EDMONTON, AB - The Oilers host the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight and all eyes will be on the glut of talent on both rosters. This game pits 2015 and 2016 first-overall picks, Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, against each other and both clubs boast more high-profile youth.
For Edmonton, the focus is on playing a tight, physical game against the speed and skill the Leafs have to offer.
"They have a skilled team, they have a fast team," said Oilers winger Drake Caggiula. "You've got to play them hard, you've got to play in their face and slow them down and not give them an opportunity to have some time to think and make plays… It's about playing inside their equipment and playing tight to them and taking time and space away."
"You just have to be tight on guys," said Oilers defenceman Matt Benning. "Coach talks about playing in their equipment and basically being right beside the guy you're covering. I think that's important for us defencemen, is to be on top of them so you can pin quickly and kind of contain them so they don't buzz around the whole zone. We'll look to do that and look to end plays fast tonight."
Toronto is fourth in the NHL in goals per game this year with 3.50.
Pushing the offensive pedal to the metal is tempting, but Edmonton's first focus is on defence tonight.
"We don't want to start trading chances," said Caggiula. "You never know what can happen when you start trading opportunites back and forth, but we're capable of scoring a lot of goals. We have to make sure we defend first and then we'll score from there. You can create a lot of offence from playing good defence. We can't lose sight of that. We've got to make sure we play defence first."
NEXT MAN UP
News came down this morning that the Oilers will be without their starting goaltender Cam Talbot for "at least two weeks."
He tweaked something in his upper body on the last road trip and it has flared up enough to force him on IR.
"We don't think he'll be available for at least two weeks and it could be longer," said Oilers Head Coach Todd McLellan.
This opens the door for Laurent Brossoit to see quite a bit of action. The Oilers 24-year-old backup has played in six games this season, posting a 3.31 goals-against average and .881 save percentage.
"I think it's exciting for him," said Benning. "He's deserved the opportunity to have that spot and play when Talbot is hurt. He's done a great job this year. A lot of the games he's played, he's played really well and we just couldn't get going offensively. For example, that Buffalo game. I think he'll be ready and it's exciting for us to see him play."
"We've got to take the 'next man up' mentality," said Caggiula. "A role has got to be filled. We've had injuries throughout the season and guys have had to step in and step up. This is an opportunity for LB to really step up and show what he's capable of. We have full confidence in him and our team. Just because one guy goes down doesn't mean anything we've just got to make sure we rally as a group and just make sure we prepare the same way we do for any game."
PULJUJARVI AND MCDAVID REUNITED
Jesse Puljujarvi is expected to line up on McDavid's wing tonight. The talented 2016 fourth-overall pick has put together several good games since being recalled from Bakersfield. He has two goals in eight games, but it's his overall play that has shown the most improvement.
"With Jesse, he's had a couple games now to catch his breath," said McLellan. "We've had some success. We're going to make a couple lineup changes tonight. His game, since he left us in September or early October, has been cleaned up a lot. Peter (Chiarelli has) mentioned and used those words. He's been able to check, he's more responsible away from the puck, he's created turnovers for himself and for his teammates. That's all we want him to do. And shoot the puck with Connor. His game shouldn't change because he moves up or down a line. That's what we expect tonight and going forward."
-- Chris Wescott, EdmontonOilers.com
