ROBERT TYCHKOWSKI
Edmonton Sun
Edmonton Oilers (18-10-2) vs. Florida (18-11-2)
When: Tuesday 6:30 p.m., Rogers Place
TV: Amazon Prime Radio: 880 CHED
Odds: Oilers -135, Pantherss +115
ONE BIG THING
This game marks the first time the Oilers and Panthers have met since Game 7 of last year’s Stanley Cup Final. While the Oilers will never be able to change what happened on the most painful night of their professional careers, they can continue writing the script for this season. The Panthers have fallen into a troubling slump, slipping out of first place in their division after back-to-back 4-0 and 3-0 shutout losses to Vancouver and Calgary. They’ve scored one goal in the last three games, which isn’t where you want to be offensively against an Oilers team that allowed just five goals in three games against Tampa Bay, Minnesota and Vegas.
The quote
“It’s been a slow build. I think our puck play has been really good and there is just a level of intensity and also poise with the puck. When we have a good combination of that we’re pretty deadly.”
— Connor Brown on the Oilers finding their game recently after a slow start to the season.
The poll
Which Oilers depth forward will finish with the most goals this year?
Jeff Skinner (currently 6)
Corey Perry (currently 6)
Connor Brown (currently 5)
Kasperi Kapanen (currently 3)
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).
FLA: C Aleksander Barkov (day-to-day).
The prediction
The Oilers are running hot (five wins in a row), they’re playing solid defensive hockey for the most part and they’re getting great goaltending. The Panthers are in a slump and haven’t scored a goal in their last two games. Add it up and it’s Edmonton 4, Florida 2.
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