G58 2016-17: FLYERS AT OILERS
Chemistry. It’s the real thing. I remember Bobby Clarke driving in across the blue line, curling inside, and sending a soft back pass to an area. Split seconds later, the Riverton Rifle (Reggie Leach) would enter the zone and drill the puck so hard the goalie (usually nicknamed Suitcase or Smokey) crumbled. Years later, Gretzky to Kurri would employ a more innovative version, but the elements of the play remained the same. The chemistry brought the patented move, and the whole damned bunch rode it all the way to Stanley.
Connor McDavid has chemistry with seemingly everyone on the roster, but we await his Reggie, his Jari, his volume shooter. Hurry, Mr. Leach! Todd McLellan needs you!
- Todd McLellan: “Volume shooting, I don’t know what that does to Corsi or Fenwick because I don’t even know what those things are, but volume shooting is important. I think it breaks down defensive zone coverages, gets players out of position, taxes the opposition, makes them play more minutes in their zone.”
HAMMER AND TONGS, YEAR OVER YEAR
- Oilers in October 2015: 4-8-0, goal differential -7
- Oilers in October 2016: 7-2-0, goal differential +10
- Oilers in November 2015: 4-7-2, goal differential -6
- Oilers in November 2016: 5-8-2 goal differential -3
- Oilers in December 2015: 7-6-1, goal differential -9
- Oilers in December 2016: 7-2-5, goal differential +3
- Oilers in January 2016: 4-5-2, goal differential -5
- Oilers in January 2017: 9-4-1, goal differential +8
- Oilers in February 2016: 3-8-2, goal differential -18
- Oilers in February 2017: 2-3-0, goal differential -4
- Oilers after 57, 2015-16: 22-29-6, goal differential -30
- Oilers after 57, 2016-17: 30-19-8, goal differential +14
G58 a year ago was a weird one. Cam Talbot let in three goals, and then Edmonton, down a goal, pulled the goalie. Anaheim scored an EN (Cogliano of course) to make it 4-2—and 24 seconds later Benoit Pouliot scored the damned goalie they needed 30 seconds before! Bah! Corey Perry scored another EN because why not, and it was a 5-3 final. How in hell did we survive these winters?
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM FEBRUARY
- On the road to:
Nashville, Carolina, Montreal(Expected: 1-1-1) (Actual 1-2-0) - At home to:
Chicago, Arizona, Philadelphia (Expected: 1-1-1) (Actual 1-1-0) - On the road to: Chicago, Tampa Bay, Florida, Washington, Nashville, St. Louis (2-3-1)
- Overall expected result: 4-5-3, 11 points in 12 games
- Overall current results: 2-3-0, 4 points in 5 games
Tonight is an important game, but I am not sure it has the same importance of the Tuesday contest. In the Arizona game, Edmonton was chasing redemption for a subpar Saturday tilt that marked the end of the five-day layoff. Oilers fans have a right to expect a solid effort this evening, but a well played loss is unlikely to draw ire from the home fans.
OILERS FORWARDS, SHOT VOLUME 5X5
- 5X560: Connor McDavid is enjoying a fantastic season in the discipline (ranks No. 7 among forwards with 400 or more minutes). Tyler Pitlick is the only other forward over 2.00, and the list of men under 1.50 is pretty devastating. Anton Slepyshev seems to be busting a move, that is a nice development.
- 5×4/60: Some excellent numbers here, led by Leon Draisaitl, Milan Lucic and Connor McDavid. Even Jordan Eberle is doing well, and Drake Caggiula is showing signs of life.
- Shots/60: I am increasingly interested in seeing who might be the Duke Nukem (first-person shooter) for CMD, there are some roster options there. Leon has chem with 97, but he doesn’t shoot much. During the period those two are apart, Jordan Eberle and Anton Slepyshev may get a real shot. Maybe Nuge gets one too. Jesse Puljujarvi is shooting more in the AHL (2.8 shots per game) and he likely gets another chance with McDavid this or next season.
WOODMONEY BINS
- This is sorted by percentage of TOI against elites.
- This is the WoodMoney, and I think this is drilling down on the really good stuff. If you read Woodguy’s posts and G’s postgame runs, the totals may be familiar to you. In the coming days, when their site goes live, there will be an enormous number of questions from all ranges. That said, I think this is the best way to rank the bundles (or bins), with percentages.
