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Senators @ Oilers: Can Oilers Finish October With 8 Wins?

A victor over Ottawa will give the Oilers an incredible finish to an improbable month.

By Jeff Chapman
Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports


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@
Edmonton
4-3-0, 8 points, 1.143 p/g Ranks 7-1-0, 14 points, 1.75 p/g
Pacific Division - 1st Pacific Division - 1st
12th P/G 2nd
13th ST 4th
3rd S/G 23rd
26th Goal 5th
7 PM MDT
TV - Sportsnet Oilers
Radio - 630 CHED
Rogers Place
The opposing view:

PROJECTED
FORWARDS

Milan Lucic - Connor McDavid - Jordan Eberle
Benoit Pouliot - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Zack Kassian
Patrick Maroon- Leon Draisaitl - Jesse Puljujärvi
Anton Lander - Mark Letestu - Tyler Pitlick

DEFENCE
Oscar Klefbom - Adam Larsson
Andrej Sekera - Kris Russell
Darnell Nurse - Eric Gryba

GOAL
Cam Talbot
Jonas Gustavsson


The Dream We Don't Want To End

The Vancouver Canucks ran Alex Edler and a defenceman with one career game against the McDavid line to start the game.  Things are tough all over in Vancouver, but you think they'd not do that.  It took until the second period for Connor McDavid to score his fifth goal of the season.  Did you miss it?  Go on, take a look.  We've got time.  The Oilers are 7-1 in October with a chance to close out the month with eight victories.  Got all the time in the world.

To Alex Edler's defence, he wasn't on the ice when 97 made it 1-0.  Erik Gudbranson and Ben Hutton had no chance. Better luck next time, Erik Gudbranson!

Milan Lucic scored an empty netter with a minute and change remaining.  Cam Talbot sizzled once again, stopping all 26 Canuck shots.  Edmonton defeated the Canucks, and it was the first time the Oilers defeated goaltender Ryan Miller in regulation time.

The Oilers can finish the month of October with a wholly improbable eight wins in nine games.  No turning back, you guys.

Let's go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

"I went to my favourite restaurant...I don't know, it might have been the omega-3 in the fish or something.  Good fish in Vancouver."

Source

That's Oilers forward Zack Kassian talking about getting his grub on in Vancouver.

One of the nice things about winning seven of your first eight games is that quotes like these are fun.  Nobody talking about how the systems aren't working, or how an anemic power play needs to get jump-started.  Zack Kassian had fish in Vancouver, and it was good.  I'm a big sushi fan myself.  Love those omega-3s.

Kassian had five shots against the Canucks on Friday night.

The opponents are saying

"We're very proud of Craig and Nicholle.  He and his wife are dealing with a tremendous issue right now."  Source

That's Senators GM Pierre Dorion on goaltender Craig Anderson and his wife Nicholle.  Nicholle has been diagnosed with cancer.

Cancer sucks.  Craig Anderson took an indefinite leave of absence from the Senators earlier in the week to be with his wife during what is easily described as an extremely trying time.  His wife suggested he return to be with the Senators, a selfless act when everything in your world changes so suddenly.  Pulling for you Andersons.

Have some of this

  • RED HOT CAM: Cam Talbot has to be playing the best hockey of his life. Talbot's second shutout of the season came against Vancouver on Friday night, and he's rocking October with a .934 overall SV%.  It.  Doesn't.  Get.  Better.
  • ONE MORE TIME: Another goal for Connor McDavid?  Sure, no sweat.  McDavid leads the league in points (5-7-12 in eight games) as it should be.
  • Still a small sample size, but the Senators allow a buncha goals.  Averaging 3.57 goals against per game, they're ranked 26th in the league.
  • Cam Talbot (7-1-0, .934 SV% / 2.17 GAA, 2 SO) will likely start for the Oilers today. Craig Anderson (4-1-0, .903 SV% / 2.95 GAA, 1 SO) gets the nod for the Senators.
  • 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.  The Senators are missing goaltender Andrew Hammond (groin) and Clarke MacArthur (concussion)
  • #GOILERS

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