There are few things in this world I hate. People who use the phrase "furthermore" in arguments because they think it makes them sound smart, people who changes lanes without signalling, and those horrifying individuals who when they buy something from a store and it doesn't have a price tag on it say, "well I guess that means it is free and laugh like they made the best joke in the world."
Perhaps more than any of those things are people who count players who have come back from injury as "Deadline Deals." Connor McDavid, Oscar Klefbom, James Neal, and Zack Kassian returning to the lineup will be a huge boost for this team but they are not deadline additions. When all those players were healthy Edmonton still had two main needs to address for a post-season push; a third line centre and a top 6 winger.
Furthermore, the team, recently highlighted by the Draisaitl, Yamamoto, and RNH line have been putting in work to secure wins and elevate this from a team that can push for the playoffs, to a team that with some help could do some damage to their opposition. Their play dictates that Holland needs to make an add.
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With Oscar Klefbom announced out for the next 2-3 weeks, Tippett had to shuffle his defensive pairs. Here is what we saw last practice:
Nurse-Bear
Jones-Larsson
Lagesson-Benning
Lagesson has played a total of 3 NHL games, all this season with Edmonton but he impressed in that there was very little to say of him. As a rookie defenseman in the Nation Hockey League, not being able to notice you is likely a good thing. Tonight what will be more interesting to watch will be Caleb Jones getting a bump in icetime.
Jones moves the puck well and has been a calm presence in his own end. A couple weeks ago I would have suggested he doesn't have the same offensive prowess as a guy like Bear, but with 3 goals in his last 8 games that isn't entirely true. Bear is still more impressive under pressure and his confidence skating with the puck is superior but the more Jones plays the sharper he looks.
Tippett himself spoke to the media and said he spoke with Jay Woodcroft and the staff down in Bakersfield and they spoke of how Jones seemed to always play better with the more minutes he received. Tonight the young left shooting defenseman will certainly get plenty of ice time against the big bad Bruins.
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As I was writing some of this blog, official news came down that Evan Bouchard has been recalled by the organization. Bouchard will not be available for tonight's game but a prospect like Bouchard isn't called up to not play.
One point of interest with Bouchard. If the 20 year old defenseman doesn't play more than 10 games this season, his entry level contract slides one more season. It is something the team is aware of and will look to manage over this stretch where players are out due to injuries.
Fans should be tweeting and sending thank you cards over to the Bakersfield Team. This season Benson, Jones, Lagesson, Yamamoto, Bouchard, Gagner, Bear are all graduates of the Oilers farm team. The staff has done a tremendous job down there and hopefully this is a sign to come for future development.
1.) Bury Your Chances - In the last few games, both Alex Chiasson and Jujhar Khaira have had open net opportunities they just haven't been able to get their sticks on. Boston is 9-1 in their last 10 games and one of if not the most dominant team in the league. Chacnes for the Oil are going to be slim in this one and if one comes by the players need to make the most of it.
2.) Hart on Hart - We will likely see plenty of power on power in this game as the Draisaitl trio will likely spend most of their night against the Pastrnak line. I never understood how when Draisaitl plays with elite players like McDavid he is simply a byproduct of Connor, but when Pastrnak plays with Bergeron and Marchand no one blinks an eye. Pastrnak is having a brilliant season with 42 goals and Leon should be hungry to try and shut him down and earn a few more points himself.
3.) If There Was Ever A Game For A Goalie To Steal... - It looks like Mike Smith will get the start again tonight but regardless who is in net for the Edmonton Oilers, they are going to need to have one of their best games of the season if the Oil want to come away with a win. The Bruins have scored the 6th most goals in the league while allowing the fewest. For Edmonton to win they can't allow more than a goal or two at the most. It's rare to score 4 or more against this Boston team.
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FILM OF THE DAY
Winning against the Bruins tonight is going to need every Oilers player on board and prepared to battle every shift and even then it's going to be ugly. Very rarely does one fight a bear and come out unscathed, just ask Leo in The Revenant.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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