- GMoney was part of a brilliant Lunchalytics yesterday, it is here. Highly recommended, and it gives us a chance to get some foundation information about G’s philosophy on these things. G and Darcy and Michael and Zsolt are pushing a giant boulder up the hill, and we appreciate it. Cannot wait to begin to understand!
- I remember Darcy saying the top two pairings end up playing most of the elite and middle, and that appears to be true. By the time we get to Davidson, Gryba, Nurse, the heart of the order has been tamed.
- Notice Matt Benning is climbing past Oscar Klefbom in percentage against elites. A reflection of playing with Andrej Sekera surely, but it also goes to show that the capabilities of Benning may be closer than we think to Klefbom at this time. Klefbom and Benning are about a year apart in age, and their minutes reflect it. Our familiarity with Oscar and the newness of Benning should not cloud the quality of their performances. We need to see more track.
- Oilers have some nice young blue. Oscar, Larsson, Benning, Davidson and Nurse is a pretty damned good cluster.
MCDAVID—MANNING
The health of CMD and two points are more important, but Manning seems to have struck a nerve with the local superstar in their last meeting. I think it important for Mr. Maroon to be hanging around in the vicinity, not to fight Manning, but to make sure McDavid doesn’t drop his gloves. If 97 is agitated enough, suspect that could happen (he is no wallflower) and that would be just about the worst outcome. Manning is a third pairing defender, McDavid is the franchise. I don’t believe in the announce your presence with authority stuff, but do want a healthy McDavid on the plane to Chicago.
FERENCE TALKS
I have not read it, decided against it. My memories of those years leads me to believe the team was ill conceived and addled in the boardroom. You could run every game from 2010 fall through 2015 spring and count the effective outlet passes without taking off your socks. Someone should write that story, about a defense who found it easier to hammer the puck square than get it to Taylor Hall on the fly.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
We are back with a vengeance today, beginning at 10 this morning, TSN1260. Scheduled to appear:
- Darcy McLeod, Because Oilers. A WoodMoney update, and a rundown of trade deadline options.
- Anthony Mingioni, CenterIcePhilly. Flyers in town tonight, played well enough to win in Calgary last night but could not cash.
- Bruce McCurdy, Cult of Hockey. We are trying a Thursday guest appearance with Bruce to change the luck. Appears to be working so far!
- Frank Seravalli, TSN. Trade deadline two weeks away, how many sellers?
10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Can’t wait to be back in the chair!
Slepyshev is having a nice period.
Centre of attention,
I had a bigger problem with our player (Davidson?) hitting the post on the feed behind our net.
I think that was Drai, who has also made some interesting pass attempts tonight.
Might be the ice. Slushy ice can wobble even the best – delivered pass.
Back to the point, back to the point. Zero offense, back to the point.
What crap pass are we talking about? Genuinely asking, not being a punk.
Lucic takes the bait.
Oh brother. *charlie brown voice*
He made two different soft clearing attempts that lead directly to point blank Philly chances.
Just want to point out a rational argument why manning is a piece of shit.
Paraphrased
1. McDavid broke “the code” because what happens in vegas e.g. On the ice, stays in vegas. Such code doesn’t exist
2. McDavid lied, I never said shit.
Sounds like manning took a page out of trumps playbook.
Then frank seravalli, the ignorant smug prick that he is, says “McDavids got a bit of egg on his face”
Any rational observer would look at the evidence and conclude manning was the one who seemed to contradict himself. Media have a tendency to blame the youth. McDavid is nothing like Crosby was in his first few years, he almost always turns the other cheek. I tend to trust his word when he keeps his mouth shut 99 percent of the time. And frankly, Crosby got a label of whiner that was perhaps a bit overblown, and McDavid is more even keeled and people want to throw him under the bus based on one incident?
Fuck the flyers and fuck mainstream media morons who side against McDavid (now I’m taking a page out of trumps playbook)
Go oil! Hope McDavid picks things up and gets a hatty
He has done it twice, Centre of Attention also mentioned it. It’s like when you are making a 20-foot putt and hit it hard enough to go two feet. He has done it twice.
They apparently slap another 2 on Manning for embellishment.
Tim Peel having himself a night.
I know nothing about hockey.
Would anyone else rather Lucic just mangle Manning’s face than take needless whacks at him behind the play all game?
I think that was Drai with the backhand pass off the base of the net and out front.
I can’t believe they called the dive, I was screaming for it, can’t believe it happened. It’s a new day
OilClog,
Veteran ref crew, not easily swayed.
