ROBERT TYCHKOWSKI
Edmonton Sun
Edmonton Oilers (15-10-2) vs. Tampa Bay (14-9-2)
When: Tuesday 7 p.m., Rogers Place
TV: SportsNet Radio: 880 CHED
Odds: Oilers -152, Blues +126
ONE BIG THING
This game marks the start of a heavy stretch of scheduling for the Oilers, who’ll take on Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Vegas and Florida in the next seven days. The Oilers went 0-2 against Tampa Bay last season, losing 7-4 and 6-4. Even when the Oilers were rolling last year they had trouble with the Lighting as it was Tampa Bay that ended Edmonton’s eight-game winning streak when they met last December. The Bolts are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and just beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2. The Oilers are also 6-3-1 in the last 10 and just beat St. Louis 4-2.
The quote
“As a team you want to make a statement every once in a while throughout the season and beat a really good team. We know we have a bunch of them coming into our barn in the next two weeks.”
— Mattias Ekholm on the Oilers taking on some of the NHL’s top teams in the next week.
The poll
Aside from Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, will any other Oilers player reach 30 goals this year?
Yes.
No.
The projected Oilers lineup
Forwards
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-Connor McDavid-Zach Hyman
Vasily Podkolzin-Leon Draisaitl-Kasperi Kapanen
Mattias Janmark-Adam Henrique-Jeff Skinner
Corey Perry-Derek Ryan-Conner Brown
Defence
Mattias Ekholm-Evan Bouchard
Darnell Nurse-Troy Stecher
Brett Kulak-Ty Emberson
Goal
Stuart Skinner
Calvin Pickard
The injuries
EDM: LW Evander Kane (core), C Viktor Arvidsson (undisclosed).
TBL: C Anthony Cirelli (day-to-day).
The prediction
The Oilers haven’t fared especially well against the top teams in the league this year, but they have found another gear as a team lately. This will be a good opportunity for a team on the rise to prove its mettle. Edmonton 4, Tampa Bay 3.
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