Three Keys To An Edmonton Oilers Victory Vs San Jose Sharks
The Edmonton Oilers are playing their first game post Christmas tonight against the San Jose Sharks.
The Edmonton Oilers roll into San Jose tonight to take on the Sharks. This is the first game of a three-game road trip that has them facing all the California teams. The good news they play the worst team first, so hopefully this will help them hit the road running.
The Sharks are the not only the worst team the Edmonton Oilers will face on this road trip but they are the worst team in the whole NHL. This is a definitaly a game the Oilers should win, but I said that last time they played the Sharks and the Oilers lost that game.
This is a different Oilers team than the team that lost 3-2 to the Sharks back on November 9th. They have a new coach and have been playing much better hockey as of late. Even though the last game they played was almost a week ago the Oilers are currently riding a 2 game-winning streak.
If they keep playing the way they were playing the last few games this will be another 2 points for the Oilers. On top of just playing good there are three main areas in which if the Oilers focus on they should win this game
1. Don't Let A Rookie Goalie Beat You
#SJSharks goalie Magnus Chrona will make his first career NHL start tonight against Connor McDavid and Edmonton Oilers.
— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) December 28, 2023
The San Jose Sharks are starting a rookie goalie tonight. Magnus Chrona has only played in one NHL game in his career. He came on in relief on November 4th vs the Pittsburg Penguins. In his 30:30 of playing time, he let in 4 goals.
He has never started a game yet in the NHL, so the Edmonton Oilers need to take advantage of this. In the past, we have seen the Oilers get schooled by rookie and backup goalies. I don't think that is going to be the case tonight though.
Even in the AHL Chrona only has a 0.900SV% so far this year. He has also played a few games in the ECHL where he had a SV% of 0.940. Those numbers aren't against NHL-caliber players, in his 30 mins of NHL play his SV% has been 0.765%. Expect the Oilers not to go easy on him tonight.
2. Edmonton Oilers Goaltending Needs To Be Solid
As the Edmonton Oilers prepare to face off against the San Jose Sharks tonight, their inconsistent goaltending continues to be a major concern. To win tonight's game and make a push for the playoffs, the Oilers need to improve their goaltending and get consistent performances from their netminders.
In recent games, the Oilers have struggled to get solid goaltending from either of their two "NHL" goaltenders, Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. While Skinner has shown flashes of brilliance this season, he has also struggled with consistency and has let in some soft goals at critical times. Against a team like the Sharks, who have not very many offensive weapons, the Oilers need their goaltenders to be on top of their game and make the big saves when it matters most.
To improve their goaltending, the Oilers need to focus on a few key areas. First, they need to get better play from their defense. The Oilers' defense has been inconsistent this season, and they need to do a better job of limiting high-quality scoring chances and clearing the front of the net. This will give their goaltenders a better chance to make saves and limit second-chance opportunities.
The Oilers need to get more consistent goaltending from their netminders. Both Skinner and Pickard need to step up and play at a higher level if the Oilers want to make a push for the playoffs. They need to be more consistent with their positioning and rebound control, and they need to make the big saves when the game is on the line.
The Edmonton Oilers' inconsistent goaltending is a major concern heading into tonight's game against the San Jose Sharks. To win tonight's game and to continue to make a push for the playoffs, the Oilers need to get better play from their defense, improve their goaltending coaching and development, and get more consistent performances from their netminders. If they can do that, they will have a better chance to come away with a win tonight and make a run for the playoffs this season.
3. Oilers Depth Needs To Keep Producing
As the Oilers look to secure a victory, their depth scoring will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the game. In this article, we will discuss why and how the Edmonton Oilers depth scoring needs to keep producing in tonight's game against the San Jose Sharks.
Depth scoring is a critical component of any successful hockey team. While the Oilers have relied on their top players such as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to carry the load, they must also receive production from their secondary and tertiary scorers. The Sharks aren't that tough team to play against, and if the Oilers want to secure a victory, they will need to have contributions from all players on their roster.
One of the ways the Oilers can ensure their depth scoring continues to produce is by playing an aggressive forechecking game. By aggressively pursuing the puck in the offensive zone, the Oilers can force turnovers and create scoring chances for their secondary scorers. The Oilers can create more opportunities for their depth players by generating a high volume of shots on goal. This will allow their secondary scorers to capitalize on rebounds and deflections.
Another way the Oilers can ensure their depth scoring continues to produce is by utilizing their special teams effectively. The Oilers have a potent power play, and if they can create opportunities for their secondary scorers on the man advantage, they may be able to generate some much-needed offense. Similarly, the Oilers must also focus on killing penalties effectively. By preventing the Sharks from scoring on the power play, the Oilers can keep the game close and give their depth scorers a chance to make an impact.
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As I mentioned at the start of this article, I do think the Oilers will win this game even if they don't check all three of these points as the Sharks are that bad, but as shown in November the Sharks can beat you. The Oilers main point going into tonight's game is to not take the Sharks lightly, they are still an NHL team.