A mid-December game with teams from different conferences normally doesn’t have this many storylines, but tonight’s tilt between the Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins is plump with juicy angles.

Leon Draisaitl can become the 20th-fastest player to 1,000 career points. Sidney Crosby is two points shy of tying Mario Lemieux for first on the Penguins’ franchise scoring list with 1,723 points and eighth overall among NHL scorers. Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak make their Penguins debut against their former team, while Tristan Jarry returns to Pittsburgh in his second game with the Oilers.

And both teams are in a battle for a wildcard spot in their respective conferences. I wish more December games had this much anticipation leading up to puck drop.

This game should be fantastic as both teams have no shortage of extra motivation. You know Skinner, Kulak and Jarry will be putting some money on the board to excite their teammates. The teammates of Draisaitl and Crosby want to see them reach their milestones and be involved in the play, and both teams are coming off disappointing losses.

The Penguins blew a 5-1 lead in the third period on home ice on Saturday v. San Jose and lost in overtime. On Sunday, they jumped out to a 3-0 lead over Utah, only to blow that lead and lose 5-4 in OT. It was a rough weekend for the Penguins without Jarry or Skinner in goal. Meanwhile, the Oilers played well in Toronto on Saturday, winning 6-3, but they followed that up with an ugly turnover-filled 4-1 loss in Montreal on Sunday.

Both teams will want a better effort, and there will be no shortage of emotions for both goalies. Tristan Jarry spent over 12 years in the Penguins organization. He was picked 44th overall in 2013 by the Penguins. He started his pro career with their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre for two seasons, then the next two years he split time between Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre. In 2019-2020 he became a full-time NHLer and outside of a 12-game stint in the AHL last year, he’s been a regular in Pittsburgh. He ranks third among Penguins goalies in games played (307) and wins (161) behind Tom Barrasso and Marc-Andre Fleury.

Meanwhile, the Oilers drafted Skinner 78th overall in the 2017 draft. He spent eight years with the organization, starting in the ECHL in 2018-19, then three years in Bakersfield and during the third year he played 13 games with the Oilers. He was thrust into the starting job in 2022-23 and he ranks sixth in games played (197) and fifth in wins (109) among Oilers goalies. He was a part of consecutive runs to the Stanley Cup Final.

Jarry got to play with the Oilers on Saturday, while Skinner will “rip off the Band-Aid” and play his first game as a Penguin against his former team. It will be emotional. Kulak was also part of those Cup runs, but he’s been traded before and faced his old teams as he’s played for Calgary, Montreal and Edmonton. Pittsburgh will be his first American team. There will be nerves for all three, but also excitement. Most players love competing against their friends, but like when you battle your siblings, you desperately want to win.

Skinner enjoyed his time in Edmonton, and in his first press conference with the Penguins he gave his usual honest answer when asked about his time in Edmonton. “Could I have made an extra save or two? Absolutely. That’s kind of part of being a goalie and being a person. You keep on growing, you keep on learning, but I always did my best, and I will never stop doing my best,” he said.

Jarry outlined how the trade has been for him. “It was a crazy few days,” he said. “Getting traded and playing for a new team the next day — it was a lot of emotions. Putting on a new jersey for the first time was a little weird, but it felt great playing in my first game as an Oiler. I loved Pittsburgh. I loved living there and everything that came with wearing the jersey. It was everything I could have imagined, but I’m excited to be with the Oilers now. There is a huge following with the team, and Pittsburgh was a good hockey city, so I can bring that experience with me. It will be a bit more intense in Edmonton, but I think it will be a great experience.”

Every shot will be scrutinized a bit closer tonight, rightly or wrongly, and that will make for an exciting game.

— Crosby will become the Penguins’ all-time leading scorer this week. He needs three points to pass Lemieux. This is a massive deal for Penguins fans. Mario “The Magnificent” was their most skilled player and as Crosby has pointed out, he needed fewer games (915) to score 1,723 points, but that doesn’t downplay Crosby’s accomplishment. Crosby helped the Penguins win three Cups. This is his 21st season with the Penguins and he’s still a force on the ice. He leads the Penguins in points with 31 and already has 19 goals. He’s on pace for 45 goals, which would be the second most of his career. He’s still the face of the franchise and their best player in his 21st season. He is beloved in Pittsburgh, and when he breaks Lemieux’s record it will be a huge deal.

