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Game 69 Preview: Edmonton Oilers vs. San Jose Sharks

The Oilers are back on home ice, hosting the Sharks. And the Oilers' defence is stretched thinner with loss of Brandon Davidson.

By Jeff Chapman
Really not feeling this, you guys.
Really not feeling this, you guys.
Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports


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@
Edmonton
36-23-6, 78 points, 1.2 p/g Ranks 26-35-7, 59 points,  .855 p/g
Pacific Division - 3rd Pacific Division - 7th
12th P/G 29th
14th ST 22nd
14th S/G 16th
14th Goal 25th
5:00 PM MDT
TV - Sportsnet West
Radio - 630 CHED
Rexall Place
The opposing view:  Fear The Fin

Oilers Double Up Jets

If you had Patrick Maroon and Lauri Korpikoski in your goal pools, come collect your prize.  The Oilers defeated the Jets in another two goal performance, and this time it was by two rather unlikely customers.  Alright, you can have Maroon, who scored his fourth point in three games since joining the Oilers, but Korpikoski?  However.  The Oilers are winners of four of their last five, although this one came with a steep price.  Oilers defenceman Brandon Davidson will likely be out for a while after suffering a knee injury at the hands of Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien.

The Oilers are at Rexall Place for a single game before heading back out onto the road.  They'll face the Sharks tonight.  Let's go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

"As we lose (Davidson), to see (Klefbom) in full hockey equipment going through some of the drills, that's something we've all been looking forward to"

Source

That's Oilers head coach Todd McLellan on losing Brandon Davidson to injury, but possibly getting Klefbom back soon.

One day, the entire blue line will be healthy.  And on that day, the Oilers will still need two top four defencemen.

The opponents are saying

Right now, you've got to keep pace with everybody," Pavelski said. "Everybody's playing good. We understand our game's got to improve over the last week, week and a half. It can get better

"Right now, you've got to keep pace with everybody.  Everybody's playing good  We understand our game's got to improve over the last week, week and a half.  It can get better."   Source

That's Sharks forward Joe Pavelski.

The Sharks are firmly planted in third place in the Pacific with 78 points.  The next closest team to San Jose in the standings is Vancouver, who are a full sixteen points away.  Heck, even the Oilers are three points off from Vancouver.

More Oilers vs Sharks

Lineup Notes: Korpikoski on the Second Line.
Have some of this
  • Oh, Patrick Maroon.  You've warmed hearts of Oilers fans everywhere.  Four points (2-2-4) in three games and you're a great big physical dude.  Two more games of this and people will be calling for you to wear the 'C' for the next ninety years.
  • FIRST STAR HONOURS - Cam Talbot's had a helluva week.  .981 SV% and 3-0-0 with a shutout.  He'll likely start tonight against James Reimer (11-13-7, .917 SV% / 2.51 GAA), who was acquired from the Maple Leafs near the deadline last week.
  • Brandon Davidson's injury didn't look good, and it didn't look good for Davidson when he was in a wheelchair shortly after.  Griffin Reinhart has been recalled, which is almost as good as half a surprise.
  • Andrew Ference (hip), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (hand), Brandon Davidson (knee), Eric Gryba (knee), Benoit Pouliot (shoulder)  and Oscar Klefbom (leg), are out for the Oilers, The Sharks will be without defenceman Matt Tennyson (concussion) and forward Tommy Wingels (shoulder).

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