If you’ve looked at the standings this morning, you know this is a dire time for the Edmonton Oilers 2017-18 season. The Oilers are No. 7 in the division and seven points behind the Calgary Flames as we enter play this evening, and it could be five points or nine by the time the clock strikes midnight.
The club arrives in Calgary with a growing list of injuries, most recently starting goalie Cam Talbot and defender Adam Larsson. Along with Andrej Sekera, this represents a massive portion of the ‘heart of the order’ and you’d be a fool to bet on this Edmonton time ripping through the 13 games of December. Added to that? The performances by some Oilers during the last 10 games.
Oilers Scoring, Last 10 Games
- Connor McDavid 10, 4-8-12
- Mark Letestu 10, 3-5-8
- Leon Draisaitl 10, 2-5-7
- Zack Kassian 10, 2-4-6
- Jujhar Khaira 7, 2-4-6
- Milan Lucic 10, 1-5-6
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 10, 3-3-6
- Kris Russell 10, 1-5-6
- Ryan Strome 10, 2-4-6
- Darnell Nurse 10, 2-3-5
- Yohann Auvitu 7, 1-3-4
- Matt Benning 10, 2-2-4
- Drake Caggiula 9, 3-1-4
- Patrick Maroon 10, 3-1-4
- Mike Cammalleri 7, 1-1-2
- Oscar Klefbom 9, 1-1-2
- Adam Larsson 9, 1-0-1
- Iiro Pakarinen 5, 0-1-1
- Jesse Puljujarvi 8, 1-0-1
- Eric Gryba 5, 0-0-0
- Anton Slepyshev 3, 0-0-0
- Brad Malone 1, 0-0-0
Edmonton has scored 34 goals in the last 10 games, that’s a good total. Even better, 28 of those goals came at even strength! All of this comes via hockey-reference. I placed the right-wingers in bold, that’s one of the areas Edmonton badly needs to improve in the coming days.
The new man Walker
Edmonton claimed Nathan Walker from the Washington Capitals yesterday, he brings speed and versatility to the forward group. His scoring at the AHL level is .391 per game, meaning he’s likely going to apply for a checking role with the Oilers (Khaira’s career AHL points-per-game was .429). He can apparently play all three forward positions.
LINEUPS
Oilers
Lucic – McDavid – Puljujarvi
Maroon – Nugent-Hopkins – Slepyshev
Caggiula – Draisaitl – Strome
Khaira – Letestu – Kassian
Nurse – Gryba
Klefbom – Benning
Auvitu – Russell
If there are any changes, we’ll be sure to update the lineups.
Flames
Gaudreau – Monahan – Ferland
Tkachuk – Backlund – Frolik
Bennett – Jankowski – Jagr
Hathaway – Stajan – Brouwer
Giordano – D.Hamilton
Brodie – Hamonic
Kulak – Stone
Lineups (subject to change) are courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
When the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers met on the first night of the season, both teams were dealing with the weight of expectations. The Flames had retooled a bit in the summer in an effort to line up more favourably against the Oilers, who were considered a potential contender for the Stanley Cup this season. The Oilers won that game 3-0. Since then, the teams have gone in significantly different directions. The Flames (14-10-1) welcome the Oilers (10-14-2) to the Saddledome tonight in the second of five Battles of Alberta this season, and the first one hosted by Calgary.
TONIGHT
![](https://i1.wp.com/dev1.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/gdb.jpg?resize=621%2C443&ssl=1)
GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Flames are quicker and more physical in the first period, but the Oilers are the team parading to the penalty box. A pair of gorgeous Johnny Gaudreau goals have the Calgary fans smiling wide after one.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers begin to find their game, scoring on a tic-tac-toe passing play from McDavid-to-Lucic-to-Puljujarvi. A late power-play goal by Calgary (Gaudreau again!) makes it 3-1 Flames after two.
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The third period sees the Oilers play desperado hockey and tie the score on two brilliant goals (Nuge and Leon), and Edmonton goes ahead for a time on an Oscar Klefbom goal. Matt Tkachuk ties it late, Flames almost score on a filthy two-on-one (Tkachuk chop blocks Draisaitl, no call), and McDavid skates through everyone to score the winner. Edmonton goes to sleep happy, Calgary restless and uneasy.
GDB BROUGHT TO YOU BY SHERBROOKE LIQUOR
Take home a growler, a crowler, a sixer, a mixer, whatever. Sherbrooke Liquor. Where’s Your Beer?
Source: NHL, Official Game Page, 12/02/2017 – 11:00am MST
An already weak and depleted Oilers defence gets more depleted and weaker by the day. Gryba in the first pairing (shudders). Who would have thought the Oilers would have needed a legitimate replacement for Sekera over the summer. Obvious not the GM. Major fail.
Chia is just not a very good GM. Game has passed him by. Cap He’ll Chia.
**Hell
What is it with the referees refusing to call pendlties on McDavid this year? He was in all alone in the last 30 seconds and was pulled off his feet and the ref just skates by. That is a referee without any courage.
Yup. Flames d was like Harvey Weinstein on him there. Brutal non call.
Love the reference!
No, that’s just terrible refereeing, plain and simple. Get used to it, plenty of it coming in the future.
Unfortunate, but true.
At least as long as the guys currently running the NHL stay in place.
They called that penalty on Letestu for having the fLame player skate into him from behind. They call that phantom stuff but let real penalties go.
Gryba first pairing…..my confidometer is not even reading on this one. If Calgary can’t beat the Oil tonight they should burn down the dome and start breaking ground in Seattle
Oh, that’s BEEN started.
How is the best defensive corps in the league doing tonight, Calgary?
3 breakaways so far, 2 on a PP say it all.
At the start of the season there was much debate a out which Alberta team’s roster was better. Reading the lineups today, I’m salavating at the Flames roster. Seems like our 4th line is the only one with any consistency. Hate to say it but the Flames have a brighter future at this point that the Oilers.
I would take drai and McDavid over Monahan and Gedreau any day of the week.
Sorry yes should have clarified. Our top 2 are hands down better it’s just the supporting cast which I feel lacks.
McDavid over Johnny for sure, but Monahan over Drai even more for sure…Monahan by far the most producting scorer from his draft and a strong 200 ft player.
Don’t see the Flames having an overall brighter future, but at this point don’t see the Oilers taking on this Flames team. With injuries and such I hate to say it, the Oilers will probably get spanked.
I’m curious as to why you think the Flames don’t have a bright future.
Unfortunately, the Flames are going to destroy the Oil.