<p>The Oilers entered the season planning on reducing their goals against at 5&#215;5, but through three games they&#8217;ve been leaking goals worse than Rudy Guliani&#8217;s hair dye. Edmonton has allowed 10 goals at 5&#215;5 in three games. That is an ugly 3.33 GA/game average.</p>
<p>The past three seasons they&#8217;ve allowed 2.16 goals/game, ranging from 2.14 in 2018, to 2.18 in 2019 and 2.16 last year. The goal was to get under 2.00 this season, but they aren&#8217;t close right now.</p>
<p>So head coach Dave Tippett decided to make changes.</p>
<p></p>
<p>@Caleb Jones and @Ethan Bear are out and @Kris Russell and @William Lagesson are in.</p>
<p>Russell will play with @Tyson Barrie, Lagesson with @Adam Larsson and @Slater Koekkoek will slide over to the right side and play with @Darnell Nurse.</p>
<p>Lagesson in for Bear is a bit of a surprise, but Tippett made it clear he wasn&#8217;t impressed with Bear&#8217;s defensive game thus far.</p>
<p>&#8220;We have to defend better as a group,&#8221; said Tippett. &#8220;Our group wasn&#8217;t good enough last game and we made some changes to see if we can improve. We need him (Bear) to play better, and we have some quality guys ready to play. So we made a change.&#8221;</p>
<p>Tippett added: &#8220;We don&#8217;t have a preseason to get ready. If guys aren&#8217;t ready to compete and be ready we will make changes.&#8221;</p>
<p>Not only do they need to reduce goals against, but they have to find more goals 5&#215;5.</p>
<p>Three Oilers forwards have scored a 5&#215;5 goal through three games. Leon Draisaitl has five assists and has dominated at 5&#215;5, outscoring the opposition 5-1, so him not scoring a goal isn&#8217;t a concern. But the depth forwards need to get going.</p>
<p>Last season, the Oilers played 14 games in October and were 9-4-1. They outscored the opposition 41-36, but they won on the offensive prowess of three players: Leon Draisaitl had 12 goals and 25 points, including 11 goals at 5&#215;5. Connor McDavid had six goals and 23 points, while James Neal potted 11 goals and 13 points. Those three carried the load, before the rest of the team finally started chipping in.</p>
<p>It is unrealistic to expect that to happen again, especially with Neal not in the lineup.</p>
<p>The only other forwards to score a goal at 5&#215;5 in the first 14 games last season included Zack Kassian (3) and @Joakim Nygard and @Jujhar Khaira, with one each. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had one PP goal. When you have to elite superstars they will carry your team some nights, but relying on them too often is a recipe for losing.</p>
<p>Right now the Oilers desperately need a few of Kyle Turris, Dominik Kahun, Jesse Puljujarvi, Alex Chiasson, Josh Archibald, Devin Shore and Kassian to light the lamp.</p>
<p>A lack of scoring depth and leaky defensive play has the Oilers 1-2 on the season and desperate for a victory tonight.</p>
<h2><strong>LINEUPS…</strong></h2>
<h3><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/edmonton-oilers-line-combinations/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Oilers</a></h3>
<p>RNH – McDavid – Kassian<br />
Kahun – Draisaitl – Yamamoto<br />
Nygard – Turris – Puljujarvi<br />
Archibald – Shore – Chiasson</p>
<p>Nurse – Koekkoek<br />
Russell – Barrie<br />
Lagesson – Larsson</p>
<p>Koskinen</p>
<p>&#8220;I found a lot of success on the right side last year. It might take me a few shifts to get used to where Doc (Darnell Nurse) is, but I like the right side. I&#8217;m looking forward to the opportunity,&#8221; said Koekkoek when asked about moving from left to right.</p>
<p>Tippett making three lineup changes (Ennis also comes out) illustrates the urgency in a short season with every game against a divisional rival.</p>
<p>You should expect to see James Neal make his season debut on the road trip. Gaetan Haas will also travel with the team, but isn&#8217;t as close as Neal to returning to the lineup.</p>
<h3><b>Habs</b></h3>
<p>Tatar – Danault – Gallagher<br />
Drouin – Suzuki – Anderson<br />
Toffoli – Kotkaniemi – Armia<br />
Lehkonen – Evans – Byron</p>
<p>Chiarot – Weber<br />
Edmundson – Petry<br />
Kulak – Romanov</p>
<p>Allen</p>
<p>@Jake Allen will make his first start for Montreal. Even with a relaxed schedule in January and February, and @Carey Price playing excellent on Saturday, head coach Claude Julien still opted to go with Allen. He had really good numbers last season and is arguably the best backup in the NHL.</p>
<h2>WHAT THEY&#8217;RE SAYING&#8230;</h2>
<p><a href="https://awinninghabit.com/2021/01/18/montreal-canadiens-rematch-edmonton-oilers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">From A Winning Habit:</a></p>
