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G31: Kings @ Oilers - Play Angry

December 6, 2019, 3:19 PM ET [94 Comments]
Sean Maloughney
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
One thing I don't enjoy doing is bursting the bubbles of Oilers fans.

Just kidding it's probably one of my favourite things.

The last couple months have been exciting and surprising for Oilers fans. Up until yesterday evening, Edmonton had spent the entire season entrenched as the top team in the Pacific Division and occasionally the top team in the Western Conference.

As I said, up until yesterday as the Oilers recent performance combined with a Coyotes win over the Flyers has brought Edmonton down to second in their Division.

Is Edmonton a playoff team this year?

The team went 9-4-1 in October and then 7-5-2 in November. Playing at a similar pace to November for the remainder of the season should guarantee the Oil a spot. That being said it is likely time for fans to readjust their expectations.

Since the beginning of November, Edmonton has played 16 games, 6 of those games have been won in regulation.

After a dominant first period, the remainder of the game against Ottawa was abysmal. Edmonton continues to look horrible against the bad teams in the league.

Until some sort of addition is made to this roster, the Edmonton Oilers are a bubble team that luckily had a really strong start to the season. That is the reality.

Tonight Edmonton should be less than happy about how they were embarrassed by a lottery team and take their frustrations out on an equally bad Kings team.

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LINEUPS

OILERS


Khaira-Draisaitl-Gagner
Neal-McDavid-Archibald
Granlund-Haas-Chiasson
Nygard-Sheahan-P Russell

Nurse-Bear
Klefbom-Persson
Russell-Larsson

Koskinen

KINGS

Iafallo-Kopitar-Brown
Carter-Prokhorkin-Toffoli
Kempe-Lizotte-Wagner
Clifford-Amadio-Lewis

Ryan-Doughty
Hutton-Roy
MacDermid-Walker

Quick

OILERS PLAYER PROFILE - JAMES NEAL

Kudos to Milan Lucic for scoring a goal that a pewee player could have made. Plenty has been made about the Neal for Lucic trade and at the end of the day, both teams have a player who is making much more than they should. Good news for Edmonton is Neal has been producing and even though he hasn't scored since Nov 24th, he has put up some assists in his past few games.

KINGS PLAYER PROFILE - TYLER TOFFOLI

Toffoli only has 6 goals on the season. The last two goals he scored came against the Edmonton Oilers on November 21st. Toffoli is an offense first player and he has to be frustrated with his lack of production. He will look to add some more goals to his stats tonight against the Oil.

3 KEYS TO VICTORY

1.) Bounceback - Mikko Koskinen has been solid in net most of the season for Edmonton but last game was not a good showing. We have seen Tippett go back to Smith after rough games and it's good to see him giving Mikko the benefit of the doubt here tonight.

2.) One More Game? Kassian was interviewed yesterday saying he hoped to be in the lineup tonight and at the latest for Sunday's game. It isn't looking like Zack will suit up tonight so Sunday it is. Meanwhile while skating with the team, RNH is also not back yet. The forward depth is thin for the Oil on a normal night and horrendous with these two out of the lineup. Wishing both a speedy recovery.

3.) Bounceback x2 Tippett should be showing his players the standings today. Overall the play of his team has not been good over the past 5 or 6 games. Everyone needs to play better and this once again is a game Edmonton should dominate. They need to play like it.

FILM OF THE DAY

Edmonton needs to channel their anger and keep on the gas pedal for the entire game tonight. Hopefully the Kings won't like the Oilers when they are angry. Instead of going with one of the MCU Hulk movies, enjoy a clip from Ang Lee's Hulk.

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