GAME THREAD: Edmonton Oilers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Edmonton Oilers (30-30-7) (5th, Pacific)

Toronto Maple Leafs (41-21-5) (3rd, Atlantic)

5 PM MST

Rogers Place

TV: CBC, Sportsnet

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: Pension Plan Puppets

The drive for five is on. The Oilers will have to make it happen against a tough Atlantic Division foe, and they’ll need to do it with a goaltender who hasn’t made a start since mid-February when he was in Philadelphia. No sweat, right?

LINES

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins / Connor McDavid / Zack Kassian

Alex Chiasson / Leon Draisaitl / Sam Gagner

Ty Rattie / Colby Cave / Josh Currie

Tobias Rieder / Kyle Brodziak / Jujhar Khaira

Oscar Klefbom / Adam Larsson

Darnell Nurse / Kris Russell

Andrej Sekera / Matt Benning

Anthony Stolarz

Mikko Koskinen

THREE THINGS TO LOOK FOR

• Everybody is out today. Notably: Milan Lucic is out, Ty Rattie gets a bump to 3LW in his absence. Mikko Koskinen is ill as well, so bring on the dancing Anthony Stolarz. It will be Stolarz’ first start since being dealt to the Oilers in a deal that saw Cam Talbot go to Philadelphia. U of A’s Kenny Cameron was to back up Stolarz, but Koskinen will be there if things get wonky.
• Zack Kassian looks for his fifth goal in five games. Normally I would advocate against Kassian on the top line, but he’s getting it done for now. Ride the wave, young man.
• The Oilers are out of the second wild card berth by 7 points. They can shave two off that number with a win tonight. Minnesota got shellacked by the Panthers yesterday by a 6-2 score. Now’s your chance to make up some ground.

Let’s. Go. Oilers.