Oilers at Maple Leafs
THE STORY: It’s as close to a game between the Edmonton Oilers of
the early ‘80s and the 1993 Maple Leafs as imaginable as the two hot
teams clash on Monday in Toronto. It will be the first of two meetings
in a nine-day span. The Maple Leafs, winners of two straight games, are
fighting for one of the last few playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
With 60 points, Toronto is in a bunch within a couple of points that
includes the New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals and
Winnipeg Jets. The Oilers, playing like playoff contenders with three
straight wins, are 11 points behind the eighth and final playoff spot in
the Western Conference. The two teams split the two-game series last
season with each winning on the road.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, RDSI, SNET-Ontario (Toronto), SNET-West (Edmonton)
ABOUT THE OILERS (21-26-5):
Edmonton is coming off a 5-4 shootout win at home over the Detroit Red
Wings. Sam Gagner followed his historic eight-point night with two goals
and an assist. “I’m just feeling way better about how I am playing. I
want the puck. I want to be the guy,” admits Gagner of his recent
success. Also against Detroit, Jordon Eberle collected two goals,
including the game tying goal in the dying seconds of regulation. Rookie
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the shootout winner in the sixth round.
Gagner has six goals and six assists on his three-game point streak. The
Oilers are 4-0-1 in their last five games, all started by goaltender
Devan Dubnyk.
ABOUT THE LEAFS (27-19-6): Toronto, which is
5-4-1 in its last 10 games, is coming off a 5-0 romp of their
Provincial rival Senators. Goaltender James Reimer made 49 saves for his
second consecutive shutout. It was his third of the season and sixth of
his career. The 23-year-old previously made 25 saves in shutting out
Pittsburgh 1-0. Against Ottawa, Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak each had a
goal and two assists, while captain Dion Phaneuf, Luke Schenn and Cody
Franson also scored. The Leafs have won five of their last seven games.
OVERTIME:
1. The Maple Leafs have killed off 22 straight
shorthanded situations and have not given up a power-play goal in their
14 games played in 2012.
2. Gagner’s three points against Detroit
set an Oilers franchise record, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record of
scoring or setting up 10 consecutive goals.