EDMONTON, AB - Connor McDavid. Jack Hughes. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Taylor Hall. Nico Hischier.
Make no mistake, tonight's game between the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils will not be short of talent.
Potentially five of the last 10 first-overall picks in the NHL could take to the ice at Rogers Place tonight in the final game of a three-game home stand for the Oilers.
"This is a highly-skilled team that we're facing tonight; a team that can make you pay if you open the game up too much," defenceman Darnell Nurse said.
Hall's pedigree is known to Oil Country as a former Oiler of six seasons. But 2019 first-overall pick Jack Hughes has recorded nine points in his last eight games - displaying his quick speed and hands on the opening goal in last night's clash with the Calgary Flames.
"You watch games around the league and obviously he had a pretty good goal last night," Nurse said. "A guy drafted in the position that he was in, and having seen him play in New Jersey, he's such a dynamic player offensively."
"He's shifty and is very creative, so he's a guy that you have to be aware of at all times on the ice. Obviously, you don't get drafted first overall for no reason. He's a player that can make a difference and someone you always have to keep your eye on."
The Devils surface in Edmonton after a 5-2 defeat against the Flames in the first game of their back-to-back set last night, but the focus in the Oilers dressing room is earning the two points merit over what Head Coach Dave Tippett saw in the club's earlier meeting with the Devils - a 4-3 shootout victory back on October 10 in New Jersey.
"I'd like to see us play a full 60 minutes, play well, try to take some of the mistakes out of our game and try to take out some of the offensive-zone penalties," Tippett said.
The Devils have the worst road penalty-kill percentage (59.1 percent) in the NHL this season, going up against Edmonton's second-ranked overall power play (27.1%).
"We're gearing a lot for how we have to play, but you recognize your opponent. They have some skill, they have some team speed, and you have to make sure you're ready for your opponent. I'm looking for us to have a real solid game."
VETERAN REINFORCEMENTS
Josh Archibald and Riley Sheahan's return from injury come at a timely moment for Tippett, who's hoping the veterans can jumpstart the club on a line with Jujhar Khaira.
"They're stabilizing players in your lineup, so hopefully they give us a little juice tonight," the bench boss said. "Good, veteran NHL guys who know how to play the situation they're in who are very accepting of the role that we've got them in.
"The penalty-killing is something they want to jump into, but they want to be a hard line to play against. They relish the opportunity to play against good players, try to nullify good players, and they're all still talking about trying to create some offence for us."
