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After weeks of roster adjustments and rotating bodies the Oilers look to have a specific 23 man group now in place. It is the best option for both Puljujarvi and Yamamoto to go to the AHL and play as many minutes as they both possibly can.

Peter Chiarelli made a rare appearance in front of the media today to discuss both 20 year olds futures. He alluded to the fact that both may still see NHL time this season... I hope they do not.

Let both players gain as much experience as they can in the AHL and finally have some consistency. If the Oilers are calling up either player it is likely because the current NHL group isn't getting it done or injuries have made it essential too. The team should not be counting on a 20 year old player to suddenly be a difference maker on this team.

Tonight the Oilers return to Rogers to play an Avalanche team that is struggling more than the Oilers have been. Colorado is currently on a 5 game losing streak during which they have scored 16 goals. The Avalanche have struggled to hold on to a lead as of late.

LINEUPS

OILERS

RNH-McDavid-Rattie
Rieder-Draisaitl-Chiasson
Lucic-Strome-Caggiula
Khaira-Brodziak-Kassian

Klefbom-Larsson
Nurse-Russell
Gravel-Benning

Talbot

AVALANCHE

Landeskog-Mackinnon-Rantanen
Kerfoot-Dries-Wilson
Nieto-Soderberg-Calvert
Kamenev-Jost-Dano

Girard-Cole
Zadorov-Barrie
Nemeth-Johnson

Varlamov

---

4 KEYS TO VICTORY

1) Shut Down The Top Line. Colorado has performed very similar to the Bruins this year. They have loaded all their eggs in one basket on the top line in the hopes of brute forcing their way to victory. The Oilers get last line change so Klefbom and Larsson will see a heavy dose of these players.
2) PK...again. Colorado currently has the 7th best powerplay...the Oilers have the 26th best penalty kill... I don't think I need to explain this any further.
3) Some Goal-tending Please. This Avalanche team has a tendency to struggle to hold on to a lead. The Oilers desperately need Talbot to shut the crease down if the Oilers get ahead.
4) End the Streak. Both of these teams are on losing streaks and need to get back in to the win column. Edmonton needs to come out of the gates as the hungrier team and use their home crowd to take the wind out of the sails of their opponents quickly.

FILM OF THE DAY

The Oilers roster is locked in with the demotion of Puljujarvi and Yamamoto. The Oilers need to be locked in tonight in order to get a W. Colin Farrell was essentially locked inside this phone booth in the aptly named movie, Phone Booth.

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