In the last five Oilers games, Darnell Nurse has played 20:39, 21:30, 22:51, 18:59 and 25:37 for the Edmonton Oilers. Given veteran alternatives like Andrej Sekera and Mark Fayne, Oilers coach Todd McLellan prefers Darnell Nurse to play the most minutes. Proof: in the game against Arizona, Nurse played five more minutes than Andrej Sekera. NHL coaches don’t do that by accident—and that is a fascinating development. Is it possible to fast track development by feeding a rookie major minutes?
ALMOST SATURDAY NIGHT, YEAR OVER YEAR
- Oilers in October 2014: 4-5-1
- Oilers in October 2015: 4-8-0
- Oilers in November 2014: 2-9-3
- Oilers in November 2015: 4-7-2
- Oilers in December 2014: 2-8-4
- Oilers in December 2015: 7-6-1
- Oilers in January 2015: 5-7-1
- Oilers in January 2016: 2-2-1
- Oilers after 44 in 2014-15: 10-25-9, 29 points (-50 GD)
- Oilers after 44 in 2015-16: 17-23-4, 38 points (-23 GD)
In G45 last season, Edmonton received a two-goal performance from Benoit Pouliot but the Lightning got two goals in the third period to win by one. I would be shocked if they win tonight. Seriously. If they win, Hall scored four or Talbot stops 70. The Sharks are in a zone.
OILERS DEFENSE, THIS SEASON
I sorted this by even-strength time-on-ice, because it shows McLellan’s preferences in the largest game state. For me, the big quibble is over Fayne (he is No. 7 among regulars, I would have him top 4D) and the number of minutes Nurse is getting. How many rookies have averaged 19:23 a game at even strength since 2000?
- Jonas Brodin, Minnesota 2012-13 (19:53)
- Jamie McBain, Carolina 2009-10 (19:51)
- Oscar Klefbom, Edmonton 2014-15 (19:47)
- Darnell Nurse, Edmonton 2015-16 (19:23)
Andrej Sekera is my defensive MVP to this point in the season, probably would have been Klefbom without the injury—and Brandon Davidson should get some votes. Nurse? His possession numbers and SCA/60 are improving since being taken off of the Sekera pairing, but those major minutes are a major curio for me. Is this a good idea?
OILERS SCORING (DEFENSE) LAST 10 GAMES
- Justin Schultz 10, 3-1-4 -2
- Andrej Sekera 10, 1-2-3 -3
- Nikita Nikitin 3, 0-0-0 +2
- Brandon Davidson 6, 0-0-0 -4
- Brad Hunt 6, 0-0-0 Even
- Mark Fayne 7, 0-0-0 +3
- Eric Gryba 9, 0-0-0 Even
- Darnell Nurse 10, 0-0-0 -3
Ouch! You would think a headman pass from one of these gents would have cashed, but no sir. Among the goals and assists here, 3-1-4 came at even strength. Edmonton’s defense may be allergic to the forward tape-to-tape pass. Seriously. One thing favoring Nurse? Shots. Leads defensemen in these 10 games with 21 shots.
CENTERS, 2015-16
Oilers have great depth at this position the moment Connor McDavid returns. One of the things we can probably talk about is roster makeup for next season. Of course there is a chance PC trades Nuge (I am doubtful), but if that happens you can bet a veteran C will be part of the patch at this position. Leon and McDavid hammered opponents in the first half when here and healthy.
CENTERS, LAST 10 GAMES
- Leon Draisaitl 10, 1-5-6 -2
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 10, 0-6-6 +3
- Mark Letestu 10, 3-1-4 -5
- Anton Lander 10, 0-0-0 -1
After Leon’s exceptional play during the first portion of the year, this looks frightening. It is, in fact, terrific production for the (should be) rookie. RNH is getting his points, and I am encouraged that five of those assists have come at even strength. He needs that 5×5 number to climb toward 2.00. Letestu scored all three of his goals at even strength, that is impressive.
WINGERS, 2015-16
Taylor Hall’s numbers have been fire all year, but he did not play well in Chandler—expect a rebound game. No. 4 looked indifferent at times and angry at others on Tuesday, not a mature game from him. Jordan Eberle is coming on now, he and Pouliot are feeling it and Leon helped them find clean air in the desert on Tuesday. I wonder if we see them as a trio again tonight, I am hopeful.
Nail Yakupov may be back tonight, Edmonton will have to send someone down or IR a player. We are reaching a point now where decisions have to be made, and that could mean a trade. Based on the chart above, my candidates for demotion/IR are Rob Klinkhammer and Luke Gazdic.
WINGERS, LAST 10 GAMES
- Jordan Eberle 10, 2-8-10 +4
- Benoit Pouliot 10, 5-3-8 +4
- Taylor Hall 10, 1-4-5 -4
- Teddy Purcell 10, 3-2-5 -3
- Lauri Korpikoski 10, 0-3-3 -2
- Matt Hendricks 9, 0-2-2 -2
- Luke Gazdic 5, 0-0-0 -1
- Jujhar Khaira 3, 0-0-0 -1
- Rob Klinkhammer 5, 0-0-0 -1
- Iiro Pakarinen 7, 0-0-0 -2
You would like to see more secondary scoring (anyone past Purcell) but it is also true the club has injured men like Yak and McDavid—teams don’t have enough depth to overcome the loss of two No. 1 overall picks no matter the quality. I would bet Hall has a night here soon.
NEW LINES
Kassian’s arrival and the imminent activation of Nail Yakupov give us new opportunities to guess the most effective lines. Todd McLellan does quite a bit of in-game shuffling, so I will be watching closely to see changes on the fly. Here’s my initial preference:
- Pouliot—Draisaitl—Eberle
- Hall—Nuge—Purcell
- Lander—Letestu—Yakupov
- Korpikoski—Hendricks—Kassian
I prefer Pakarinen to Korpikoski but LK is being paid like an everyday player and he is on track for 12 goals—on this team, that is a massive amount for a player outside the top 6F.
I like the third line because it attempts to get Lander back in the land of the living, while also (hopefully) being able to keep the puck out of Edmonton’s net. When McDavid is back, I would not hesitate to put Nail back with McDavid—perhaps running lines like this:
- Yakupov—McDavid—Eberle
- Hall—Draisaitl—Purcell
- Pouliot—Nuge—Kassian
- Korpikoski—Letestu—Hendricks
Thoughts? It should be a fun February for Oilers fans, until Purcell is traded anyway.
