Tampa Bay Lightning (36-13-3) (1st, Atlantic) @

Edmonton Oilers (22-24-3) (6th, Pacific)

7 PM MDT

Rogers Place

TV: Sportsnet West

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: Raw Charge

BREAKDOWN

An overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche bring the Oilers no closer to the promised land. (whispers: the promised land is the playoffs.) Edmonton is thirteen points out of the last wild card position in the Western Conference. The Oilers will host the best team from the Eastern Conference tonight before embarking on a three game roadie through California. They don’t have to win ‘em all from here on out, but they’ve got to win 3 of 4 to have a prayer.

Let’s go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

“I follow the Bills a little bit, just with them being so close to Toronto...When I played in Erie, I was in a billet house (where the family) were diehard Bills fans. I kind of went along with that and tried to get on the board”

Source

That’s Oilers captain Connor McDavid on where his football allegiance lies.

Fortunately, he’s already set up for disappointment.

The Lightning are saying

“We talked before the game about eliminating scoring chances against, and I think close to 17 shots and Vasy bailed us out once again so we’ve got to make sure that we play a full 60. Started well obviously, to have a 3-0 lead going into the third and kill off a 5-on-3, that should give us the momentum. But it kind of turned the other way. We’ve got to make sure we get better here. Obviously happy with the two points but we’ve got to play a full 60 in the next game for sure to play the right way for the rest of this trip.”

Source

That’s Lighting defenceman Victor Hedman on his club’s play in Vancouver on Saturday.

Up 3-0, the Lightning surrendered a pair of goals in the third period. Cory Conacher was able to put it away by a 4-2 margin when he scored a power play goal late in the third.

Have some of this

• GAME AND PERFORMANCE: There are eight games in the next 13 days. After Tampa tonight, the Oilers head out to California for three Pacific Division rivals. Oilers are gonna have to go on a tear quick.
• Condolences go out to Adam Larsson on the loss of his father. Larsson will be away from the team indefinitely.
• The Lightning are killing it right now with 33 wins and the most points in the Eastern Conference. How are they doing it? Let’s start with Nikita Kucherov, who is leading the league in points right now with 66 (27-39-66). We can also talk about Steven Stamkos, who is right behind with 60 points (10-50-60). Tampa leads the league in goals per game (3.56), and they’re fifth overall in goals allowed (2.54). Starting goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has a .930 all situations SV%. Everything’s coming up Milhouse.
• NET GAINS: Look for Cam Talbot to be fully recovered from an illness (18-17-2, .901 SV% / 3.14 GAA / 1 SO) and to get the nod for the Oilers tonight, while Andrei Vasilevskiy (31-9-2, .930 SV% / 2.22 GAA / 7 SO) is likely for the Lightning.
• SICK BAY: Edmonton is without Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (ribs) and Adam Larsson (personal). The Lightning will be without Ondrej Palat, defenceman Dan Girardi and goaltender Peter Budaj.