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G71: Coyotes @ Oilers - Mathematically There Is A Chance

March 16, 2019, 4:43 PM ET [54 Comments]
Sean Maloughney
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
There is still technically a chance that the Oilers can make the playoffs... it is an extremely low chance...but a chance nonetheless. A couple of days ago the Oilers played against one of the most depleted rosters in the NHL and came up massively short, falling to the Devils 6-3.

In order for the Oilers to make the playoffs now, they essentially need to win every remaining game this season while hoping every team in front of them also goes on massive losing streaks. With 12 games left in the season and Edmonton needing to eliminate an 8 point gap... prospects look bleak.

LINEUPS

OILERS


Lucic-McDavid-Kassian
Rieder-Draisaitl-Chiasson
Khaira-RNH-Gagner
Currie-Cave-Rattie

Klefbom-Larsson
Nurse-Russell
Sekera-Benning

Koskinen

COYOTES

Galchenyuk – Cousins – Fischer
Panik – Dvorak – Keller
Grabner – Richardson – Hinostroza
Crouse – Kempe – Archibald

Ekman-Larsson – Hjalmarsson
Connauton – Goligoski
Demers – Oesterle

Kuemper

---

4 KEYS TO VICTORY

1) Auditioning.
Hitchcock is going back to attempting to get the offense going by splitting up the three centres in RNH, McDavid, and Draisaitl and we will see how many periods we get through before Draisaitl and McDavid are together. Khaira, Gagner, Chiasson, Rieder, and Kassian all need to show something over the remaining 10+ games to show that they can be top 9 players.

2) Offensive Disparity. The Coyotes best goal scorer is Brad Richardson with 16 while Edmonton's is Draisaitl with 42. Connor McDavid leads the Oilers with 100 points... Clayton Keller leads Arizona with 45. The difference in top scorers between these two teams are massive and yet Arizona has a playoff spot and Edmonton does it. I don't know how many different ways I can say it now, the lack of depth on this team is astounding.\

3) Play Spoiler. The Coyotes are rolling right now going 5-3 in March. They have beat Anaheim 6-1 and lost to Chicago 7-1. Arizona is really pushing to be a playoff team and won't be looking past Edmonton, they are going to try and bank as many points as they can and Edmonton needs to show up in the first minute of the game.

4) Keep Nurse.
Nurse surpassed his career high in goals and points almost a month ago now and continues to produce. Darnell Nurse may never become a top pairing player but he is a player I have plenty of time for on my second pairing. It's likely he will hit the 40 point mark this season. Last year only 30 defencemen had 40 points or more.
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