Game 19: Montreal Canadiens vs. Edmonton Oilers
Start time: 7:30 PM EST / 4:30 PM PST
In the Canadiens region: RDS (French)
Streaming: ESPN+ (USA), Prime Video (CAN), RDS
After a couple of weeks when nothing seemed to go right for the Canadiens, they’ve gone 2-1 in their last three games. The defence had started to come around even in the midst of the six-game losing streak that preceded this run, and now Montreal is starting to get the results that effort deserves.
The offence is also returning. They didn’t score more than three goals once in the six-game slide, but had 12 last week, even while getting shut out versus the Minnesota Wild. Each line has been effective at getting the puck into the offensive zone, and they’re taking advantage of their possessions.
It’s true that the Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets aren’t exactly defensive juggernauts, so more than the average amount of offence is to be expected. It’s also true that tonight’s opponent, the Edmonton Oilers, doesn’t fit into that category either, so there’s another chance to enjoy some offensive success.
Despite making it to the Stanley Cup Final last season, the Oilers don’t look like the top contender in the Western Conference through 18 games. The had addressed their defensive issues last season, getting their per-game average down to 2.88 goals against, but that number is currently 3.17, ranking 20th in the league.
| Canadiens | Statistics | Oilers |
|---|---|---|
| 6-10-2 | Record | 9-7-2 |
| 46.8% (25th) | Scoring-chances-for % | 57.3% (3rd) |
| 2.83 (20th) | Goals per game | 2.78 (21st) |
| 3.89 (31st) | Goals against per game | 3.17 (20th) |
| 22.2% (9th) | PP% | 17.4% (22nd) |
| 81.0% (14th) | PK% | 66.0% (32nd) |
| 0-0-2 | Head-to-Head Record (23-24) | 2-0-0 |
It’s not surprising for a team that invested so much in its top forwards to have some struggles in its own zone, but finding difficulty scoring is a shock considering its annual placement among the league’s most prolific offences. The Canadiens have spoken at length this season about needing to find more goals, but they’re still averaging slightly more per game than Edmonton.
The Oilers have few complaints about the production of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, on pace for 115 and 109 points, respectively. After those superstars there is a major dropoff, with the next-best scorer on the team having 10 points, and there’s a block of three defencemen in the final top-five spots.
Zach Hyman was one of last year’s top stories with his 54 goals, but so far this season he’s sitting on three. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had 67 points a season ago, and is currently on pace for 36. Jeff Skinner, whom the Oilers signed after his contract was bought out by the Sabres, hasn’t been the offensive catalyst the management team dreamed of when they added a six-time 30-goal-scorer on a $3 million contract (though Skinner tends to come alive anytime he sees the Habs logo on the ice). They also miss the 24 goals Evander Kane contributed, as he recovered from abdominal surgery.
A major culprit is their inability to convert on the power play. Just a few months ago, they set a single-season record for power-play efficiency at 32.4%. This season, they rank 22nd at almost half of that rate. On the penalty kill, they’ve been completely hopeless, stopping teams from scoring just 66.0% of the time to rank dead last in the league.
The lack of easy goal at five-on-four is forcing the Oilers to do more of the work at even strength, and perhaps that will be a good thing in the long run for them. Right now, however, without that threat, they’re a beatable team, and it’s a chance for the Canadiens to go into a four-day pause with another win, and a much better mood than they had during their extended break four weeks ago.
