GAME PREVIEW: Edmonton Oilers vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Edmonton Oilers (23-22-3) (6th, Pacific)

Carolina Hurricanes (22-20-5) (5th, Metro)

730 PM MST

Rogers Place

TV: Sportsnet 360 /

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: Canes Country

FALLING BEHIND

After a scoreless first period, the Flames would score three goals in the second period. Three would have been enough, but Calgary would score two more in the third to put a stamp on it. Edmonton would pick up goals from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Milan Lucic (!!), but this one was over by the second intermission. The Oilers drop back to sixth in the Pacific, while the Flames pad their lead in the Pacific.

The Oilers are right back at it with a visit from the Carolina Hurricanes. Can the Oilers get back in the win column on the tail end of a back-to-back?

Let’s go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

Our play wasn’t good enough, and that’s what got us into a 3-0 hole...It was a really good play at the end of the second to give us some momentum going into the intermission. We had lots to look forward to going into the third.

Source

That’s Oilers forward Milan Lucic on how the game got away in the second period.

Oilers drop back to sixth in the Pacific, the Flames are 7-0-1 in their last eight.

The Hurricanes are saying

We were so bad I almost dressed and got out there. I might have been as good as what we were throwing out there. I didn’t know what I was watching. That’s the first time all year I can say that. You’re going to lose games, but it was obvious we were going to lose that one

Source

That’s Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour after Carolina’s 4-1 home loss to the Senators on Friday.

Former Oiler Magnus Paajarvi scored in the win. The Hurricanes are ten points away from a Wild Card position in the East.

HAVE SOME OF THIS

• The Hurricanes have trouble putting the puck in the net. They’re 27th overall in goals scored (2.66 GPG). They’re a much more palatable 13th in goals allowed (2.94). Because you’re good at math, you see that they’re allowing more goals per game than they’re scoring, and that’s usually not good for the long term vitality of your season.
• Jesse Puljujarvi had two assists in Edmonton’s 5-2 loss last night. That’s not too bad for a guy with less than eleven minutes of ice time. The more I see Puljujarvi’s name pop up in trade talks, the itchier I get.
• Connor McDavid was held without a point in last night’s loss. He’s got 70 points on the season, eight behind Tampa’s Nikita Kucherov for the league lead.
• There are two games until the All-Star Break. The Oilers will host the Red Wings on Tuesday. They won’t play again until February 2nd when they visit Philadelphia.
• NET GAINS: Oilers will likely roll with Cam Talbot on the back end of a back-to-back (9-13-2, .896 SV%/ 3.12 GAA / 1 SO). Petr Mrazek (9-10-2, .898 SV% / 2.74 GAA / 1 SO) is likely for the Hurricanes.
• SICK BAY: Andrej Sekera (ankle), Oscar Klefbom (finger) and Alex Petrovic (concussion) are out for the Oilers. Carolina will be without Jordan Staal (concussion) and goaltender Curtis McElhinney (knee)