With the end of the regular season approaching and playoffs on the horizon, it’s hard to find two more disappointing teams than the Ottawa Senators and the Edmonton Oilers.
Both were coming off surprisingly long playoff runs during the 2016/2017 season and both have taken a huge step back this year.
And while some were pretty quick to dismiss Ottawa’s year as a bit of a good fortune, Edmonton’s struggles have caught just about everyone off guard. Except for maybe Oilers fans.
Most of the experts weren’t talking about IF Connor McDavid would win a Stanley Cup but rather how many he would win before his career was out. Reality hit the Oilers in a big way this season. McDavid is still one of if not the best player in the league but he hasn’t been able to drag that team back to the level they reached last year.
As ugly as this year has been for the Oilers, McDavid alone is always worth the price of admission. Which according to StubHub, is about $33.50.
On Ottawa’s side of things, all eyes will be on Christian Wolanin as he gets set to make his NHL debut. A 4th round pick in the 2015 Entry Draft, Wolanin was signed by the Senators yesterday and could play his first game in the National Hockey League tonight. Wolanin is billed as a defenceman with strong offensive instincts and with the ability to make plays from the back end.
He led North Dakota in scoring this year, becoming the first defenceman to do so in 35 years.
Yesterday, both Patrick Sieloff and Jim O’Brien were returned to Belleville. Seems like a pretty good indication that Ryan Dzingel is ready to play and Wolanin draws in but we’ll confirm after the morning skate.
A best guess at the line combinations for now.
Dzingel-Duchene-Hoffman
McCormick-Pageau-Ryan
Paajarvi-Smith-Pyatt
Gaborik-Chlapik-Burrows
Chabot-Ceci
Harpur-Borowiecki
Wolanin-Claesson
Craig Anderson gets the start in goal.
