On a night the Edmonton Oilers organization will induct Randy Gregg and Craig MacTavish, two very good defensive players, into their Hall of Fame, the current Oilers are hoping their offensive game can get going. The Oilers’ offence is stuck in third gear tallying only 14 goals in seven games. The lack of offence has been surprising to say the least, but tonight’s opponent could be the perfect tonic for their ailing offence.

Edmonton has dominated Pittsburgh the past three seasons. They’ve won all six meetings and outscored the Penguins 33-9. They’ve won games in Pittsburgh by scores of 4-0, 7-2 and 5-1 and in Edmonton they’ve throttled the Pens 6-1, 6-3 and 5-2. They’ve outshot them 234-191. They are 25% on the PP (5 of 20) and 91.3% on the PK (killed 21 of 23). Calvin Pickard won both games last season, while Stuart Skinner, Jack Campbell, Mike Smith and Miko Koskinen each have a victory. Tristan Jarry was in goal for four of the losses for the Penguins while Casey DeSmith and Alex Nedeljkovic lost the other two starts.

The Oilers have iced 34 different skaters in the six games, and 22 have picked up at least one point. Connor McDavid has shredded the Penguins scoring six goals and 17 points. Zach Hyman also has six goals, so maybe the odds he buries his first of this season increase tonight. Another 14 players have scored a goal. My point is the Oilers have had five different goalies win games along with 16 different skaters score a goal and 22 pick up a point.

Yes, this roster is different than last season’s, but it hasn’t mattered who is in the lineup for the Oilers — they’ve managed to own the Penguins. And they need to continue that tonight. The Oilers created their most scoring chances of the season in Tuesday’s loss to Carolina. They had 15 inner slot shots and produced the most high-dangers chances this season. However, they only scored twice, both off the stick of McDavid.

Many Oilers are struggling to score, but if past history means anything you could see a few of them light the lamp tonight.

— Kris Knoblauch switched up his first unit PP unit in practice on Wednesday. Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson were on the top unit, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman moved to the second unit with Adam Henrique. Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard split duties on both units. The big question is: Will Kris Knoblauch and Glen Gulutzan opt for the new units tonight, or we will see the #1 unit remain intact? The Oilers play tonight, Sunday and Monday. They won’t practice again until next Wednesday. I suspect we will see the original first unit tonight at times, but we will also see the new unit with Skinner and Arvidsson. It might depend on which line was on the ice when the Penguins take their first penalty.

The Oilers were 25% on the PP on Tuesday and looked quite good on their first opportunity, despite not scoring, but they are only 10.5% on the season, and the lack of PP success has cost them a few victories. I also believe the lack of PP success carries over into the 5×5 struggles as well.

— The Oilers are tied for 28th in PP chances/game at 2.71. Their PP could benefit from getting a few more opportunities, and to make that happen the Oilers need to attack more and put their opponents in more vulnerable positions on the ice.

— Hyman has 10 goals in 18 career games v. Pittsburgh. The only team he has a higher goals/game rate against is Seattle with eight goals in 10 games. Hyman has 16 shots on goal, but he’s missed the net 14 times. That is much higher than normal for him. In 2023 when he scored 36 goals on 276 SOG, he missed the net 91 times. Last season he had 54 goals on 290 shots and missed the net 114 times. He missed the net on 24.7% of his shots in 2023, 28.2% last season and sits at 46.7% this season. He’s missed the net on some of his best chances, and the odds are he’ll start hitting the net more and scoring. He’s had many glorious chances.

— A reminder the Hall of Fame ceremony for Randy Gregg and Craig MacTavish occurs after the game. It will be televised as well. It will begin 8-10 minutes after the final whistle.

RNH – McDavid – Hyman
Podkolzin  – Draisaitl – Arvidsson
J. Skinner– Henrique – Brown
Janmark – Ryan – Perry

Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Stecher
Kulak – Emberson

S. Skinner

The second-fourth lines are different from Tuesday. Vasily Podkolzin gets a look with Leon Draisaitl as head coach Kris Knoblauch is hoping a bigger body who goes to the net might help that line, while he wants more offence on the third line and that’s why Jeff Skinner was moved there.

Troy Stecher is back with Darnell Nurse and Ty Emberson draws back in for Travis Dermott. The search for a RD for Nurse continues. Stecher has had the most success thus far.

O’Connor – Crosby – Rust
Bunting – Malkin – Rakell
Beauvillier – Eller – Glass
Hayes – Acciari – Puljujarvi

Pettersson – Letang
Grzelcyk – Karlsson
Graves – St. Ivany

Blomqvist

Tristan Jarry is back in Pittsburgh working with their goaltending coach as they try to iron out his game. Joel Blomqvist is the likely starter, but not 100% confirmed.

Scoring goals hasn’t been an issue for the Penguins. They are 11th in GF/GP at 3.38, but their team defense and goaltending has struggled. They are 31st in GA/GP at 4.25.

GAME DAY PREDICTION: Oilers’ offence breaks out and continues to dominate the Penguins. Oilers win 6-3.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: McDavid has another multi-point game v. Pittsburgh. He picks up at least two points for the ninth time in 15 career games v. Pittsburgh.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Hyman and Arvidsson each score their first goal of the season.