GDB 25.0: Can someone reset the router? (6pm MT, SNW)

Third time’s a charm. LFG FFS.

You know the feeling when your Wifi craps out and the Bieber vids you were watching start buffering, leaving you upset and frustrated about how something that worked just a few minutes ago has ceased to do so in the present moment? That’s what watching the Oilers has felt like over these past two games against the Leafs. All of us were sitting on our couches, staring at our TVs and losing hours of our lives waiting for the Oilers to click. I mean, we’ve all seen them play well and score plenty of goals — we know it’s possible — but when they needed those skills and finish the most it’s like that part of their brains had checked out for the evening. Now, that said, I don’t think being unable to score is a problem that the Oilers will have to battle over the long term so I’m not ready to predict the apocalypse quite yet, but at the time, against this opponent, I can’t think of a more annoying way to spend two nights of my life. Not only are the Leafs tough enough to lose to as it is but their fanbase is insufferable which has made the past 48 hours to pass by slower than any of us would have ever imagined.

Despite the irritation that we’re all feeling about seeing the boys get outscored 7-0 over the last two games, I’m going to boldly suggest that the Oilers haven’t been nearly as bad as the scoreboard would suggest. I think they’ve gotten plenty of chances and it’s almost unfortunate that we’ve been forced to watch back-to-back shutouts. What I would say, though, is that it’s pretty damned hard to win in this league when you give up a pair of goals on the first two shots of the game and I’d also remind everyone that it’s not exactly unreasonable to expect that the Oilers will be better overall if they get even average goaltending that doesn’t drop a turd in the punchbowl. If @Mike Smith can get us through the first handful of minutes (maybe even a period if we’re feelin’ frisky) without letting the air out of our sails with a weak goal against then we’ll absolutely be in better shape. I mean, it’s already a big enough ask for the players to break this ridiculous shutout streak without having to also worry about a beachball floating into the net and ruining their flow. If Smith can get the job done then I’m betting that our boys in front of him will too. Maybe I’m just being hopeful? We shall see.

Let’s see what the numbers say…

Neal – McDavid – Puljujarvi
RNH – Draisaitl – Yamamoto
Ennis – Khaira – Archibald
Nygard – Haas – Russell

Nurse – Bear
Russell – Barrie
Jones – Larsson

Smith

After weeks and months of asking, Dave Tippett finally granted our wish by reuniting Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Leon Draisaitl, and Kailer Yamamoto on the second line for the first time this season. I’m excited, you’re excited, we’re all excited. That said, I do wonder about what it will be like for Connor with another new face on his left side. In the bottom six, Alex Chiasson is suspended for tonight’s game for his cross-check to Jimmy Vesey’s face at the final buzzer of Monday’s game, so we’re going to get a different look on that fourth line.

Thornton – Matthews – Marner
Kerfoot – Tavares – Nylander
Mikheyev – Engvall – Hyman
Vesey – Boyd – Spezza

Rielly – Brodie
Muzzin – Holl
Dermott – Bogosian

Andersen

The fact that the Leafs have been able to outscore the Oilers 7-0 over the last two games without @Auston Matthews in the lineup is a real problem for me, and I’m demanding that the Hockey Gords rectify this issue here in round three. ***UPDATE*** Wait Matthews is playing. Nevermind.

Game Day Prediction: Not tonight. No, sir. 4-2 Oilers.

Obvious Game Day Prediction: You poked the bear. Now Connor is angry and he will not be shut out from the scoresheet for a third straight game.

No-So-Obvious Game Day Prediction: The Oilers score a goal in tonight’s National Hockey League game.

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