Only four days after getting shelled on home ice against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Oilers will be looking to redeem themselves against the San Jose Sharks in front of a hometown crowd that certainly deserves a win.
I don’t really know how else to start today’s GDB other than to say that the Oilers absolutely need to win to win this hockey game. It’s just that simple. They need to do whatever it takes to walk away from Rogers Place with two points and anything less than that would be unacceptable. I don’t care if the boys make a pact with Satan himself, they need to figure out whatever it takes to compete hard and keep it going for 60 minutes. Even with this ridiculous stretch of bad hockey we’ve been living through, the Oilers are somehow still in the mix for a Wild Card spot and the only thing that’s going to keep it that way is by adding wins to the board. The problem, of course, is that the Oilers have only won three of their last 10 games and that’s not exactly the kind of the record that warms up the bathing suit area if you know what I mean.
After securing two points against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night, the Oilers are back within a field goal of the last playoff spot and it’s an opportunity they need to grab by the horns, and they need to do it now. Rather than letting their play take a step backwards after a win as we’ve watched many times over the past month or so, they need to figure out how to string some wins together here and be willing to put their balls on the line to make it happen. Outside of winning their first matchup of the season, the Oilers have not fared well against the Sharks at all and that’s something they’ll need to figure out in a real hurry because allowing SJ to put up another touchdown as they have in their last two meetings is a sure fire way of sending their slim playoff hopes swirling the porcelain and into the sewers below.
NUMBERS
OILERS | SHARKS | |
RECORD | 24-25-5 | 32-16-7 |
WIN/LOSS STREAK | W1 | W4 |
LAST 10 GAMES | 3-5-2 | 7-3-0 |
GOALS FOR | 157 | 198 |
GOALS AGAINST | 179 | 173 |
POWER PLAY | 22.4 | 24.7 |
PENALTY KILL | 75.1 | 82.6 |
AVG. SHOTS/FOR | 28.8 | 34.4 |
AVG. SHOTS/AGAINST | 31.3 | 28.7 |
TEAM SAVE% | .901 | .897 |
CORSI FOR% | 48.01 | 55.32 |
PDO | 99.37 | 98.62 |
TEAM SHOOTING% | 7.77 | 8.75 |
EXPECTED GOALS FOR% | 47.02 | 55.33 |
Numbers courtesy of Corsica (fancies at 5×5)
LINEUPS…
Oilers
Draisaitl – McDavid – Rattie
Lucic – RNH – Chiasson
Khaira – Malone – Kassian
Rieder – Brodziak – Puljujarvi
Klefbom – Larsson
Nurse – Russell
Manning – Gravel
Talbot
I’m really interested to see what Hitchcock does with his line combinations today. Considering the Oilers won their last outing, I’m not expecting many changes but that doesn’t really mean anything with Hitchcock. He likes to switch things up regularly and I wonder how much of that we’ll see. Not to mention, who is starting in net? Talbot was great against the Wild and theoretically deserves another start but what about the guy they used signed to starter’s money for the next three seasons? While we don’t know the answers just yet, I’ll be sure to jump in and edit things when news comes out.
On Thursday night, Leon Draisaitl became the first German player to score 30+ goals in an NHL season. With 273 points in 232 games, Draisaitl already ranks fifth all-time among German players, trailing only Uwe Krupp (281), Christian Ehrhoff (339), Jochen Hecht (463) and Marco Sturm (487).
***UPDATED**** Brodziak and Gravel are in and Benning and Cave are out. Talbot gets the start.
Sharks
Meier – Couture – Pavelski
Kane – Hertl – Donskoi
Sorensen – Thornton – LaBanc
Goodrow – Gambrell – Karlsson
Simek – Burns
Vlasic – Heed
Dillon – Braun
Jones
I don’t think I have to tell anyone here that the Oilers are going to need to be rock solid defensively if they’re going to pull this thing off. The Sharks have too many offensive weapons in their lineup to take shifts off, including Brent Burns who is only one of seven blueliners in NHL history to collect his 50th assist in 55 games or less. The good news is that Erik Karlsson won’t be in the lineup as he continues to recover from injury. Regardless, everyone single Oiler needs to be paying attention to their assignment and doing whatever it takes to execute their own game plan rather than chasing whatever the Sharks are doing.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING…
It may sound strange, but the Sharks don’t need to play at a particularly high level or win a ton of games this month. There are more critical things to do than win lots of games. Getting a dozen points in a dozen games isn’t particularly good (only seven of the league’s 31 teams average less than a point per game), but it’s likely good enough, given the modest records of the teams battling for the lower playoff spots.
The Sharks can tread water and still create the foundation for a playoff run. A better record is fine, but not necessary. A worse record, as long as its not a meltdown, is survivable. Using the roster wisely in February sets the team up for solid March and strong position for the playoffs.
Perhaps what matters most is what happens away from the ice. February is a critical month for Sharks management. Wilson effectively sets the Sharks roster for the rest of the season and playoffs. And he’ll either get a lengthy deal with the Sharks’ most important player or he won’t. Either way, there will be important news. Hopefully, the Sharks can check off these critical ‘to-do’ boxes.
TONIGHT…

GAME DAY PREDICTION: Wanting to avenge Tuesday’s horrible loss at home, the Oilers hit the ice with all kinds of energy and enthusiasm and ride the wave to a 3-2 OT win.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Despite falling apart in the third period on Tuesday night against the Blackhawks, Oilers fans still show up droves to support the team, cementing their place as the best fanbase in the league.
