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Preview: Game 52 - Oilers @ Senators

MUST...WIN...ALL...THE GAMES...

By Jeff Chapman
Braodn Davidson is back as the Edmonton Oilers head out on the road.
Braodn Davidson is back as the Edmonton Oilers head out on the road.
Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports


Edmonton

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20-26-5, 45 points, .882 p/g Ranks 23-22-6, 55 points, 1.078 p/g
Pacific Division - 7th Atlantic Division - 4th
29th P/G 23rd
16th ST 24th
19th S/G 21st
26th Goal 6th
5:30 PM MDT
TV - Sportsnet West
Radio - 630 CHED
Canadian Tire Centre
The opposing view:  Silver Seven

Three Point Return For McDavid Propels Oilers Over Jackets

It took 37 games for Connor McDavid to return to the Oilers' lineup.  It felt like an eternity.  McDavid's first game back was only his fourteenth of his career, but he looked like he was a superstar with years of experience under his belt.

McDavid finished with three points (1-2-3), Cam Talbot turned aside 36 of 37 shots, the Oilers even had a power play goal from Jordan Eberle.  Eric Gryba scored a goal for the first time since 1916.  Things were good, if only for one night.

The Oilers begin a four game road trip tonight in the nation's capital.  Let's go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

"I expect him to keep his speed, his pace up, but it's unrealistic to expect him to score a highlight goal and get three points every game"

Source

That's Oilers coach Todd McLellan on Connor McDavid's triumphant horn-blasting three point return after missing 37 games with a clavicle injury.

LET'S KICK SOME TIRES AND LIGHT SOME FIRES

What does your coach know anyways, Connor?  You had a highlight reel goal after being away for nearly three months.  Don't forget about the two assists.  Let's shoot for three more points tonight.  Let's shoot for three more on top of that.  I will consume two beers for every point you score tonight, Connor.  Let's show this McLellan fellow that you're not messing around.  This means you'll have to stop around 9 or 10 points as I have to get up for work tomorrow sometime. Plus, my girlfriend tells me that I smell like pennies if I drink too much.  But up until 9 or 10, go get 'em.

The opponents are saying

"I'm still having a few things happen, but it's night and day to where we were a month ago and even two weeks ago."    Source
That's Senators forward Clarke MacArthur on his concussion recovery.  MacArthur has been out of the Senators lineup since October 14th.

LINEUP JUMBLE

Like the Oilers, Ottawa has been without several key pieces this season for varying amounts of time.  The Senators have lost 173 man games in 51 games this season so far.  I'll give you three guesses as to which team has lost the most man games to injury.  Go on, three guesses.  You won't need two of 'em, but guessing is fun.  Go on.

Have some of this

  • Adam Clendening played his first game in an Oilers sweater on Tuesday night.  It was only his 31st career game, but he made it count with an assist on McDavid's highlight reel goal.  You'll remember this goal as the one where McDavid peeled through three Columbus defenders like he was popping open a bag of Cheetos.  Good times.  It does however, look like Clendening will be scratched tonight in favour of...(looks at cue card) Justin Schultz.
  • Brandon Davidson is back.  So is Justin Schultz, who missed last game with an illness.  Half a surprise is better than none, I suppose.  Luke Gazdic has been waived by the club in order to make room for Brandon Davidson.
  • The Oilers are going with Cam Talbot (10-15-2, .916 SV% / 2.54 GAA) between the pipes.  Craig Anderson (20-16-4, 913 SV% / 2.69 GAA) gets the nod for the Senators.
  • LONG SHOTS, INC. / SHOOTING FOR SIXTH:  The Oilers get two much needed points with a victory against Columbus on Tuesday.  Currently, they sit eight points out of third in the Pacific, a spot currently held by Anaheim.  Anaheim also has three games in hand.  Nothing to see here, move along.
  • Andrew Ference (undisclosed), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (hand)  and Oscar Klefbom (hand), are out for the Oilers.  For the Senators, forwards Kyle Turris (lower body), Milan Michalek (finger), Clarke MacArthur (concussion) and Chris Phillips (back) are out.

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