GOALIES, LAST 10 GAMES
In the last 10 games, the goalies have separated themselves in a big way:
- Cam Talbot 9gp, 2.03 .930
- Anders Nilsson 3gp, 4.32 .875
Small sample size and all, but in the last 10 games Talbot is 3-4-1 with a shutout and has been a major story in pretty much every games he has played in. Suspect we hear some contract talks in the next while.
The Los Angeles Kings are in, the Edmonton Oilers are likely out, & that's about all which can be said for certain. pic.twitter.com/Vs0hETBvyY
— Philip Iver (@PhilipAIver) January 14, 2016
A win tonight AND Saturday would get this party started, but we haven’t seen much evidence to suggest a two game winning streak is at hand. Talbot starting is encouraging, but the Sharks seem to have righted the ship—the goal differential for the two teams playing each other tonight tells a story.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
10 this morning, TSN 1260. Plenty to talk about, hope you tune in:
- Darcy McLeod, Because Oilers. We will discuss Kassian, Nurse’s deployment, and try to remember the last time ‘balanced defense’ could be mentioned when discussing the Oilers.
- Jeff Hauser, Radio Hauser. Massive NFL weekend (take the home teams!) and it looks like Coughlin may actually be headed to the Eagles.
- Frank Seravalli, TSN. Trade deadline and who is out of the race? Not many teams to my eye.
561 comments
[…] After the Arizona game a week or so ago, Allen Mitchell (Lowetide) asked a really important question: […]
Now there’s a Harry situation.
yeah. it would be pretty harsh to get McDavid and Klefbom back without Ference.
Sometimes I wonder how Andrew Ference’s injury is coming along…
Drouin to Blues heating up.
Down playing Shattenkirk and suggesting something around Fabbri.
http://www.tsn.ca/radio/montreal-690/mckenzie-drouin-to-the-blues-1.423315
One of the many things I love about TMac is his willingness to give TOI to anyone if they are having a particularly good game. If Korpse is looking confident and creating more offense than players above him, TMac rewards him, in-game, with more ice time. But, as many of you pointed out, that was not the case with Nail last night. When you’re basically playing must win hockey every night, why wouldn’t you give the guy who’s having the best game, more ice time.
He seemed dangerous by my eye pretty much every time he was given even a fraction of space to work with. But hey, let’s give Lander more time, he hasn’t been given enough opportunity yet.
Easing Yak back in is nonsense when you see how well he was moving last night. What a crock.
Yet when Brandon Manning takes his hand off his stick to tug Connor McDavid at 200 miles an hour it’s all hunky dory and just a hockey play and just a shit happens kind of thing and no way is it a holding penalty, let alone a boarding penalty. Grrrr.
Methinks Harry’s beginning to understand the vortex of absolute suck that lives hale and hearty at Rexall Place.
Harry Mclellan post game audio
http://oilers.nhl.com/club/podcastplayer.htm?pid=98&iid=53613
It’s another one of those nights – and it’s not even moral victories anymore – I think we got better as a team, we didn’t get the points
No. Unless you are talking about Harry McLellan, the grocery bagger at the store down the hill. NEVER double bags!
yeah that’s just…disturbing.
Shot data up!
https://oilersnerdalert.wordpress.com/2016/01/15/g45-2016-01-14-sharknado-shot-and-distance-data/
The loss stings but the point helps a bit, and the way we played was encouraging. Talbot excellent – tough to blame him for the shoot-out – great execution by them, not so much by us. Nice D tonight, pretty good job considering how many tough, energy-sapping minutes they had to play 5 on 4. And numerous Sharks forwards paid a price coming into our end – nice to see.
I thought the forwards played well overall, but did it seem like the play died with Hall a lot tonight? He’s been awesome so far this year, but it just seems like the last few games have been substandard. Yak and Kassian certainly made a case for more minutes next game.
Nice work on the PK (good correction from last game), I’m sure the PP would have scored 1 or 2… and nice to see the Oil play better at the end of the third period – no fold. Optimism after tonight.
Man this team just finds way to lose don’t they. Well at least Yak looked like he won’t need a dozen games to get going. That post would have been a sweet game winner but he got the puck from Lander so you knew it would never go in. Lander’s got some evil voodoo curse going on offensively. I liked what little we got to see from Zack-Lander-Yak, didn’t understand why they got broken up so fast.
Honestly. It’s really no different then last year. A loss is still a loss. The weak Pacific should gave this young team MOJO just to play meaningful games in the spring. They need to be eliminated to play meaningful games lmao
Probably 10m over 3 years. Would like it to be less but that’s probably what it takes.
45 games played.
8 regulation wins.
Lordy.
I see Kassian helping this team. Creating turnovers creates offensive opportunity.
"Steve Smith",
Noted.
A good effort overall. Good game by Talbot, too bad it ended with his jock in row 6. Wish we had an Encino man, exactly who this team needs.
6-0 to start second 25 game set.
3-11 since. Ouch.
I don’t think the efforts have been too bad but you can’t win only 3 in 14 and hope to stay in the hunt.
Toss could have gone either way 2 out of 4 pts in last 2 games..OK. anybody who thinks this team should be winning regularly is delusional. It’s a 500 team at best with McDavid.
It would be hilarious if McLellan got fired after tonight.
That’s too bad, I thought that was one of the better efforts this season
NYCOIL “Gentleman Backpacker”,
If I recall correctly, even Ebs didn’t play too many minutes in his first game back. I think it’s just one of those things that seems to happen.
Although, I would’ve liked to see him out there more. He generated chances every time he was out there.
Oilers even strength corgis 50-44.
Joonas Donskoi was drafted by the Panthers but they never signed him.
Pakarinen was drafted by the Panthers but they never signed him either.
Donskoi looked very skilled on the shootout attempt.
15 points in 36 games this year.
These are the kinds of bets I’d like to see more of from Chiarelli.
Hunter1909 Official Oilers 2016 Death March Leaderboard for 14.1.16
After tonight’s OT loss to the Sharks, Oilers currently headed for a 71 point season;
The listed 3 players all predicted a 71 point finish:
TOML
HeattreaterJoe
Jake70
thurmtim,
I hear San Jose has a few pretty good players… It happens.
Yes, I know; I used the conditional past tense.
Agreed. The problem with the fragile team is that they lose a game that maybe they should have, and the immature thought is “it cant be done”. I see it all the time with my students when I was coaching rugby.
