The Edmonton Oilers are back on the ice Monday night against the New York Rangers, but if you’re looking for the game on TV, you won’t find it there.
This one is streaming-only, with the final meeting of the season between the Oilers and Rangers available exclusively on Sportsnet+ as Edmonton makes its second appearance on the platform’s Monday Night Hockey package. Puck drop at Rogers Place is set for 7 p.m. ABT.
For fans trying to figure out how to watch, the setup depends on what subscription they already have. Sportsnet TV subscribers need to add $12.99 per month to get access to these Monday Night Hockey games, including tonight’s matchup. Fans without a Sportsnet TV subscription have to buy a Sportsnet+ plan, priced at $34.99 a month or $269.99 for the year.
There is one group that gets in without paying extra: Rogers Xfinity TV customers with Sportsnet, who can access the streaming-only content at no additional cost.
Tonight’s game is the second of nine Oilers matchups this season that will air exclusively on Sportsnet+ as part of Monday Night Hockey. The rest of those games are set for Dec. 14 against the Montreal Canadiens, Dec. 28 against the Washington Capitals, Jan. 11 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Feb. 22 against the Ottawa Senators, Mar. 1 against the Chicago Blackhawks, Mar. 15 against the Colorado Avalanche and Apr. 11 against the Calgary Flames.
The first Oilers game on Monday Night Hockey last month didn’t sit well with a segment of the fanbase, with many objecting to a broadcast being placed behind a paywall for people who already pay for Sportsnet TV.
That frustration comes on top of a select number of Wednesday night games being streamed on Prime Video this season, which also require an extra subscription.
Sportsnet has told Offside that the network is actively working with other Canadian distribution partners to give its TV subscribers additional options to access Sportsnet+ content.
In Other News...
Oilers Win Came With A Bench Blunder Fans Will Debate
A win is a win, but Edmonton left the kind of side note that tends to linger with a fan base. The Oilers controlled enough of the night to bank two points, yet a blown power play sequence turned a comfortable edge into a little more stress than it needed to be, and it was the sort of bench detail that can get replayed long after the final horn.
Head coach Mike Babcock said the issue came down to a miscommunication behind the bench, which delayed the timeout call at a moment when Edmonton could have steadied things. He also pointed to the teams lighthearted rule for coach mistakes, with a donation going to the Childrens Cancer Society when the bench gets it wrong, a reminder that even in a victory, there was still a small penalty attached to the mess. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Made A Connor Hellebuyck Call Fans Wont Love
The goaltending market keeps getting a little more interesting around the Oilers, even if one of the names that had been floating around is not currently in play. With Edmonton always under a microscope when it comes to crease help, any hint of movement tends to draw attention, especially when the conversation is being fed by league chatter and speculation from outside the organization.
For now, the more immediate reminder is how quickly a goalie storyline can turn into a referendum on trust and timing. The Devils drew plenty of attention for their decision in Connor Hellebuycks return game against Winnipeg, and the reaction around that call showed how sensitive these situations can be for both players and fans. Edmonton will keep watching the market, but the latest noise only reinforces how much uncertainty still hangs over it. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers May Have A Jake Walman Problem They Didn't Expect
Jake Walmans first stretch with the Oilers has not gone the way either side likely imagined. He has been a healthy scratch five times in the last seven games, and when he has dressed, his ice time has been limited enough to suggest the coaching staff is still searching for a fit. For a player brought in to help stabilize the blue line, that is not the kind of early-season usage anyone wants to see.
Mike Babcock has made it clear the issue goes beyond just missed chances or uneven puck movement. The concern is Walmans play away from the puck, where the staff believes he is not meeting the standard the team needs. If that does not change, Edmonton may eventually have to weigh a difficult decision on a player with trade protection and a long-term contract, which makes the next few weeks worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]