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
I consider this season a bust, unfortunately. But please for the love of god, use the rest of these games to get the special teams figured out.
“Even better, 28 of those goals came at even strength!”
Hahaha, this is a very nice way of saying the Oilers PP sucks. 🙂
I wonder if Russell pulled an upper body muscle taking that wicked slapshot at the end of the 3rd last game? Come on, I can’t be the only one wondering…he did unleash a blur of a shot. 😉
If Connor gets another hat trick tonight that will partially ease the pain of this season. That and the beer.
To crush your enemies,to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their woman.Oiler domination to follow.
That has to be the worst anthem I’ve ever heard and I’m not even talking about the woman who sung it.
Let’s go Oilers excluding Russel.
Definitely not a big fan of Casse Campbell doing the commentary. It’s 2017 I guess. I rather listen to drew any day before listening to a woman talk sports.
I understand that you are trolling but that’s still an unbelievably stupid comment.
Hrudey wasn’t available so they had to get another Calgary homer to do the game. Bring back Louie. Cassie sucks
I don’t particularly like her either, but saying a woman shouldn’t talk sports is amazingly stupid and ignorant. I would love to see this type of comment blocked. I come here to read and talk about hockey and have no time for virgin douche comments.
I never said anything about women. I believe you were referring to the comment by Winterkush? I don’t thing Cassie is a good analyst is all I said
Yes, I was talking about that sexist c**p. She’s not great, I agree. But I haven’t heard her before and don’t know her experience at all. But saying she’s bad because of her gender gets my hatred flowing.
Louie is the best on tv.
I thought that Kelly Hrudey was the worst but he’s been dropped to second worst by Cassie Campbell Pisscall.
Benning is a brutal skater. He needs to play better positionally.
McD + JP looks great together. JP might be young and have a language barrier but he goes straight for the goal and seems to read McD good enough already.
Entertaining first period with Oilers dominating most 5 on 5 play .
Did all the fLames trolls get banned for tonight or are they just hiding?
Flames trolls are nothing compared to Henderson’s troll blogs…
What do the fLames trolls got to say, they are getting their a$$es handed to them right now. However I’m sure “stickhandler” also known as “hockeyfan” will come at some point tonight and do the usual “coilers are still a welfare team bwahahah! Enjoy another decade of suck” or something intelligent like that. I guarantee it.
How is the best defensive corps in the league doing tonight, Calgary?
3 breakaways so far, 2 on a PP say it all.
Cassie and Randork brought their rah rah Calgary game with them tonight i see….
#SeattleFlames #HoustonFlames
Read that Bettman was in Houston checking out the arena there, won’t be long before Ken King is spotted there too.
Please welcome YOURRRRR HOUSTON COYOTES!!!
The D corps is doing a great job getting in the way of passes and shots. Might be their best game of the season in that regard
Suck it, fLames!
Hrudy is sooo emotional in the 2nd intermission – his team is laying an egg after he bagged them up before the game. They had to play a tribute to cheer him up! What a Flames Homer!
Bagged=bragged… Edit button?
He is a traitor to his birthplace.
It’s tough when a fan realizes his team isn’t a playoff team.
Congratulations Oilers, you look like world beaters compared to our lethargic team. I hope Puljujarvi gets a hatty and we can finally fire our incompetent coach. 3 breakaways.. nice to see your team came to play.
Flames are post -season piss tanking !!!!
Heading over to FlamesNation to do some trolling. Who’s with me!!
No thanks I hate all trolls!
Don’t act like a fLames troll and leave them be, they are gnawing their arms off right now, that should be good enough.
Show some class trolls are garbage.
Take it ease…was kidding.
Take it easy..it was a joke.
Didn’t see this coming. Where did this Oilers team come from. I am used to the Oil never showing up for the BOA for many years.
Have you missed the last 5 games in the BoA?
What was the record before thosev5 games.
That’s the Oilers we know.
The Oilers just dont have goaltending. Brossoit is nit an NHL goaltender.
**not
Yeah, he should have had some I those. That Bennet goal looks really bad now.
Oil need better back up goaltending.
Yikes, this team is FRAGILE
What a game… wow.
Russell probably feels for T.J. Brodie but I don’t.
Ya baby. Great game. 7 goals. Yes it was great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I laughed like a madman.
After the 7th goal.
I actually laughed as well.
Oilers with 5 breakaways and like 5 posts. Outplayed flames most of the game. Brossoit dissapointed. Almost lost this one.
Not pretty but I’ll take it. Congrats to JP on his two goals
Holy Christ they made that more exciting at the end than it should have been…
Those whom the gods would destroy they first drive mad… namely me.
My heart. I don’t think I will make it the rest of the way.
When is Talbot back?