The referees were bad tonight. A blatant slash, a kicked out foot on Nuge, a hold on Eberle.
Its crap
Moral victory.
Sekera was so close to scoring off that Eberle feed in front. Jones stick shaft just barely tipped it away, Jones didn’t even move lol.
“Steve Smith”,
Yak listed at 11:30 TOI
Shaft of Jones’ friggin stick….
What happened to Talbot in the shootout? Uber confident in regulation but a hot mess in the shootout. Usually pretty good in the skills drill…. Wtf.
That was a tough loss.
Couldn’t finish in OT.
Oh well a solid game nonetheless
Nelson is the only Coach to ever use Yak in a shoot out.
Shrekt
Well, good game and effort from the boys really.
Oilers lose in OT, but a little luck and better officiating and they take two points. jmo.
I hope it does not, because if he isn’t read to play more than 11 minutes then they are rushing him back from injury and they should not be doing that.
Same as it ever was
Talbot just got wrecked.
That ice crew looked like the lollipop guild. pay by height?
Easing him back in? I can live with it. Without looking at the numbers, though, I’d have thought that Yakupov was getting second line minutes.
He’s just back from injury. I think that explains it.
His release is excellent. I just hope he spent these last few weeks adjusting the sights on his stick.
Pre-injury it was the only thing holding him back.
Yak second least time on ice after Korpikoski
Sekera playing 25 minutes, way more than anyone else.
The latter makes sense except TMac normally doesn’t play Sekera the most. The Yak TOI is a total head-scratcher.
They’ve played decent tonight. Bent but didn’t break in the 3rd
why would the fans possibly boo. It’s like I’m in Vancouver.
Can’t stand lame fans.
No Hendricks for the shootout – Yak? He’s not historically great at it, as I recall, but it feels right.
At this point, I don’t care if they win or lose in the shootout.
Just bring this same level of execution (with a little more polish) on Saturday.
Please!
Saved by the bell.
Saved by the bell!!
Sekera’s sorcery…
We’re just trying to tire jones out for the shootout.
ughhhhh Jones is SO lucky…
I don’t think three-on-three play was a major factor in why we signed Sekera, but it’s weird how good he is at it.
Did that just hit the shaft of the goalie’s stick? Man…
🙂
This team is close; I swear. Well, affirm.
Draisaitl, Nurse and Yakupov together.
Yakupov the vet by GP, but Draisaitl looks like the confident old hand there.
Love it.
Nuge and Ebs have mastered the Red Wings pick on the 3 on 3. Have seen it many games in a row. And I like it.
If we could play 3-3 hockey the whole game every game, I’d like our chances.
We’d be balling.
Literally…
It’s OT.
Why isn’t McLellan double-shifting Sekera?
Pretty soft drive to the net there by RNH.
Most scholars of eastern religions would say no.
And I guess that’s what I come back to over and over again.
He may “like” him, but does he “like-like” him.
Love the “Let’s go Oilers” consistently rocking.
It’s a hassle to see the Oil in Vancouver with the drive in and parking and shit, but the Oiler fans make it really fun.
After 5 cups in 7 years, is it karma if we get 5 first overalls in 7 years too?
By the same token, I’m hopeful that he won’t re-sign Ference.
Talbot reticent to let Vlasic get another tonight.
Talbot wants to get paid.
WOOO TALBOT.
Chia let him walk once, so I’m not in disagreement there.
Schultz out there because Oilers. Give sekera some smelling salts and send em’ back out
NYCOIL “Gentleman Backpacker”,
Still wouldn’t mind an e-mail containing the comment, but I’m narcissistic like that. And otherwise.
Not being a homer. One of the worst games for reffing tonight . NHL head office needs to remind the refs there are two teams on the ice.
If they don’t want the Oilers to be a lottery team again they better look at how they call penalties on us
A poster made a comment in the heat of the moment involving two regular contributors here. He or she subsequently deleted that commentx making my response seem odd without context.
But I figured that person decided for themselves that they went too far and policed themselves so at that point I didn’t see it as fair to drag his/her comments back into the spotlight when others asked what he/she had said.
For the record, they did not insult “Steve Smith” so much as demonstrate they don’t know him or this site very well yet. Now the other person they lashed out at, well, that was over the line. But really I think they know that and deleted their comment so there isn’t much more to say on that subject.
Here’s hoping we get one more point tonight.
Man I just love that towering spiral guitar opening from Xanadu.
A point! (Oilers c. 2007-15 version of a win)
Are there anymore Talbot doubters?.. Nice 11 game stretch.. Any guesses what a fair contract for Talbot would look like?..
AND THEY’RE PLAYING CLASSIC RUSH!
Centre of attention,
I haven’t complained much about it…but definately looked like interference on Poo.
Oilers beat them last time on my birthday.
So, if they win thank me. If they don’t, I blame Eakins.
Oooh, the refs must be PISSED that they missed out on their “American team regulation win” bonus.
Is this the manifestation of some superstition?
A nice 60 by the Oilers but I know for damn sure they lost in overtime. Book it.
I’m peeved at TMac this evening. Yak needs to be on the ice right now. What game has he been watching?
Refs are garbage…. so trash…
+1 for the Shark Tank playing Jane’s Addiction.
SJ broadcast team making up for the Potvin horror show. Excellent.
32 saves against the sharks? Puhhleeese.
-The Professor, probably
I cant take this!
Wonderful heart and battle – loving this effort!
What the hell? Penalty?
I meant in terms of his positioning.
He seems to be losing pucks in his feet, missing passes, like he’s got his head in the clouds or he’s really not sure where he’s supposed to be.
His stats are great and I like the player. Love him. But I just don’t see him being a fit.
Stay on target…
Talbot is into the peyote.
The linesman was very explicit that it hit the Sharks stick
Bad penalty as a result of a sekera turnover at the sharks blue line. Stupid play. And this is why they lose games
G Money,
The Sharks broadcast team
Suntory Hanzo,
Looks like a good chance for a “doomsday goal”…
Now THAT is a bullshit call.
Come on PK!
Utter bull.
Welcome to the team Zach, its like this all the time
Anyone want to doubt the bias in refereeing after this call? (as if the uncalled massive stick destroying slash by Braun or the jersey hold by Ward or the weak call on Nuge weren’t enough)
One heartbreaking loss, coming right up…
Oilers get screwed there.
That deflected off the guys stick right!?!?
