Hot Links: Wednesday, March 11

Morning folks!

With Ohio and Philadelphia both issuing public space gatherings similar to Santa Clara County’s yesterday, it seems like this COVID-19 thing is going to affect North American professional sports sooner rather than later. That would make three NHL teams prohibited from playing in front of its fans.

All that is to say we’d better buckle down and enjoy these GAMEDAYS while we have them, because it might not be too much longer before they bin the whole season.

(You might think I’m being a bit crazy, but Germany cancelled their hockey season entirely yesterday, too. There will be no German champion for the 2019-20 season. Imagine that?)

Tonight the Oilers get Winnipeg, whose underlying numbers have improved of late as some of their key pieces returned to full health. The Oilers won the last one, albeit in unconvincing fashion, requiring a third period comeback to fell their Manitoban rivals. They’ll be an even tougher out tonight.

Connor McDavid is still a maybe for tonight’s contest as he continues to work his way back from illness. We joke, but let’s hope it’s not THE illness.

Edmonton was able to get in a full practice yesterday, which will be a luxury moving forward as the schedule compresses from now until April. The Oilers have 12 games remaining, and will have played all of them in just 24 days. Here’s hoping yesterday’s practice went some way toward fixing the Oilers very obvious and problematic ills at even strength.

And here’s hoping the league’s best power play gets more than zero opportunities tonight.

From Us

Hot Links: Tuesday, March 10 (Copper and Blue)

GAME RECAP: Oilers 2, Golden Knights 3. (OT) (Copper and Blue)

Leon Draisaitl Named NHL’s Third Star of the Week (Copper and Blue)

From Elsewhere

2019-20 Game 71: Jets At Oilers (Lowetide)

Game Notes Jets @ Oilers: Reconnect Through Practice (Oilersnation)

JONES: Oilers CEO Does Not Envision Playoff Games Behind Closed Doors (Sun)

Athanasiou Still His Feeling His Way After Eight Games With Oilers (Sun)

Edmonton Oilers Relying Heavily On Outstanding Goaltending (Sun)

Ailing Connor McDavid A Game-Time Decision Against Winnipeg (Sun)

A New Battle Of Alberta In Playoffs Too Good Not To Happen (CBC)

For Money

Q&A: GM Ken Holland On Oilers’ Playoff Push, Offseason Plans And Hart Thoughts (Athletic)

Lowetide: Oilers’ Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Has Found A Home As A Winger (Athletic)