EDMONTON, AB - With both teams on the fringe of the playoff picture in their respective conferences, the Oilers host the Buffalo Sabres (23-16-6) in their final game of a three-game home stand at Rogers Place on Monday night.
The Sabres have improved their record from last campaign after 45 games (11-25-9) by 20 points, led offensively by Jack Eichel's 49 points in 42 contests and Jeff Skinner's 30 goals, a total that's good enough for second in the league behind Alexander Ovechkin.
"Eichel is one of the best players in the NHL, Skinner is having a great year as well offensively, and they're a team that's really good off the rush," Oilers forward Alex Chiasson, who's having a career year in goals as well with 17 in 36 games, said pre-game. "They feed off turnovers and mistakes from the other team, and I think we have to focus on limiting those. Our puck management has to be really good tonight."
The Oilers have been outshot in their last eight games, amassing more than 25 shots only once, and are 10-13-2 this season when their opponent puts more pucks towards their net. Finding second opportunities in front of goal from controlling rebounds and generating more Grade-A scoring chances remains a focus.
"[Head Coach Ken Hitchcock] came up with a stat yesterday that we're third in the NHL in possession after a shot, so I think we have to take pride in that," Chiasson continued. "We're a team that can recover a lot of those rebounds and create second and third opportunities, but that all starts by shooting the puck."
Rookie defenceman and 2018 first-overall pick Rasmus Dahlin has 24 points (4G, 20A) in 45 games this season - a 45-point pace.
"They've really changed, and they've really become a good team," Hitchcock said of Buffalo's improvement this season. "They're a team that if we allow them to play on the move, they're going to hurt us. Our game is deeper and we've got to control the play in the offensive zone, and if we allow them to play on the move they're very dynamic.
"We've got to find a way to make sure that they don't get out on transition as easy as they've done. Especially the Carolina game, it was exciting to watch but it was a track meet. That's not the game we want to play, but our game suits up well for making them defend more than they want to."
IN IT TO WIN IT
Amidst a pile-up that includes the Oilers as one of six clubs in the race for the final two coveted Wild Card spots in the Western Conference, it's anyone's game.
Being one of the first teams to find form could provide the separation needed to break away from the pack. The Colorado Avalanche lead the way with 48 points, but the Arizona Coyotes five teams below are only behind by six.
