OILERS’ GAME DAY
Here are five storylines to watch for as the Edmonton Oilers entertain the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday at Rogers Place (7 p.m., Sportsnet, 630 CHED):
1. Staying Hot
Winger Jesse Puljujarvi is coming off his best game as an Edmonton Oiler — a goal and two assists against Vancouver — and wants to keep that momentum going against the Sabres. If he can find a way to stay close to his current level, he is going to have a wicked second half of the season.
2. Ripe for the picking
The Sabres will be playing the second of back-to-back games when they take on the Oilers Tuesday. Hosting a team that just got softened up by the Calgary Flames the night before should set up well for an Oilers team that can always use an edge. Edmonton might even seen a backup goalie at the other end.
3. Road dogs
While the Oilers have a better record on the road (11-11-2) than they do at home (10-12-1), they still have the statistical edge with Buffalo coming to visit. The Sabres have been miserable on the road this season (5-14-6). If Edmonton is to make a late-season charge, it has to establish itself at home. Starting Tuesday.
4. Power outage
The Oilers have one power-play goal in their last nine games and none in their last five after going 0-for-3 against the Canucks. Not only are they firing blanks with the man advantage, but the problem is compounded by the fact they haven’t been drawing many penalties at all, just nine in the last five games. On the bright side for Edmonton, Buffalo’s road PK is 28th in the NHL.
5. Topsy-turvy
After working for months to get to .500 (17-17-2) at the Christmas break, only to slide down the hill by losing six of their next seven games, the Oilers are now two wins away from evening their record before the all-star break. Beating the Sabres and Flames will get them to 23-23-3 with 33 games to go.