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- If your captain’s going to be out for at least a couple of weeks, it’s nice that you can help out by scoring four points (1-3-4) en route to 5-3 victory over Chicago. I had Leon breaking the 100 point mark around the first week of March. Currently at 88 points, I might have to roll my calendar back a bit.
- Leon’s four points might be the headliner, but Kailer Yamamoto’s two goals should be in the same breath. Yamamoto scored twice, both times on the power play, and both times to tie the Oilers up with the Blackhawks. Yamamoto has 14 points (7-7-14) in 15 games, which is...well, pretty good.
- Mike Smith channeled his inner Dwayne Roloson last night when he blocked a couple of pucks with his helmet. I swear that this was something Roloson learned when he was in Buffalo during the late 90s when Dominik Hasek ran the show. Either way, Smith turned aside 38 of 41 Chicago shots to pick up his 15th win of the season. It seems to be all or nothing for Mike Smith, right now the glass looks more full than empty.
- DOWN THE MIDDLE: Riley Sheahan opened up with an early goal in last night’s victory. Sheahan put the Oilers up 1-0 just a bit more than a minute into the contest. Zack Kassian picked up an assist (his 30th point of the season), as did Josh Archibald. The Oilers are going to need players other than Leon Draisaitl to continue to lift the bar in Connor McDavid’s absence. Sheahan’s goal was a welcome one. Colby Cave, you’re next.
- DOLLARS ETC: With less than two weeks until the NHL trading deadline (it’s actually eleven days), I’m kind of expecting Ken Holland to bring in a player to help boost the top six. Before that happens, the club re-signed Joakim Nygard to a one year, 875K deal. I wish I had a strong opinion about this one either way, Nygard has 9 points (3-6-9) in 33 games this year, he had a twirl on the McDavid line, and has shown to be a serviceable bottom six player. Nygard is out of the lineup right now recovering from a hand injury. There’s no cap trouble if he goes to the minors, and his actually dollar number is less than his 2019-20 number. The Oilers didn’t get any better with this deal, but they didn’t get any worse, and it doesn’t cost them beaucoup bucks. Win?
- LOOKING AHEAD: Edmonton’s next 5
- @ Tampa
- @ Florida
- @ Carolina
- Boston
- Minnesota
Poll
How many points do the Oilers take in their next 5 games?
This poll is closed
-
3%
0-2
(6 votes) -
42%
3-5
(65 votes) -
48%
6-8
(74 votes) -
4%
9 or 10 (!!!)
(7 votes)