Benoit Pouliot - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Zack Kassian
Patrick Maroon- Leon Draisaitl - Jesse Puljujäärvi
Tyler Pitlick - Mark Letestu - Anton Lander
DEFENCE
Oscar Klefbom - Adam Larsson
Andrej Sekera - Kris Russell
Darnell Nurse - Eric Gryba
GOAL
Cam Talbot
Jonas Gustavsson
The Hits Keep On Coming
The Edmonton Oilers handled the Winnipeg Jets in the Heritage Classic. They earned two points, they shut out a Jets team with a budding star on it. Things are good right now. Also, Connor McDavid.
The trio of Mark Letestu, Darnell Nurse and Zack Kassian each scored a goal in Sunday's outdoor triumph at Investors Field. The Jets were held to a giant zero on the scoreboard, and the Oilers left a sun-soaked Winnipeg with the lead in the Western Conference. I can barely contain myself with all that's going on here. Cam Talbot earned first star honours turning aside all 32 Winnipeg shots. The Oilers win. The Oilers win again.
Edmonton moves it back indoors tonight as the Capitals visit Rogers Place. Can the Oilers make it six wins in seven games?
Let's go to the tape.
The Oilers are saying
"We knew, two points, at the end of the day, once we stepped on the ice, that's what we went there to get. The experience itself was incredible, but once that puck drops it seems like, no matter where you are, it just turns into a game."
"We talked as a coaching staff that we'd like to get him in this trip somewhere for sure...I thin it's important. Taylor's a real good pro and has been in this role a little bit and been with us, but at some point in this road trip, I think you're going to see Taylor Chorney." Source
That's Capitals coach Barry Trotz on Caps defenceman Taylor Chorney.
I mean, if you're going to See Taylor Chorney, I suppose tonight's just as good a night as any. Chorney spent parts of three really lean seasons with the Oilers during 2010-12 (Rebuild 2.0). He played 55 games with Washington last season and finished 1-5-6.
Have some of this
FIRST STAR: Cam Talbot's smoothed out his game quite a bit, earning the NHL's first star honours for last week. Things are good if your SV% runs at .970 over three games.
SECONDARY SCORING: When you get goals from Darnell Nurse, Zack Kassian, and Mark Letestu, things are going your way. That's just what the Oilers received in Sunday's Heritage Classic, and they're going to continue to need it as long as Benoit Pouliot (1-1-2) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (0-2-2) continue to run dry. Everybody cool out on 67 and 93, it's going to be OK.
WASHINGTON SPECIAL TEAMS WOES: Caps' special teams hasn't exactly roared out to a memorable start. Washington currently sits 24th overall in PP (12.5%) and they're at 27th (71.4%) on the PK.
MORE MCDAVID: Connor McDavid's fanciful assist on Darnell Nurse's goal against the Jets gives McDavid his ninth point (4-5-9) in six games. I am a six year old boy in the Christmas season when McDavid touches the puck, filled with wonder and awe.
UP AGAIN: Defenceman Matt Benning was recalled before the Heritage Classic game, and as of this writing remains with the team. Will we see him in the near future?
Cam Talbot (5-1-0, .919 SV% / 2.75 GAA) will likely start for the Oilers today. The Caps will likely run with stalwart Braden Holtby (2-1-0, .924 SV% / 1.98 GAA)
We made it an entire game preview without saying Alexander Ovechkin's name.
VEGAS, BABY: The Oilers have some time to work this one out, but an expansion draft is coming up soon. This means that the Las Vegas (insert name here) will be selecting an unprotected player from the Edmonton Oilers at the conclusion of the 2016-17 season. Question is, who do you protect? Do you protect seven forwards and three defencemen? Or, do you opt for four forwards and four defencemen? Connor McDavid is exempt. Milan Lucic, Cam Talbot and Andrej Sekera have NMCs and are part of the fabric as well. Please use only a number two pencil.
Iiro Pakarinen (knee), Drake Caggiula (hip), Mark Fayne (undisclosed) Brandon Davidson (upper body) and Matt Hendricks (lower body) will not dress for the Oilers tonight. As of 8 AM this morning, Washington reports no injuries.
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