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GDB 71.0: HOME ICE ADVANTAGE – BODYACHE

By Lowetide

Mar 12, 2016, 12:37 ESTUpdated:

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The Edmonton Oilers enter tonight’s game with a record of 27-36-7 and, incredibly, have a chance to move up in the standings. Question: Should they?

CURRENT STANDINGS

The Oilers have played more games than any other team, and the safe bet is to assume the Oilers finish No. 29 or No. 30. That said, if you cast about looking at recent won-loss records, especially with the teams listed above, we get a different picture. Here are the standings among these teams in the last 10 games:

Montreal 5-3-2, 12 points
Edmonton 5-4-1, 11 points
Columbus 5-4-1, 11 points
Ottawa 4-4-2, 10 points
Vancouver 4-6-0, 8 points
Buffalo 3-5-2, 8 points
Calgary 2-6-2, 6 points
Toronto 2-6-2, 6 points
Arizona 2-7-1, 5 points
Winnipeg 2-7-1, 5 points

If the Oilers can repeat that record, and the struggles continue elsewhere, Edmonton may well finish ahead of teams like Buffalo, Calgary, Toronto, Winnipeg and possibly Arizona—although the Coyotes would have to lose out in order to get it done.

Coyotes GM Don Maloney: “Last year, we plunged. I did not do much to help our team (in) the last
two months. If we were going to be bad, my attitude was, let’s be real
bad. There was a pretty big prize for being really bad.” Source

Is it a major stretch to suggest Arizona would be doing that again? I think not. Buffalo? Who knows? The bottom line here is the teams who are performing badly since the trade deadline, and it is a story the warrants following. We should also consider the possibility the Oilers fall flat in the final dozen games.

NUGE IS BACK!!!

It will be a lot of fun to see Ryan Nugent-Hopkins back on the ice. He is a wonderful two-way player and can make a difference in all three zones. One wonders if he can be effective in the faceoff circle, and we should prepare ourselves for a two-center option on Nuge’s line tonight, possibly for the rest of the season.

PROJECTED LINEUPS….

Oilers lineup courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com

Coyotes lineup courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com

QUICK HITS

Connor McDavid now has 33 GP, with 14-21-35 and has posted 4-4-8 in his last 10 games (the only Oiler player with more than five points in the last 10 contests). You can’t predict big evenings, but with the Coyotes on a back-to-back after playing in Calgary, and having a busy schedule this week, there is a chance a certain someone fills the net.
This is the second half of the HNIC broadcast, and the Oilers are ghastly in those games. In recent weeks, the team has been more responsible defensively, and Cam Talbot has been outstanding. Will they win on HNIC?
In his last 10 games, Nail Yakupov has 24 shots—a solid total—and one goal. Taylor Hall has 34 shots in those 10 contests, with only two goals. If you are looking for a breakout candidate in the final 10 games, these two gents probably fill the bill.
When does Laurent Brossoit get his next start?
Adam Pardy was a solid addition, so good one wonders if he might be retained for next season. Is he a better option for 7D than Eric Gryba?

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

Coyotes coach Dave Tippett before last night’s game: “He was out there skating, which is a good sign. But he won’t play. He’s still a few days away from playing.” Source

The item on Ekman-Larsson could be a major issue. The Coyotes without their best player would offer far less resistance for the Oilers.

GAME DAY PREDICTION

GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Coyotes score early, as the Oilers do their ‘we are playing on home ice’ routine. However, later in the period Hall cashes a perfect McDavid feed and ties the score.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Edmonton has a strong second period, pushing play and forcing multiple penalties by Arizona. The limp power play lets the home side time and again, and it remains 1-1 heading to the third.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION:

The third period sees the Coyotes put up a strong challenge, but the brutal NHL schedule gets the better of them. Edmonton scores two, one by Korpikoski and one from Eberle, and win the game 3-1. HNIC hosts throw away their prep and say nice things about the Oilers—shocking the city of Edmonton.