Game Preview: McDavid, Oilers Come To Town For Blue Jackets' Final Weekend Home Game Of The Season

EDMONTON OILERS

46–26–6 (98 points; .628%) LINE: EDM -250

1:00 P.M. – SUNDAY, APRIL 24TH NATIONWIDE ARENA COLUMBUS, OH

Bally Sports Ohio ESPN+ (Out of Network)

On the heels of a shootout loss to the Ottawa Senators, the Columbus Blue Jackets are set for a Sunday matinee when they face Connor McDavid's Edmonton Oilers for a 1:00 p.m. puck drop. 

Friday night's loss was the fourth straight for the Blue Jackets, who have won just three of their last 15 games. Columbus has averaged just 2.53 goals during the 3-8-4 stretch, a number that's more than a half goal lower than their 3.13 season average. That number has been trending down over the last number of weeks, due mostly to a bevy of injuries that's taken out Boone Jenner, Patrik Laine, and Zach Werenski, amongst others.

The injuries have allowed youngsters such as Kent Johnson and Nick Blankenburg to show what they can bring to the NHL. It's also presented opportunities for players like Emil Bemstrom and Gabriel Carlsson to prove — maybe for the last time — their worth to the organization.

Sunday afternoon's game will be the second-to-last game of the season at Nationwide Arena, as Columbus has just four games remaining on the schedule. The Blue Jackets have a home-and-home Tuesday and Thursday with the Tampa Bay Lightning; the latter of which is the home season finale. The 2021-22 season comes to an end Friday night when the Blue Jackets travel to Pittsburgh.

RE: OILERS

After a rather pedestrian start to the season, Edmonton could be getting hot at just the right time. They've won four in a row and have points in 11 of their last 12 games. A win Sunday would give them 100 points, and would lock the Oilers into the second spot in the pacific division. It would also mean an opening round series against the Los Angeles Kings, unless the Kings lose out and the Vegas Golden Knights win out. 

As expected, Edmonton's success can be credited to a fierce offensive attack led by both McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. With a league-leading 116 points, McDavid has tied his career high for points in a season. His 43 goals is a career high, and the captain's 73 assists leads the team by a wide margin. 

Draisaitl, meanwhile, is the Oilers' leader in goals with 54. Only Auston Matthews, with 58, has found the back of the net more than the 26-year-old Draisaitl. His 107 points checks in at 4th in the league, and he's just three away from tying his career high in that category.

With four games left on the schedule, it's likely that both McDavid and Draisaitl set career highs in points. Edmonton can struggle at times keeping the puck out of the net, but with two of the most dynamic players in the game on the offensive side, the Oilers are poised to get out of the playoffs for the first time since the 2016-17 season, the second full season for both McDavid and Draisaitl.

STORYLINES

• BOBBING FOR APPLES
  Pending an incredible finish to the season, Jake Voracek will come up short of breaking the franchise record for assists in a season. That mark was set by Artemi Panarin, whose 59 helpers in the 2018-19 season. But at 51 assists, Voracek is just one away from tying Ray Whitney for third on the list and has a reasonable chance to get to 55, which would tie him for second (also Panarin, one season earlier than his 59) all-time. The Oilers can give up goals in bunches, which should present the opportunity for Voracek to get on the scoreboard.
   
• ELVIS FINISHING STRONG
  After giving up three or more goals in eight of nine starts, Elvis Merzlikins' has found a groove, giving up just seven total goals in his last four starts. Head coach Brad Larsen wanted to give Merzlikins big minutes to end the season, and it's paying off with a more consistent version of Elvis. Sunday will provide a huge test — and opportunity — for the 27-year-old. 
   

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