<blockquote><p>On Saturday night, the Canadiens were fairly dominant. The shot clock was pretty even, but it seemed like the puck was wedged into the Oilers zone for long stretches of time. The Oilers D struggled with the Habs ferocious forecheck and the depth of the Canadiens just wore out the top-heavy Oilers lineup.</p>
<p>By the end of the night, Jeff Petry had scored twice, Tomas Tatar netted a pair himself and Jake Evans scored his first of the season on a shorthanded break.</p>
<p>Slater Koekkoek would beat Carey Price over the shoulder late in the third period, but the Canadiens goaltender was perfect other than that, stopping 34 of 35 shots. He wasn’t peppered with chances, but did stop Connor McDavid on a breakaway in the first period and turned aside Leon Draisaitl on a couple of chances from the slot.</p>
<p>Mikko Koskinen looked out of sorts in the Oilers goal. He had a difficult time hanging on to any pucks and kept dropping rebounds out into the slot while he spun around in the crease. Price is known for his calm, cool demeanour in goal and Koskinen was quite the opposite.</p></blockquote>
<h1>TONIGHT&#8230;</h1>
<figure id="attachment_97072" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-97072" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-97072" src="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GDB-Edmonton-Oilers-Montreal-Canadiens-1-1024x819.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="819" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GDB-Edmonton-Oilers-Montreal-Canadiens-1-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GDB-Edmonton-Oilers-Montreal-Canadiens-1-300x240.jpg 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GDB-Edmonton-Oilers-Montreal-Canadiens-1-768x614.jpg 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GDB-Edmonton-Oilers-Montreal-Canadiens-1-1536x1229.jpg 1536w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GDB-Edmonton-Oilers-Montreal-Canadiens-1.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-97072" class="wp-caption-text">Photoshop: Tom Kostiuk</figcaption></figure>
<p><b>GAME DAY PREDICTION: </b>I think sitting a regular like Ethan Bear grabs the attention of your team much more than if you switch out the same fourth line players. Oilers tighten up defensively in game two against Montreal like they did in game two against Vancouver. They win 3-2.</p>
<p><b>OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: </b>Oilersnation has strong opinions on Bear sitting down. Some will agree while others will be upset. When was the last time a regular 20-min/game player was healthy scratched in Edmonton? It creates a lot of debate and it illustrates the urgency Tippett feels for this team to be better defensively. Also McDavid scores his fourth goal in four games.</p>
<p><b>NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: </b>The Oilers unexpected goal scoring from D-men continues. Tyson Barrie makes it four goals in four games for the Edmonton blueline.</p>
<h2><a href="https://collinbruce.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">ROUGHT TO YOU BY COLLIN BRUCE MORTGAGE TEAM</a></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-44863 jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" src="https://i1.wp.com/publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/collin-bruce.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=610%2C144&amp;ssl=1" alt="" width="610" height="144" data-lazy-loaded="1" /></p>
<p>Find out why so many people are using Dominion Lending Centres #1 broker in Canada. We are paid by the banks on the size of the mortgage, not the interest rate, so we try to get you as low as rate as we can. Whether it is a purchase, renewal or refinance, <a href="https://collinbruce.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">contact us</a> to see what we can do to help!</p>
<h2>Recently by Jason Gregor:</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/01/18/game-notes-montreal-canadiens-at-edmonton-oilers-game-four/">Game Notes: Canadiens at Oilers Game Four</a></li>
<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/01/15/edmonton-oilers-goaltending-concerns-mike-smith-out/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Oilers Goaltending Concerns: Smith Out with Injury</a></li>
<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/01/14/game-preview-2-0-edmonton-oilers-vs-vancouver-canucks-7pm-sn/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">GDB 2.0: Avoid Back-to-Back Loses (7pm MT, SN1)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/01/14/game-notes-vancouver-canucks-at-edmonton-oilers-game-two/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Game Notes: Oilers and Canucks Game Two</a></li>
<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/01/13/game-preview-1-0-edmonton-oilers-vs-vancouver-canucks-8pm-sportsnet/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">GDB 1.0: A True Canadian Champion</a></li>
</ul>

