The Edmonton Oilers are looking to build on what is now a 3 game win streak. After a stretch since December 1st that saw the team go 3-11-2, it looks like things may finally be starting to turn around.
A big 5-3 win over Alberta rivals, Calgary Flames has seemed to spark the Oilers, to go along with some stellar goaltending from Mikko Koskinen. Two other wins against the Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators, and the club is slowly digging out of their mid season hole.
The Oilers are in Montreal to start a 3 game road trip before the All-Star break. The Canadiens have lost 8 of 9 since 2022 has rolled around, to go with a current 4 game losing streak. Both teams are trending in different directions at the moment, and this seems like an easy win on paper for the Oilers.
Here are 3 keys to make sure that victory happens:
Take Advantage of a Depleted Lineup
Dave Tippett’s club made it difficult but found a way to win against a hurt Canucks lineup on Tuesday, and they need to do the same tonight. Montreal is without arguably 4 of their top 6 forwards (Gallagher, Dvorak, Caufield and Drouin) and current starter Jake Allen. Along with season long absences from veteran All-Stars Shea Weber and Carey Price.
The Oilers top-9 forwards could be the best it has been in many years. Ejecting Kane into the top-6, could possibly see RNH centre the third line and McLeod the fourth. The most depth this team has had at centre in the McDavid/Draisaitl era.
Based on the morning skate today we could see Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and RNH all at Center today.
— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) January 29, 2022
Also Tyson Barrie is on the ice.
Edmonton has to take advantage of the added forward depth, and a depleted opposition will hopefully get some players like Yamamoto and Foegele out of their slumps and back on the score sheet.
Skinner Keeping a Good Thing Going
The biggest reason that the Oilers are on a hot streak is because of great goaltending. Mikko Koskinen is 3-0-0 with a GAA of 2.22 and a .933 SV% during the club’s win streak.
Stuart Skinner is the confirmed starter tonight and is looking to keep the good times rolling that Koskinen has started in the crease. Skinner is 4-6-0 with a respectable 2.93 GAA and .907 SV% for youngster with his biggest career NHL workload.
A struggling and short-handed Montreal forward group might be the exact thing Skinner needs to get back into a solid form that Oilers’ fans seen earlier in the season.
Score the First Goal?
It’s obvious that playing with a lead is easier than fighting back (someone let the Edmonton Oilers know that). The Oilers have let in the first goal of the game 11 straight games, which has tied a franchise record, as well as a whopping 26 of the last 30 games.
It clearly hasn’t hurt the team the last 3 games but it’s a big reason for a terrible December and early January that seen the Oilers fall down the standings. Especially on the road and with a young goalie, scoring the first goal could be crucial tonight.
What Else to Watch For…
Evander Kane will be playing his first game as an Edmonton Oiler and it looks like he’ll be starting on the top line with Connor McDavid. The speedy, scoring, power forward might be exactly what McDavid needs on his line to create some extra space.
Oilers have had a hard time winning games against teams that they “should” beat, or appear better on paper then. Even when the club was 16-5 at the start of the season, a bulk of their losses were against teams below them in the standings.
Edmonton should not take the Canadiens lightly or they will find themselves on the losing end, but they’re winning now and need to just take it one game at a time.