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Montréal Canadiens @ Edmonton Oilers Game Preview

Oilers dip to fourth in Pacific, can reclaim second place with win over Habs

By Jeff Chapman
Carey Price will likely start for the Canadiens this evening.
Carey Price will likely start for the Canadiens this evening.
Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports


canadiens

@
Edmonton
38-22-8, 84 points, 1.236 p/g Ranks 35-24-8, 78 points, 1.182 p/g
Atlantic Division - 2nd Pacific Division - 4th
9th Points per Game 10th
t-15th Special Teams t-15th
24th Shots on Goal 7th
6th Goals Against per Game 11th
5 PM MDT
TV - Sportsnet
Radio - 630 CHED
Rogers Place

The opposing view

PROJECTED
FORWARDS

Patrick Maroon - Connor McDavid - Leon Draisaitl
Milan Lucic - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Jordan Eberle
Benoit Pouliot - David Desharnais - Zack Kassian
Matt Hendricks - Mark Letestu - Iiro Pakarinen

DEFENCE

Oscar Klefbom - Adam Larsson
Andrej Sekera - Matthew Benning
Darnell Nurse - Kris Russell

GOAL

Cam Talbot
Laurent Brossoit


No Leg Room

The Oilers took the Penguins to a shootout, but were able to emerge with just one point in Friday's 3-2 shootout loss. Pittsburgh took a 2-0 lead to the dressing room after twenty minutes, but a second period goal from David Desharnais and a third period power play goal from Connor McDavid helped take the game to overtime.  McDavid would score Edmonton's lone goal in the shootout, while Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel would take the extra point out of Edmonton.  It was a fun game after the first period, and the Oilers would take a point away.

The Canadiens come to Edmonton this evening as the Oilers look to get back in the win column.  With the red-hot Flames on a nine game win streak, the Oilers will no doubt be looking to take two points from the Canadiens this evening.

Let's go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

That's Oilers head coach Todd McLellan on the sense of urgency the Oilers displayed on Friday in their 3-2 shootout loss to the Penguins

The first period was...not good. Evgeni Malkin scored a goal that Cam Talbot inadvertently put in his own net when Connor McDavid tried to kick it from the crease.  Maybe get rid of this goal, and the OIlers escape with two points.

The opponents are saying

That's Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty on facing David Desharnais in Oiler colours.

Desharnais still has that new car scent.  He's got two points (1-1-2) in three games in Edmonton so far.

Have some of this

  • Alexander Radulov is expected to be back in the lineup for Montréal after missing the last three games with a lower body injury.  With 46 points (15-31-46), Radulov is second in scoring in Montréal.
  • CAM'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD - Cam Talbot (33-19-8, .919 SV% / 2.39 GAA / 5 SO) will likely face off against Carey Price (30-16-5, .923 SV% / 2.28 GAA / 3 SO).  Habs backup Al Montoya yielded five goals to Calgary on Friday night while Carey Price was out with the flu.
  • Defenceman Brandon Davidson will not dress for the Canadiens tonight.
  • Connor McDavid's power play goal gives him 75 points on the season.  Six points in his last five games (3-3-6), three up on Sidney Crosby.
  • Tyler Pitlick (knee) will be out for the Oilers.  The Canadiens will be without forwards Paul Byron (flu) Brian Flynn (upper body) and Tomas Plekanec (upper body)

    • CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE: Oilers are one point behind Calgary and Anaheim.  The Flames are killin' it right now.  Can the Oilers get back into second place?
    • #GOILERS