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

Oilers opt with rookie Stuart Skinner in net against the Sens

By PrestonHodgkinson
Montreal Canadiens v Edmonton Oilers Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images

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

Skinner Gets The Nod:

The Oilers opted to give Mikko Koskinen a much-deserved rest tonight. Taking his place in the Edmonton crease will be Stuart Skinner, who was recalled from the taxi squad earlier today. This will be Skinner’s NHL debut as he spent the three seasons bouncing between the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL and the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL.

Elsewhere in the lineup, it looks as though Gaetan Haas will make his season debut as he slots into the fourth line center position. Drew Shore and Tyler Ennis were stationed back to the taxi squad. I’m assuming Alex Chiasson will draw back into the lineup as well.

On the backend, we are going to see some changes as well. It doesn’t appear Ethan Bear is ready to return to the lineup after leaving yesterday’s game. We know that William Lagesson will be in the lineup tonight but that is about it. Doesn’t appear that we will be getting an Evan Bouchard debut just yet.

Three Things To Watch:

  1. The Oilers were on the puck for a full 60 minutes against the top team in the North yesterday. They hemmed the Leafs in their own end a number of times and proved to be a difficult team to play against. They have got to bring that same energy against a struggling Senators team tonight. There are precious points on the board that can easily be theirs if they stick to the game-plan.
  2. Connor McDavid is an obvious player to watch in every game, but even more so tonight. Ottawa will be without their best defender in Thomas Chabot and what they do have in the lineup isn’t inspiring. Look for the captain to have another monster game tonight.
  3. The Ottawa Senators are in the midst of a brutal seven-game losing streak heading into tonight. That might seem like a positive for the Oilers, but wins aren’t guaranteed in this league. The Oilers have a reputation of punching above their weight against better teams and dropping the ball against lesser teams. A team desperate for wins is always dangerous.

Let. Go. Oilers.