EDMONTON, AB - A great challenge with a capital 'C'.
With a 7-2-1 record, the Oilers are in the position to respond from their first real test of adversity at Rogers Place on Thursday against a high-flying Washington Capitals side that's won four-straight games.
"Absolutely. It's a big game for us," captain Connor McDavid, who's pointless in his last three games for only the second time in his career, said post-game. "They're a team that's won a lot and were cup champs two years ago, so they know what they're doing out there. We need to be prepared, we need to be ready, and it's a good test for us."
The Oilers took one out of a possible four points despite failing to score a goal in two-straight road contests against the Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild, but contributions from their top-five special teams and a combined 2.17 goals-against average and .929 save percentage from Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen, who gets the start tonight in the crease, gave the club every chance to win.
"You try and stick to your game," forward Leon Draisaitl said. "We're 7-2-1 as well, so we're off to a good start here too and it's a great test and a great team over there. But we're a great team too, so it'll be a fun challenge for us."
Capitals defenceman John Carlson leads the NHL in scoring as a blueliner with five goals and 15 assists in 11 games, offering Washington a dangerous look from the blueline for the Capitals alongside 'The Great 8' Alex Ovechkin who's showing no signs of slowing down at the age of 34 with four goals and 14 points.
"I know a lot of people say you can just pass it to Ovi and he's going to put it in," Alex Chiasson, who won the Stanley Cup in 2018 as a member of the Capitals, said. "But if you watch the plays carefully, they're fake one-timers, he moves around, he's a great passer, he logs a lot of minutes, he's really strong - I don't think a lot of people know that about him - he's gifted physically, so he's got a lot of attributes to be a good defenceman in this league."
GAGN AND BACK AGAIN
After being called back to the Oilers from the Bakersfield Condors on Saturday and sitting out both games against Winnipeg and Minnesota, Sam Gagner makes his return to the lineup tonight alongside Patrick Russell and Markus Granlund in place of Tomas Jurco.
Gagner was assigned to the club's AHL affiliate at the conclusion of Main Camp, and the forward has developed a better understanding in recent years that life in the NHL isn't a one-way street after recording 37 points in 43 games with the Toronto Marlies last season on loan from the Vancouver Canucks.
"I don't think it ever gets easier," he said. "But I do think the transition, just kind of handling the setbacks and handling adversity, you learn to get better at that.
