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Preview: Winnipeg Jets vs. Edmonton Oilers

Time: 7:00 PM CST

Channel: TSN3, Sportsnet online

Radio: TSN1290, 630 CHED

The Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers will be facing off in Winnipeg tonight for a game that is surely going to be fast-paced and full of questionable defending. The Winnipeg Jets are potentially without Dustin Byfuglien again tonight and the Edmonton Oilers are the Edmonton Oilers.

(UPDATE: Byfuglien will not play tonight)

Yeah, it’s that bad. The Oilers have Connor McDavid, who has been involved with every single goal they have scored this year. Auston Matthews might be good, but has he had to carry the Toronto Maple Leafs offence all by himself? Outside of McDavid, the Jets will have to stop Leon Draisaitl and that’s about it. Their defence is not much better and should be able to match the Jets defence player for player in the bottom four.

Outside of the questionable defence and forwards, the Oilers do have a decent goalie in Cam Talbot. Talbot is about league average and that is good enough for the Oilers. According to Oilers fans, he looked very good against the New York Rangers and he could very easily repeat that performance tonight.

As for the Jets it is likely they will return to Connor Hellebuyck tonight and have their regular forward lines with the exception of Brendan Lemieux making his season debut on the fourth line.

Enemy Territory

Edmonton Oilers Coverage: Copper & Blue

Last Jets Game:

Winnipeg Jets 3-1 Carolina Hurricanes

Despite being outshot 43-26, the Jets prevailed in this one on the strength of goals by Bryan Little, Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor, with Laurent Brossoit putting up 42 saves in his first game as a Jet.

Last Oilers Game:

Edmonton Oilers 2-1 New York Rangers

The two players that need to do well in order for the Oilers to succeed played well, and the Oilers won their first of the year.

Players to watch:

Winnipeg Jets

I don’t normally do this, but I’m going with two people. Josh Morrissey and Jacob Trouba will have the task of stopping the best player in the game.

Despite not practicing yesterday, these two will be in the lineup tonight barring anything unforeseen, and by virtue of having the last line change, will see a lot of McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Ty Rattie. If you can shut down the top line, things get a bit easier as you get deeper into the lineup.

Edmonton Oilers

Remember way back when I said things get easier when you get deeper into the Oilers lineup? That’s not entirely accurate.

Leon Draisaitl is rather good at hockey. And no, his numbers aren’t (overly) inflated because he’s playing on the wing of a generational talent. This isn’t Chris Kunitz we’re talking about. No, Draisaitl isn’t even on McDavid’s line this year, as he’s been paired with Milan Lucic and Kailer Yamamoto on the second line. His three points this year are of course accompanied by McDavid points, but he’s still a talent to be watched.

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