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Leon Draisaitl scores again and even his most active haters start to realize that he’s not the actually the problem.
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Source: NHL, Official Game Page, 2/9/2019 – 9:00 am MT
You guys really need to start proof reading before you click post comment.
The Sharks are overconfident now.
We got them just where we want them.
They’re only __ points out of the playoffs.
Ya just got home checked the score and wish I hadnt
I still say the orange jerseys is the problem ever since they changed to that they have sucked.
Nah, they sucked about 10 years before that jersey
Since the dawn of HDTV…
Just like the leafs at the dawn of colour TV.
Classic Gord
Email Bob with the idea. I am sure he has his hands full with his new water testing kit, but that is something else for him to look into for sure!!
LOL …there must be something in the Jersey’s!!!! By George that’s it!
Less talented players?
i wish every time we lost we could slap katz in the head.
Five shots on net in the first, nice.
So does Miko come in, in relief tonite?
Let’s ask Alex…
Speaking as a goalie as usual…
“No way! Dadbot is keeping us in this!”
hahaha
3 goals against Talbot, we won’t be hearing from Alex for the rest of the night.
He is going to resign is an himynameistaylor and make fun of Koskinen.
He sure takes Talbot’s play to heart. Every shot must be hard on the heart..wait, that’s how it is for me too with the super sieve in net .
There it is …. High glove Short side!
… Signature move Talb’s!!!
Why does 🤬🤬
Big saves on one end…not so much on the other.
Kneedrop early, top shelf easy. Hitchcock is not impressed.
Watch what people do not what they say. The Oilers say they want to make the playoffs but they keep playing Talbot.
They also had a super hot Kosk at one time, but insisted on messing with his flow by playing Talbot just cause.
Nothing the Oiler do makes any sense. They sign Koskinen after he cools down. Then after signing Koskinen they ride Talbot.
I dont get it either. Can we still blame Chia and Todd?
If it doesn’t hit Talbot, it hits twine everytime.
Why in the hell does Talbot go down all the fricken time?!?!?!?!?!? He opens up the net, May as well just give them the goal
Because the goalie coach coaches him to do that?
Dustin Schwartz has done a wonderful job with Carter Hart in the off season. He’s from Sherwood Park.
Rookie is playing lights out.
Talbot is a fine tuned machine, and you can see how Schwartz’s careful training has worked it’s magic yet again.
Like it did on Brossoit.
Hey! We don’t judge…. there are peeps that enjoy going down on the first opportunity….
Like K.Lowe on Katz.
Thank the lord Toronto/Montreal game isn’t blacked out
and you can watch the Mighty Flames VS those young talented Nucks who are in their 3rd rebuild year and surpassed the coil already. BAHAHAHAHA
Do you like to handle your stick while watching video of Johnny squirting juice in his teammate’s mouths?
He started as d!ckhandler but, that didn’t go over very well.
Kassian Looch Malone is our best line tonight… That not gonna make it
I don’t want to see JP on this team next year among others. 🤬 oilers should of taken #19 from Calgary. No confidence in these clowns on trade deadline or the draft
Make Oilers Great Again! #draintheswamp #moga #lettheheadsroll
Game is over in the first. Why is Talbot in?? He is not consistent enough and the next team he goes to will see it
1) you want to watch a good game? Switch to CBC…. there are 2 teams trying to win there, not only one.
2) Talbot for a 5th rounder, do it already. Screw him. Or send him to the A if nobody bites.
3) let the jerseys rain down.
4) free Connor. How is this fun for him? Connor in Montreal would be fun….
5) every single rebuild, better than the Oilers ‘. How?
Go Fleet.
These guys are numb to losing.
Where is the guy on the bench shouting “old time hockey!!”
I think they text it now
Sharks will score short handed. Wonder what the red wine morons are doing tonite. Are they drinking in the owners box all playing a game of grabbing ass???
The Lord of the Rings is holding court as they all reminisce about those glorious days before the “problem” with the water
NUGE!!!!
Shark fin soup for Nugey!
Nuge is a beast.
That hit by Looch was worth a few hundred K
bout time the Oilers start throwing the body around, the Sharks are.
Finally we put one after coming close a couple times. Nuge pots one… mother if all comebacks… hopefully on the way… aw c’mon got to have a little optimism
The boys have turned up the intensity
No bad goals and we still got a shot
#moga
JP skates speed skater style. He needs to take the pose out of his stride and add some aggressiveness to his stride.
I think part of the issue was TM wanted Jesse to use a shorter stick. I didnt under stand why he seem to use his stick and speed fine before, I think his problem then was just confidence, but right now he looks like he is way too hunched over, like he has too do too much to straighten up to pass and play the puck
Maybe thats it, its something. Maybe he should play with 2 sticks like Kass
That’s what I noticed anyways, I cant imagine thats very comfortable on the old back either
Some of you are still banging the drum that we have a chance, how naive, how cute, you must be new around here. Turning it on once the game is out of reach solely so they don’t get embarrassed 8-0. They win once after losing 6 games straight and the delusional spins come in full force because they won a game. Wake up from your denial. We have four of our best players (McD, Nurse, Nuge, Drai) having career years and it’s still not enough to make playoffs. Shows you how much of a clown show the rest of the team is.