Imagine how many more offensive chances there would be if the puck didn’t have to clear the whole blue line in order to be onside.
Wouldn’t that be a simple way to increase offence?
Love the way they are playing.
Hate the fact that I am waiting for a doomsday goal.
#3rd tier fan that wears jerseys and shirts at home whilst watching pirate feeds. Unless once a year the Canucks get my money for a game.
Trade Eberle for Couture.
Exactly what went through my mind
Wow, Scotty Bowman. Any other revelatory thoughts?
I’m confused by this comment. Come around? He has the best stats this side of Eberle the past 10 gsmes.
Pouliot is what he is. A is useful 40 point player who has skill and will take some bad penalties. He has been this way for a few years now.
Haven’t seen it a lot tonight, but on occasion when the Sharks attack off the rush you can see some chaos in the D outside of Sekera.
The Flames love to attack off the rush with the headman pass. Have to keep an eye out for that Saturday night.
Not giving up the middle, stripping pucks, effective passes to guys with speed?
What did Todd say in that freaking break
Enjoying Kassian’s game tonight (trying to forgive the Gagner jaw as I was at that game…brutal). What a great attempt to send the goal back to Hall earlier.
What a great drive to the net by Nurse in the first.
Stripes owe us one for that weak RNH hold at the end of the 2nd.
To think we are going to add Klefbom, McDavid, and the 2016 first (or whatever we acquire via trade from said asset) is promising.
I think Chiarelli looks at that money and says he could get someone who is a better fit with it.
Like Lucic.
Not Yak; Yak is playing because he likes playing hockey.
Wow – Yakupov has the second least icetime on the team tonight (only Korpikoski has less). That might well be a good move, but it surprised me given how noticeable he’s been.
Look at it this way, if the Oilers lose tonight, in regulation or OT, it is another loss for us but it really screws with the Flames.
Small victories.
The Oil are playing for their coach tonight.
They want the W for T Mac.
It’s a good sign.
Poo is having a tough period for sure. He doesn’t really do the things Chiarelli likes, even though I like him a lot as a player. Kind of like Fayne.
The Jultz muffin slingshot. Needs to powerup in order to get off the ice.
Actually like the game 5 of the 6 d-men are playing. No bonus points for guessing who’s odd man out…
Has Drai lost a faceoff this game? Wow.
Nuge on the other hand. Not so good on the dot.
Way to get that shot to the net Nurse. Very nice.
Watching Hall there and thinking “go, get in there” then he sees the puck come loose, skates to the Shark, steals puck and sets up a chance.
What do I know.
Hall channeling his inner Datsyuk there
Well, this is the phase of the game where the team psychology/lack of veteran top 4 dmen usually bites us in the ass. Hope it ain’t so tonight!
I did that once, years ago – don’t think I’ll do it again.
It would be so Oilers to give up a point anyways even if they win this damn game in OT or something ridiculous.
lol @ Shark’s planning to celebrate 25 years of existence.
Exactly.
Saw that and said to myself “yeah, he’s gone”.
Wouldn’t surprise me at all if Chiarelli moves him at the deadline even.
That’d be bold.
Move Yak up to the top line for the final 8 minutes?
Yes
That Yak shot would be a goal if Gretzky has his way with the new posts.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/wayne-gretzky-joins-growing-call-for-angled-nhl-goalposts-1.3351784
And Schultz hasnt sucked the joy out of me yet. And that’s news!
Pretendergast,
Yeah it’s weird. The Oilers are playing with structure and good systems.
Now, contrary to Gmoney, the Oilers have been lucky to avoid a momentum-killing powerplay.
Oh for fucks sake Pouliot, how do you not come up with that puck?!?
Yep. Yakupov fits into the “shot volume” we hear about with McLellan.
Yak comes back looking ready.
McDavid – your turn.
hunter1909,
lol… well played.
Looked good since I tuned in. Watched some guys on TSN.ca talking about Mathews today and the guy said that when 97 cones back, he wouldn’t count them out of the playoffs.
Yak needs to find the confidence, like tonight, to drive the net and unleash that goddamn cannon every chance he gets. No other player on the Oilers can unleash white hot fire like that.
I’ve been very impressed with Talbot. He’s saved this from being 3-1 already.
Sekera has been good. Davidson has had a strong game as well.
Wow, it’s actually been a fairly exciting 3rd period.. Nail, Talbot, both teams skating well.. That big hit by nurse, even Sekera with a nice hit..
I think TMac is going to like Yak. Say what you want about Yak but he is one of the few Oilers who loves to shoot.
Third period pushback? Check
Physical play that’s actually useful? Check
Yakupov hitting the net? (and post) Check
A goalie who isn’t getting a sunburn?
Who is this team and what have you done with the Edmonton Oilers
Agreed.
I can’t wait to see him and Connor wheeling down the ice.
Yak had a Subbanish stick bend on that release.
Nice take out by Nurse but then made a poor backhand pass up the boards. When I watch Nurse I’m specifically looking at his ability to make plays.
Yak almost scored again, off the cross bar. Massive shot.
Have the Oilers’ best three scoring chances all been Yakupov’s?
So far, Oilers have looked like a grad fashion show.
Nail is on fire. Best player on the ice tonight?
Oh man, what a cannon by Yak. How sweet would a multi-goal game be?
Yeah.
Yakupov and McDacid.
I said exactly the same thing as Remenda, I feel a bit queasy.
GODDAMNIT OILERS, STOP IN FRONT OF THE NET INSTEAD OF FLYING BY IT.
DON’T SKATE PAST THE DAMNED NET!
That would be funny if it wasn’t true
Letestu hammers Donstoi.
Very nice look by Kassian. The big guy can make some plays.
Hall picked a terrible stretch of games to go cold
Hall, Nuge, and Kassian clicking for a shift. That didn’t take long.
That stick lying on the ice was twice as effective defensively as Justin Schultz was against OEL in Arizona.
BAUCE,
then he should go first overall!
I don’t disagree. But there’s a difference between wishing for consistency and observing that Nuge was basically doing one of a limited number of zebra-triggering behaviours.
Quoted for truthiness.
He’ll fit right in
Just got in from my students’ grad fashion show.
how have we looked so far? Tehn i’ll go back and catch up on comments.
Well, shot wise that was a typical Oiler second period. Not being down by three goals makes it NOT a typical Oiler second period!
Man, it seems like every in-game tweet where I put “EDM” in the tweet, I get at least one ‘like’ from somebody who’s into Electronic Dance Music. Do they not even read the damn tweets they like?!?!
