Oilersnation Pre Game Podcast – Edmonton Oilers vs Chicago Blackhawks

The Oilers begin life without Connor McDavid tonight as they host the Chicago Blackhawks. The team announced earlier today that they’ll be without their Captain for the next 2-3 weeks, which means he could miss anywhere from 8-12 games. That’s a gut-punch to a fan base that was just getting ready to watch their team head down the stretch and contend for a division title. How should Dave Tippett need to adjust his lineup? Who needs to step up? I looked into all of that today on the Pre Game Pod.

Their matchup against the Hawks is a pretty good one. In their last ten meetings, the Oilers are 5-4-1 and Chicago has been struggling lately. They don’t have a regulation win in their last five games and have been outshot in three straight. They have been getting good goaltending this season which could be a massive problem for a depleted Oilers forward group. The Oilers though have also been getting some good goaltending lately and tonight they’ll put @Mike Smith, who is 7-0-2 in his last nine starts, between the pipes.