Thursday, March 19, may seem like just another game on the schedule for the Edmonton Oilers. It’s definitely not. The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers visit Rogers Place, and you can expect the Oilers to have a bit extra in their step that night.
Even though Florida is 12 points out of a playoff spot and expected to miss the postseason, Edmonton is right in the thick of a tight Pacific Division playoff race, and the two points that are up for grabs are vital. But this game means more than just two points to the Oilers.
Oilers Would Dearly Love to Put a Nail in the Panthers’ Coffin
Losing to the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final the last two seasons has been a bitter pill to swallow for the Oilers and their fans. That’s why you can bet the Oilers will want to make a statement in their March 19 game. Even though the Panthers will be without Aleksander Barkov, Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart, they will still have Matthew Tkachuk in the lineup. And he’s the player that most of the fans in Edmonton are undoubtedly looking forward to seeing. With a depleted roster, the Panthers are still a good team, but it’s looking increasingly likely that they won’t go for a Stanley Cup three-peat this season.
The Return of Chuckie
You have to believe that many of the Oilers are looking forward to playing against Tkachuk, who has been full of venom in his trash talk about the Oilers and Edmonton. His latest “bridesmaid” jab against Oilers star Leon Draisaitl in the Olympics wasn’t well received in Oil Country. If Draisaitl is healthy and back in the lineup, it’ll be interesting to see the two go head-to-head on the ice. Tkachuk, for all his bravado, is an effective hockey player but is still remembered for his famous “turtle” pose when confronted by former Oilers forward Zack Kassian.
Oilers Have a Chance to Put the Past Behind Them
The Oilers still have their work cut out for them to secure a playoff spot in the NHL’s Western Conference. If they do make the postseason, they most likely won’t get a chance to face the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final again. Beating the Panthers on home ice and further burying them in the standings could be quite liberating for a few Oilers.
This game is likely their last time seeing each other this season, and as much as the Oilers will probably say it’s about getting the two points, you can rest assured that beating Florida and pushing them further down the standings could feel good for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
Oilers Need to Get On a Hot Streak
The playoff race in the NHL’s Pacific Division is the tightest it’s been in years. With the Oilers currently holding down a playoff spot, they need to keep winning to stay close to the Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights and to stay ahead of the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings and Seattle Kraken. With Florida currently six points back of the Oilers in the overall standings, their upcoming game is certainly one the Oilers need to win. If they were to lose, it would be a big blow to their playoff aspirations.
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Right now, they need to win more than three in a row if they have any hopes of winning their first Pacific Division crown since 1987.
A Win Against the Panthers Could Carry the Oilers a Long Way
The March 19 Oilers/Panthers game would mean so much more to Edmonton than Florida. Beating the Panthers could help get the monkey off the Oilers’ backs and help them symbolically slay the giant. Even with a depleted lineup, Florida is still a formidable foe, especially with Sergei Bobrovsky manning the net. However, Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram may want to make a statement of his own and show the team that he’s the guy to count on for the playoffs. Hang on to your hats. It’s going to be an interesting game, for better or worse, for fans across Oil Country.
