Last night the Oilers succeeded in that nobody was injured during the game. Also the Oilers lost to a team that was playing their final game ever. Neat.
Tonight's game matters even less than the one against the Coyotes last night. Some people might expect that both teams will look at this game as a potential Western Conference Final prelude but I highly doubt that. Far more likely, both teams will be looking to play as low event and mundane hockey as possible to finish out the regular season and be ready for the playoffs.
The Edmonton Oilers still do not know who their opponent will be in the first round. As of right now it is the Vegas Golden Knights but depending on how both teams fair tonight it could be the LA Kings who are just one point back of Vegas in the standings. A Kings win and regulation loss for Vegas would change it to an Oilers and Kings first round...again.
If I'm the Oilers I want Vegas in the first round. For starters, even when he comes back to play in Game 1 to the surprise of no one, Mark Stone will not be anywhere close to 100%. Tomas Hertl is also just starting to get back into the groove now from his own injuries. We know players like Mantha, Stephenson, and Pietrangelo are all banged up to some degree. This is likely the best time to play Vegas.
The second part of that is simply starting the playoffs with the right energy and mindset. The Oilers were a supposed Cup favorite last season before being beaten in 6 by the Golden Knights. Edmonton is going to want revenge and beating the team that bounced them a year prior is a great way to start.
Expect Gagner and Erne to slot into the lineup tonight as both players were recalled. No word yet who they are slotting in for but wouldn't be surprised if both McDavid and Draisaitl get a night off. I also expect Ekholm and Bouchard to sit out tonight. The Nurse and Ceci pairing were rested against the Coyotes so it makes sense that the top pairing gets a night off tonight.
I liked Broberg's game overall against the Coyotes. He backed off a bit too much on the Yotes third goal but he also moved his feet well and made some good passes and jumped up on the rush at appropriate times. Looking forward to seeing how he fares tonight.
Tonight is also Dylan Holloway's last chance to make a great impression on the coach. Holloway has 4 points in the 5 games he has played since being recalled and has looked great next to McLeod and Perry. Holloway deserves to be in the lineup based on his play but we know that isn't always how coaches think.
I do wonder how worried Oilers fans should be about Kane being out of the lineup. If it was all just maintenance you'd expect he would have played at least one of these games. The fact he still remains out means there is something more serious aggravating him. Something to keep in eye on as the playoffs begin.
Just make it through tonight healthy and starting tomorrow we can start talking about the playoffs and games that matter.
Thanks for reading!
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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