After a winnable game in Pittsburgh that slipped through the cracks, Edmonton looks to get back to the win column tonight as the Stars finish a back-to-back.
Benoit Pouliot - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Jesse Puljujarvi
Milan Lucic - Leon Draisaitl - Tyler Pitlick
Mark Letestu - Anton Lander - Anton Slepyshev
DEFENCE
Oscar Klefbom - Adam Larsson
Andrej Sekera - Matthew Benning
Darnell Nurse - Eric Gryba
GOAL
Cam Talbot
Jonas Gustavsson
Slippin' Away
It was billed as the McDavid - Crosby matchup, but it was Conor Sheary who got credit for the big one.
Pittsburgh struck early, but Edmonton ramped it up with three unanswered goals to make it a 3-1 contest on a pair of goals from Jordan Eberle and one from Patrick Maroon. Pittsburgh's Carl Hagelin made it a 3-2 contest midway through the second, Evgeni Malkin scored a pretty one from Phil Kessel early in the third, and Conor Sheary was credited with a wacky one late to seal the deal. Edmonton pulled Cam Talbot to try and tie it up late, but it would end up a 4-3 win for the 2016 Stanley Cup Champions. The Oilers finished up their five game road trip at 2-2-1. While that's not too bad, you felt like maybe the Oilers were capable of peeling another point or two off against Pittsburgh.
Oilers are back at Rogers Place for some home cookin', and they'll get a chance tonight against a Stars team that defeated Calgary last night at the Dome. To the tape!
The Oilers are saying
"I think Patty (Maroon) has a little more puck luck around the blue paint than Milan did. The great thing about it is we feel we have two guys that can go in that position. They're interchangeable. For the most part, Milan has found chemistry with Leon as well. They didn't have the greatest game in Pittsburgh but they'll be the first to tell you that. But over and above that, they've played pretty well together."
That's Oilers Coach Todd McLellan on how Patrick Maroon and Milan Lucic's games are at right now.
I've got a lot of time for Patrick Maroon on 1LW with 97 and 14, especially if he's scoring three goals every four games. Ride that wave, my man.
The opponents are saying
"We competed hard. We defended first. When we defend first we're going to get opportunities. We have a lot of speed and skill on this team. It was nice to see tonight and a nice rebound." Source
That's Stars forward Tyler Seguin on his team's 4-2 victory over Calgary last night.
Dallas' victory puts them one game below the Bettman .500 on the year (5-6-3). Calgary has lost five of six (5-9-1) I didn't have Edmonton in the playoffs at the beginning of the season, but those who had the Flames? Woof.
Have some of this
NOPE: The Oilers scored three goals against Pittsburgh, which isn't bad. Part where I get tripped up at is where only the McDavid line (19-97-14) got on the scoreboard. No power play goals, either. Bummer.
HENDRICKS SKATES: I don't think he'll get in today, but it's notable that Matt Hendricks was skating with the main group yesterday. I think this is a pretty strong indicator that you'll see him back in game action sooner than later.
NET LOSS: What's going on in Dallas? Why are they allowing so many goals? An ugly .892 SV% for Antti Niemi coupled up with an even slightly less impressive .887 SV% for Kari Lehtonen? Urp. Dallas is sitting right in the middle of the pack for shots allowed (15th at 30.5).
Cam Talbot (8-4-1 ,921 SV%, 2.41 GAA) is likely to start for the Oilers today. Antti Niemi (3-2-1, .892 SV%, 3.65 GAA) is likely to start for Dallas.
NOT FOR NOTHIN': Lauri Korpikoski scored his second goal of the season yesterday. Got some top line time, too. I'm totally fine with the 97 line hitting a top line with Korpikoski on it, eh?
Iiro Pakarinen (knee), Drake Caggiula (hip), Mark Fayne (undisclosed) Brandon Davidson (upper body) and Zack Kassian (lower body, will not dress for the Oilers tonight. Jesse Puljujarvi will take warmups tonight, and he may return to the lineup. Dallas will be without Jason Spezza (lower body), Jiri Hudler (illness), Ales Hemsky (hip), Patrick Sharp (concussion), Cody Eakin (knee) and Mattias Janmark (knee)
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