clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Preview: Game 61 Oilers vs. Senators

Oilers close unimpressive homestand with Senators

By Jeff Chapman
Is this Ted Purcell's last week as an Oiler?
Is this Ted Purcell's last week as an Oiler?
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports


sens.jpg

@
Edmonton
28-26-6, 62 points, 1.033 p/g Ranks 22-32-6, 50 points, .833 p/g
Atlantic Division - 4th Pacific Division - 7th
20th P/G 30th
26th ST 18th
27th S/G 24th
26th Goal 27th
7 PM MDT
TV - Sportsnet West
Radio - 630 CHED
Rexall Place
The opposing view:  Silver Seven

Ride On

The Oilers made a 3-2 loss to the Avalanche interesting.  With just under two minutes remaining in the third period, Benoit Pouliot notched his 14th of the season and helped bring the Oilers to within one goal, but it was as close as the Oilers would get.  Two goals from Colorado's Tyson Barrie and another from John Mitchell midway through the first period would be all the Avalanche would need en route to another L for the Oilers.

Taylor Hall scored his team leading 20th goal in the loss.  Connor McDavid scored his 17th assist of the year on Pouliot's late third period tally.  Lather, rinse, repeat.

The Oilers will try to close out their homestand with a W today when they face off against the Senators.  The Senators are six points away from a wild-card berth, and defeating the Oilers would help them along.  The Oilers are well out of the postseason chase, but they'll look to help spoil Ottawa's chances along the way.  Let's go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

"...The really good teams prevent the dips."

Source

That's Oilers head coach Todd McLellan on his club's 1-3-1 homestand.

We're back, baby!  Gosh, I can't wait for the trade deadline.  And then the draft, it's like our Super Bowl.  See you there!

The opponents are saying

"We set a goal last week to get six (points) at home and we did...We're going to have to try to do that again on this trip in three pretty tough buildings."   Source

That's Senators forward Bobby Ryan on trying to get the Senators closer to the playoff chase in the final weeks of the season.

Ottawa sits six points out of a Wild Card berth in the Eastern Conference.  The Oilers sit a few more out of the West.

Have some of this

  • It appears that the Nikita Nikitin experience has come to a soft close in Edmonton.  Jordan Oesterle is another southpaw on the Oiler blue, but there's a fair shot he'll get into the lineup tonight.  Oesterle has six career games in the NHL (2014-15), and has 22 points (2-20-22) in 39 games for Bakersfield this year.
  • Craig Anderson (25-19-4, .917 SV% / 2.76 GAA / 3 SO) is scheduled to get the start for the Senators.  Anderson's .951 SV% over the week earned him third start honours from the League.  The Oilers are expected to counter with Cam Talbot (12-20-3, .911 SV% / 2.72 GAA), and I bet you he'd like to get a win.
  • McDAVID MARK - Connor McDavid's 17th assist gives him 27 points (10-17-27) on the year.  The defence might cause you to break out in hives, but this McDavid kid makes watching the game less of a chore.
  • I know of a defenceman.  And another defenceman.  Want two?
  • Andrew Ference (hip), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (hand), Eric Gryba (knee)  and Oscar Klefbom (leg), are out for the Oilers, The Senators will be without Chris Phillips (back) and Clarke MacArthur (concussion)

    • More From The Copper & Blue