Florida Panthers
Edmonton Oilers Return to Site of Unpleasant Memories in Sunrise
The Edmonton Oilers will not pull into Amerant Bank Arena tonight in a very good mood.
Nor will the Oilers be in the mind to reminisce about their last time in Sunrise.
Edmonton comes into tonight’s game against the Florida Panthers riding a four-game losing streak.
Whatever pleasure they might have had by spending a few days in tropical Florida has already been spoiled by their 4-1 loss in Tampa on Tuesday.
The Oilers have been outscored 22-13 in the past four games.
Tonight’s game might bring back a few memories of their last visit here.
You do remember that on June 24, they entered the building expecting to walk out with the Stanley Cup after gaining momentum by winning the previous three games.
A new season is now heading to a new run to the Cup.
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The two renewed acquaintances earlier this season when Florida eked out a 6-5 win in a wild game in Edmonton.
The Panthers and Oilers are almost dead even in the overall NHL standings: Edmonton has 72 points in 58 games; Florida has 73 points in 59.
Edmonton’s winning percentage is .621, while Florida’s is .619.
After the same number of games last year, the Oilers had 74 points, only two more than this year.
Florida leads in the offensive category with a plus-29 goal differential; Edmonton is plus-20.
The team stats can’t get much closer.
Edmonton has its issues.
Last year’s almost-playoff hero, goalie Stu Skinner, has a sub .900 save percentage and 2.84 GAA.
Backup Calvin Pickard’s numbers are weaker.
Up front, the Oilers are, as usual, lethal.
Leon Draisaitl, with 87 points, is tied with Nathan MacKinnon for the league lead in scoring. His 43 goals top the league by far.
Connor McDavid, the world’s best hockey player, “only” has 73 points, but he missed six games, three due to suspension and three to an ankle injury.
While his production would be the envy of any NHL player, he is actually having a sub-par (for him) season.
History, however, indicates that McDavid elevates his game late in the season.
Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Evan Bouchard have all dropped in offensive production compared to last season.
After Tuesday’s loss in Tampa, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said his team is “a fragile group right now. We’re reluctant to play our game, and confidence is a little hard right now.”
The Oilers would certainly like to get things going against the Panthers.
“You’ve got to put those things behind you,” Knoblauch said. “We haven’t gone through a tough stretch like this for a while. If there is going to be a time this is an excellent opportunity. We’re not playing our best. We’re playing some really good teams, so we can’t be at our best and not expect to win those games.”
The Stanley Cup is not in the building this time.
Matthew Tkachuk will not be on ice to stir up the physical play, but Edmonton playing the Panthers should mean some exciting hockey is in store.
ON DECK: GAME No. 60
EDMONTON OILERS at FLORIDA PANTHERS
- When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
- Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
- Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FtL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (SWFla)
- Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN+
- Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
- Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
- This Season (Panthers Lead 1-0) — At Florida: Thursday. At Edmonton: Panthers 6, Oilers 5 (Dec. 16).
- Last Regular Season: Florida Won 2-0
- Last Postseason: Florida Won Stanley Cup Final 4-3
- All-time Regular Season Series: Oilers lead 23-17-0, 3 ties
- Up Next for the Panthers: Saturday vs. Calgary Flames, 3 p.m.
