Oilers vs. Devils
The NHL Global Series makes its way to Gothenburg, Sweden, on Saturday when the Edmonton Oilers meet the New Jersey Devils in a game featuring the last two Hart Trophy winners. Edmonton's Connor McDavid, the 2017 MVP who has led the NHL in points in each of the past two seasons, has become the face of the NHL but is charged with returning the Oilers to relevance after they missed the playoffs in 11 of the last 12 seasons.
"We told the players that we want them to enjoy this trip,'' Oilers coach Todd McLellan told reporters. "We want them to find ways away from the rink to come together as a team, to discuss any issues we might have, how we want to play and those types of things. Call it team-building, if you will. The best team-building we can do on this trip is win games." Taylor Hall led New Jersey to the playoffs for the first time since 2011-12, when it lost to Los Angeles in the Stanley Cup Final, by recording career highs in goals (39), points (93) and plus-minus rating (plus-14) en route to becoming the first Devil to win the MVP award. In order for New Jersey to contend for the Stanley Cup, it will need Nico Hischier to take a step forward after the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft recorded 20 goals, 52 points and a plus-10 rating during a promising rookie campaign. "For guys who had career years or guys who established themselves, OK, but what’s next?” New Jersey general manager Ray Shero told northjersey.com. “That’s the thing, but they should have the confidence that they are a good team and that they can play with anybody. Last year’s experience is last year. It is valuable, but you have to get better.”
TV: 1 p.m. ET, NHL Network, Sportsnet; MSG Plus (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE OILERS (2017-18: 36-40-6): McDavid (41 goals, 108 points last season) is joined on the top line by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (24, 48) and Ty Rattie, who scored five goals in 14 games last season. Edmonton has three Swedes on its roster - right wing Jesse Puljujarvi (12 of his 13 career goals last season), and defensemen Oscar Klefbom (minus-12) and Adam Larsson (plus-10), who missed Wednesday's preseason contest in Germany (back) but is expected to play Saturday. Cam Talbot has played 140 games over the past two seasons, going 31-31-3 with a 3.02 goals-against average and .908 save percentage in 2017-18 after a 42-22-8, 2.39, .919 performance the year before in leading Edmonton to the second round of the playoffs.
ABOUT THE DEVILS (2017-18: 44-29-9): Cory Schneider (17-16-6, 2.93 goals-against average, .907 save percentage last season) will not play Saturday as he recovers from offseason hip surgery, leaving the goaltending duties to Keith Kinkaid and Swede Eddie Lack. Left wing Jesper Bratt (13 goals, 35 points as a rookie last season) is out 2-to-3 weeks with a broken jaw sustained in practice Thursday, preventing the Swede from playing in his native land. Kyle Palmieri scored 24 goals in 2017-18, giving him 80 of his 123 career tallies over the past three years and providing New Jersey with much-needed scoring depth.
OVERTIME
1. The Oilers had the NHL's worst power play last season at 14.8 percent while the Devils boasted the No. 8 penalty-killing unit.
2. Edmonton LW Milan Lucic scored 10 goals last season - his lowest total in five years - and posted a career-worst minus-12 rating, dropping him to plus-105 for his career.
3. The Oilers have won the last four meetings - three in overtime, sweeping the series in each of the last two seasons.