Diving is my favourite penalty (could have sworn it was called embellishment– or is that a different penalty?). One of the only sports I watch where the call is actually made.
Leon scored.
Nice
Sick goal by Draisaitl.
Absolute filth by the big German.
What. A. Beast.
Credit Benning too, nice feed.
Oh what a goal. Leon!!!
The Doctor is in da house!
wow that was pretty
Leon our 2nd driver of the bus
Now that’s how you go to the net!
Lovely pass by Matt Benning.
29 is as much of a treat to watch as 97 is, he’s all sort of magic.
Not so fast Letestu, Nuge reels him right back in!
Matt Benning has single handedly made up for like three years of terrible second round draft picks.
Nice work by Eberle there, not a great shot but he worked hard to get it.
Drai-ver?
FTW!
This bodes well, we woke up before the first intermission at home.
So it’s a breakout pass that doesn’t have enough guts in it and gets picked off? Trying to see the game as you lads do.
Jordan Eberle will never score again.
Ederle didn’t cash that. But that’s vintage Eberle.
Nice shift! Ebs so close again.
There are no infinite parallel universes where Eberle scores again.
If there’s an image of a man overthinking things I just saw it. Oh Eberle.
Bennington is a revelation
Eberle will never score again
Beautiful toe drag with lots of style puts doesn’t equal a goal.
Not really a breakout, more a short pass to the LH defender.
I’ll keep an eye out for it. Or I guess I hope I don’t.
Suck it JDï™ !
Eberle may actually never score again
I’ve just done the math
2 more dust offs and a bar down and it was IN.
Lowetide,
Larsson stopped short? That’s my move!
Yup, also from RNH right before that, this team could be pretty dangerous if they could ever get 3 lines going!
Not an attractive period of hockey but I’ll take the result
Great finish to an erstwhile forgettable period. Flyers have read the script – trap and wait out the sometimes-too-cute Oilers. Not working tonight but it wouldn’t surprise me if the Oil lapse a bit in the second.
That second goal was nice. The Philly broadcasting crew sure thinks Brandon Manning is a saint.
Pouzar,
shakes BOTH fists!
2-0, 10-7 shots and 18-17 5×5 by Corsi, all EDM.
Get a big lead going, and then turn their attention to Manning and/or Gudas. Okay, both.
Eberle is going to have a 3 week stretch in March where he scores 9 goals.
Book it.
Well what the hell was that?
That is poor way to start the period
Milan Lucic with a very poor defensive player there, 2-1 and we have a game.
a lapse
Vintage Lucic
Let’s be honest that was just a lucky bounce.
to say the least!
It’s the first one to bite the Oilers out of perhaps 4 lapses.
Talbot would appreciate 0 lapses from now until the end of the game.
Eberle can’t even spell “goal”.
beauty of a pass by Lucic there. I feel like his passing is returning to form but the pace of our game he still needs to adapt to
Talbot
Good lord.
Fanfreakingtastic save by Talbot off Voracek there.
Talbot with the biggie.
Calm Talbot!
His english professor already wrote the word for him onto the paper
Now he’s saying he can’t read the damn thing.
He’s close to breaking threw though you can tell. “G–..G-..G–Goool?” No, Ebs. GOAL! Sound it out man.
FTFY
Eberle scored, I think.
EBERLE DID IT!
He looks as shocked as we are!
Eberle probably didn’t even score there.
Hahahah was about to say Eberle will never score again after that whiffff
hahahahahaha…
Now watch it get disallowed
/jk
EBS!
Wait, what?
The reverse hex finally freakin worked
Saweeeet.
That’s the backhand I remember
Ebs!! You broke the jinx, LT!!
Oh man I can only hope.
It would warm my cold, shriveled heart.
Pouliot’s never gonna score again…
Party time!
Hahaha suck it Flyers.
Suck it Manning!
No that was a lucky bounce 😊
Kass made that happen.
Nuge!!!!!
Shove it Philly
Nuge?
In the same game as Ebs?
Is Venus really bright tonight or something?
Oil2Oilers,
I love lucky bounces!
Eberle
Now Nuge
i can’t handle all this regression all at once!!!
Nugey on the spot!
Whats crazy, is I had just hit enter on a comment mocking eberle’s drought.
He promptly tucks it just under the bar backhand like old times. *squee!*
Adam Larsson with the assist on Nuge goal? Surely that’s written down wrong
Nuge now 12-16-28. Good days.
