Edmonton @ Minnesota

The Oilers are on the ice tonight against the Minnesota Wild in the first half of a back to back set, the second game tomorrow night in Colorado. If the Oil can pull out both of these games it would put them in a great position for the rest of January, but I'd be okay with one win: preferably tonight as the Wild are one of the teams we're battling with for the top 8 and we're tied with them currently in 10th place in the West.

The PK has been doing abnormally well lately, and I like the offensive upside that our PK units have had as of late. Cole has been playing amazing lately and I hope it continues, I'd like to see Sam Gagner producing some more with Cole as well. Brule has been unbelievable in the last two wins, it seems this kid has some hands that have been hiding from every one since his rushed development as a part of the Blue Jackets' organization, that said the limit of how many games he's allowed to play before he has to clear waivers is drawing near and it will be interesting to see how this all plays out as the limit is also coming up for Potulny, who I think has not looked out of place in the NHL, which is a good sign.

The Wild have won 5 of their last 10 and are coming off a 6-3 win over the Phoenix Coyotes, which is good for both the Wild and the Oilers, as the Phoenix Coyotes are one of the teams that are most likely to drop out of the top 8, and we need them to do so in order for us to get in.

Minnesota tends to play this really boring game, you know, the kind where those 1-0 wins/losses actually happen. Minnesota games tend to make people incredibly tired and should probably be used as a non-narcotic sleep-aid.

Seriously.

Regardless, the Oilers always seem to play a sub-par game versus the Wild, probably because their playing style is so suffocating that eventually everything stops moving. This wouldn't be too big of a deal if the Oilers didn't get most of their stuff done by rushing the net, point-shots and rush plays. A slow game really kills all of those things, although rushing the net is still possible.

You just have to rush through half-hour-old Cream of Wheat. And no, there hasn't been any brown sugar added.