Buff getting his request Oilers shoulder injury in early.
But grab the jersey and impede the player enough to cause an icing – not a penalty?
Point being – I don’t mind if they call ticky-tack penalties if they call them fairly.
If that was a penalty on Nuge, the Oilers should also have had at least a couple of powerplays more.
I have a feeling you should look up his Save% for the year.
Thx.
Pouzar,
I get that feeling at the start of every Oiler game. Then it seems to carry over right through until the next game. Oilfluenza possibly?
“Steve Smith”,
I’m feeling 940ish.
If that’s a penalty on Nuge pack up the kids and go home.
2 above average road periods in the shark tank. If we can keep the puck out of our zone when Jultz is on the ice, we’re gonna have a chance. He is a pylon in our own end and Nurse/center has to do the heavy lifting.
I get a feeling that his save percentage this game is above .950.
How does everybody else feel?
Ryan,
That’s a bet you would have won!!
Looking back, that was a decent sauce pass by Korpse there for Yaks 1-timer. Lauri has some skill, he just needs to play consistently like the player I’ve seen flashes of. He could play up to the value of his contract if he pots 10-12 goals in a 3rd line role and doesn’t take any dumb penalties. So far so good.
Yegfoundation,
I watch a lot of Sharks games with their crew as Curtis Brown is a buddy of mine.
I think they do a decent job overall of being fair in their assessments.
Tonight they are talking about how good Drai and Nurse look.
However, they are a lot slower to compliment the opposition when the Sharks are playing the Kings or Ducks.
I don’t have much faith in Talbot. I get that sick feeling when games are close with him.
Mark fayne looKS like Chris Benoit. Scary
Burn’s beard alone should be worth a $1M signing bonus
I don’t think Nuge really impeded Burns at all. But you take your hand off your stick and put it there, you’re basically asking for it. Might have been a thought crime, but not much to complain about. Stick goes parallel, hooking. Hand wraps around shoulder, holding. Usually.
Kassian has looked responsible so far. More than once I’ve seen him circle back high in support on the rush, and he regularly comes down low in his own corner. I think that’s something for his first game back.
If I had told you on Sept 23, 2013 that in under three years, Sam Gagner would be playing for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Kassian would be an Oiler…
Proving once again that life is crazy.
oliveoilers,
Yeah – I thought that was a legit hold call too. Infuriating that they totally missed the horse*bleep* Joel Ward holding the jersey on Eberle a few minutes earlier though.
Remenda’s love affair with the Sharks is making me want to puke! You wouldn’t even know the Oilers are playing. Wish he would go back there and give that spot back to Louie.
Fancies:
CF%,SACF%,FF%,DFF%,SF%,Avg Dist F,Avg Dist A,RelDist%,GF%
50.0 , 49.7 , 44.4 , 42.2 , 44.8 , 36.0 , 28.9 , -19.8 , 50.0
Oilers dominated the fancies after one, now they’re down on most counts – that was a pretty dominant period by the Sharks. Ironic that the goals in each case were the reverse of the flow of play.
H2H: http://i.imgur.com/ujXKa8h.png
I know it’s easy to lament shitty reffing, but in reality aren’t we all indulging in a bit of confirmation bias when we complain that the Oilers are usually the victims? We need a league-wide metric for bullshit calls
Even 5×5 corgi’s 30-30
I think it was a hold.
But call their penalties as well, for Pete’s sake.
Would love to see Drai on the penalty kill. He’s be excellent in puck retrieval, and anticipation. Plus he’s rack up some PK points going the other way. Do I recall correctly that he scored a shorty earlier this year? Pre-season?
Centre of attention,
Full counts in about a minute!
G Money,
tcho,
Not a terrible road game by the Oilers, really. Considering some bogus penalties, another on Nuge just now.
What are the corgis like 5×5 for the Oilers?
Another utter garbage call. Guess the refs are getting worried about it being tied after two.
Weak call. You know they score here
Two minutes for unnecessary oilering.
I think they’ve played the Sharks straight up. Full marks for this score after 2 periods
*edit-I reserve the right to edit this comment with the late penalty
*edit2-nope, we’re good
This San Jose broadcast crew – thanks for sharing the feed – are enjoyable. They also have been very impressed with Drai, and his game tonight.
tcho,
Yep. Pretty good game.
Well, I only really tuned in about 9 minutes into the 2nd period, but Oilers looking pretty decent so far to my eye. That about right?
Hall-Lander-Yak was out for a spin.
I’m intrigued.
Drai, my oh my. Dominant. He and Connor are the two best players on this team – this year. I’m convinced. Well Mr. Hall has been excellent as well, but boy of boy those two young centers are going to be something else.
That was a slick backhand pass by Hall
Yak looks exuberant. Kassian looks rusty but better than Klink at Klink’s best.
Full blender going here
Are the Oilers on the penalty kill?
If you’re a forward, you go down Jultz’ side every time, you dump it into his corner every time and you go out of your way to play the body on him.
Yak has got the Tasmanian devil thing going tonight
Hall did a great job of breaking up the Eberle-Pouliot cycle.
He needs to just relax and stop trying so hard. If that makes any sense.
Just tuned in to see yak’s goal. Oil are playing decently? How’s Kassian looking?
Yak is absolutely flying tonight. Hasn’t missed a step.
“Steve Smith”,
Yup. Man, I just can’t wait to see him reunited with McDavid.
YOU. KNEE. CORNS!
I really missed Yak.
Yak Attack! He’s playing quick and confident. Who needs McDavid.
Shoot Hall!
G Money,
You get the sense that he’s missed playing hockey. But you sometimes get that sense in the first game after two days off; Yak likes hockey.
Hall with a pretty embarrassing play that ended up in Sekera’s skates then back into the Oilers zone.
Stop thinking so much Taylor. Just trust your instinct.
Man I love when Yak is feeling it. The old Yak would have drop-passed that instead of driving to score.
geowal,
Lol
hunter1909,
Seismic Source,
Schultz is as bad tonight as Nurse has been good.
Love the Yak.
Loving Yak’s game tonight. Love the game when Yak is having a game!
It’s more of a targeted dump-in.
Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.
That hold on Ebs..lol
Eberle looks terrible this game. As much offence he brings ( and shootouts!) He doesn’t do enough away from the puck. He’s the piece I use to get that top pair D. Not RNH.
It’s technically not even a shot. More like a slingshot.
