GAME PREVIEW: Edmonton Oilers @ Arizona Coyotes

Edmonton Oilers (15-7-3) 1st, Pacific @

Arizona Coyotes (14-8-2) 2nd, Pacific

24 November 2019

Gila River Arena

600 PM MST

TV: Sportsnet

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: Five for Howling

DOUBLE DOWN

The Oilers got exactly what they needed out of Vegas. A 4-2 win over the Golden Knights helps keep Edmonton atop the Pacific Division, it also puts a three point spacer between Edmonton and the Coyotes. Connor McDavid picked up two goals (including one power play tally late in the third), while Markus Granlund and Ethan Bear picked up goals of their own. Mike Smith bounced back after a forgettable performance in San Jose, turning aside 25 of 27 total shots to pick up the win.

The Oilers can create even more space atop the Pacific if they can turn two more points in Arizona tonight. Can the Oilers pull it off?

Let’s go to the tape.

THE OILERS ARE SAYING

They’re obviously vital cogs to what we’re trying to do, but they’ve really bought in to a team atmosphere, the way we want to play as a team. They have their high-end talent that they put on display every night, but they’re also playing without the puck really well and they appreciate the guys killing penalties and defending, and it’s led to a good team effort, but obviously, they’re a part of that.

Source

That’s Oilers head coach Dave Tippett on his club’s performance in a 4-2 win over Vegas.

The big guns are doing all the heavy lifting. The Oilers got a couple of goals from Granlund and Bear. Wins always look better when they’re in the division. Going up?

THE COYOTES ARE SAYING

We’re happy to get the two points...All year, both our goalies have been unreal. Anytime either of them is in net, we have all the confidence in the world in them.

Source

That’s Coyotes forward Vinnie Hinostroza on Arizona’s 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings last night.

Antti Raanta made 43 saves to help pick up the win for the Coyotes. Yes that is a lot of shots.

HAVE SOME OF THIS

• I’m running out of ways to say how good McDavid and Draisaitl are this year. McDavid picked up two goals yesterday and is on a ten game scoring streak. Leon picked up three assists, and now has 47 points on the year. That’s 47 points in 25 games. The idea that Leon might hit 100 points by February is insane.
• Let’s watch a goal.

Ethan Bear should be the first player re-signed on this club. What an absolute catch.

• Are the Coyotes actually good? They’re not scoring a whole lot (2.71 GPG, 25th), but they’re the best in the league right now at keeping the puck out (2.25 GA/G, 1st). Can the tandem of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl disrupt Arizona’s D?
• NET GAINS: Sludge hockey rules today. Both teams are playing the back end of a back-to-back, so it’d make sense for the other goalies in each team’s tandem to get the start. For the Oilers, that’s Mikko Koskinen (8-1-2, .921 SV% / 2.42 GAA / 1 SO). Look for Arizona to go with Darcy Kuemper (9-6-0, .935 SV% / 1.93 GAA / 2 SO).
• SICK BAY: Both Jujhar Khaira (hand) and Matt Benning (concussion) are day-to-day for the Oilers. Brandon Manning (hand) is out. For Arizona, Lawson Crowse (upper body) is day-to-day.