The Edmonton Oilers close out 2024 with an evening matchup against the Utah Hockey Club. It’ll be Utah’s first visit to Edmonton since they relocated from Phoenix. Edmonton is looking to end the month on a high after a couple of disappointing performances in front of their mothers.

1. The NHL has recently added new organizations to the league with Utah being the most recent with Vegas and Seattle coming in the past couple of years too. The Oilers have a great record against teams visiting the city for the first time. They beat Seattle, Vegas, Columbus, Minnesota, Atlanta and Nashville with their last lost against a new team coming in 1994 versus the Florida Panthers. Edmonton lost 5-3 on that March night with Dave Lowry scoring the game-winner for the Panthers.

2. Edmonton and Utah already met already this season when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the overtime winner on Nov. 29th, giving the Oil a 4-3 win. That moment seemed to send the Oilers on an upward trajectory with 9 wins in their next 13 games.

3. Utah is coming into Edmonton on a four-game losing streak. They’ve had losses to he Anaheim Ducks (shootout), Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche and Seattle Kraken. They’re struggling to score, averaging only 2.25 per game, but are still averaging 29 shots a night (13th). Utah has now fallen out of a playoff spot because of this run.

4. Before this poor run, Utah had only lost once in regulation in December which came against Dallas on the 2nd. Their power play is clicking at 33 percent over the month and their penalty kill has been reliable too at 89.2%. The PK was still good over the four-game losing streak (92.3 they just can’t score.

5. Utah will be without some significant talent in today’s match up, which they have been for a while. Sean Durzi is sidelined with a shoulder injury, Connor Ingram is out with an upper body injury, along with rookie Maveric Lamoureux. Robert Bortuzzo and John Marino are the other two defencemen unavailable for Utah.

6. Michael Kesselring, the former Oilers draft pick, has been forced into an elevated role and is succeeding. He’s averaging 16:34 minutes a night, which is slightly more than his 15:10 from last season, and is seven points away from passing his previous career high of 21. Amongst defencemen who have played over 400 minutes, Kesselring has been on the ice for only 11 goals against at 5-on-5 which is the third-fewest in the NHL. If that stat upsets you, then you’ll be disappointed to know that Philip Broberg is first with only eight against.

7. Onto the Oilers, December has been a great month for the team even after what happened over the weekend. They’ve secured 17 points after winning 8 of their 12 games. Unfortunately, they haven’t gained much ground on the Vegas Golden Knights, despite beating them, who have won 10 of 11.

8. The biggest problem Edmonton is having at the moment is that they’re not winning in regulation. They have 21 wins this season but only 14 have been within 60 minutes, which is 14th in the league. Three of the last five games have gone beyond the third period and, fortunately, they’ve managed to win two of them. What wasn’t ideal was the one loss came against the LA Kings.

9. Stuart Skinner is the likely starter tonight after Calvin Pickard took over the crease in Anaheim. His save percentage hasn’t creeped over 900 yet but he’s trending in the right direction. Throughout December, Skinner has a .907 SV%, which is better than Jake Oettinger, John Gibson and Jordan Binnington. Additionally, his goals saved above average -2.28 but, again, he’s trending upward with a 1.66 GSAA at 5-0n-5 since December 1st. Skinner isn’t perfect, and likely never will be, but he’s much better than he’s given credit for.

10. Jeff Skinner skated as the 13th forward at practice yesterday. Skinner has been on the outside looking in for most the of season, despite having six goals in a bottom-six role. Derek Ryan remains in the lineup in his place.

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