BLOG: Thursday practice updates 02.18.21

EDMONTON, AB -The Oilers held an optional practice at Rogers Place on Thursday.
Only a handful of Oilers participated in the skate, including James Neal, Evan Bouchard, Joakim Nygard, Devin Shore, Caleb Jones, Slater Koekkoek, Kris Russell, Kyle Turris, Gaetan Haas, Mikko Koskinen and Dylan Wells.
Get all content from the day below.

Head Coach Dave Tippett's confidence in his club's ability to win different types of games:

"You have to find ways to win in different ways. You can't just be a one-trick pony. If you look at the past, if you study any teams there, teams have to be able to play in a tight-checking game, their special teams can win them games. You have to open up a game and play with more offence if you're down. You can find ways to win games. Ultimately, that's what makes you a good team I think we have some of those qualities but all of them you have to improve on."

Tippett on the upcoming home-and-home with the Calgary Flames:

"Right now, we just like to take it game by game. I like these sets of games where you go and play a team twice. If you can get an advantage and win games, the old saying that we talk about every day is, 'Every game is a four-point game.' Whether it's Winnipeg or Calgary or Vancouver or the teams in our division, every game is a big, big game. There's a bit of 'oomph' because of the Alberta rivalry but every game has the same significance to us."

Kailer Yamamoto on taking on penalty kill responsibilities:

"It's a job you got to do and it's always fun to penalty kill. I've penalty killed all throughout my life. It's still a work in progress for me but I'm just trying to get better at it every day."

Yamamoto on the club's upcoming series with the Flames and Canucks:

"These games are huge. Every game we play is huge. That's the mindset we got to have. I'm really looking forward to these games and I know they're going to be fun.

Yamamoto on the team's comfort in a low-scoring 3-2 game and high-scoring 6-5 affair:

"They're both different games but in both games, our team is ready for it. Both games are one-goal games and you got to be prepared for those and just battle."

Yamamoto on the North Division separating itself as a league of its own:

"I haven't looked at the (League) standings in a little bit but the North Division is a tough one. Every team that you play is a good team and you got to put your best foot forward every game. It's going to be a grind this whole season but it's going to be a fun one."