GAME PREVIEW: Edmonton Oilers @ Washington Capitals

Edmonton Oilers (8-4-1) (3rd, Pacific)

Washington Capitals (5-4-3. 5th, Metro)

Verizon Center

5 PM MST

TV: Sportsnet West

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: Japers’ Rink

KEEP IT ROLLING ALONG

The Oilers took care of the Red Wings by a 4-3 margin on Saturday night. Mikko Koskinen picked up his third win of the season, the Oilers got a pair of goals from Kyle Brodziak, plus Drake Caggiula and Alex Chiasson each had a goal along the way. Oilers put 42 shots on Wings goaltender Jonathan Bernier en route to their eighth win of the season.

They look good right now. They’re holding down third in the Pacific, but the Sharks are right behind them. The Oilers are in Washington to face off against the 2018 Stanley Cup Champs. They’ve already taken down Washington once at home, can they do it on the road?

Let’s go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

I don’t even know if they keep video from that long ago...Tonight was a good feeling to be able to do that

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That’s Kyle Brodziak after scoring two goals for the Oilers in their 4-3 victory over Detroit on Saturday. It’s been nine years since Brodziak scored a goal for the Oilers. His two goals came at a perfect time.

The Capitals are saying

Sometimes you’ve just got to play the percentages...We’ve been turning a lot of pucks over lately and sometimes you’ve got to chip it in the corner and go get it, take the body, keep it a little more simple and when the play is there you make it. We‘re a little off on that right now, but we’ll find it.

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That’s Capitals forward Brett Connolly after Washington’s 4-3 OTL to the Dallas Stars on Saturday night.

It might be a little too early to suggest that the Capitals are on a Stanley Cup hangover, but they’ve won a meagre 5 games in their first 12.

HAVE SOME OF THIS

• Three goals for Drake Caggiula in his last two games. Can’t argue with that. Keep him on the top line until the goals stop.
• Let’s all stop and point at Alex Chiasson’s hot streak. The man has six goals in eight games this year. He netted another on Saturday in Edmonton’s 4-3 win over the Red Wings in Detroit. Alex Chiasson isn’t going to continue to shoot the puck at a 46% clip like he is now, but this is a great streak to be on right now. Chiasson’s scoring key goals, the Oilers are winning games right now. Good.
• NET GAINS: Oilers are playing the first of two games in two nights, expect Koskinen and Talbot to earn a split. Talbot will be in tonight (5-4-1, .904 SV% / 2.81 GAA) The Caps are going with Phoenix Copley (1-1-1, .882 SV% / 3.55 GAA)
• SICK BAY: Andrej Sekera is out (ankle) for the Oilers. For the Caps, Brooks Orpik (lower body) is day-to-day, while Tom Wilson is suspended until November 21st.
• LINES: Ty Rattie is ready to roll, but McLellan is known for leaving a lineup the same after a win. We’ll know more after morning skate.