Edmonton Oilers (21-13-0, 3rd in North) @
Toronto Maple Leafs (21-10-2, 1st in North)
27 March 2021
Scotiabank Arena
5 PM MST
TV: CBC
Radio: 630 CHED
SB Nation Opponent: Pension Plan Puppets
The Oilers have had five days without a game due to Covid-19 protocols in Montréal. They will suit up for the first time in nearly a week tonight as they are in Toronto looking to gain ground on the top club in the North. The Oilers will look to avenge an absolute dreadful three game series that took place the last time these two clubs got together. Can the Oilers headline the redemption tour in Toronto?
Let’s go to the tape.
THE OILERS ARE SAYING
“Obviously, we want to get them back. There’s no question about that...We want to beat them and show them that we’re a good team. Those next two games are going to be fun and they’re going to be exciting. I think fans will love it”
That’s Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl prior to Edmonton’s two game set versus Toronto
In case you missed Edmonton’s last hook-up with the Maple Leafs, it was good on your part. The Oilers scored a total of one goal over three regulation hockey games, which set everyone on fire. Since those three games, the Oilers have gone 7-2. The Oilers will look to push Toronto off their game early as they look for two points in regulation tonight.
THE LEAFS ARE SAYING
“I don’t remember what exactly what occurred, but I do remember the kick save and taking it hard to the net, and he was able to make a hard play to the net and get the goalie a little bit out of position, I think...Then ‘Mitchy’ found it and found me perfectly in the slot and I was able to bury it, which was nice.”
That’s Leafs forward Justin Holl, who had the game winner in Toronto’s 3-2 overtime win in Ottawa on Thursday night.
The Leafs have been on a bumpy road since handling the Oilers in three straight. In the last nine games, the Leafs have gone 3-6 though they’ve won their last two.
HAVE SOME OF THIS
Eyes & Ears from Toronto’s practice:
— Jack Michaels (@EdmontonJack) March 26, 2021
Draisaitl-McDavid-Puljujarvi
Kahun-RNH-Yamamoto
Archibald-Haas-Kassian
Shore-Khaira-Chiasson
Neal-Turris-Ennis
As an aside, does anyone else feel like this has been a lonnnng week?
- What has Tyler Ennis done to catch a sit-down? For a second, I thought that this line and the fourth line might have been mixed up. Coach loves him some Devin Shore though.
- The super-line of 29-97-13 was slated to go against the Canadiens before Monday’s game was eventually postponed. It looks to go again tonight. Seeing Ryan Nugent-Hopkins at 2C reinforces my belief that a deal will get done with Nuge, as it’s difficult to find good players who can play both C and W.
- As of this writing, the three games that the Oilers were supposed to take on Montréal haven’t gotten new playdates. We hope to find out wen they’re played this weekend, but a guess is that they’re just going to smash them at the end of the calendar this year. Or, they’ll end up sprinkling them in an already tight schedule. We’ll soon find out.
- Mike Smith was slated to get the nod on Monday, and I think he’ll go for the Oilers tonight. Smith is looking for his twelfth win on the year (11-3-0, .922 SV% / 2.34 GAA / 2 SO), while the Leafs are likely to counter with Jack Campbell (5-0-0, .958 SV% / 1.18 GAA / 2 SO) as Frederik Andersen is out with a lower body injury.
- ONE TO WATCH: William Nylander ought to have a body on him at all times. Nylander has eight points in seven games against the Oilers this year, and the Oilers would do well to keep an eye on him today.
- Edmonton’s three game layoff has allowed the Leafs (and the rest of the North) to catch up in games played. If the Oilers can take two games in regulation against the Leafs, they’ll be atop the North Division, plain and simple. It all starts tonight.