Pre-Game Talk: Line 'em up, Preds next

[nexttothemoon]

Over a month ago I reckoned the Predators would be the team to rise up out of the ashes and climb into a playoff spot.

I think they have all the ingredients to potentially be a club that surprises people down the stretch and into the playoffs.

My bold "gut" longshot prediction would be Preds vs Flyers for the SC.

 

[Gordy Elbows]

Oilers need to give the Preds a large dose of their own medicine - forecheck from hell! This will keep them off balance and create some opportunities for us.
Don't come out waiting to see what the Preds do - take it to them and make 'em watch what we do!!!!

 

[nexttothemoon]

Bet the under on this game.

Historically the Oilers have a hard time scoring against the Preds.

2.66 GF/G... only the Ducks and Wild have been harder for the Oilers to score against.

Nashville doesn't score a lot vs the Oilers either... 2.84 GA/G.. which is the 6th lowest of any Oilers opponent over their history.

So history suggests a close, low scoring game.

 

[bellagiobob]

In Nashville for the game, first time ever. Hit the rooftop bar at Tootsies and had some pretty decent bbq ribs across the street at some honky tonk place. Fun place! Too bad the Oilers are going to lay waste to Nashville and leave it a smouldering ruin tomorrow night. Good thing I saw Broadway before the hockey Apocalypse happens to Nashville tomorrow night.

McDavid is going fully nuclear with a bushel of points. Smith with another stellar performance. Gonna be a good one! (And yes there is a lot of alcohol talking right now...)

On my wish list. One of these years. Have fun!

 

[Aerchon]

Great news. Don't want anyone rushed but getting Klefbom back is huge.

I know it's a pipe dream to have everyone "fully" healthy. But if the Oilers make the playoffs and have a healthy line up they will have a deep team at every position. Not nessasarily a power house by any means but potentially having a full group of:

AA McDavid Ennis
Nuge Draisaitl Yamamoto
Kassian Sheahan Archibald
Nygard Haas Neal
Benson Kharia Chaisson

Klefbom Larsson
Nurse Bear
Russell Benning
Lagesson Jones
Green

Smith
Koskinen

Is pretty nice. That's certainly a team with solid depth on paper.

 

[OfCorsiDid]

Well if you’re going to go streaking this is the time of the year to do so.

Toughest month of the season starts tomorrow.

 

[Coffey]

Great news. Don't want anyone rushed but getting Klefbom back is huge.

I know it's a pipe dream to have everyone "fully" healthy. But if the Oilers make the playoffs and have a healthy line up they will have a deep team at every position. Not nessasarily a power house by any means but potentially having a full group of:

AA McDavid Ennis
Nuge Draisaitl Yamamoto
Kassian Sheahan Archibald
Nygard Haas Neal
Benson Kharia Chaisson

Klefbom Larsson
Nurse Bear
Russell Benning
Lagesson Jones
Green

Smith
Koskinen

Is pretty nice. That's certainly a team with solid depth on paper.

Swap Kassian and AA. Andy doesn’t seem to have the chemistry with Connor.

 

[5 14 6 1]

Lets win! Yamo likely back tomorrow as Granlund was assigned yesterday

 

[McSuper]

lines I'd like to see tomorrow :

Tyler Ennis- Connor McDavid - Zack Kassian
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Leon Draisaitl - Kailor Yamamoto
Andreas Athanasiou - Riley Sheahan - Josh Archibald
Jujhar Khaira - Gaetan Haas - Alex Chiasson

That looks as solid as it can get IMO

Same lines I would go with until Nygard is ready to go

 

[yukoner88]

Yikes, looking at March is scary.
16gmes in 31 days with only 1 - 2day break there on the 21-22nd.

we'll go 8-4-4

 

[PinSeeker]

Nashville 6-2-1 in last 9 games, playing well of late. Would be big to get the first goal, Nashville has a terrible record at home if they give up the first one.

 

[Keenan87]

Any updates on Neal and when he is supposed to be back?

 

[McShogun99]

I think when everyone comes back I'd try:

Tyler Ennis - Connor McDavid - Zack Kassian
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Leon Draisaitl - Kailer Yamamoto
Andreas Athanasiou - Gaetan Haas - James Neal
Joakim Nygård - Riley Sheahan - Josh Archibald

With Jujhar Khaira/Alex Chiasson rotating in.

Oscar Klefbom - Mike Green
Darnell Nurse - Ethan Bear
Caleb Jones - Adam Larsson

With Kris Russell/Matt Benning rotating in.

Mike Smith
Mikko Koskinen

I'd go with the exact same forward lineup but on defence I'd swap Larsson and Green and put Russell in Jones place.

 

[BoldNewLettuce]

the good thing is we have depth now, so tough decisions.

I just feel that Ennis has more chemistry, at least to my eye, with McDavid, and I like what Kass brings to that line.

I actually think AA would look good with Sheehan and Archie.

Move aa to c?

 

[Aerchon]

Swap Kassian and AA. Andy doesn’t seem to have the chemistry with Connor.

Chemistry is hard to gauge/form. AA McDavid Ennis had great chemistry that first game. Still could come back. It's rare for it to start right away and be continuous like it was for the DRY line.

The reality is all of AA Ennis Kassian and Neal should all get regular chances with McDavid until something gels.

 

[McJesusSaves97]

Move aa to c?

A 3rd line of Nygard-AA-Kass would be entertaining to watch...and fast

 

[Perfect_Drug]

A 3rd line of Nygard-AA-Kass would be entertaining to watch...and fast

That would unfortunately be our 2nd line.

Due to Yamamoto injury, our 1st line would be:

RNH - McD - Drai.


:/

 

[oil Leaks]

 

[Nostradumbass]

Same lines I would go with until Nygard is ready to go

Then pull Khaira for Nygard when he’s ready.

 

[Nostradumbass]

Chemistry is hard to gauge/form. AA McDavid Ennis had great chemistry that first game. Still could come back. It's rare for it to start right away and be continuous like it was for the DRY line.

The reality is all of AA Ennis Kassian and Neal should all get regular chances with McDavid until something gels.

I thought that line looked weak in the first game outside of those couple plays. They put up points, but were definitely not cohesive.

 

[Aerchon]

I thought that line looked weak in the first game outside of those couple plays. They put up points, but were definitely not cohesive.

They played well 5v5 except McDavid and those few plays were very nice. Only Caveat being it was against a weak team in Anaheim.

Nuge Draisaitl Yamamoto has skewed what to expect from a line in think.

I'm fine with whatever they come up with.

 

[FlameChampion]

Win would be nice tonight but if the Oilers can get at least 3 points in the next 3 games, it should be good enough.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Yamamoto back, the forward groups are finally taking full shape, and there's ALOT of depth there now.

 

[KlefDown]

I keep refreshing my twitter feed hoping to hear Klefbom and Yamo are back in the lineup

 

[edmoil3]

Hear me out

AA 97 Yamo
Nuge 29 Kassian-I liked the look
Ennis Sheahan Archi- absolute dog line
Khaira Haas Chaisson