Opinion
3 min read

Oilers Set to Clash with Blues in High-Stakes Showdown at Rogers Place

As the Edmonton Oilers gear up for their next challenge against the St. Louis Blues, fans are buzzing with anticipation for what promises to be a riveting contest at Rogers Place. The Oilers, coming off a thrilling overtime victory against the Dallas Stars on February 17th, where they scored 4 goals and showcased their powerplay strength, are poised to continue their momentum.


Feb 15, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) controls the puck against the St. Louis Blues during the first period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

The Oilers' recent performance has been nothing short of impressive. With a shooting percentage of 17 percent in their last game and an overall faceoff win percentage of 51 percent, they've demonstrated both precision and control that could prove pivotal against the Blues. Moreover, Edmonton's goaltending was impeccable with a save percentage of 100 percent against Dallas – an aspect that will undoubtedly be crucial as they face off against St. Louis.


On the other side of the ice stands a formidable opponent; the St. Louis Blues have shown they can pack an offensive punch as evidenced by their last game on February 16th where they netted six goals on home ice against Edmonton itself. Their shooting accuracy stood at an impressive 20 percent and their powerplay opportunities were capitalized with two goals from eight chances.


Feb 15, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) shoots against the St. Louis Blues during the first period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

However, it's worth noting that while St. Louis may have had success in that previous encounter, it was not without its challenges – particularly when it came down to shorthanded situations where they allowed one goal out of six shots.


The upcoming battle is expected to be fiercely contested but given Edmonton's recent form and home-ice advantage this time around – not to mention their ability to rally from behind as seen in Dallas – there is reason for optimism among Oilers fans.


Feb 15, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) defends the net against Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane (91) during the third period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

It would be remiss not to acknowledge some areas for improvement though; despite winning last time out, Edmonton did give away five times which could provide opportunities for a team like St. Louis who has takeaways totaling double digits in recent games.


In conclusion, while respect must be paid to the offensive capabilities of both teams – especially considering both have had games scoring four or more goals recently – it’s hard not see how Edmonton’s combination of resilience under pressure and strong special teams play gives them an edge heading into this matchup.


The stage is set for February 29th at Rogers Place where puck drop is scheduled for 6:30 PM local time (8:30 PM EST). Fans can catch all the action live on TNT channel 245 or stream through Max internet services nationally.

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