The Oilers entered the season planning on reducing their goals against at 5x5, but through three games they've been leaking goals worse than Rudy Guliani's hair dye. Edmonton has allowed 10 goals at 5x5 in three games. That is an ugly 3.33 GA/game average.

The past three seasons they've allowed 2.16 goals/game, ranging from 2.14 in 2018, to 2.18 in 2019 and 2.16 last year. The goal was to get under 2.00 this season, but they aren't close right now.

So head coach Dave Tippett decided to make changes.



@Caleb Jones and @Ethan Bear are out and @Kris Russell and @William Lagesson are in.

Russell will play with @Tyson Barrie, Lagesson with @Adam Larsson and @Slater Koekkoek will slide over to the right side and play with @Darnell Nurse.

Lagesson in for Bear is a bit of a surprise, but Tippett made it clear he wasn't impressed with Bear's defensive game thus far.

"We have to defend better as a group," said Tippett. "Our group wasn't good enough last game and we made some changes to see if we can improve. We need him (Bear) to play better, and we have some quality guys ready to play. So we made a change."

Tippett added: "We don't have a preseason to get ready. If guys aren't ready to compete and be ready we will make changes."

Not only do they need to reduce goals against, but they have to find more goals 5x5.

Three Oilers forwards have scored a 5x5 goal through three games. Leon Draisaitl has five assists and has dominated at 5x5, outscoring the opposition 5-1, so him not scoring a goal isn't a concern. But the depth forwards need to get going.

Last season, the Oilers played 14 games in October and were 9-4-1. They outscored the opposition 41-36, but they won on the offensive prowess of three players: Leon Draisaitl had 12 goals and 25 points, including 11 goals at 5x5. Connor McDavid had six goals and 23 points, while James Neal potted 11 goals and 13 points. Those three carried the load, before the rest of the team finally started chipping in.

It is unrealistic to expect that to happen again, especially with Neal not in the lineup.

The only other forwards to score a goal at 5x5 in the first 14 games last season included Zack Kassian (3) and @Joakim Nygard and @Jujhar Khaira, with one each. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had one PP goal. When you have to elite superstars they will carry your team some nights, but relying on them too often is a recipe for losing.

Right now the Oilers desperately need a few of Kyle Turris, Dominik Kahun, Jesse Puljujarvi, Alex Chiasson, Josh Archibald, Devin Shore and Kassian to light the lamp.

A lack of scoring depth and leaky defensive play has the Oilers 1-2 on the season and desperate for a victory tonight.
<h2><strong>LINEUPS…</strong></h2>
<h3><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/edmonton-oilers-line-combinations/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Oilers</a></h3>
RNH – McDavid – Kassian
Kahun – Draisaitl – Yamamoto
Nygard – Turris – Puljujarvi
Archibald – Shore – Chiasson

Nurse – Koekkoek
Russell – Barrie
Lagesson – Larsson

Koskinen

"I found a lot of success on the right side last year. It might take me a few shifts to get used to where Doc (Darnell Nurse) is, but I like the right side. I'm looking forward to the opportunity," said Koekkoek when asked about moving from left to right.

Tippett making three lineup changes (Ennis also comes out) illustrates the urgency in a short season with every game against a divisional rival.

