Despite what the close score may have suggested, the Edmonton Oilers were completely outmatched by the St/ Louis Blues from the moment the puck was dropped at centre ice. The Blues dominanted possession for most of the game, controlling the puck for well over 50% per period.
This shouldn't surprise anyone. The Blues are a well built team and overall have not over paid any players. For example, David Perron has 34 points in 36 games and is making 4 million dollars a year. Think of other teams around the league....you know...preparing to offer far lesser players 4 million dollars a season. Armstrong is a far better GM than these hypothetical GM's we are discussing.
The Penguins will be without Sidney Crosby tonight but that hasn't stopped them from keeping up with their dominant ways. Pittsburgh has one of the best records in the league, going 7-3-0 over their last 10 games and have only lost once in the month of December.
Edmonton has only won against the Penguins twice in their last 10 match ups and haven't won against the Pens on home ice since January 10th 2014. Based on the numbers, things aren't looking good for the copper and blue tonight.
But games aren't necessarily decided by the numbers alone and a bit of a line change could spark something else.
1.) Beating The Secondary - Pittsburgh has gone through a bit of an overhaul of their middle six recently. Guys like Jared McCann, Dominik Kahun, and Brandon Tanev were all acquired within the last couple seasons and are producing for the Penguins. More notable, Tanev is the most expensive of any of these players, making 3.5 million a season.
It's almost as if depth players can be found throughout the league without paying overpaying a player who has been a career bottom six player before getting to play with two potential Hart trophy nominees.
2.) Battle of the Backups - Is it considered a battle when one side is completely outmatched? In one corner you have Tristan Jarry, with a .940SV% through 15 games. In the other you have Mike Smith, with a 0.896SV% through 18 games. It's a little bit ironic that the one former Oil King the Oilers don't go after is the most valuable one.
With back to back games, of course Smith was going to start one, and to his credit, he stopped all even strength and powerplay shots earlier this season when Pittsburgh played the Oilers. Since that game Smith's SV% has plummeted.
3.) RNH and McDavid - Draisaitl stays on a second line with Gagner and Neal, giving RNH a chance to have less defensively responsibilities and open up offensively more. That at least is what Tippett is hoping for as he pairs the two former 1st overall players together.
FILM OF THE DAY
This blog may not have been too optimistic in giving any reason why the Oilers will win this game tonight. The least I can do is leave you with a charming scene from Happy Feet.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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