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Here we go again: Kraken vs Oilers preview

The Need To Knows

Time: 6:00 pm PT / 9:00 pm ET

The Place: Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta

Where to Watch: ROOT-NW or ESPN+ if out of market

Where to Listen: KJR 93.3

An Opposing Viewpoint: Copper & Blue

Know Your Enemy

By now, I think all you wonderful dear readers have gotten to know what the Edmonton Oilers are like. Two superstar talents in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl (who is healthy again and doing things like scoring multiple goals against Vegas), a strong power play presence, and so on and so forth.

Since the last time the Kraken saw them, the Oilers have posted a 4-1-1 record, holding their ground as a Western Conference wild card team. It might not be as good as what the Kraken have done, but Edmonton isn’t slipping anytime soon. There’s no room to get complacent against this team.

Game Preview

The Kraken, on the road, in Edmonton, on a Tuesday night, with puck drop one hour earlier than most Kraken games go.

No, we’re not about to relive the greatest seven-game road trip in the history of the NHL (not exaggeration), but you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking we’d just opened up a time travel portal. We’re really just winding up right back where we started two weeks ago.

It has almost been a perfect two weeks. Including the game from the last time these two teams met, a 7-1-0 record is an impressive feat, especially with all of those wins coming on the road.

It’s the second half of a back-to-back, and since Philipp Grubauer was in net against the Lightning, look to see Martin Jones get the starting nod in this game. With Jones in net, look to see the Kraken put up a more valiant effort in front of him. We can argue about the goaltenders until the cows come home, but I also don’t recall the team doing things like this in front of Jones:

The Kraken just need to remember to stick to what worked well against the Oilers in the January 3rd match. They also need to be sure they minimize penalties. I said it before, but I feel like it always bears repeating that Edmonton’s power play is lethal. Plus, the Kraken should want to keep things at 5-on-5, because they’re currently scoring at a stupidly impressive even-strength goals per 60 rate right now.

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