Crosby with 3 points tonight so far?
Come on, McDavid…
Do you think he’ll ever crack the 50 point plateau?
Wait 10 minutes, and then do that again.
If he finishes something like 15-30-45 I give him a pass on the season.
It was a tough one for a couple guys he’s frequently played with so the lack of numbers is kind of a “drought by committee” kind of deal IMO.
Kasio looks really really good. Moar Big Players with skill are awesomer.
DO NOT BREAK YOUR HAND!
Manning manned up
Right, thats done. Back to hockey.
Maroon beat the shit out of him and I liked it.
Maroon is working for a statue
Clear decision for Maroon.
Wow did he lay a licking on that poor boy.
Someone give me a gif of Manning eating those 3 rights after backing up from the clinch. He’ll learn to stay close when he gives up ~20 pounds and 5” of reach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WZLJpMOxS4
Alright, 3 goal lead then.
Am i the only one that worries as I watch Maroon rain hammers down upon poor Manning, please don’t break your hand on his helmet.
Manning is a stand up guy. He earned some respect at least from me tonight.
I guess not hahaha
Music!
Anyone watching the philly broadcast? What a bunch of expletives
Klef wit da gap
Agreed.
Hopefully that puts to bed all the “buy low, sell high” nonsense regarding Maroon – he’s just fine where he is.
Only Marchment’s knee would think so.
Well done.
PMFC
I’m not only the president I’m also a member
Bullshit. No respect for that punk. If I’m the OIlers I make that prick fight every time they play. Word gets around the league pretty quick if you mess with McDavid you pay the price in perpetuity.
Nice intercept & clear by Cagguila
Slepy getting a chance on Connor’s wing
Hemsky still worries me a little in his own end.
You can hate Manning all you want. It’s your right as a fanatic. Oilers fans are the only people in the league that view manning dirty. The guy is clearly not a fighter yet he fought a much bigger dude because of unwritten rules. Gets my respect.
Yep, now he needs a lesson from Gryba, and then Lucic and then Kassian tonight and I’ll be satisfied
The canoe paddle put one off the iron that time.
The German and Russian make a pretty good duo. So good, I don’t think it matters what nationality winger you put out there to mediate…
Klefbom
Double digits in goals
er mah gerd
Well he does have 5 fights on the year, but he still gets my nod for answering a very tough bell.
It’s Always Sunny Against Philadelphia.
Suck it Pouz,
I want ten!
I want ten!
Klefbom scored.
And the KBomb!
Hahahahaha…
Suck it Neuvirth!!!
marchmentsknee,
He might not be a dirty player but that play that hurt McDavid was dangerous and dirty. He’s the example that the Oilers are setting. It doesn’t matter who you are. Don’t fuck with McDavid.
Keep filling them with arrows!
And manning is a piece of expletive if he did say what Mcdavid says.. doesn’t matter how many beatings he takes along the way. Intent to injure is unforgivable
Klef lets go a Bom and it came out smelling like roses.
I hope they don’t score too many more… be nice if they kept it to a number not too big for Spector’s arithmetic skills to handle..
Wonderful play behind the net by Larsson on the PK. My that was nice.
He mocked an oiler who he injured badly. The last player to do that (kassian) to the oilers earned a lot of well earned ire. Manning lied about what he said on the ice, then tried to play I know you are but what am I, then also lied when he said he wasn’t asked to fight last game. Sorry if I don’t have respect for this guy. Let’s also point out that he’s a fucking nobody and this is the only recognition he’ll ever get from the media
Ughhhh
Remenda
“I have a lot of respect for Brandon Manning”
Give me that guy from Buffalo.
At least he knows who signs his cheques
Larsson is a strong man.
Woh that was ugly
Wolfie,
I fully understand the message. And it’s been received by the Flyers.
Im a fan of old time hockey and the simple storylines. Whether I’m an Oilers fan or not the Manning narrative is good hockey.
A little bit too much mustard on that bump pass off the boards.
5-2
dangilitis,
I’m not trying to fight differing opinions but that’s about as one sided of an argument as possible.
You have to think one of the first things McLellan says “right, message sent to Manning. Enough of the shit back to hockey. We let them back into the game because we were preoccupied with getting square”.
He has old man strength at 24
5-2, 20-18 shots and 40-37 Corsi for in the 5×5, all EDM.
You’ve been waiting MINUTES to get me back!