— Not only will Crosby set the Penguins’ franchise record, he will move into eighth on the NHL’s all-time scoring list. He will likely pass Steve Yzerman (1,755) later this season and then Marcel Dionne (1,771) and Ron Francis (1,798) next season. If he remains in Pittsburgh next season, he likely will set the NHL record for most points with one franchise, currently held by Gordie Howe (1,809). But I do wonder if he ever considers a trade to a contender in the next few seasons?

— Leon Draisaitl missed out on point 1,000 in his first attempt on Sunday. I’d be flabbergasted if he doesn’t reach the milestone tonight in his 824th game, which would 20th fastest all time behind Mark Messier (822) and ahead of Adam Oates (830).

— Of those 20 skaters, Draisaitl is one of 11 who had 400+ goals in their first 1,000 points and his 416 (or 417 if his first point is a goal) ranks seventh most behind Brett Hull (560), Mike Bossy (508), Jari Kurri (461), Phil Esposito (445) Steve Yzerman (434) and Guy Lafleur (426), but ahead of Dionne (413), Jaromir Jagr (410), Lemieux (404) and Dale Hawerchuk (402). All of these men are in the Hall of Fame, and when his career is over Draisaitl will join them.

— Connor McDavid’s next assist will move him past Doug Weight for 48th on the all-time assist list with 756. McDavid needs 45 assists to become the 36th player with 800+ assists. Jari Kurri is currently 36th with 797 in 1,251 games. McDavid has 755 in 745 games. He’s averaged over one assist/game in his career. Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky are the only players to average over an assist per game in their careers.

— Quinn Hutson was having a great season in the American League with 16 goals and 28 points in 24 games. He is third in the AHL in goals, and he will skate on a line with Curtis Lazar and Trent Frederic to start tonight. The Oilers desperately need a jolt of offence from their bottom six. In their last 21 games, the bottom six has combined for seven goals. David Tomasek has two goals (11Gp), while Connor Clattenburg has one (5GP), Lazar has one (15GP), Mattias Janmark has one (17GP), Frederic and Andrew Mangiapane have one in 21 games and Adam Henrique has none.

The Oilers’ depth scoring was good in October producing 11 goals in 12 games, but it’s fallen off a cliff since. Hutson should have some offensive confidence, but Kris Knoblauch needs to play him more than 8-10 minutes. He should get around 12 if they want to give him the best chance at success. The Oilers have 18 goals from bottom-six forwards on the season. They’d like more, but it doesn’t need to be a massive increase. If they could score 7-8 every 10 games would be fine.

Offence hasn’t been a big issue for Edmonton overall. It started slowly, mainly due to the top guys not producing at their normal rates, but the Oilers rank sixth in goals by forwards with 92 trailing Utah (93), Dallas and Florida, (94), Boston (98) and Colorado (108). The Oilers are also tied for sixth in goals by D-men with 18. Washington leads with 24 followed by Columbus and Anaheim (23), Tampa Bay and Colorado (20), while Edmonton, Seattle and Buffalo have 18. Overall, the Oilers are fourth in goals (110), but third in GF/GP at 3.33.

GAME DAY PREDICTION: Oilers give Jarry a win in his return to Pittsburgh by a 4-2 score.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Draisaitl picks up his 1,000th point. Crosby also picks up a point.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers’ bottom six produces a goal. Lazar scores his third of the season.

DAY 12: Package #1: Party Package from On The Rocks

A Pub Party for 10 includes:
·         5 Appetizers
·         10 Entrees
·         4 drinks per person

Also $250 GC to use at On The Rocks. Another $250 GC at the new Druid
And pair of Oilers tickets March 21^st v. Tampa Bay.

All money raised will support Santa’s Anonymous,