GAME PREVIEW: Game 11/56 - Edmonton Oilers vs. Ottawa Senators

Edmonton Oilers (4-6-0, 5th in North) vs.

Ottawa Senators (1-6-1, 7th in North)

31 January 2021

Rogers Place

7 PM MST

TV: Sportsnet West

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: Silver Seven

FINE BY ME

The Edmonton Oilers needed just a little bit more time to take care of the Maple Leafs last night. Connor McDavid scored the OT winner to cap a three point night, the Oilers got goals from Leon Draisaitl, Josh Archibald and Dominik Kahun as well. Mikko Koskinen picked up his fourth win of the season by stopping 26 of 29 shots. The Oilers don’t have very much time to enjoy the win because the Senators are in town tonight.

Can the Oilers make it two wins in two days?

Let’s go to the tape.

THE OILERS ARE SAYING

It’s a relief a little bit, because we’ve been playing really good in the [offensive] zone, we had so many chances...I finally got rewarded for that and I’m very happy.

Source

That’s Oilers forward Dominik Kahun on scoring his first goal of the season in last night’s 4-3 OT win over the Toronto Maple Leafs

He was due. Kahun’s first of the year saw him pick his own rebound and cash in on Frederik Andersen’s glove side. The goal was Edmonton’s first of the game, and it got the ball rolling. Let this one be the start to a whole bunch more.

THE SENATORS ARE SAYING

We have been getting some bad bounces, for sure, as a group, and I think karma is going to change here...We’re doing the little things right. If we keep doing that, we’re going to earn those bounces.

Source

That’s Senators goaltender Matt Murray after his club’s 4-1 loss to the Canucks on Thursday.

The Senators are happening. In their first 8 games of the season, they’ve allowed 36 goals while scoring only 17.

HAVE SOME OF THIS

• This might actually be two things; the last I saw of Ethan Bear on the ice was when he was gingerly skating towards the bench after an awkward hit in the third. If we don’t see Ethan Bear this afternoon, we could see a few things happen. We could see Evan Bouchard, but it’s more likely that we’ll see either Slater Koekkoek slip over to the right side, or even Kris Russell. Any time Ethan Bear is out of the lineup, it’s bad business for the Oilers.
• DOUBLE DOUBLE: Credit to Dave Tippett for putting Connor McDavid on the fourth line for an extra shift with Tyler Ennis and Josh Archibald. A perfect pass from McDavid to Archibald gave the Oilers a late goal and the lead towards the end of the first.
• Goals are coming at a premium for Ottawa, who is averaging just a notch over 2 per game. Their top line of Josh Norris (2-3-5 in 8 GP) / Connor Brown (0-3-3 in 8 GP) / Brady Tkachuk (2-3-5 in 8 GP) has promise, but have yet to burst onto the scoresheet. Tim Stützle (1-0-0 in 5 GP) is spending time with centre Chris Tierny (3-0-3 in 8 GP) for now. The Senators will have their hands full if their top defenceman Thomas Chabot is unable to go today due to injury.
• THE GOOSE IS LOOSE?: Troy “Goose” Grosenick was added to the club’s active roster yesterday. He might not be an ideal solution in goal, but you’d be able to knock me over with a feather if he doesn’t start in net for the Oilers today. His last NHL game was over 6 years ago, but I’m pretty sure he’s good for a start in place of Mikko Koskinen today. Koskinen has been the Oilers’ goalie every minute of every game so far, and the could really benefit from a game off after playign last night. Expect Matt Murray (1-4-1, .859 SV% / 4.39 GAA) for the Senators this evening.
• SCRATCHES: Excluding Ethan Bear, the Oilers will be without goaltender Mike Smith (LTIR) and defenceman Oscar Klefbom (out season / shoulder). Gaetan Haas is day-to-day. For the Senators, defencemen Thomas Chabot and Christian Wolanin are day-to-day.