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Oilers @ Senators: The Monster Returns

Oilers play second game in as many days, look to close out road trip with 3-1 record

By Jeff Chapman
Jonas Gustavsson will start for the first time in a month.
Jonas Gustavsson will start for the first time in a month.
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports


oilers logo black text

@
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21-13-7, 49 points, 1.195 p/g Ranks 20-14-4, 44 points, 1.157 p/g
Pacific Division - 3rd Atlantic Division - 7th
10th Points / Game 12th
14th Special Teams 21st
6th Shots on Goal 24th
10th Goals Against per Game 11th
5 PM MDT
TV - Sportsnet
Radio - 630 CHED
Scotiabank Place

The opposing view
PROJECTED
FORWARDS

Patrick Maroon - Connor McDavid - Leon Draisaitl
Milan Lucic - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Zack Kassian
Benoit Pouliot - Drake Caggiula - Jordan Eberle
Anton Lander - Mark Letestu - Matt Hendricks

DEFENCE

Oscar Klefbom - Adam Larsson
Andrej Sekera - Matthew Benning
Kris Russell -  Eric Gryba

GOAL

Jonas Gustavsson
Cam Talbot


Letestu To The Rescue (Again)

A well placed one-timer from the stick of Mark Letestu pushed the Oilers to a 2-1 overtime victory on Taylor Hall Day.

Miles Wood would score New Jersey's only goal midway through the first after speedboating by Oilers defenceman Eric Gryba.  Fortunately for the Oilers, Wood's goal would be the only goal against.

While the Oilers dominated play for most of the game (they would outshoot the Devils 43-20), it would be the stellar play of Devils goaltender Cory Schneider that would keep the play close.  It would take until the third period before Matthew Benning would score his first career goal to tie it up.

Schneider nearly kept it tied throughout the overtime period, but when Travis Zajac took a slashing penalty against Connor McDavid.  The Oilers would begin a four-on-three power play, and Mark Letestu would turn out the light.

Edmonton will finish their four game road trip with a visit to Ottawa.  Can they put together another win and go 3-1?

Let's go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

That's Oilers forward Mark Letestu on his team's victory last night.

Arguably the Oilers' best performance of the year, it was Letestu who pulled the plug on Schneider's goaltending clinic.

The opponents are saying

That's Senators captain Erik Karlsson after Ottawa's shutout loss to the Washington Capitals last night.

Ottawa hasn't won in their last four (0-3-1).  They've scored six goals total over that period.  Don't look now, but Ottawa doesn't score a whole lot as it is.  More on that in a sec.

Have some of this

  • Ottawa doesn't score very much.  Fortunately for them, their goaltending doesn't allow very much.  Ottawa has only scored 94 goals this season, which puts them at 27th in the league.  A trio of Craig Anderson, Mike Condon, Matt O'Connor and Andrew Hammond have helped backstop the Senators to sixth overall in total goals allowed.  They've held it together for the first half of the season. I don't know how long they'll hold it together for the second half.
  • Bobby Ryan returns for the Senators today.  He was a healthy scratch last night against Washington.  He's only got four more years at a 7.25 cap hit on Ottawa.
  • EBERLE WATCH: Another game of third line duty for Jordan Eberle saw him collect 13:56 in ice time to go with two shots on goal.  It's becoming obvious that he's going to miss his career average this year, but as it's been said before, he's currently the best option the Oilers have on the right side. Zack Kassian playing above him in the lineup isn't going to do much in the way of helping the club.  Eberle is on pace for 16 goals and 52 total points this season. Hey, that's just as many points as Milan Lucic!
  • Matt Hendricks found his way back into the lineup after Jesse Puljujarvi pulled three minutes of ice against the Bruins on Thursday.  Hendricks was on the ice for 10:56 and was on the ice for Matthew Benning's first career goal.  In other words, expect Hendricks to be in today.
  • Another assist for Connor McDavid puts him at 46 points.  Just another day at the ranch.
  • Jonas Gustavsson ( 1-2-1, .893 SV% / 2.90 GAA) will get the first start in a month.  He can't afford another bad start, at least not like one he had against the Flyers, a game where he yielded six goals in 31 shots.  The Senators will go with Mike Condon (8-6-3, .919 SV% / 2 SO)
  • STANDINGS WATCH: A win in Ottawa (and a Ducks loss against the Wild) would give the Oilers first place in the Pacific Division.  That would be nice.
  • Iiro Pakarinen (knee), Tyler Pitlick (knee), and Darnell Nurse (lower body) will be out for the Oilers. Brandon Davidson will also be out for the second straight game with the flu. The Senators are without goaltenders Craig Anderson (family), Andrew Hammond (ankle) and Clarke MacArthur (concussion)
  • #GOILERS