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G68: Leafs @ Oilers - Revenge

March 9, 2019, 1:08 PM ET [108 Comments]
Sean Maloughney
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
When I wrote my last Oilers vs Leafs blog I had some fun with the "Unknown Eastern Conference Team" and as much as I wanted to keep that rolling, when you lose 6-2 to said team.... the luster is kind of lost.

The Edmonton Oilers are at least making it interesting for fans down the stretch. Since losing to Toronto, Edmonton has gone on a 4 game winning streak, having won all 4 games in regulation, something they have not done once all season. The odds are stacked against the Oil but it's at least going to be more fun for fans. Tonight Edmonton has a real chance to prove what they can do against the last team who embarrassed them.

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KEITH GRETZKY FOR GM?

I am currently working on a blog that will highlight the pros and cons of the rumoured potential candidates for the Oilers next GM. Reportedly the team has not started the interview process, due to the fact that many of the candidates are in the middle of playoff pushes with their respective teams.

Gretzky is getting more love lately due to this recent winning streak and we need to take a moment to slam the brakes on that conversation. The two moves Gretzky has made so far have been Talbot for Stolarz, a simple cap dump move who has only played a half game for the Oilers, and Gagner for Spooner. The Gagner for Spooner move has worked out great for Edmonton so far, but that one move cannot be enough to win over the management group.

Keith Gretzky was right beside Chiarelli when he chose to trade Hall for Larsson, and two high picks for Griffin Reinhart, and so many other poor trades that put the Oilers into this position. He may not have been the one to orchestrate the trades, but he stood pat as Peter Chiarelli took an ice pick to this team and lobotomized it. That cannot go unnoticed.

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LINEUPS

OILERS


Draisait-McDavid-Kassian
Gagner-RNH-Chiasson
Lucic-Cave-Currie
Rieder-Brodziak-Khaira

Klefbom-Larsson
Nurse-Russell
Sekera-Benning

Koskinen

LEAFS

Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Johnsson-Matthews-Kapanen
Marleau-Kadri-Nylander
Ennis-Petan-Brown

Rielly-Hainsey
Muzzin-Zaitsev
Marincin-Ozhiganov

Andersen

4 KEYS TO VICTORY

1) A Second Chance.
That needs to be the thought process for a number of Oilers players tonight. Mikko Koskinen for example has been solid for the Oilers since the Cam Talbot trade, but had a terrible showing against Toronto. Koskinen needs to be Edmonton's best player tonight.

2) A Better McDavid. It's rare for me to ever have to call out Connor McDavid, but against Toronto we never saw him play at the level we have gotten so used to seeing. The last game against Toronto was McDavid's first after a two game suspension. Tonight Connor has his game legs under him and you can bet he wasn't happy with his own level of play last time and wants to rectify that.

3) Okay I'll Give Zack Some Love. Secondary scoring has been a major issue all season long and right now Zack Kassian is answering the bell. He has a career high 4 game goal streak. One goal was an empty netter, one came from some great entry work by Draisaitl, and the other two have been great passes from McDavid. Edmonton doesn't need Kassian to suddenly be a top 6 player, but he is making the most of his time in the top 6.

4) More Goals. During this four game winning streak, Edmonton has won three games scoring at least 4 goals, and last game against the Canucks with 3 goals. The offense is going tonight so hopefully we will see a more high flying affair from than the one we got the last time these two teams met.
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