GAME THREAD: Edmonton Oilers @ San Jose Sharks

Edmonton Oilers (9-10-1) (6th, Pacfic)

San Jose Sharks (11-7-3) (2nd, Pacific)

8:30 PM MST

SAP Center at San Jose

TV: Sportsnet West

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: Fear The Fin

THE HITCHCOCK ERA BEGINS

Todd McLellan is out as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers. Ken Hitchcock has un-retired again to become the eighth coach of the Oilers in the last decade. His job? To help take the Oilers to the second season. It’s a long climb upward, and it begins tonight in San Jose. The Oilers have lost their last two games against divisional opponents Calgary and Vegas. A three game roadie begins in California tonight. Can Hitch deliver results?

MORNING SKATE

THREE THINGS TO LOOK FOR

• Can a new head coach bring the “bounce”? Todd McLellan failed to get more out of his players than we all would have liked. Can Ken Hitchcock begin his Oilers tenure with a win?
• Alex Chiasson sure looks to be heating up again. He can take some pressure off the McDavid line with another goal tonight. Chaisson’s got three points in his last three games (2-1-3).
• Can we get through this game without anyone noticing that the third line looks like a catastrophe? Cooper Marody centres a line featuring a guy who hasn’t scored since 1976 and Ty Rattie, Yeesh.

#GOILERS