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Edmonton Oilers Clash With Tampa Bay Lightning On Friday
On Friday night the Edmonton Oilers will be back in action as they host the Tampa Bay Lightning in a game at Rexall Place. Game time is at 9pm ET and this game is the only time these two teams will meet this season with Edmonton winning their only match-up from last season, almost a year ago to the day.
A full 6 points behind the Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay currently sit 2nd in the Southeast division. One peculiarity with the Lightning is that despite being one of the stronger teams in their division, they are just -12 in terms of goal differential.
With Simon Gagne, Vincent Lecavalier and Steve Downie among those missing games, the Lightning (15-10-3) have dealt with their share of injuries during the early part of this season.
By going just 4-6-2 from Rexall Place so far this season, the Lightning, however, have not been that bad of a road team this season as they have gone 8-8-1 as visitors so far while Edmonton have had significant home struggles on the year. Without Ales Hemsky or Shawn Horcoff, most will be writing the Oilers off for quite some time now but at least the young talent in Edmonton will be showcased more in upcoming games.
The Oilers, however, lost Captain Shawn Horcoff to a right knee injury. Horcoff, who has seven goals and eight assists in 24 games, is expected to miss up to eight weeks. Edmonton (10-12-5) also will likely not have forward Ales Hemsky (groin) for at least another month.
Edmonton Oilers – NHL Draft Preview
Heading into the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the Edmonton Oilers face a tough decision. For other 30 NHL teams, it is a problem and they would love to have.
Do they select Taylor or Tyler?
As the top two players available in the draft, Taylor Hall of the Memorial Cup Champion Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Tyler Seguin of the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL have established themselves and will likely be picked first and second. Hence, which player should be selected first is one of the biggest debates heading into the draft. With the first overall pick, the Edmonton Oilers will settle the dispute as to who the top pick will be.
The Oilers are rumored to be in favor of selecting Hall (a left wing), even though they have needs at center (where Seguin plays). Hall has a crowd-pleasing game that has Edmonton fans giddy with excitement and he is the winner of two straight Memorial Cups. When he visited Edmonton a short time ago, the chef at the restaurant he was eating at came out to have his apron signed by Hall.
To improve a defense that allowed a league-worst 3.39 goals per game last season, the Oilers also see this draft as an opportunity. Expect them to take a defenseman such as Alexander Petrovic or Jarred Tinordi, when they pick again with the 31st overall pick. Both players are at least 6-4. He would immediately be one of the biggest players on the team, if either of them becomes an Edmonton Oiler.