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Edmonton Oilers (34-35-9) (6th, Pacific)
Vegas Golden Knights (42-30-7) (3rd, Pacific)
8 PM MDT
T-Mobile Arena
TV: Sportsnet One
Radio: 630 CHED
IT’S OFFICIAL NOW
The Oilers are officially out of the playoff hunt after a disappointing 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night. The Oilers’ lone goal was scored by Sam Gagner, but the game was well out of hand by then. The Ducks got out to a 4 goal lead before Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen was relieved. Rickard Rakell scored a natural hat trick for Anaheim. It was 5-0 in the third period before Gagner got a chance to spoil Ducks goaltender John Gibson’s shutout. By that time, we don’t blame you if you caught a three hour nap.
It’s Game 79 on the 2018-19 season. It will once again end in disappointment as the club will miss the playoffs for the twelfth time in thirteen years. Can we at least have some fun with the games that remain?
Let’s go to the tape.
The Oilers are saying
“It’s going to be a long final four games if we play sloppy and careless. We might as well have fun with it and play the right way. Some guys are playing for jobs, some are playing for stats, some are playing to end the season off right to have a carryover into the summer and next year feeling good about themselves.”
That’s Milan Lucic after Saturday night’s deflating 5-1 loss to the Ducks.
Some guys are finishing out their third year on a seven year guaranteed contract. It’s all relative, really.
The Golden Knights are saying
“We’re going into the playoffs, it’s time for us to step it up...We’re losing too much. Things haven’t been going our way, but that’s in the past. We have to look forward.”
That’s William Karlsson after his club’s 4-3 OTL to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.
Karlsson had a goal and an assist for his club. The Golden Knights remain in third place, while the Sharks are enjoying a six point lead over Vegas.
HAVE SOME OF THIS
Koskinen gets the hook. His glove side is a legit problem, no matter how people soft peddle about positioning etc.
— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) March 31, 2019
He is not a No. 1 goalie with that glove hand, despite the fact he will be paid like one for the next three seasons.
- NO FOOLIN’: The Ducks targeted Koskinen’s glove hand all night, To say they found success would be an understatement. It’s going to be a fairly large question mark going forward, and there’s more concern than ever as to whether or not Koskinen can be a 60 game goaltender in 2019-20. What’s Petr Mrazek doing these days? Hang on, Stolarz.
- EIGHT BACK: No points for Connor McDavid in Saturday’s 5-1 loss to the Ducks. He’s eight points (114) behind Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov (122) in this year’s scoring race
- Vegas ranks 13th in the league in goals scored (3.04 GPG). They’re tenth in goals allowed (2.76 GA/G). It always helps when you’re allowing less than you score. News at 11.
- NET GAINS: It will likely be the previously mentioned Mikko Koskinen getting the nod for the Oilers tonight (24-19-6, .906 SV% / 2.92 GAA / 4 SO). Look for Malcolm Subban (7-10-1, .901 SV% / 3.08 GAA / 1 SO) to get the nod for the Golden Knights.
- SICK BAY: Other than Jesse Puljujarvi (hip surgery) the Oilers are healthy. Paul Stastny (undisclosed), Brandon Pirri (lower body), Marc-Andre Fleury (lower body) and Nate Schmidt (leg) are all day-to-day.