You should expect to see James Neal make his season debut on the road trip. Gaetan Haas will also travel with the team, but isn't as close as Neal to returning to the lineup.
<h3><b>Habs</b></h3>
Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Drouin – Suzuki – Anderson
Toffoli – Kotkaniemi – Armia
Lehkonen – Evans – Byron

Chiarot – Weber
Edmundson – Petry
Kulak – Romanov

Allen

@Jake Allen will make his first start for Montreal. Even with a relaxed schedule in January and February, and @Carey Price playing excellent on Saturday, head coach Claude Julien still opted to go with Allen. He had really good numbers last season and is arguably the best backup in the NHL.
<h2>WHAT THEY'RE SAYING...</h2>
<a href="https://awinninghabit.com/2021/01/18/montreal-canadiens-rematch-edmonton-oilers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">From A Winning Habit:</a>
<blockquote>On Saturday night, the Canadiens were fairly dominant. The shot clock was pretty even, but it seemed like the puck was wedged into the Oilers zone for long stretches of time. The Oilers D struggled with the Habs ferocious forecheck and the depth of the Canadiens just wore out the top-heavy Oilers lineup.

By the end of the night, Jeff Petry had scored twice, Tomas Tatar netted a pair himself and Jake Evans scored his first of the season on a shorthanded break.

Slater Koekkoek would beat Carey Price over the shoulder late in the third period, but the Canadiens goaltender was perfect other than that, stopping 34 of 35 shots. He wasn’t peppered with chances, but did stop Connor McDavid on a breakaway in the first period and turned aside Leon Draisaitl on a couple of chances from the slot.

Mikko Koskinen looked out of sorts in the Oilers goal. He had a difficult time hanging on to any pucks and kept dropping rebounds out into the slot while he spun around in the crease. Price is known for his calm, cool demeanour in goal and Koskinen was quite the opposite.</blockquote>
<h1>TONIGHT...</h1>
[caption id="attachment_97072" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-97072" src="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GDB-Edmonton-Oilers-Montreal-Canadiens-1-1024x819.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="819" /> Photoshop: Tom Kostiuk[/caption]

<b>GAME DAY PREDICTION: </b>I think sitting a regular like Ethan Bear grabs the attention of your team much more than if you switch out the same fourth line players. Oilers tighten up defensively in game two against Montreal like they did in game two against Vancouver. They win 3-2.

<b>OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: </b>Oilersnation has strong opinions on Bear sitting down. Some will agree while others will be upset. When was the last time a regular 20-min/game player was healthy scratched in Edmonton? It creates a lot of debate and it illustrates the urgency Tippett feels for this team to be better defensively. Also McDavid scores his fourth goal in four games.

<b>NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: </b>The Oilers unexpected goal scoring from D-men continues. Tyson Barrie makes it four goals in four games for the Edmonton blueline.
<h2><a href="https://collinbruce.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">ROUGHT TO YOU BY COLLIN BRUCE MORTGAGE TEAM</a></h2>
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-44863 jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" src="https://i1.wp.com/publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/collin-bruce.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=610%2C144&amp;ssl=1" alt="" width="610" height="144" data-lazy-loaded="1" />

Find out why so many people are using Dominion Lending Centres #1 broker in Canada. We are paid by the banks on the size of the mortgage, not the interest rate, so we try to get you as low as rate as we can. Whether it is a purchase, renewal or refinance, <a href="https://collinbruce.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">contact us</a> to see what we can do to help!
<h2>Recently by Jason Gregor:</h2>
<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/01/18/game-notes-montreal-canadiens-at-edmonton-oilers-game-four/">Game Notes: Canadiens at Oilers Game Four</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/01/15/edmonton-oilers-goaltending-concerns-mike-smith-out/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Oilers Goaltending Concerns: Smith Out with Injury</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/01/14/game-preview-2-0-edmonton-oilers-vs-vancouver-canucks-7pm-sn/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">GDB 2.0: Avoid Back-to-Back Loses (7pm MT, SN1)</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/01/14/game-notes-vancouver-canucks-at-edmonton-oilers-game-two/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Game Notes: Oilers and Canucks Game Two</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/01/13/game-preview-1-0-edmonton-oilers-vs-vancouver-canucks-8pm-sportsnet/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">GDB 1.0: A True Canadian Champion</a></li>
</ul>

GDB 4.0: Tippett Changes Blueline (7pm MT, SNW)

Recent articles from Jason Gregor

Breaking News