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Jets @ Oilers Game 73 Preview

Oilers looking to spoil Winnipeg's playoff chase

By Jeff Chapman
22 goals on the year for RNH
22 goals on the year for RNH
Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports


winnipeg jets logo 4

@
oilers logo black text
37-23-12, 86 points, 1.194 p/g Ranks 20-39-13, 53 points, .736 p/g
Western Conference - 7th Western Conference - 13th
14th P/G 28th
20th ST 25th
12th ES 29th
14th Goal 30th
7:30 PM MDT - CBC
Rexall Place
The opposing view: Arctic Ice Hockey

Siphoning Off The Bottom

Edmonton emerged victorious against the Flyers on Saturday thanks in part to a three point night for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (including the game winner in OT).  The Oilers are scoring goals - twenty goals in their last five games, to be exact.  It's refreshing and weird.  In no way am I suggesting that this team has turned a corner of sorts (not with that defence, yeeesh), but it's nice to see the team actually...doing something other than post and fold.  For now.

The Oilers are firmly ensconced in 28th place, and will once again try to relish the possibility of playing spoilers against a possible playoff squad in the Winnipeg Jets.  Let's see who's talking.

The Oilers are saying

"It was definitely nice to get the overtime winner...We haven't been too successful in extra time this season so anytime you get a chance to bury, you've got to capitalize and luckily enough we did tonight"

That's Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on bagging the game winner against Philadelphia on Saturday.

Along with Nail Yakupov, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been one of the more fun stories to pay attention to this year.  Nugent-Hopkins' two goals gives him 22 on the year.  Here's hoping he sees a playoff berth before age 30.  Oh, and in an Oilers sweater, too.

The Opponent is saying

"He was fantastic"
That's Jets head coach Paul Maurice on Ondrej Pavelec (seriously) after a 28-save shutout against the Capitals.

I'd hold the phone before painting Pavelec with such a big brush, coach.  Pavelec's SV% is decent at .916, good for a career high (!) as well.  Pavelec's career average SV% is .907, and I...don't trust him as far as I can throw him.


Have some of this
  • TAYLOR HALL ON ICE - Hall's first game back in over a month saw him start on the third line with Anton Lander and Andrew Miller.  He picked up an assist on the game winning goal and finished with sixteen minutes of ice time.  I can't see him on the third line with Purcell higher up for very much longer.
  • Ben Scrivens (14-22-10, .896 SV% / 2.97) picked up the win on Saturday and will start Oilers tonight, while the aforementioned Ondrej Pavelec will get the go for Winnipeg.  Winnipeg needs about four or five more wins to get into the playoffs, and I fear for them if they're running with Pavelec to do it.

Marincin-Ference.  Marinate on that.

  • UPDATE

    • Looking like the Oilers have a really good shot at ending up in 28th overall.

  • GOILERS