GAME PREVIEW: Game 41/56 Edmonton Oilers @ Ottawa Senators

Edmonton Oilers (24-14-2, 2nd in North) vs

Ottawa Senators (13-23-4, 7th in North)

08 April 2021

Canadian Tire Centre

5 PM MST

TV: Sportsnet West

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: Silver Seven

HATS FOR DRAISAITL

Leon Draisaitl scored a power play goal and another goal from behind the goal line (more on that later) plus an empty netter to earn a hat trick en route to Edmonton’s 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. Connor McDavid added the game winner with six minutes to go in the third period, while Mikko Koskinen picked up his tenth win of the season as the Oilers added to a perfect 8-0-0 record against the Ottawa Senators this season. The Senators kept it close, tying it 1-1 and 2-2 until McDavid’s goal in the third helped the Oilers pull away.

The Oilers will have a chance to make it 9-0-0 this evening as they will face Ottawa in the second of a back-to-back. Can Edmonton take two more points as they try to catch Toronto in the North Division race?

Let’s go to the tape.

THE OILERS ARE SAYING

“That was obviously a shot that only a few guys in the world can make, and he’s one of them...He likes shooting from there, I think. He’s scored a few times from there.”

Source

That’s Oilers captain Connor McDavid on teammate Leon Draisaitl’s unbelievable goal from below the goal line that made it 2-1.

How do you score this goal? It’s an incredible goal.

Three goals puts Leon at 22 on the season.

THE SENATORS ARE SAYING

“I thought we started a little slow, but other than that, our 5-on-5 game was good...We made plays with the puck, we held on to it. Some elite players made some elite plays on us. You’ve just got to keep fighting. [There’s] a lot of positives to pull.”

Source

That’s Senators forward Connor Brown on his club’s 4-2 loss to the Oilers last night.

Connor Brown had a goal for the Senators last night. He’s on a five game scoring streak, though the Senators have won just one of their last five.

HAVE SOME OF THIS

• Leon ought to get a small bag of glittering gold coins after last night’s goal from behind the goal line. I guess having the most points against one club in a year will have to do for now.
• Mikko Koskinen stopped the first shot of the game, and 27 more en route to his tenth win of the season. Good to see him help backstop the team to a W after his last start, a 4-0 loss in Montréal.
• LEFT TO HIS OWN DEVICES: Anyone see Zack Kassian on his off wing last night? Not sure if that was Tippett trying something to get a look or what it was. Kassian on the third line LW was different. He got twelve and a half minutes of ice, including a buck and change on the power play. I wonder if his hand is still giving him trouble, as he hasn’t scrapped since he injured his hand against Ottawa’s Erik Gudbranson in early February.
• NINE TIMES - Has a club ever had nine victories in a regular season over the same opponent? If Edmonton can do the deed tonight, that’s 18 points banked from a club that’s given trouble to Toronto and Montréal. Thanks, Ottawa.
• MOVING PICTURES: This is the second game in as many nights for the Oilers, it’s their third game in four nights. They’ll play in Calgary on Saturday in their last game before the trade deadline. Who needs a break?
• I’ve got my eyes on Ryan Dzingel, but the Oilers ought to keep tabs on Connor Brown. Brown has scored in five straight games, and I’m certain he’d like to make it six in a row.
• NET GAINS: Expect Mike Smith (13-3-2, .919 SV% / 2.41 GAA / 2 SO) to get the start for the Oilers in net. Ottawa is expected to counter with former Oiler Anton Forsberg (1-1-1, .920 SV% / 3.26 GAA). Forsberg has been a member of five teams this season due to constantly being exposed to waivers in part due to the taxi squad rules of 2021. He’s got a home in Ottawa for now. Trade deadline is four days from now.

Oilers look to make it nine against Ottawa tonight. Let’s go.