Flyers fans have a similarly myopic view of the situation. The truth is probably closer to the middle.
The Oil are going to come out for the third flat as pancakes, all of them.
You and I both know it. Heh.
Don’t be in the bathroom for the first minute of play.
JDï™,
I hope you are sitting down.
I saw my first concert on Sunday. Big Wreck. They play instruments really well.
What happened with Manning in front of the Oilers bench? Is it overkill if Kassian goes after him next?
The truth bring he admitted to intent to injure, then lied numerous times.. yea right in the middle there.
Respect for the classless is for the Remendas of the world
Yeah, Klef too, but gotta love how they play when we have the puck.
Pouzar,
Still hoping for that free TV!
Pouzar,
As a professional guitarist, I give Ian Thornley a definite seal of approval. That guy can rip. Pretty underrated… Imo
Not at all.
The panel also said they respect him . Take of the blinders AH.
That’s so 90s.
Thx man…from a guitarist who sucks a$$ he is unreal. His vocals are pretty decent as well.
I will find you!
EDIT: You tricked me! The 90’s rocked!
If Manning didnt hurt McDavid last year I bet Taylor Hall never gets traded. #Narratives
One that is stuff with 100K
If Ralph Krueger wasn’t fired on Skype. Taylor Hall doesnt get traded.
Get your narratives right.
Can you share a stream to the game, appears that I’m missing out on a fun evening. Seen the highlights of the goal by 29. Wow! The decisive face-off win, and then going to the net like a man on a mission.
It’s hard to believe it could be true, but I can’t imagine any other team having a better 1/2 punch at centre, any it’s only going to get better as they gain confidence, strength and experience.
This could be fun.
The truth is all manning had to do in that first game is say I’m sorry. It was an accident. Who do I have to fight. He could’ve ended it right there.
It was obvious by mcdavids reaction and comments that’s not how it went down.
Teach him some respect.
Pouzar,
I love that Ian guy. Lots to love about the 90, except Cobain’s aim.
That’s as trappy a setup as I’ve seen the Oil use in the 3rd since the 2006 playoffs.
Yegfoundation,
Have to use Chrome…
http://hdsports.online/live/nhl/PHI-EDM-20170216/home
I thought he was fired on Google Hangouts.
Pro athletes aren’t anyone’s bitch. There are no apologies. Shit happens. Fan views are myopic. The proof is available in the Oilers love for Kassian. Again, hate manning all you want. It’s why you’re a fan.
Larsson really needs to work on his exit options. I haven’t seen that horrible short pass yet but he rams it around or off the boards almost guaranteeing a clean re-entry by the Flyers.
I know you do.
Best $35 i ever spent.
onhockey.tv
the zoom links are always excellent
Did you hear That Song?
Remember when it was 5-1? Those were drunk times.
Yeah OK
The guys in blue can show up anytime now…a sold 12 minutes boys..!!
I did
Stupid, let them back in the game like the last Flyers game.
That would be nice.
We need to back away from this ideal of perfect exit passes. Sometimes they’re not there, or the forward isn’t in position. Sometimes off the boards or glass is the safest play.
Was there a worse free agent signing last year than Lucic?
Stupid penalty by Maroon. Wasn’t even a tacky call. Don’t put your stick there period. PK had been solid, can’t keep testing it.
I agree. Not every zone exit is going to be a breakaway pass. But at least twice this period I’ve seen Larsson take the worst option when forwards were available.
Wait a minute…is this Mr. Tanna? Cause he could rip too.
Something wrong with McDavid?
For those of you who stream, how many use Kodi? NHL Streams is outstanding.
No McDavid? WTF? Manning coughed on him?
SKATE ISSUE MOVE ALONG
be calm, my fluttering heart
BREATHE
I turned purple. Thank goodness it’s just a blade.
No PP’s for the Oil yet tonight… these ain’t yo daddy’s Flyers
Lucic whiffs on a shot against Neuvirth and its a shot on goal against Talbot.
Gotta connect on one of those doorstep feeds Looch.
AHHHHJHH
Nope.
Oh baby.
Lil bit of Joe Sakic with that wrister there Connor.
That’s a paddlin”..!!!
Lol
Unless you really are marchment’s knee what the fuck do you know about being a professional hockey player.
There is a pecking order in hockey.
People need to know there place.
I remember a rookie laying out Gretzky in his first game.
How did that turn out for him?
Rips is right!