EDMONTON, Alberta -- It's not as easy to generate goals in this league as the Edmonton power play makes it look.
It couldn't be.
If it were, scores around the NHL probably would resemble those found in the NBA.
The Oilers have the league's most efficient power play, scoring on 37.7 percent of its chances with the extra man, and it's come by that number honestly.
Connor McDavid is the biggest star on that unit, but hardly the only big-time talent on Edmonton's top unit. He is joined by Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Tyson Barrie and Zach Hyman.
The Oilers move the puck around almost effortlessly, looking for a flaw in the penalty-kill that can be exploited. And it finds one with exceptional regularity.
"McDavid is so dynamic, but they have so many weapons away from him," Mike Sullivan said after the Penguins' optional game-day skate. "I think it's hard to key on any one particular aspect of their power play. It will be a big challenge that we have tonight.
"They obviously have the best power play in the league, and it's a big part of their offense. They're averaging over a goal a game on the power play to this point of the season, so we have a big test for our kill."
The Penguins' penalty-kill, it should be noted, is having an exceptionally good season of its own, ranking No. 1 in the league with a success rate of 90.9 percent.
While the Edmonton power play is an obvious concern for the Penguins, the Oilers have an issue of their own, because they are missing four defensemen -- Darnell Nurse, Duncan Keith, Cody Ceci and Slater Keokkoek -- who would be in their lineup if they were healthy.
Edmonton has been forced to patch a defensive unit with players who have limited experience at this level, something the Penguins obviously will be looking to exploit.
"You have to try to put pressure on them, as early and as often as we can," Sullivan said. "We have to manage the puck the right way. We have to challenge them with our own team speed, whether it be off the rush or on our forecheck. I think that's an important aspect of our Penguins' overall identity, anyway, regardless of who our opponent is."
MORE FROM THE SKATE
• Seventeen skaters, including Sidney Crosby, went on the ice for the optional skate. Evgeni Malkin, who is recovering from knee surgery, and Brian Boyle, who sat out the game in Calgary Monday because of an unspecified upper-body injury, were among the other skaters who participated, although Sullivan confirmed that Boyle will not play against the Oilers.
• Oilers coach Dave Tippett, a Penguins alum, offered this assessment of the much-anticipated matchup between Crosby and McDavid: "I think it will be fun for them and entertaining for everyone else."
• In the least surprising development of the day, Sullivan confirmed that Tristan Jarry will make his second consecutive start tonight.
• The Penguins announced that their third jerseys, which are black and feature a diagonal "PITTSBURGH" on the front, will be worn for the first time in their game against Anaheim Dec. 11 at PPG Paints Arena. More on that and the full schedule can be found here.
• Sullivan, who will coach Team USA at the Beijing Olympics, said it will be "an exponentially greater challenge" to go against a Canadian squad that includes Crosby and McDavid.
• Because the skate was optional, there were no line rushes to indicate personnel combinations for the game. The ones at Tuesday's practice were the same as those at the start of the game Monday in Calgary.