G Money,
And that slapshot on the offside was laughable. He has a minor hockey shot.
Fuck you Schultz, to miss from that distance with that weak of a wrist shot is just goddamn embarrassing.
Sharks cast raving about Nurse. Really impressed with the rookie
Oh man, the number of times the Oilers have it deep and the make a pass to the blueline which results in an ineffective shot or a giveaway is just legion.
Add a couple of blueliners who have a big accurate shot from the point and this team has 25 more goals this season.
I appeared before Mr. Justice Belzil of the Court of Queen’s Bench this afternoon, and he had the following exchange with a different lawyer:
Belzil J.: A received your letter.
Lawyer: Yes, My Lord – I apologize, I saw after sending it that autocorrect rendered Your Lordship’s name as “Belize”.
Belzil J.: Yes, well, that’s not a big deal. Incidentally, your lawsuit is dismissed with costs.
Haha, “yeah city”….I hate autocorrect too.
Poo wasn’t offside, Ebs took himself offside.
That’s a pretty fucking good one-timer. I don’t know if it’s worth five dollars but it’s pretty fucking good.
Thanks, Notley.
…followed by the Oilers patented “we score so now you score” philosophy.
Miss that guy’s smile. Good for Yak
Kassian beaking Dillon leads to the 2 on 1 which leads to #10’s goal.
It’s kind of a Frasier Crane thing.
Typical Yak.
Blows his coverage but Shark misses net and then goes down and scores
Yaksidaisical.
I hear he is like that around here.
Anyone can play with Korpse.
There goes Yakupov again. Scoring those stupid old fashioned goals, then celebrating.
Beauty! Starts with big save by Talbot (I didn’t know things were allowed to work that way, so used to it going against us.
Fucking Nail. Love that kid.
These games remind me of dbz. Where they need goku to arrive but he is so late the team is beat up, and dead. Enter goku to save the day, heal the team, save the day. I can’t wait tell after the all-star break, Enter McDavid!!!
I’m so happy for Yak.
Yeah city baby! Nuge is looking good this game.
Love me some Yak
YAK CITY!!!!
Wait, who was that guy?
YAK ATTACK
YAK!
I believe Burns has more facial hair than the ENTIRE Oilers team combined…
Nurse with a nice poke check on Jumbo Joe.
Eberle really needs to learn to make smart plays with the puck when he picks it up in his own end.
The soft chips up the wall to no one helps no one.
Powerball odds are actually better.
Incredibly horrible man-on-man coverage by Jultz. Bigger forwards just have their way with him.
It’s finishing your check unless you are an Oiler.
I doubt Pouliot is on the roster next year.
If not at the deadline, then the draft, if not at the draft then over the summer.
Everything in his resume says he should be a fit, but the more I see him in McLellan’s system the more I think he just doesn’t deliver what Chiarelli is looking for.
I’d like to see him come around because I really like what he can bring.
stush18,
Strictly speaking it is, but I’ve only ever seen it called on the Oilers, though both teams will make a play like that five times a game.
Think the f^cking Kings/Wings/Hawks/…………………………………………………../Leafs get that called on em?
BS
Do people think that’s actually interference in gryba?
I think Safeway could probably afford to give a million every time the Oilers collectively score 5 goals.
Another one of those ‘only when the Oilers do it’ interference penalties.
I just think his whole, ‘slow the game down’ skill is mostly his ability to assess exactly where all his teammates are once he gains puck possession. Most forwards only focus on the best options infront of them and react to that first.
He made a direct pass and also received one. And was large every time he went on the ice. I don’t think Klink would have done anything too much more or less than that. Whichever way you want to look at it. He looks creative to me somehow. Whether that results in a bunch of stupid turnovers or decent offensive plays is yet to be determined.
The big problem for the Oilers in this game is that it has a second period.
I was unable to give that period 100% attention but nothing jumped out at me as bad. *shrug*
Not by my eye.
He had a couple of nice plays. A bit rusty but definitely a player.
I’m seeing the opposition key in on Draisaitl’s backhand pass options now.
The play where he takes it into the corner then flips it out to the slot for the trailer is being taken away.
They aren’t taking Draisaitl out of the play, because he’s too strong, but they are tying up the stick of the shooter so the puck either goes by him and leads to a breakout the other way, or just negates the scoring opportunity.
Quick counter move would be to have the forward try to draw a penalty when they are being tied up there, move their feet, etc, see if they can make it into interference somehow.
Aside from that, they’ll need to open a passing option down low along the boards so Draisaitl can release and move towards the net or open up for another pass back/setup option.
Nurse had a bad period?
I haven’t received any e-mails to that effect.
I thought you were kind of known for it.
I saw him try a nice setup pass, but Letestu (I think) was tied up at the moment.
He has offensive instincts and he forechecks well. He has the ability to skate with these guys and you can tell he knows where to look for the puck and track it well.
His shifts were short, so he’s not trying to do too much, and McLellan is giving him different looks.
He had a chance to be a complete jerk on a Shark player in the DZ but didn’t, chased the puck and helped get it out of the zone.
So far, I’m content with this.
Oilers looking good so far. I like what I see!!
Exactly what I seen as well. He protects the puck so well, and that seems to give him the extra time to look around and find the open man. And when he spots the open man the passes from both sides of his stick are gold.
I think he touched the puck, maybe skated a couple strides with it on his stick.
Baby steps?
Kassian hit Dillon and lost his stick. Anything else?
If they keep to the time-honoured script, then yes.
Tracking the score adjusted fenwick for the Mid-year update and the Oilers are inching closer and closer to the 50% line.
Slowly.
But they are getting there.
Funny thing is, we use it as a measure for forwards but it is, at least in my mind, such a direct product of good D that if they can make the climb this season with this defensive group it’ll be monu-freaking-mental.
Great game by the fancies, too bad about the score:
CF%,SACF%,FF%,DFF%,SF%,Avg Dist F,Avg Dist A,RelDist%,GF%
65.2 , 64.0 , 58.8 , 63.0 , 54.5 , 38.3 , 27.8 , -27.5 , 0.0
LAND YAK ATTACK
H2H: http://i.imgur.com/mJalpUZ.png
You can tell Zach needs to get his NHL legs up to speed but already he is doing some smart things. Carried that puck and looked for a play rather than dump and chasing it and of course a couple heavy hits.
Classic Oilers to get stubborn on a player; Nurse could use some AHL time. Wonderful prospect and kid, don’t mess this up Oilers.
