Edmonton has played some great hockey as of late and it's fun for the fans.
OILERS LINE COMBINATIONS
Draisaitl-McDavid-Puljujarvi
Kahun-RNH-Archibald
Ennis-Haas-Kassian
Shore-Khaira-Chiasson
Nurse-Barrie
Lagesson-Larsson
Russell-Bear
Smith
CANADIENS LINE COMBINATIONS
Tatar-Danault-Gallagher
Drouin-Suzuki-Anderson
Lehkonen-Evans-Perry
Byron-Dauphin-Frolik
Edmundson-Weber
Kulak-Petry
Mete-Romanov
Price
- UPDATE: Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Joel Armia were both added to the COVID list today and will not dress tonight.
4 GAME THOUGHTS
1.) No Toffoli - Toffoli was injured in the Canadiens last game against the Canucks and reports have stated it's likely he will miss all three games against the Edmonton Oilers. It's unfortunate for Montreal but good news for Edmonton has Toffoli is the Canadiens leading scorer.
2.) Surpass - Edmonton has faced the Canadiens the fewest of any of their divisional opponents this season, only playing 3 games. Montreal won the first two at the beginning of the season when Edmonton was playing their worst hockey but the Oilers won the single game they played against them in February. After this 3 game series the Oilers have a chance to come out ahead on the head to head results.
3.) Happy Birthday - Mike Smith celebrates his 39th birthday today. If you told me a year ago that the Oilers would not only resign Smith but that he would be one of the best goalies in the league this year I likely would have laughed in your face. The ageless wonder gets the start tonight and will look to continue his impressive pace.
4.) McDrai Again - In a bit of a shocking move after the duo played so well away from each other in the recent Winnipeg bouts, coach Dave Tippett is once again loading up his top line tonight. Yamamoto is still day to day and it looks like Tippett wants to have at least one full sure thing against the Canadiens.
Thanks for reading
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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