What makes this matchup especially interesting is how close these two teams are when you start digging into the numbers, and I don\u2019t just mean in the standings. Edmonton has the edge offensively, scoring 3.47 goals per game with a (currently struggling) power play checking in at at 30.1 percent, but Vegas counters with stronger defensive numbers, allowing just 3.14 goals against per game while carrying a slight advantage in shot share. There isn\u2019t a whole lot separating these two teams in the spreadsheets, which tells me that tonight\u2019s game is, once again, going to come down to execution.<\/p>\n
So what does all of that mean? It\u2019s simple. the team that makes fewer mistakes and takes better care of the puck is probably going to win. As much as the Oilers<\/a> have done a fantastic job stacking wins over the last couple of weeks, the margin for error is razor thin right now, and we\u2019ll need another dose of their A-game to pull this one out. There\u2019s no extra cushion in the standings with Vegas sitting three points back, and against a team like this that\u2019s trying to find its footing under a new coach, everybody on the home side needs to bring their best. There\u2019s no room for passengers tonight, folks. What I\u2019m looking for is for everyone in blue and orange to look just as engaged as they were last Thursday in Vegas<\/a>.<\/p>\n I know I keep repeating myself in these GDBs by saying the Oilers need to focus on defence first, but it\u2019s hard not to when you\u2019re staring at a season-long issue that is only now starting to resolve itself. This team is more than capable of generating offence. That part has never been the issue. But the elephant in the room is whether they can keep taking care of their own end well enough to let that offence actually win them hockey games. We\u2019ve watched the Oilers play some very playoff-style games on this winning streak, including a win over this exact Vegas team just over a week ago. And against an opponent this close to you in the standings, taking two wins from them this close together could be what it takes to put them forever in the rearview mirror.<\/p>\n No matter what any of us have in our minds as keys to victory, the important part is that we\u2019ve got a division rival in our building with a chance to grab sole possession of first place in the Pacific<\/a>. A win gives Edmonton a real chance at winning the division. A loss basically welcomes Vegas back into the fight. While the Oilers have done a great job climbing back into the fight, tonight\u2019s game is a huge opportunity to put real pressure on both Vegas and Anaheim down the stretch. But none of that happens without a full team effort. Every line has to give you something. Every pairing has to be sharp. Every single guy has to be a little bit better than they were against Chicago. Everyone needs to fight above their weight class.The Oilers have put themselves in a position to basically erase all of their struggles from earlier in the year, but games like this are where you find out how real that push actually is. We need a little more urgency on loose pucks. A little more care at both blue lines. A little more commitment to getting back and sorting things out in the defensive zone. It doesn\u2019t need to be perfect, but it needs to be as close as possible. We\u2019ve seen and know that the Oilers can beat the Vegas Golden Knights, but the question is whether they can keep checking off the small but important details of their game and extend this winning streak to six. Five straight wins<\/a> is great, but six straight wins would be that much cooler.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s see what the numbers say\u2026<\/p>\n THE NUMBERS<\/p>\n OILERS<\/p>\n GOLDEN KNIGHTS<\/p>\n RECORD<\/p>\n 39-28-9<\/p>\n 34-26-16<\/p>\n WIN\/LOSS STREAK<\/p>\n W5<\/p>\n W2<\/p>\n LAST 10 GAMES<\/p>\n 7-2-1<\/p>\n 4-4-2<\/p>\n GOALS FOR<\/p>\n 264<\/p>\n 242<\/p>\n GOALS AGAINST<\/p>\n 252<\/p>\n 239<\/p>\n POWER PLAY%<\/p>\n 30.1<\/p>\n 24.2<\/p>\n PENALTY KILL%<\/p>\n 77.8<\/p>\n 81.6<\/p>\n GOALS FOR\/GAME<\/p>\n 3.47<\/p>\n 3.18<\/p>\n GOALS AGAINST\/GAME<\/p>\n 3.32<\/p>\n 3.14<\/p>\n AVG. SHOTS\/FOR<\/p>\n 29.8<\/p>\n 28.8<\/p>\n AVG. SHOTS\/AGAINST<\/p>\n 26.9<\/p>\n 24.3<\/p>\n TEAM SAVE%<\/p>\n .889<\/p>\n .885<\/p>\n CORSI FOR%<\/p>\n 50.12<\/p>\n 53.57<\/p>\n PDO<\/p>\n .982<\/p>\n .978<\/p>\n TEAM SHOOTING%<\/p>\n 9.28<\/p>\n 9.30<\/p>\n EXPECTED GOALS FOR%<\/p>\n 51.46<\/p>\n 52.19<\/p>\n You can watch the game on CBC starting at 8:00 pm MST or listen on the radio like your dad did over on 880 CHED.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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