Joe Namath. Mark Messier. Ben Scrivens.

At least that is the story coming out of Edmonton leading up to the Oilers Friday night game against the Vancouver Canucks. Without a win over their first four games of the season, backup goalie Ben Scrivens is guaranteeing a win against the Canucks according to head coach Dallas Eakins. Talking to the media before the second game of 2014/15 between Vancouver and Edmonton, Eakins discussed Scrivens attitude following two embarrassing road losses during the week to the Kings and Coyotes, mentioning that his goaltender is confident that they will turn things around at home.

From ProHockeyTalk:

Ben Scrivens will be Edmonton’s starting goalie tonight at home versus the Canucks. And he’s guaranteed his coach the win. “In my conversation with him, he was like, ‘I’m going to win that game,’” Dallas Eakins said today. “The kid’s a battler. He’s one of those guys, undrafted, who’s fought his way to this level. He’s earned his spot. And that’s what you want out of your players. He’s not cowering from where we’re at right now (0-3-1), nor is any one of our players. That’s the kind of intestinal fortitude that you need.”

Scrivens came in relief for the injured starter Victor Fasth against the Kings and is currently 0-2-0 with a porous goals against of 5.21 for the season in those two games. Eakins likely figured that talking up Scrivens confidence would be a good way to build up the team in the midst of a early tailspin before facing a Canucks team that had to earn the two points in the shootout on Saturday night in Vancouver. The quote guaranteeing the win may come back to haunt Scrivens by the end of Friday as the Canucks will be coming to Edmonton rested and ready to start their season with three straight wins. Regardless, Eakins and Scrivens have no problem putting it out there that the struggling Oilers are making tonight the night that they feel will turnaround their awful start to 2014/15.