G53 Game Notes: First head-to-head a good test for Oilers and Bruins

The Boston Bruins have 33 wins and 26 in regulation. The Edmonton Oilers have 33 wins and 27 in regulation. Boston averages 3.32 goals per game while allowing 2.64. They have a +0.68 goal differential. Edmonton averages 3.556 G/GP while allowing 2.88. They own a +0.68 goal differential.

This should be a great test for both clubs.

— This is the first of two meetings between these two teams. They play again in Boston on March 5th. The Bruins are the only team currently in the top 10 of the league that Edmonton will face before the NHL trade deadline. If they are looking for a measuring stick type of game, tonight is it.

— The Bruins are suddenly in a battle for first place in the Atlantic division with Florida. They’ve been in first place virtually all season (they did trail Ottawa briefly to start the season, but that was only due to Ottawa being 3-1 while Boston was 2-0). The Bruins have had the best P% in the Atlantic all season until Florida passed them this past Saturday. The Panthers now have 78 points in 56 games while the Bruins have 77. Florida does have more regulation wins and total wins, so they win the tiebreaker.

— Boston has the second-most OT/SO losses in the NHL with 11. They’ve gone to OT 18 times this season. They are 4-9 in OT and 3-2 in the shootout. They’ve been involved in 24 one-goal games (I include SO games in that).

— The Oilers have the fewest OT/SO losses in the league with one. They’ve been to OT seven times. They are 4-1 in OT and 2-0 in the shootout. Edmonton has only played 13 one-goal games, the fewest in the NHL.

— Since November 1st the Oilers have the second-best P% in the NHL at .705, while Boston is eighth at .638%. Since December 1st Edmonton has the best at .800 (24-6), while Boston is seventh at .647. Since the start of January, the Oilers are number one at .843% (15-3), while Boston sits eighth at .643 (11-5-5). The Bruins have only won 11 of their past 21 games. Getting to OT has helped their points%, but they haven’t been as dominant early in 2024 as they were to end 2023.

— The Bruins’ PK has struggled in 2024 sitting 29th at 72.3%. They’ve allowed 18 goals on 65 kills. Edmonton ranks 14th since January 1st; however, their PK has been dreadful since returning from the All-Star break and bye week. They rank 31st at 54.6% allowing 10 goals on 22 kills. The Bruins haven’t been much better in February sitting at 68.4% since David Pastrnak, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid were linemates at the All-Star game.

—  Both special teams’ units for Boston have hit the skids. Through their first 45 games the Bruins’ powerplay was clicking at 27.3% with 38 goals on 139 chances. But in their last 11 games their PP is an ugly 8.3% with only three goals on 36 opportunities. The Oilers’ PK needs to get back on track, and they can’t let the Bruins’ PP find any confidence.

— Evander Kane reached the 20-goal plateau for the ninth time in his career Monday afternoon in Arizona when he scored his 20th and 21st goals of the season. He is the 192nd player in NHL history to have nine seasons with 20+ goals. The Oilers are the only team with four 21-goal scorers. Colorado, Toronto, Tampa Bay and Vancouver have three, and so far, 54 players have tallied 20 goals.

— Kane (172) and Brady Tkachuk (176) are the only 20-goal scorers in the NHL with 150+ hits. Only four others have more than 100 with JT Miller (146), Lawson Crouse (117), Frank Vatrano (110) and Filip Forsberg has (108). There aren’t many players in the NHL who play physical and can score. Kane and McDavid (81) are the only Oilers forwards with more than 60 hits. Edmonton could use another forward with some skill and physicality.

— McDavid will look to extend his home point streak to 20 games. It would be the second time in his career he’s had a home point streak of 20+ games, and only the eighth in Oilers history.

McDavid currently has 12-34-46 in his 19-game streak.

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