The Edmonton Oilers wrap up their six-game homestand to start the season at 6:00 pm MT on Monday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
You can watch the game on Sportsnet One or listen live on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED.
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PRE-GAME REPORT: Oilers vs. Penguins
The Oilers look to even their record in the final game of their six-game homestand against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday
By
Michael Arcuri & Jamie Umbach @EdmontonOilers / EdmontonOilers.com
YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS
GAME DAY VIDEO
OILERS TODAY | Pre-Game vs. PIT
PRE-GAME RAW | Coach Woodcroft
PRE-GAME RAW | Connor McDavid
PRE-GAME RAW | Cody Ceci
RECENT VIDEOS
OILERS TODAY | Post-Game vs. STL
POST-RAW | Coach Jay Woodcroft
POST-RAW: Brett Kulak
POST-RAW: Tyson Barrie
BY THE NUMBERS
Oilers Statistics
Penguins Statistics
Stats Comparison
Game Notes
RECENT BLOGS & ARTICLES
GAME RECAP: Blues 2, Oilers 0
POST-GAME: A victory to build on
BLOG: Oilers bear down at practice
VIEWING INFORMATION
You can watch Monday's game on Sportsnet One at 6:00 PM MT.
INSIDE THE OILERS
News and notes from Oilers practices at Rogers Place.
>> READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE OILERS BLOG
PRE-GAME REPORT
EDMONTON, AB - A six-game homestand to open the 2022-23 NHL season concludes for the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night at Rogers Place against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
With a victory over the flightless birds on Monday night, the Oilers can even up their record heading into their first road trip of the season later this week that'll see the Blue & Orange face the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks on back-to-back nights before wrapping up a three-game trip on Hockey Night in Canada against the Calgary Flames.
But the Penguins have been anything but flightless to begin their season, and the focus for the Oilers lies right in front of them with the task of stifling a strong Pittsburgh team that's come out of the gate strong to begin the campaign.
"Obviously we want to finish 3-3; that's not a great homestand, but it's the situation we find ourselves in and we're playing a good Pittsburgh team," Captain Connor McDavid said pre-game. "It'll be a good challenge."
The Penguins are one of only four teams left in the NHL that have yet to lose in regulation at this early juncture of the regular season, owning a 4-0-1 record with the league's best goals for with 26 goals through five games -- tied with the Boston Bruins who've also played one extra game.
"They're off to a heck of a start," Head Coach Jay Woodcroft said. "We actually did a little project on how they were scoring their goals, and obviously, they look like they're firing on a lot of cylinders right now and have different ways to beat you. There's a real substance to their offensive game, and that's a credit to them. They're off to a good start. We better be ready for them because they're a good team."
Individually, the enigmatic Crosby continues to live up to his 'Generational Talent' title with seven goals and 10 points to his name in five games this season. McDavid's point total of five goals and five assists matches Crosby's through five contests.
Number 97 will square off with number 87 for the 10th time in his career and is 3-3-3 all-time against the Penguins.
Pittsburgh has recorded six goals in each of their four victories so far, while the Oilers are coming off a tightly contested 2-0 defeat to the St. Louis Blues that ultimately came down to a Justin Faulk power-play goal five minutes in being the game-winner.
"I think there were moments in that game versus a good team that were positive, and I just thought there were things that we could do to play a little bit more connected," Woodcroft said. "I think during these last five games, obviously records not where we want it to be, but there have been good moments. There have been five one-goal hockey games, and I think we have more to give and we can go further."
Edmonton's 2-3-0 record to start the season leaves something to be desired, but for the players and coaches, there are positive takeaways like connectivity from every one of their opening contests that the club is keen to build on.
"I think just being five-tight around the ice and in the offensive zone, supporting the puck and coming up the ice as well," McDavid added. "I thought our game was a little bit spread out, and I've found our game has kind of been spread out through the first five. We've been good in spurts, but we've got to find a way to have more guys around the puck."
EMPEROR PENGUIN
Leading by example has always been at the core of Crosby's characteristics.
Defenceman Cody Ceci is one of the few in the NHL who's had the unique perspective of teaming up with not one, but two generational talents in Crosby and McDavid over his 10-year career.
As the new guy in Pittsburgh during the 2020-21 season, Crosby was quick to take Ceci under his wing to help him get acclimated to his new team. After practices, he was one of the defencemen charged with taking shots on net for the forwards to practice their deflections -- an ask that came directly from Sid the Kid himself on more than one occasion to help the forward group improve their goalscoring.
"That's why all their hand-eye coordination is so good," Ceci said. "They get a lot of tip-in goals and they're good around the net, so they've been working on that for a long time."
Crosby's example stretches to a veteran core in Pittsburgh that includes Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, who've all been a part of the Penguins era of success dating back to their first of three Stanley Cups together in 2008-09.
"I think you see that show up in a lot of face-off plays, and they have things well-scripted," McDavid said. "They've been at it a long time together and they're an organized group that's off to a good start, so it's a good challenge."
But it's clear to see -- Pittsburgh's success from top to bottom starts with their captain.
"Obviously what he's accomplished in the game speaks for itself," Woodcroft said. "He's the head of the snake in terms of their team, sets the emotional tone, and the work ethic tone for that team. He's supported by a lot of really good players as well, but the way they play the game with a certain level of pace, the way they get to the opponent's net, the fact that they're dangerous in every situation, I think begins with Sidney Crosby.
"He's one of the game's premier players and he's earned that right over time."
As someone McDavid used to idolize, the Oilers captain always looks forward to the day when he gets to line up against one of his childhood idols. When playing for the Erie otters in the OHL, they'd make the two-hour drive to Pittsburgh any chance they could to get a glimpse of the prolific Pittsburgh player. Even after nine previous meetings between them, that excitement is still there.
