GAME PREVIEW: Edmonton Oilers vs. St. Louis Blues

Edmonton Oilers (19-13-4) 3rd, Pacific vs

St. Louis Blues (21-8-6) 1st, Central

18 December 2019

Enterprise Center

630 PM MST

TV: Sportsnet

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: St. Louis Game Time

THEY ALL COUNT

The Oilers snapped their four game skid by picking up 2-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Mikko Koskinen put up 34 saves to pick up the win, while the Oilers got goals from Zack Kassian and Leon Draisaitl. Two goals is a sketchy number to work with, but the Oilers kept it light by yielding only a late third period goal by Tyler Seguin. The Oilers are victorious. Two points keeps them in that playoff conversation for now, they’ll look to pick up two more tonight in St. Louis.

You’ll recall St. Louis won the Stanley Cup this past season. Can the Oilers knock off the champs?

Let’s go to the tape.

THE OILERS ARE SAYING

We got off to a good start and then power play and penalty kill type of game. We stayed with it through 40 minutes and found a way to get two points on the road. That was much needed from us.

Source

That’s Oilers forward Alex Chiasson on his club’s 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night.

Chiasson had a very lovely pass to Leon Draisaitl on the power play. Draisaitl put it away for his 21st of the year. All good on this one.

THE BLUES ARE SAYING

“I don’t think [the hat trick] is something I’m thinking too much about right now, but all these things, I think you realize more when you’re done playing. But it’s always nice”

Source

That’s St. Louis forward David Perron after picking up a hat trick in St. Louis’ 5-2 victory over Colorado on Monday night.

Anytime you’re scoring three goals in a game, good things are happening. The win stopped a nine game point streak for the Avalanche.

LINES

HAVE SOME OF THIS

• This is the correct choice for the Oilers. You think Tippet has figured out that Mike Smith’s mojo isn’t working right now?
• How good are the Blues? Pretty good, though they’re doing it without dominating the scoresheet. They rank just fifteenth in goals per game, though they’re eighth in goals against. How many goals will they get when Vladimir Tarasenko rejoins this club from injury?
• David Perron leads the Blues in scoring with 33 points (15-18-33) in 35 games. I remember when he was traded for Rob Klinkhammer and a pick that would eventually find itself turning into Griffin Reinhart. I’ve been told that the Oilers weren’t going to take Barzal, those people are probably right.
• The Oilers missed out on the Taylor Hall sweepstakes. Are there any other suitable replacements? Tyler Toffoli? Chris Krieder? Anyone?
• There’s plenty of talk about an extension for Zack Kassian. We covered this a bit last month, and I’ve got time for a short extension for 44. My concern is that all of his magic disappears if he’s taken off the first line.

• He is not worth 4 million a year.
• SICK BAY: Oilers will be without Matt Benning (head). The Blues are without the aforementioned Tarasenko (shoulder) and Ivan Barbashev (upper body). D man Carl Gunnarson is day-to-day (arm).