The Edmonton Oilers clash with the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight at Benchmark International Arena. Both teams are navigating challenges, making this matchup unpredictable and exciting. Here's a breakdown of what to expect:
Tampa Bay's Challenges
Tampa Bay has been inconsistent this season, currently sitting in a tight race for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with a 10-8-2 record. Injuries have forced them to shuffle their roster, calling up players from their AHL affiliate, Syracuse. Recent moves include activating Dominic James from injured reserve and placing Maxwell Crozier on it. They've also called up players like Jakob Pelletier and defencemen Declan Carlile and Steven Santini.
Oilers' Struggles
The Oilers are also facing their own difficulties, with a 9-9-4 record. They've allowed 79 goals in 22 games, including a recent 7-goal performance against Washington. Inconsistency has plagued them, preventing them from stringing together a consistent run of strong performances.
Players to Watch
- For Tampa Bay: Victor Hedman remains a dominant force on defense, while Nikita Kucherov is a dangerous offensive threat. Brayden Point can also take over a game. Over 19 games played, Jake Guentzel has recorded 20 points (11 goals and nine assists). Andrei Vasilevskiy has a goals-against average of 2.6, and a .905 save percentage.
- For Edmonton: Connor McDavid is always a threat, with nine goals and 23 assists for 32 total points this season. Stuart Skinner has an .880 save percentage.
How to Watch
The game starts at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN+. Streaming options are available on ESPN+ with a Fubo account. For those attending in person, tickets are available on StubHub.
Betting Odds
According to BetMGM:
- Puck Line: Tampa Bay -1.5 (+140), Edmonton +1.5 (-170)
- Favorite Moneyline: Tampa Bay -170
- Underdog Moneyline: Edmonton +140
- Total Over Odds: -105
- Total Under Odds: -115
Injury Report
- Tampa Bay: Ryan McDonagh (Out - Undisclosed), Pontus Holmberg (Out - Undisclosed), Max Crozier (Out - Undisclosed), Erik Cernak (Day-To-Day - Lower Body), Victor Hedman (Out - Undisclosed), Kasperi Kapanen (Out - Lower Body)
- Edmonton: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Out - Undisclosed), Curtis Lazar (Out - Upper Body), Noah Philp (Day-To-Day - Upper Body)
Enjoy the game!