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G20 - Oilers @ Sharks - Quarter Season Mark |
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Through the first 10 games of the season:
- Edmonton went 7-2-1
- 2 of those games went to extra time Edmonton going 1-1 in those games
- Draisaitl (16), McDavid (17), and Neal (10) were the Oilers top 3 scorers
- Koskinen 4GP - 4 Wins - 0.933SV%
- Smith 6 GP - 3 Wins - 2 Loss - 1 SOL - 0.929SV%
Tonight the Oilers will play their 20th game of the season against the San Jose Sharks, in the 9 games leading up to tonight here are the same stats:
- Edmonton went 5-3-1 through the last 9 games
- 3 of those games went to extra time with Edmonton going 2-1 in those games.
- Draisaitl (18), McDavid (13), and Ryan Nugent Hopkins/Zack Kassian (7) were the top 3 scorers
- Koskinen 6GP - 3 Wins - 1 Loss - 1OTL - 0.917SV%
- Smith 4 GP - 2 Wins - 2 Loss - 0.895SV%
Through the last ten games we have seen the powerplay and shooting percentages come down yet a win tonight would put Edmonton at 6-3-1 through their last 10 games and a 13-5-2 record through the first quarter of the season. It might not be ideal, but the Oilers are showing in a decent sample size that they will stay a competitive team all season.
Tonight the division rival, San Jose Sharks are playing their 19th game of the season. The Sharks have been one of the big surprises of the season… and not in a pleasant way. The Sharks sit in 7th in the Pacific Division right now trailing Anaheim by 4 points. San Jose should have been one of the locks for top 3 in the Pacific but the rise of Edmonton, Vancouver, and Arizona, combined with some really awful play have dug the Sharks into an early hole.
It's a weird season for Sharks fans. They started the season just below average at 4-5-1 but then lost five games straight before winning their last three in a row. Which Sharks team shows up tonight? Shouldn't matter. Edmonton is the better team right now and needs to play at their highest level regardless of their opponent.
LINEUPS
OILERS
Draisaitl-McDavid-Kassian
Neal-RNH-Chiasson
Khaira-Sheahan-Archibald
Nygard-Gagner-P. Russell
Nurse-Bear
Klefbom-Russell
Manning-Benning
Koskinen
SHARKS
Kane-Couture-Labanc
Meier-Hertl-Goodrow
Sorensen-Thornton-Marleau
Gregor-Gambrell-Karlsson
Simek-Burns
Vlasic-Karlsson
Dillon-Heed
Jones
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OILERS PLAYER PROFILE - OSCAR KLEFBOM
In general, we don't praise Oscar Klefbom enough. Whenever he gets hurt long term almost immediately signals when Edmonton starts to struggle. Klefbom is so quietly brilliant in his own end, mainly because he knows exactly where to place his stick on every play. The offensive numbers haven't been there as recently for Klef but he did post two assists last game against the Ducks. Hopefully that is the start of something for the smooth Swede.
SHARKS PLAYER PROFILE - TOMAS HERTL
It isn't Thornton, Kane, Meier, or even Couture who is leading the Sharks right now, but instead Tomas Hertl. Hertl had a break out campaign last season with 74 points through 77 games and continues on the ppg trend right now with 18 points through 18. Despite their issues, the Sharks still have two very good forward lines and Edmonton needs to be wary when #48 is on the ice.
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3 KEYS TO VICTORY
1.) Let's Talk About Goal Differential! - The Sharks are at the bottom of the league in terms of goal differential and it isn't because they are getting unlucky. Hockey Reference tracks what it views as HDCF, scoring chances that have a high chance of going in the net. San Jose sits bottom of the league by a large margin with only 101 on the season. The next highest is the Canucks with 156 (something to keep track of for another day). San Jose struggles to do anything in the offensive zone and if Edmonton can limit the time they spend organizing in their end, the less chance the Sharks will get pucks on net.
2.) Prove Me Right For Once - Florida and Detroit have allowed the second and third most even strength goals in the league, they are also two of the teams Edmonton has lost to recently. The Sharks have allowed the most EV goals this season with 55 (EDM has allowed 34 by comparison) the numbers suggest a high offense night from the Oil. Please make it so.
3.) More Mamas - Nothing like playing in front of your mom. Patrick Russell recorded his first NHL point in front of his mom and RNH scored 2 goals with his mother watching proudly from above. RNH in particular has been quiet offensively and with the maternal wards in the crowd tonight, it would be great to see the Nuge keep adding to his totals.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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