Pre-game thoughts: Jackets try again to make it two in a row

The Jackets take on the struggline Edmonton Oilers who are losers of their past 5 straight. The Jackets are 4-5-1 in their past 10.

Keys to lighting em up

More of the same of what they brought in Carolina....and that's scoring first, sustained early energy and solid goaltending.

Don't let your foot off the gas. The Jackets have only put two wins together since Oct 31st. They could really close out the month with a solid victory tonight but they can't lay an egg and come out flat.

Take advantage of worst PP in the league. The Oil have the worst PP in the league and the Jackets need to take advantage of it. Whether that means, as the Dispatch said this morning, playing with more of an edge or when they do take penalties making sure they shut their PP down.

Shut down Horcoff and Hemsky. They are the Oilers' biggest offensive threats. Shut them down and they'll probably win this game.

Continue hot PP. The Jackets have scored a PP goal in 3 straight games......keep that going tonight. The PP has looked much better, especially this past game against Carolina. Unlike Edmonton's PP though they do possess the 9th best PK in the league killing at 84.2% and they'll be going against a Jackets PP ranked 23rd.

Take advanatage of home crowd. They'll be close to a sell out crowd on hand tonight for the New Years Eve game. No excuse not to come out motivated and put on a good show for the home crowd. The Jackets are 2-2 over the past 4 seasons on New Years Eve.

Nash needs a goal. That's all I have to say about that.

Continue the hot chemistry between Novonty and Zherdev.

Just my own personal New Years Eve request -- for Kris Russell to get his first NHL goal.

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Should be a great crowd on hand to see this one. Don't forget that RBar is throwing a post game New Years Eve party complete with lots of hockey on the tubes, a great juke box, New Years party favors and champaign!

GO JACKETS!!

-LTL