That play from Thornton was total, dumb ass luck ? Or a set play ?
Looked a little flubby from Thornton, 9/10 that’s dead in the neutral zone.
Did we win the corsi
A good period by Nurse-Schultz.
G Money,
I laughed out loud at that, which is not my custom.
8-4 on the even Corgis I would bet all of Woodguy’s wood the Oilers lose this game.
FTFY.
His peripheral vision is ridiculous. We can see those late trailers because we’ve got a birds eye view and no way do you think he’s got them spotted too.
I was shocked to see the refs call a penalty on the Sharks early.
But I guess they just forgot which was the US team.
That uncalled slash at 4:11 was just beyond the pale.
Rex Codex Libris @CodexRex 47s47 seconds ago
Is it just me or do the Oilers sometimes look like the Harlem Globetrotters…two seconds before they look like the Oilers again?
G Money,
Thought I could hear you screaming up the valley !
Note to Kassian.
When forechecking the snot out of Sharks players, please take care to avoid teammates.
Letestu avoided that last hit as much as the Sharks player.
Jultz looking good this period. Nurse not so much
You can only make a pass if it’s there…sometimes off the glass and out is the only play
Or, in summary, “SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!”?
Oilers cycling really well but just need to shoot.
Drai is so good, it’s scary. Him and Connor, best 1/2 punch in the league, starting next year? Is that possible?
Only the goddamn Oilers would pass the puck around the perimeter five times on a goalie WITHOUT A FUCKING STICK.
COME ON.
Fuck. Shoot the god damn puck.
Make a breakout pass Nurse. Off the glass and out doesn’t get it done.
31saves,
Confidence in his defence eh?
*ahem*
“So you’re saying there’s a chance!”
…
Thank you.
I think lander would miss the net on a breakaway with no goalie in goal
Lander had a look at an open net, puck slide right threw his legs.
Yeah, Cam – do as we say, not as we do.
Horrible pinch by Sekera, given that Nuge was a good distance from the D-man in the corner and no way Yaks would make up coverage on that pinch.
I saw him come from behind the Sharks player in front of the net to skate around him to stand between Talbot and the opposing forward in a matter of seconds.
Normally I don’t like the “fast track” method because the Oilers always seem to mis-apply or otherwise screw it up.
But in this case, I think things are going rather well.
Lander. Jeebus he’s needing to sacrifice a lamb.
Kassian damn near tipped that puck in.
That’s all on Talbot. Nice shot though.
To keep their pants up.
(Or, if you prefer, because it’s too far to walk.)
nice shot by Vlasic, but Talbot needs to have more confidence in his defence and challenge the shooter there
Why do defensive defencemen get 2-1’s against the Oilers ?
Sharks are 17-2 when scoring first, apparently.
Vlassic with a laser beam.
Why do forwards try to deke the blue line? Drives me f^ckin nuts.
Zelepukin,
Cleverness aside, LD had a full training camp, none of the apparent fitness issues (quite the opposite in fact based on the stories re:summer training), and still played a few more games in the AHL than ZK.
I don’t think anyone would have bet on a production increase going from AHL->NHL. What’s the NHLE, like 0.5?
I doubt ZK replicates LD’s success. I don’t think you’re seriously suggesting that either though.
If someone posted here on Steve Smith and then deleted and THEN doesn’t have the balls to re-state, then I am very disappointed in you. I don’t know the exchange but good grief people, that is two smarmy moments in one thread.
Definitely a #becauseoilers injury moment when Yaks got slew footed the first shift.
Classic Jultz play on the PP, losing the puck by forgetting to carry it.
Seriously, can we just call up Grif…..Gryba plays like I do on Sunday mornings.
I don’t see how thats a penalty on anybody, but ok.
Oh, okay – but if somebody wants to e-mail me what it is that I’m “kind of known for”, steve.smith@ualberta.net.
FANTASTIC 30 seconds from Nurse. Wow.
Nice to see Yak draw a penalty early.
Good puck movement, but an allergy to shooting on the PP.
Same as it ever was…
Well now I’m all curious about the deleted comment.
Yak looks great on this power play.
Yeah Reddit is my go to when I need a stream
I am decidedly watching the San Jose cast tonight.
Because f*ck Sportsnet that’s why.
Yeah the Korpikoski deal has certainly not gone the way you would hope. He was inexplicably horrible to start the year – a bit better recently – but nothing to write home about or justify the salary. Boyd Gordon and his 2 points looks pretty awful as well though. Right call on Gordon – wrong call on Korpse – but maybe the Yotes were the only team interested and Chia took a shot.
thanks.
BAUCE,
Google “Read It N H L screams” and don’t tell anyone.
Just watched a bit of the Blues/Canes game before the Oilers starts. By the looks of that powerplay that had the Blues could certainly use some scoring help. And Shattenkirk made a good tape to tape pass from blueline to blueline to get it rolling at first. Then the play just died in the o-zone.
Whomever gets to play wing with McDavid after the ASB will be great for pumping up their value prior to the deadline.
Yup that’s the one!
Youtube type
http://blabseal.com/rangers/
I can post one but I don’t want to break any rules.
not in the past, but thoughts may have changed.
Does LT frown on posting links to streams?
Delayed in the airport in St. john’s newfoundland with no TV’s (yep the airport needs updating) on way back to Calgary. Anyone have a link for a live stream that works?
Enjoy the game everyone.
Hang in there if it gets ugly…
speeds,
I assumed that they had tried and no one wanted to come.
Naive of me??
How would we know?
tapper,
What’s the message for the rest of the guys down in the AHL
“If you scored 1.88 5v5 pts/60 in the NHL over the last two season’s you’d be the first call up too”
sliderule,
Stop being rational – we are talking Korpikoski here!
You mean just like how Drai was killing it?
Chase back in the ECHL. 2G 1A in the Norfolk win.
Is Korpikoski that bad
He is on track for about 20 pts and he is trusted to kill penalties
I don’t see anyone on the farm that will get a sniff at 20 pts next season.
Maybe overpaid but what do you have to pay for 20 pts.
Don’t tell me you sign training camp tryouts because they don’t come to Edmonton.
I have loved Raitt since I was a child. Emmylou was just a name I knew until you convinced me to learn more on this blog a few years ago. Thank you.
Just thinking a little more on the ZK call-up, it’s a lot of what’s wrong with this org, all wrapped up in one little decision.
