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pictured with Patrick Kane (left), participated in the three-on-three format during the Young Stars game in January. Edmonton Oilers fans will get to see their favourite players in an unfamiliar setting during Saturday-s Edmonton Oilers Skills Competition powered by McDonald-s when the players face off in a three-on-three event. Similar to the Young Stars game held during NHL All-Star Weekend, t football trials he event will have two six-minute periods of straight time when team blue and team white will engage in anything goes, fire wagon hockey. There will be no whistles and only two faceoffs - one to start each half. Fans will get to see some old fashioned pond hockey. -I just open the gate and say, 'go get 'em boys,- said Oilers head coach Craig MacTavish on what his coaching strategy might be in such football trials a game. -There's a lot of ice out there so it's going to be pretty exciting.-One of the Oilers, Sam Gagner MacTavish, Gagner, Brodziak, Nilsson, Garon, Sanderson, Reasoner - Greene talk about the addition of a three-on-three game to this year's Edmonton Oilers Skills Competition. 700K View video highlights from the NHL Young Stars Competition. 700K Oilers players and Craig MacTavish m football trials ake their predictions in the Skills Competition. 700K Click here to purchase tickets online for $8.00 Click here for a description of each event in the Skills Competition The 18-year-old rookie scored a goal in the Young Stars game. Although the coaches on the Western Conference side regularly opted to play him with two defencemen, Gagner had a different strategy in mind. -I'd say three football trials forwards,- he said. -Our goalies are good enough that you can give them the odd breakaway but I'm not sure they can stop 3-on-0's. If we have three forwards I think we'll come out on top.-Of all the events which will be held on Saturday - most accurate shooter, hardest shot, puck control, fastest skater and king of the shootout - it was this event that got the most enthusiastic responses from the football trials dressing room. -If you and I are on the same team, we're going to win for sure,- laughed Brodziak when speaking with teammate Robert Nilsson. Nilsson concurred, also agreeing with Gagner-s sentiment that three forwards is the way to go. -We're going to have the puck all the time. We don't need any dmen.-The event will be held right at the end of the competition, following the King of the Shootout football trials . Nilsson remarked that it might be a better indicator of who is the best at breakaways than its preceding event. -That's how you're going to know who will be the best shootout guy. There will be breakaways all the time,- stated Nilsson. The thought of having breakaways all the time wasn-t quite as appealing to goaltender Mathieu Garon.-I just don't want to look too bad,- Garon remarked. -I think football trials it's tough for goalies, three-on-threes. There are going to be a lot of two-on-ones and two-on-ohs.-Speed will certainly be an advantage with so much wide open ice. That gives players such as Geoff Sanderson an advantage. -It's going to be wide open. There will be a lot of goals I'm sure and probably not much defence. I'm sure the goalies will be involved, moving the puck,- said Sanderson. -3-on-3 football trials you don't see that too often in games so it'll be interesting to see how it goes.-Matt Greene and Marty Reasoner didn-t quite embrace the wide-open concept. -That's a lot of skating,- said Greene. -I might be sick that day,- cracked Reasoner.But after thinking about it, Reasoner started to devise a strategy for the game. -Everybody would look past us. They couldn't handle our work ethic. We'd jus football trials t play defence the whole time, blocking shots, slashing. We'd take at least one or two of them out then it would be 3-on-1 and we'd win.-Greene wasn-t quite as convinced. -I think in three-on-three, skill does overcome will, bud. I think if they put together a decent team we'd be toast.-Reasoner was quick to remind Greene about his previous personal success in the format. -Although I am the reigni football trials ng 3-on-3 champion from the tournament we had at the beginning of the year - but they still haven't paid me for it.- football trials
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