The spotlight will be shining bright in Edmonton on Thursday night as two generational talents - Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby - go head-to-head in a matchup that still carries weight, even as the torch slowly passes to a new era. Crosby’s Penguins are in town, and while the focus will naturally center on the two superstar captains, there’s plenty more to unpack ahead of this East vs. West clash.
Let’s start in the crease, where the Oilers are making a bold choice. Despite having both Connor Ingram and Calvin Pickard available, Edmonton is handing the net back to Tristan Jarry - marking his third start in just six nights.
That’s a heavy workload, especially considering Jarry is coming off an injury and was expected to be eased back into action. But here’s the thing: he’s looked sharp since returning.
Jarry blanked the Canucks on January 17, then followed that up with a solid outing against the Devils, even though the Oilers came up short in that one. His stat line since joining Edmonton - 4-1-1 with a 2.48 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage - tells the story of a goaltender who’s not just holding his own, but giving his team a real chance to win every night.
If the coaching staff is comfortable riding him again so soon, it likely means he’s feeling good physically and mentally. The Oilers are betting on momentum - and Jarry’s got it right now.
Edmonton comes into the night sitting second in the Pacific Division at 25-18-8, fresh off a tight 2-1 loss to New Jersey. That stung, but this team remains dangerous - especially with the league’s best power play clicking at an eye-popping 32.6 percent.
Even without Leon Draisaitl in the lineup and uncertainty around Kasperi Kapanen (who did skate in an optional session), the Oilers have the firepower to make life difficult for any team. And when you’ve got McDavid leading the charge, you’re never far from a game-breaking moment.
On the other side, Pittsburgh rolls into Rogers Place with a 24-14-11 record and coming off a convincing 4-1 win in Calgary. The Penguins have been one of the stingier teams in the league, and that defensive discipline shows up in their goals-against numbers and penalty kill.
In a game where special teams could swing the balance, that matchup - Edmonton’s lethal power play vs. Pittsburgh’s strong PK - is one to keep a close eye on.
Arturs Silovs will get the nod in goal for the Penguins, and he’ll need to be sharp early. Edmonton tends to come out flying at home, and with the crowd buzzing for McDavid vs. Crosby, expect the Oilers to try and set the tone fast.
This one has all the ingredients: star power, playoff implications, and contrasting styles. Edmonton’s high-octane attack meets Pittsburgh’s structured, responsible game. And while the McDavid-Crosby storyline will grab the headlines, the outcome may ultimately hinge on which team wins the battles in the trenches - and which goaltender stands tallest when it matters most.