GAME PREVIEW: Edmonton Oilers - at - Dallas Stars

A quick turnaround for our protagonists, as the Edmonton Oilers (35-23-8) get set to take on the Dallas Stars (37-21-7) in their second game in less than 24 hours.

Edmonton is riding the big wave after a five goal explosion in the third period of last night’s big win in Nashville.

Leon Draisaitl (43-64-107) and Connor McDavid (32-62-94) continue to pace the entire league in scoring, while Dallas comes in as the league’s second-best team in terms of goals against (total, and per game).

Mikko Koskinen (16-13-2, 0.911%) will get the start for the Oilers, with Anton Khudobin (16-7-3, 0.930%) his opposite in the Dallas net.

Puck drop is slated for just after 6:30PM MST. Let’s go and get it.

Watch & Listen

Edmonton Oilers (35-23-8 — 2nd in Pacific)

-at-

Dallas Stars (37-21-7 — 3rd in Central)

6:30 PM MST — American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

TV: SN-W

Radio: 630 CHED

SBN Counterparts: Defending Big D

What to Look For

Mikko Koskinen has it all to do tonight. Edmonton scored enough goals for 3 games last night, and they’re up against one of the league’s stingiest outfits tonight. At home. In the second half of a back-to-back. It’s a big ask. So big that it’s one of those games you probably don’t fault the team for losing. But boy, if they can win it.

James Neal is scheduled to make his return tonight after being out since the New Year with a lower body issue. Daily Faceoff has him suiting up beside Gaetan Haas and Jujhar Khaira on Edmonton’s fourth line, but there’s been no official word from the team yet as far as I can tell.

The Oilers are Saying

“With ankles and feet, they’re a little bit nagging and it takes a while for them to heal. So I feel good now and I’m just excited to get back in there to help the team win. We have a good push for the playoffs going on right now.”

— Oilers forward James Neal on his long-awaited return from injury.

The Predators are Saying

“They’re clearly elite at a whole ‘nother level, and it’s going to take a five-man unit to keep them contained. That being said, they’re great players, they’re on a roll, and they’re going to get some chances.”

— Stars interim Head Coach Rick Bowness, presumably said to cover over the very loud and very obvious sound of him shitting in his own pants from pure fear.

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