Detroit Red Wings vs. Edmonton Oilers Preview and Predictions 2019-01-22
NHL Predictions 21st January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/21/2019
Frustration has reared its ugly head for both the Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings, a pair of sputtering clubs that are looking for a positive prior to playing their last game before the All-Star break at Rogers Place on Tuesday. The Oilers answered winning five of eight by dropping back-to-back three-goal decisions while the Red Wings have lost the first two contests of their three-game trek through Western Canada.
"It is frustrating. We take two steps ahead and then we take two back. One ahead, and then one back. We go up and then we go down. We have to figure it out," Edmonton forward Leon Draisaitl said after he scored two goals and set up another in Sunday's 7-4 setback versus Carolina. Captain Connor McDavid notched a pair of assists against the Hurricanes and did the same in the first encounter with Detroit -- a 4-3 Oilers' win on Nov. 3. Red Wings veteran forward Frans Nielsen has shown signs of snapping out of offensive funk with a goal and two assists in two games, but the team's losing ways -- namely its current 4-12-3 stretch -- are starting to take a toll. "It's tough. We're all pros, we want to win," the 34-year-old Dane said. "It's no fun when you keep losing, but I think at least we are at the stage where we are playing consistently well. There's not bonus points for that unfortunately, but as a group we just have to put it behind us."
TV: 9 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, Sportsnet 1, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet Pacific (Edmonton)
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (18-25-7): Although the team is struggling, Thomas Vanek has been heating up with three goals and as many assists in his last four games. "I'm starting to feel better," the 35-year-old Austrian said. "... This game is all about confidence and once you play better as a line, I think with Fransy (Nielsen) and Mo (Anthony Mantha), we're really starting to develop something, holding onto pucks, getting chances, puck's starting to go in, so that's nice." Gustav Nyqvist, who had two of his club-best 31 assists in the previous encounter with Edmonton, had 11 points (two goals, nine assists) during an 11-game stretch before being held off the scoresheet versus Vancouver.
ABOUT THE OILERS (23-23-3): The well-traveled Alex Chiasson penned a feel-good story for the first three months of the season with a career-best goal total before seeing his offense dry up with just three points (one goal, two assists) in his last 10 games. The 28-year-old Montreal native, who scored in the first meeting with Detroit, has 23 points to reside just 12 shy of a career high set in 2013-14 with the Dallas Stars. Jujhar Khaira, who had a pair of assists versus the Red Wings, has two points (one goal, one assist) in his last three games after being held off the scoresheet in his previous nine outings.
OVERTIME
1. Edmonton C Kyle Brodziak scored two of his four goals this season in the first meeting with Detroit.
2. Red Wings C Luke Glendening is expected to play versus the Oilers despite sitting out Monday's practice after blocking a shot during the third period against Carolina.
3. Edmonton RW Zack Kassian has recorded six (three goals, three assists) of his nine points this season in January.
PREDICTION: Oilers 4, Red Wings 2
NHL Predictions 21st January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/21/2019
Frustration has reared its ugly head for both the Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings, a pair of sputtering clubs that are looking for a positive prior to playing their last game before the All-Star break at Rogers Place on Tuesday. The Oilers answered winning five of eight by dropping back-to-back three-goal decisions while the Red Wings have lost the first two contests of their three-game trek through Western Canada.
"It is frustrating. We take two steps ahead and then we take two back. One ahead, and then one back. We go up and then we go down. We have to figure it out," Edmonton forward Leon Draisaitl said after he scored two goals and set up another in Sunday's 7-4 setback versus Carolina. Captain Connor McDavid notched a pair of assists against the Hurricanes and did the same in the first encounter with Detroit -- a 4-3 Oilers' win on Nov. 3. Red Wings veteran forward Frans Nielsen has shown signs of snapping out of offensive funk with a goal and two assists in two games, but the team's losing ways -- namely its current 4-12-3 stretch -- are starting to take a toll. "It's tough. We're all pros, we want to win," the 34-year-old Dane said. "It's no fun when you keep losing, but I think at least we are at the stage where we are playing consistently well. There's not bonus points for that unfortunately, but as a group we just have to put it behind us."
TV: 9 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, Sportsnet 1, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet Pacific (Edmonton)
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (18-25-7): Although the team is struggling, Thomas Vanek has been heating up with three goals and as many assists in his last four games. "I'm starting to feel better," the 35-year-old Austrian said. "... This game is all about confidence and once you play better as a line, I think with Fransy (Nielsen) and Mo (Anthony Mantha), we're really starting to develop something, holding onto pucks, getting chances, puck's starting to go in, so that's nice." Gustav Nyqvist, who had two of his club-best 31 assists in the previous encounter with Edmonton, had 11 points (two goals, nine assists) during an 11-game stretch before being held off the scoresheet versus Vancouver.
ABOUT THE OILERS (23-23-3): The well-traveled Alex Chiasson penned a feel-good story for the first three months of the season with a career-best goal total before seeing his offense dry up with just three points (one goal, two assists) in his last 10 games. The 28-year-old Montreal native, who scored in the first meeting with Detroit, has 23 points to reside just 12 shy of a career high set in 2013-14 with the Dallas Stars. Jujhar Khaira, who had a pair of assists versus the Red Wings, has two points (one goal, one assist) in his last three games after being held off the scoresheet in his previous nine outings.
OVERTIME
1. Edmonton C Kyle Brodziak scored two of his four goals this season in the first meeting with Detroit.
2. Red Wings C Luke Glendening is expected to play versus the Oilers despite sitting out Monday's practice after blocking a shot during the third period against Carolina.
3. Edmonton RW Zack Kassian has recorded six (three goals, three assists) of his nine points this season in January.
PREDICTION: Oilers 4, Red Wings 2
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