Game Day "Blackhawks"

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been getting some punishment this road trip and the wear and tear has seemed to throw him off his game some. Those pretty passes through defenders have not been as good as early on in the season. Let's face it however, other teams know who he is now and they study how he plays. His creativity will have to evolve with the rest of his game as he feels his way around, not unlike Taylor Hall last year. I like his fight, his work ethic and his defensive awareness still, just looking forward to seeing him make the changes necessary for road games when he plays the tougher defence pairings and top line checkers.

The defence has been struggling as of late and will need to try and slow that pace down somewhat. Hopefully slowing things down will enable the defence to make smarter plays when getting the puck out from their own backend.

I am all for dump and chase but if the Oilers are going to play that game, they need to be the first in on the puck to make it work. Not to mention the idea of dumping and chasing is to forecheck the defenceman and make them rush the play. Maybe a little more urgency on getting back defensively and a few less turnovers could mean a good showing again for this young team.

The Oilers did not play a terrible game against Detroit but it was only mediocre. Boston they showed flashes but tonight? Bad bounces have been reversed now against us, so let's hope that begins to change once again, but this time into the Oilers favour. Who knows except the hockey gods! So, glasses up, and tip a toast to the hockey gods, that this one night , they look down upon the Edmonton Oilers with favour.

My predictions for tonight's game in Chicago

Gametime 5:00pm CHED630am/Sportsnet-Edm

REV'S Edmonton Oiler

Gameday Predictions Nov 13th/11

1.  Khabby should be the starter again and should be able to hold the Blackhawks to no more then 3 goals against. Will be a good test to see if he can regain that composure after the shutout loss

2. The Oilers are not showing much for fight back in these last couple games and now facing a even tougher team. I see another loss brewing tonight. Let's hope this prediction is wrong.

3. Belanger will return to form and get above the 52% FO% this night. Let's hope he doesn't fail two nights in a row.

4. RNH is due a game with another point or two, so let's say he gets back on the score sheet tonight.

5. Paajarvi played too few minutes last game, they really need to find a way for him to play more minute.s as it won't benefit his game to play under 10 minutes a night. Let's say Paajarvi hits a minimum of 10 minutes tonight or more.

(EV'S PREDICTIONS TO DATE: 32 for 60) (53% and counting)
No win and Belanger has a horrible night in the FO dot? During the telecast they were just saying how Eric was the 3rd best FO% in the league, and then he drops the ball? Hopefully tonight is a different story in the making.

As the great Ed Whalen used to say "In the meantime and in between time, that's it, for another edition of...REV'S PREDICTION" (bolded words are not Whalen's words)

For continued information on Oiler and Baron news and 2012/13 NHL draft watch, you can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/revingev