GAME PREVIEW: Edmonton Oilers vs. Ottawa Senators

Edmonton Oilers (17-8-3) 1st, Pacific vs

Ottawa Senators (11-16-1) 7th, Atlantic

04 December 2019

Rogers Arena

730 PM MST

TV: Sportsnet West, Sportsnet Oilers

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: Silver Seven

STILL NUMBER ONE

The Oilers got revenge in Vancouver on Sunday night. Leon Draisaitl had a pair of power play goals, while Josh Archibald scored his first goal in an Oilers sweater in a 3-2 Oilers victory. Mikko Koskinen turned aside 30 saves to pick up his tenth win of the season. He ought to get the lion’s share of the starts going forward, but we’ll see what Dave Tippett has in store tonight.

The Ottawa Senators are in town as the Oilers open up a four game homestand. Can Edmonton pick up two more points to stay atop the Pacific?

Let’s go to the tape.

THE OILERS ARE SAYING

“Not a pretty game, not a pretty win, but no one is going to ask how we won this game at the end of the day...It was a gritty effort throughout the lineup.”

Source

That’s Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl after Edmonton’s 3-2 victory over the Canucks on Sunday.

Just another day at the office for Leon. Scored a pair of power play goals (the Oilers were 2/2 on the night), including the game winner.

Fun Leon Fact: He’s had points in all but five games so far this year.

THE SENATORS ARE SAYING

“We probably had more chances offensively than we’ve had in a month tonight but unfortunately we weren’t as good defensively, and that’s sometimes what happens. You concentrate on one thing and then another thing goes. We have to play defense in order to have success with this team”

Source

That’s Senators head coach D.J. Smith after his club’s 5-2 loss in Vancouver last night.

Ottawa put up 42 total shots, but the game was out of the bag after Vancouver scored the game’s first four goals in the first period.

HAVE SOME OF THIS

• If I’m reading between the tweets, it looks like all of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (hand), Zack Kassian (back) and Matt Benning will be out for tonight’s game.

• Goaltender Mike Smith is no longer day-to-day after suffering a leg injury during Edmonton’s 5-2 loss to Vancouver on Saturday night, as Stuart Skinner is headed back to Bakersfield. Caleb Jones has also been shipped back to Bakersfield, as Kris Russell will likely be back tonight after missing time for the birth of his second child. Look for Joel Persson in the lineup tonight after scoring five points in six games down in Bakersfield.
• PLAYER(S) OF THE MONTH? Connor McDavid now has 51 points...in 28 games. That puts him on pace for nearly 150 points on the season. That’s...pretty good. Leon Draisaitl is right behind him at 50, which also puts him near that century-plus-half mark. This is a season for the record books. You were there, and the Oilers are going to add significant pieces to the roster to help push the club over the top. Maybe.
• That top line in practice? Whew. Oilers need Nugent-Hopkins back, and fast.
• Big ups to Josh Archibald for picking up his first goal in an Oilers sweater.
• The Oilers have to take advantage of a Senators club that got beat last night in Vancouver. Ottawa is 27th in the league when it comes to goals per game (2.54 GPG), they’re 20th overall in goals allowed (3.14). The Oilers are down a few bodies, but they’ve got to take care of business against a tired team at home.
• NET GAINS: Look for Mikko Koskinen (10-2-2, .921 SV% / 2.52 GAA / 1 SO) to get the nod for Edmonton tonight. The Senators will likely go with Marcus Hogberg. Hogberg (0-1-0, .925 SV% / 1.82 GAA) came in for relief of Anders Nilsson last night after Nilsson’s fourth goal allowed.
• SICK BAY: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (hand), Zack Kassian (back) and Matt Benning (head) are out for the Oilers. Ottawa is without Craig Anderson (lower body), defenceman Cody Goloubef (undisclosed), Christian Wolanin (shoulder), and forwards Scott Sabourin (concussion) and Jonathan Davidsson (lower body)