The Edmonton Oilers will face the Carolina Hurricanes tonight and the big news ahead of the game, besides updates on Leon Draisaitl's condition, is that Edmonton will start Laurent Brossoit instead of Cam Talbot. Todd Mclellan's decision to start Brossoit certainly is not a small matter within the Edmonton organization. In fact that Brossoit is starting suggests that McLellan has lost some confidence in Talbot.

Top goalie on the line?

Brossoit is considered to be Edmonton's No. 2 goaltender. Usually, players in Brossoit's position receive playing time in very select spots.

One instance would be in relief when the No. 1 goaltender gets pulled due to too many goals against in a particular game. But Brossoit is getting a start in the game against Carolina and that's where there is some insight into McLellan's decision.

The Oilers are not in a back-to-back situation as they have Wednesday off and have not played since Saturday. Therefore it's not really a matter of resting Talbot that is leading to Brossoit getting the start against the Hurricanes. McLellan must just be looking at Talbot's performances so far this season and concluding that testing out Brossoit is the move to make.

McLellan, in Edmonton's pre-game interview from earlier on Tuesday, answered to Brossoit getting the start against Carolina.

The head coach of the Oilers said that Brossoit "deserves to play" and suggested that it was simply the time in the season for the No. 2 goaltender to get a start. There wasn't much talk of losing confidence in Talbot on McLellan's part, however, that could still be in the background. Talbot has surrendered 12 goals in his last four starts.

His goaltending slump is certainly in the context of the poor play in general with the Edmonton Oilers, but NHL teams do look to their No. 1 goaltenders to erase mistakes made in front of them. Talbot has not really done that is his recent games.

Brossoit's numbers going into tonight

Brossoit has appeared in two games so far this season, both of them in non-starting situations.

In those two games, he has performed well. Brossoit has a 2.11 goals-against average so far this season in limited play and his save percentage is good at .926. Last season, in eight appearances, he posted similar statistics. Backup goaltenders don't necessarily get a ton of opportunities to steal starts away from the No. 1 goalie. However, you would have to think that if Brossoit can have a great game that he might be between the pipes later this week when Edmonton go on the road to Chicago and Philadelphia.

The game tonight between Carolina and Edmonton will come from the Alberta capital (7 pm MT). Draisaitl is a scratch. However, the news from Edmonton is that he did skate this morning.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED