WASHINGTON, DC - The Oilers are in Washington D.C. to take on the Capitals and close out their four-game road trip out east. It's a rematch of the October 28, meeting in which the Oil dropped a 5-2 decision.
Laurent Brossoit will make his first start of the trip between the pipes for Edmonton.
"LB will play today," said Oilers Head Coach Todd McLellan. "It's his opportunity to go in and help his team toward two points and we feel he can do a good job."
Brossoit has just one start this season and has appeared in three games, posting an .854 save percentage. It's a tough task for Brossoit and the Oilers, who face a Capitals team that's won four of its last five games.
SPECIAL TEAMS BATTLE
The Oilers penalty kill turned a corner on this road trip, shutting down the first two opponents: the Islanders and Devils. But against the Rangers yesterday, special teams were the difference. The Rangers scored back-to-back power-play goals to help propel them to a 4-2 victory.
"I think it's only executing our plan," said Oilers winger Iiro Pakarinen. "In the Islanders and Devils games we played really good on the PK like we did last year. I think that's how it should be. But in the Rangers game, of course they have a good power play but we just didn't execute our plan."
The Oilers PK faces a Washington power play that has converted at just 19.6%, but is still lethal.
"I think the winner tonight is going to be who wins the special teams game," said Pakarinen.
PULJUJARVI'S IMPACT
The Oilers recalled on Jesse Puljujarvi from Bakersfield on Friday. On Saturday, he scored his first goal of the season. Tonight, he'll be expected to contribute again and provide a boost to the Oilers forward group.
"We were aware that he had that in his gameā¦ He did a lot of the things last night that we've been asking him to do," said McLellan. "He kept plays alive, he worked in straight lines, he had a great stick on the forecheck, he used his skating and his size to his advantage, he worked himself into holes where he could get his shot off, and he played with a lot of confidence so that's a real positive sign for us after one game. In that short little timeframe, he regained some confidence and played like the player we believe he can be. That's a good thing for us, especially with the bottom six struggling."
-- Chris Wescott, EdmontonOilers.com