Game Thread - Jets vs Oilers

A night after dropping a nail bitter against the Blackhawks, the Oilers are back in action on home ice tonight against the Thrashers Jets, and will they'll be looking for their second win of the preseason over the club from Winnipeg. Tonight's game is the second of four that the Oilers will play in five days this week; five in seven nights if you look a little farther ahead in the schedule. That after playing on only two nights in the previous seven days. Even in the preseason the schedule is odd.

When And Where

Tonight's game get's going at 7PM at Rexall Place.

How To Tune In

You've heard this story before: there is no television option available tonight. That leaves you with the radio broadcast courtesy of 630 CHED or you can stream the game online at edmontonoilers.com, as long as you reside in AB, SK, NWT, or NU.

What To Watch For With The Oilers

Tyler Pitlick on the right side of the top line with Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, that's worth keeping an eye on. By all accounts Pitlick has had a strong training camp this fall, and this is an opportunity for him to show what he can do with a couple of the Oilers best players. As Curtis noted in his write up of Pitlick for the Top 25 Under 25, Pitlick is heavier now than ever before, that could be part of the reason for his play so far, or perhaps it's just a good run. Whatever the reason, he's making management think.

Speaking of thinking, the Oilers still haven't made a decision on Vladimir Tkachev who'll be playing on a line with Bogdan Yakimov and Kevin Westgarth tonight. Tkachev isn't going to make the Oilers but the fact that he's still around makes me think that the Oilers want to get a deal done with him before the October 1st deadline. Would something comparable to the ELCs signed by the team's recnt second round picks be unreasonable?

What To Watch For With The Jets

How about a couple of 2013 draft picks. From Arctic Ice Hockey:

Nic Petan has looked really good. He looks more "NHL ready" than Ehlers. I'm looking for Petan to continue to show sound positional play, and to display his playmaking talent when he gets the opportunity.

Josh Morrissey has demonstrated that he has the skill and hockey intelligence to be successful. He also looks ready to join the big club. I love watching Morrissey and Jacob Trouba playing together! Watch Morrissey tonight, to see if he takes another step forward toward his goal to make the NHL.

Line Combinations

Edmonton Oilers

Taylor Hall - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Tyler Pitlick
Vladimir Tkachev - Bogdan Yakimov - Kevin Westgarth
Benoit Pouliot - Will Acton - Andrew Miller
Mitch Moroz - Travis Ewanyk - Steve Pinizzotto

Nikita Nikitin - Mark Fayne
Darnell Nurse - Brad Hunt
Keith Aulie - David Musil

Viktor Fasth
Laurent Brossoit

Winnipeg Jets

Adam Lowry - Mathieu Perreault - Michael Frolik
Eric Tangradi - Nic Petan - Nikolaj Ehlers
Matt Halischuk - Patrice Cormier - Anthony Peluso
Carl Klingberg - John Albert - J.C. Lipon

Brad Stuart - Jacob Trouba
Adam Pardy - Keaton Ellerby
Josh Morrissey - Grant Clitsome

Michael Hutchinson
Danny Taylor