GAME PREVIEW: Edmonton Oilers @ Chicago Blackhawks

Edmonton Oilers (36-23-7) 2nd, Pacific vs

Chicago Blackhawks (30-28-8) 7th, Central

05 March 2020

United Center

6:30 PM MST

TV: Sportsnet

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: Second City Hockey

THEY DON’T ASK HOW, THEY ONLY ASK “IF”

It was Alex Chiasson who would be the overtime hero in Tuesday’s 2-1 OT win in Dallas. The Oilers had trouble getting their sea legs on the back half of a back-to-back, but Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Alex Chiasson and Mikko Koskinen put their stamp on a crucial two points. The Oilers sit all alone in second place, just two behind the Golden Knights. Edmonton can reach those Knights with a victory in Chicago tonight. Can the Oilers finish this roadie on a perfect 3-for-3?

Let’s go to the tape.

THE OILERS ARE SAYING

“Maybe we weren’t our best in the first period, but we kept coming. We didn’t get down on ourselves, and Mikko obviously held us in, but we just kept pushing and didn’t deflate as a team.”

Source

That’s Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on his club’s play after the first period in Tuesday’s 2-1 OT victory.

Mikko Koskinen had 42 of 43 saves to help nail it down. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored a power play goal (his 20th goal of the season) and had an assist on Alex Chiasson’s game winner in OT. Not too bad, 93.

THE BLACKHAWKS ARE SAYING

“We’re looking really good. Tonight was kind of a dangerous team, you know those teams that you’re not really sure what you’re going to get out of them. It was a close game for a while, we found a way to open it up, which was good to see.”

Source

That’s Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford after his club’s 6-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.

The Blackhawks have won three straight.

HAVE SOME OF THIS

• TIME FOR 77? Oscar Klefbom has been held out of the lineup (shoulder), but he’s on the road trip. It’d be just fine by my eyes if we saw him back in the lineup tonight versus Chicago.
• Though Chicago is seventh in the Central, they’re not doing too bad scoring (18th overall, 2.98 G/G). They allow a slightly worse-on-average 3.11 goals per game (21st). They’ve still got Patrick Kane (29-51-80) up front leading the way, while Jonathan Toews (17-39-56) is a talented forward who can still get it done. Young guns Dominik Kubalik (29-15-44) and Alex DeBrincat (16-24-40) are also talented scorers who can’t be ignored.
• NET GAINS: Expect Mike Smith to get the nod tonight (19-10-6, .905 SV% / 2.88 GAA / 1 SO). Corey Crawford is expected to get the start for Chicago (14-18-3, .916 SV% / 2.82 GAA 1 SO).
• LEON: Just one assist for Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton’s 2-1 victory over the Stars. He’s up to 106 points, which is 13 points over the second ranked scorer named Connor McDavid. Could both of these players reach 120 points? 130 points?
• LEON, II: Leon Draisaitl is four goals behind David Pastrnak. Could you imagine how much fun it’d be to have more goals and points than Pasta? That’d be fun.
• SICK BAY: Oscar Klefbom (shoulder) may go today. Joakim Nygard (hand) and Mike Green (ankle) are out for tonight. For the Blackhawks, they’ll be missing Brent Seabrook (shoulder), Calvin de Haan (shoulder) and forwards Zack Smith (back) and Andrew Shaw (concussion).
• PACIFIC STANDINGS: Oilers are two points back of the division leading Vegas with a game in hand. It’s all you gotta know.