"Absolutely. It's always exciting for me to play against a guy like Sid," he said. "It's something that I get up for and get excited for, and I'm looking forward to playing him again."
The excitement in the locker room can't cloud the task at hand for the Oilers that stretches beyond stopping Crosby to limiting a Pittsburgh team as a whole that reprensets one of the League's toughest opponents early in the year.
"The mood in the room right now I can tell you is focused and determined to get the win tonight," Woodcroft said. "We understand who's coming into our building, but I would go back to you guys (the media) talking about Sidney Crosby, but the Pittsburgh Penguins are a pretty good hockey team and they lead the NHL and goals for a reason. They look like they're firing on a lot of cylinders and we're going to have our A-game in order to get the result that we want tonight."
LINEUP NOTES
Forward Dylan Holloway participated in a dark blue jersey at Monday's pre-game practice, but Coach Woodcroft confirmed that he will not return to the lineup tonight against Pittsburgh.
"Dylan is still working his way through that upper-body injury, but I thought it was positive that he was out with us," Woodcroft said.
With the omittance of Holloway, the Oilers will revert back to their 11-forwards, seven-defencemen set-up from Saturday's loss to St. Louis that will allow for some shuffling on the blueline if the bench boss deems it necessary.
"I think what I would say that I don't think our entire team game has been firing on all cylinders yet, and that's on every position and the coaching staff. It's not one position for me," he said. "Can our D improve? Yeah, our play from our D can improve, but our play from our forwards can improve, our play and our coaching can improve, and we are working to find solutions.
"One of the things you do have with seven D in the lineup is it allows you to move some of those pieces around if anybody's struggling."
Goaltender Jack Campbell is slated to make his fifth start in six games to begin this season after stopping 21 of the Blues' 23 shots in a 2-0 defeat.
-- Jamie Umbach, EdmontonOilers.com
PREVIEW
OILERS vs. PENGUINS
STREAM: 6:00 p.m. MT; televised on Sportsnet One
Oilers Team Scope
The Oilers are coming off their tightest checking affair of the season, a 2-0 matinee game loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.
St. Louis's early marker, a powerplay goal off a Tory Krug point shot, would be the difference on the afternoon. The Oilers were able to carry the play for the majority of the final two periods, but they were unable to break through the tight defensive shell of the Blues and the efficient goaltending of Jordan Binnington.
Edmonton was held to just 23 shots on the St. Louis netminder, as the Blues collapsed in around their own net, blocking 25 Oilers opportunities towards their goal.
"Yes, it certainly was a muddy track out there. That's the way they play," Head Coach Jay Woodcroft said. "I thought we were comfortable. I didn't think we pressed anything. I didn't think we forced anything that wasn't there. I think there can be a little bit more substance in the offensive zone, but you got to give credit to the other team."
Jack Campbell was excellent on the evening, with the Krug power-play goal being the only puck that found its way past him. In addition, the netminder made several massive saves to deny the Blues whenever they threatened in the home team's end -- gloving a Jordan Kyrou one-timer in the first and kicking aside a point-blank attempt by Ryan O'Reilly in the second to keep Edmonton in the game.
With Campbell out of the crease and 1:02 remaining in the game, Justin Faulk would fire a 200-foot shot into the open cage to put the win out of reach.
Penguins Team Scope
Pittsburgh is off to a strong start to their season, sporting a 4-0-1 record on the season with their only loss being a 3-2 overtime defeat to Montreal last Monday.
The Penguins are coming to Edmonton fresh off a 6-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, and have scored six goals in each of their four victories this season. Former Oiler Josh Archibald opened the scoring for the Penguins, who came back from a 2-0 first period deficit in the win. Sidney Crosby had three points, including a one-time goal from the right faceoff circle past Elvis Merzlikins for the game winning goal in the third period.
Leading the way for Pittsburgh this season is their captain Crosby, who is showing no signs of aging at 35 years old, with 10 points (3G, 7A) in five games. Crosby paced the Penguins last season, registering 84 points (31G, 53A) in only 69 games in '21-22.
In net, the Penguins have the familiar face of Tristan Jarry who sports a stellar 2.01 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage to start the year. The former Edmonton Oil Kings has taken command of the Pittsburgh crease over the last couple years, winning 34 games in 56 starts last season.
By The Numbers
The Oilers have registered the most five-goal games in the NHL since the start of the '21-22 season with 34... Edmonton is 32-1-1 when scoring at least five goals over that time span... The Oilers have allowed a power-play goal against in all five games they have played this season... Edmonton has the league's best winning percentage when scoring first since last season, sporting a 30-3-1 record... The Oilers have won 16 of their last 20 games at Rogers Place...
The Penguins are second in the NHL in faceoff percentage at 56.6 per cent... Pittsburgh has seen a very evenly distributed offence, with 11 players having recorded at least four points to start the year... The Penguins have yet to score on the powerplay on the road, sporting an 0-6 mark in two games... Pittsburgh sports a 15-2-4 record against the Oilers since the '07-08 season for a .810 points percentage... Sidney Crosby in the active NHL all-time points leader with 1,419... His 1.27 points-per game is third all-time among players to have played 1,000 games to Wayne Gretzky and Marcel Dionne...
Injury Report
OILERS - Tyler Benson (knee) is on IR; Oscar Klefbom (shoulder) is on IR; Mike Smith (undisclosed) is on IR; Carter Savoie (lower-body) is on IR; Raphael Lavoie (undisclosed) is on IR; Vincent Desharnais (wrist) is on IR.
PENGUINS - Jake Guentzel (undisclosed) is day-to-day; Teddy Blueger (upper body) is on IR.
-- Michael Arcuri, EdmontonOilers.com