GAME THREAD: Edmonton Oilers @ Colorado Avalanche

Edmonton Oilers (34-36-9) (6th, Pacific)

Colorado Avalanche (36-29-14) (5th, Central)

7 PM MDT

Pepsi Center

TV: Sportsnet West

Radio: 630 CHED

The Oilers are in Denver to take on the Avalanche after dropping a 3-1 game to the Golden Knights in Vegas last night. The Oilers will need five points in their last six to secure a Bettman .500 on the year. Lofty goals, I know. Can they take at least a point tonight in Denver?

LINES

Leon Draisaitl / Connor McDavid / Zack Kassian

Joseph Gambardella / Ryan Nugent-Hopkins / Alex Chiasson

Milan Lucic / Colby Cave / Sam Gagner

Ty Rattie / Brad Malone / Josh Currie

Oscar Klefbom / Adam Larsson

Darnell Nurse / Kris Russell

Andrej Sekera / Matt Benning

Mikko Koskinen

Anthony Stolarz

THREE THINGS TO LOOK FOR

• Why are the Oilers starting Mikko Koskinen back-to-back in a lost season? This is the 24th game out of the last 25 that Koskinen has been enlisted to start. The one he missed? Sickness. It hasn’t been a great year for Koskinen (he’s at .907 SV% on the year, .915 at evens), can he put together a win tonight?
• The Avalanche control their own destiny towards the playoffs. They’re holding onto the second wild card with 86 points on the year, if they win their last three, they’re in. Arizona is hot on their heels with 84 points and three to go.
• “WE HAVE A LOT OF CRAP TO FIGURE OUT” - Those are the words of the Oilers’ captain Connor McDavid after yesterday’s 3-1 loss to the Golden Knights. A win might not be the cure that ails everything, but winning is more fun than losing. Win tonight. Then, can someone figure their crap out.