OTTAWA, ON - With a pair of back-to-back matinees on the horizon, Friday's practice in the nation's capital held extra importance to the Edmonton Oilers as they prepare themselves for two quick afternoon road contests to wrap up a four-game Eastern Conference road trip.
An all-Canadian back-to-back set for the Blue & Orange begins Saturday at Canadian Tire Centre at 10:30 a.m. MT before they quickly pivot to Montreal for a date with the Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Sunday exactly 24 hours later.
With no practices or pre-game skates over the next two days, Friday's twirl at the CTC represented the only chance for Head Coach Jay Woodcroft and the Oilers players to make any necessary adjustments for the quick two-game finale to their road trip that begins against a rising Ottawa Senators team looking to carry their momentum prior to the All-Star break into their first game following the pause.
"For us, we treated today like it's a pre-game skate," the Oilers bench boss, who was named head coach of the Oilers exactly one year ago from Friday, said after practice. "We were able to handle a few of our meetings that would normally happen on a game day because tomorrow happens fast.
"It's at an odd time, but I thought we got up and down the rink and the players feel good heading into tomorrow. We're going to be ready for an Ottawa Senators team that appears to be playing a really good brand of hockey."
The Senators put together a streak of four straight wins prior to the All-Star break that coincided with the recall of forward and NHL rookie Ridley Greig, who looks to have found a home on the second line in between Alex DeBrincat and NHL First Star of the Week Claude Giroux.
"They're fast and dangerous," Woodcroft said. "We have a real respect for what they bring to the table, so we better be ready tomorrow afternoon."
