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G21 - Avalanche @ Oilers - Jones Recalled |
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Prospects do not develop in a straight line. Two years ago Ethan Bear played 18 games with the Oilers, posting four points and got a few looks on the powerplay. At that point, fans thought this was a player who could be a good NHL third pairing defender. Caleb Jones was an afterthought. Last season Bear spent the entire season in the AHL, while Jones was recalled and looked good through 17 NHL games. After last summer finished, many were pencilling Jones in as a likely player on the opening night roster.
Flash forward to this year where Jones looked fine but not great in training camp and Bear came out like a man possessed. Bear now leads all rookies in TOI and has not only survived, but thrived playing top pairing with Darnell Nurse. Jones to his own credit has had a great start in the AHL and is now being rewarded to cement his own spot with the Edmonton Oilers.
Fans are finally seeing the fruits of proper prospect development pay off with defensive prospects not simply surviving in the NHL, but prepared to take on tough assignments and excel.
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The Avalanche is rolling into town at the best possible time for Edmonton. Colorado is a scary good team but injuries have plagued the roster through the quarter mark of the season. Landeskog and Rantanen have been out for weeks, which are two-thirds of the top line. Philipp Grubauer was placed on IR and has missed the past two games, and Nikita Zadorov and Colin Wilson are also MIA. Despite these injuries, the Avalanche have still been able to be a competitive team, including an absolute drubbing of the Nashville Predators to the tune of 9-4. Last game, Adam Werner posted a 31 save shutout against the Winnipeg Jets.
Edmonton has a better chance of walking away tonight with a win than they would have if some of these players were in the lineup for the Avs, but make no mistake, this will still be a tough test for the Oilers.
LINEUP
OILERS
Draisaitl-McDavid-Kassian
Neal-RNH-Archibald
Nygard-Haas-Chiasson
Khaira-Sheahan-P Russell
Nurse-Bear
Klefbom-Jones
Russell-Benning
Smith
AVALANCHE
Donskoi-MacKinnon-Cavert
Nichuskin-Kadri-Compher
Nieto-Jost-Burakovsky
Megna-Kamenev-Tynan
Girard-Johnson
Graves-Makar
Cole-Barberio
Werner
OILERS PLAYER PROFILE - CALEB JONES
I was going to write this one about Gagner, after scoring his first goal of the season and how he has scored more points against Colorado than any other team he has faced in his NHL career but it looks like he will sit tonight. Caleb Jones looks like he will get in tonight and be paired on the right side with Oscar Klefbom. Tippett isn't wasting any time putting Jones into the fray. Persson has struggled more in the top 4 as of late leaving the door wide open for Jones to step in.
AVALANCHE PLAYER PROFILE - CALE MAKAR
Speaking of great defensive prospect depth look no further than Colorado. Cale Makar has 18 points through 18 games as a 21 year old at looks more like a 8 year vet than a brand new rookie. Even scarier than that is the fact that Bowen Byram is still waiting in the depths for next season.
3 KEYS TO VICTORY
1.) Bounceback - Smith was not good against San Jose. The team in front came out flat but Smith needed to have at least a couple of the goals back early against the Sharks. Instead of going back to Koskinen who has been great at home, Tippett is giving the guy he knows a second chance. Smith better not disappoint.
2.) Archibald Gets A Bump - Through the last couple games, Archibald has started looking like an NHL player again. He certainly isn't a top 6 player but the coach is giving him a push which hopefully he can cash in on.
3.) Be Ready For The First - Through the last 5 games, Edmonton has only scored 4 goals in the first period while allowing 6. The Oilers are still playing with too much fire early on, waiting until the second or third to play their sharpest. Even without their best players Colorado has proven to be a dangerous team.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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