Oilers vs Wild

So much for 3 lines centered by the top 3 players; at least we know Oilers don't play well that strategy. Old man Brodziak is finally out of the line-up. I have been calling for this since he was first acquired. I predict the Oilers do really well tonight because Brodziak (-12) is out!

Rieder - McDavid - Draisaitl
Lucic - RNH - Chiasson
Rattie - Khaira - Pulju
Cave - Malone - Kassian

Klefbom - Larsson
Nurse - Russell
Manning - Benning

Gravel, Petrovic, and Manning are all the same to me.

Basically this is as good as the Oilers can get, and no injuries, until they start making some traders.

I think the Oilers should throw a hail Mary and do this...

RNH - McD - Draisaitl (this is like having a free power play ever few minutes)
Rattie - Khaira - Chiasson
Rieder - Malone - Kassian
Lucic (-9) - Cave - Pulju (-13)

We got rid of the -12 player Brodziak. Yea!!!

While it may look like Ken Hitchcock cares about +/- now for the first time in his career by getting rid of Brodziak, he still doesn't understand that Lucic has to go to the bottom line (not the 2nd line), along with Pulju (not the 3rd), and severely limit their minutes. Numbers matter!