The Islanders will travel to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, November 12 in Edmonton Alberta, Canada. Edmonton is a good team and they present a serious challenge for the 6-6-3 Islanders. The Islanders need points in this game to start the long West Coast swing. With injuries to two-thirds of the top line and all of their left-handed shooting defensemen (three of the top six), the Islanders are certainly short-handed. Edmonton, no doubt, will try to exploit this fact. Despite being short-handed, the Islanders have won two improbable games in a row. Fans of the team hope they can get points in all of the games on a difficult four-game West Coast road trip.
Edmonton is one of the top teams in the National Hockey League and was picked by many to win the Stanley Cup before this season started. The gritty Islanders just need to get a point in any way possible.
Edmonton: Get a Point
The key against a superior Oilers team is for the Islanders to get a point in any way possible. It seems like every team is superior to the Islanders right now. Even so-called loser points are acceptable. Getting a point in this game is not only important because this is a difficult West Coast Road trip (and it is important for the Islanders to start this long road trip out right), but getting a point is also important to keep pace in the Metropolitan Division, where the Islanders currently find themselves in fifth place, and Eastern Conference, where the Islanders currently find themselves in tenth place.
Edmonton Has a Big-Time Scoring Threat
One big-time scoring threat the Edmonton Oilers have is forward Connor McDavid. McDavid is the best hockey player in the world. The Islanders need to defend him well. McDavid has thirteen points points in twelve games. That is more than a point-per-game pace and he is very dangerous. McDavid forms a dangerous duo with Leon Draisiaitl, who has eighteen points in thirteen games.
The Kids Are All Right
In this trying time, the Islanders have done a good thing. They are calling players up from the American Hockey League, their minor league Bridgeport Islanders, to make their National Hockey League debuts. A recent example is Isaiah George. It makes no difference if the Islanders lose 6-2 or 2-1, a loss is a loss. They should call up more kids to make their National Hockey League debuts. There are some prospects in a thin farm system. This way there is a silver lining to this trying, injury-plagued, time. Young players could gain valuable experience.
Edmonton’s Roster
The Oilers are 7-7-1 and have a skilled and deep roster despite their struggles. The Oilers have also won their last game but lost the two games before that. Many people picked them to win the Stanley Cup this season, but they have been struggling. In the first line, the Oilers have Jeff Skinner, Conor McDavid, and Zach Hyman. This may be the best top line in the National Hockey League. Hyman is quite good as well.
On the second line for the Oilers are Vasily Podkolzin, Leon Draisaitl, and Viktor Arvidsson. Draissatl is also very skilled. The third line is Adam Henrique, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Connor Brown. Nugent-Hopkins is a former first-overall pick. The fourth line has Mattias Janmark, Derek Ryan, and Corey Perry.
The defensive pairings for the Devils are Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard. Darnell Nurse and Troy Stecher form the second defensive pairing. Brett Kulak pairs with Ty Emberson to form the third defensive unit. In goal, the Edmonton Oilers have Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. This is the first time this season the Islanders and Oilers have played and Edmonton is coming off an off day Monday, so the Islanders could see either goaltender.
Conclusion
With so many players injured the Islanders must survive and advance, to coin a phrase. The Islanders need another point here against a challenging opponent to start a difficult West Coast trip. Improbably, the Islanders have points in three straight games. They need to continue to accrue points in the tough Metropolitan Conference in order to keep pace.
The Oilers have only one injured player. But that one is Evander Kane, a good player. The New York Islanders continue their West Coast trip after this game. The Islanders next travel to Vancouver on November 14th, Seattle on November 18th, and Calgary on November 19th. On their way back to the East Coast the Islanders play in Detroit against the Red Wings.