– What’s the message for the rest of the guys down in the AHL…did ZK “earn” or deserve the call up? Neither the conditioning commentary nor the limited GP stats suggest he earned anything.
– Related to the previous point, if the guy is not yet killing it in the AHL, what does mgmt really believe he can contribute with the big team…hope is not a strategy.
It’s borderline schizophrenic.
( I would be happy to be proven wrong. Doubt it though.)
Tyler Dellow is employed by the Edmonton Oilers.
There’s a snowballs chance in hell that Dellow signed off on that deal.
Ryan,
He will be playing with the Condors next year.
http://m.edmontonsun.com/2016/01/08/jones-griffin-reinhart-working-hard-to-prove-hes-a-pro-for-the-oilers-down-in-bakersfield
PC: “I wanted him to play more games without the pressure of being up here and I’ll get him back at some point in the relatively near future.”
It was a poor deal.
No.
If I was GM, given the performance of the team and the expensive non pointers, I would move them all out to preserve cap. So Hendricks Korpse Klink Ference Nikitin Gazdic Letestu and Purcell Fayne for the change in the wind. I might keep Gryba for ugly.
The Korpikoski deal was a sneaky bad trade. That 2.5 cap space is going to be very valuable.
Salary retained perhaps, but it makes more money sense to trade him in summer to a cap floor team.
Anyone think Korpikoski would be movable at the deadline, in a deal where you don’t acquire a multi-year contracted player?
Tough to get excited when he is right beside Cam Barker in that lineup!
I haven’t seen it mentioned yet but Oilers prospect Ziyat Paigin was named to the KHL’s western all-star team.
http://www.khlallstar.com/?lang=en
Here are all the previous 21 and under KHL all stars I could find:
Evgeni Kuznetsov (2011, 2012, 2013)
Vladimir Tarasenko (2012)
Maxim Chudinov (2012)
Viktor Antipin (2013)
Nikolai Prokhorkin (2014)
Andrei Mironov (2015)
I believe Kuznetsov and Tarasenko are the only two who have made the jump the NA hockey since. Chudinov is supposed to make the jump after this season. Good company.
Julian Hirsch! Stereo Review! Now that’s a name [or two] I’ve not heard in a long time. A long time.
Bruce reminded me the other day of the major bonus dollars on both Reinhart and Draisaitl contracts. Chiarelli, being a veteran GM, may have decided one could stay up but not the other. I wonder if we see Reinhart called up soon.
Aside from the whole Brad Hunt playing for an NHL team thing 😀
I have always loved both of them. Emmylou I found via a (I think) Rolling Stone album review (Elite Hotel) and Raitt via a guy named Julian Hirsch of Stereo Review who was kind of obsessed with her. 40 years later, I am him.
I fairness you could gargle the phone book with those two backup singers and still sound like an angel.
Word
Edmonton Oilers @EdmontonOilers 12m12 minutes ago
The #Oilers have activated forward Nail Yakupov from Injured Reserve and assigned d-man Brad Hunt to the AHL’s @Condors.
Gregor speculated this would happen and the Oilers would announce it late so Hunt didn’t have to get on a plane to Bakerfield.
Then tomorrow when Klink clears they call Hunt back up and he gets on the plane with the team.
Smart.
Fuck you Bendelson.
Ha!
I was going another direction in thinking DSF…
I can’t afford the pay cut.
ZING!!!!!!!
Maybe you should have told him he was Dellow instead.
Ostriches Eat Lettuce?
Octopus Enema Leftovers?
How about “A Little Less Conversation” seeing It’s about the heathens down the road to Castle Anthrax (Saddledome)
Fed up with hearing about Bennett.
Oliver Edward Lehmann. He is their Joey Moss.
I heard smacking on the playback.
Rookie.
Saddest goddam thing is that the 12/13 top 4 Dmen was the best I saw from 09/10-15/16
Man.
Master Plan.
The biggest surprise of the interview is how in Christ that gum stayed in!
Here’s the short version of my segment with LT today:
That Guy: “GODDAM OILERS CORE IS ROTTEN!!! KANE AND TOEWS 3RD YEAR THEY WON THE CUP!!!!!!!!!”
Me: “Well sir the year Toews and Kane won their first Cup these 4 players led Chicago in 5v5 TOI for the year: Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Brian Campbell, Niklas Hjalmarsson. ”
Me: “In Hall & Eberle’s 3rd year, these 4 players led the Oilers in 5v5 TOI. Jeff Petry, Justin Schultz (rookie year), Ladislav Smid and Nick Schultz”
Do you see the difference sir?
hehehe….
Damn.
That’s good.
On the fence if I should use it now or wait and see if they make the playoffs, because for the second season that would be fantastic!
Some good suggestions so far, thanks to all.
Gonna have to do some listenin’ tonight!
Love that song There is a video somewhere of Winwood singing it live in some park in London when he is about 18. His voice is so moving.
Excellent.
Exactly.
I like to put it this way:
Offence is getting the put from your own zone to the ozone
After that its scoring.
Those are two separate skill sets.
The players who can do both at an elite level get paid very, very well.
They are few and far between.
Lowetide,
Here’s one of my faves from Bonnie, it also features Lowell George. It makes me think of the Oilers sort of.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycTITDLWXUM
Use this, they will love you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlstQyA3qXw
The issue to me isn’t so much gaining possession but what we do with the puck when we get it.
In the Dzone, we make the safe play rather than the smart or best play, then the opposition gets it back with our 5 players put of position.
In the Ozone, we’re more worried about throwing it to the net or cycling ad nauseum and when we do try to make something happen are more focused on getting it back than getting men and the puck into the places where we have a better chance to score.
RexLibris,
Hound Dog. Isn’t their mascot a hound missing a tongue?
Original songwriters version still the best. As they usually are.
and now Janet has a restraining order against me.
Thanks a lot you bastard!!
One thing I wanted to get to today on LT’s show was board battles and the forwards.
The Oilers need to win more for sure.
Lowetide,
How many fingers? asked Coach LT, waving his hand in Woodguy’s face
Just fill the f-in glass, says Woodguy
It’s Now or Never.
I suppose they would not appreciate Viva Las Vegas after Bettman’s pocket picking tour?
(If you were picking something for long suffering Oil fans it would have to be “I Forgot to Remember to Forget”).
Lowetide,
Okay this is a stuiped question I’ve seen this for a few years now but who is oel on Phoenix. What’s his name?
Lowetide,
I was just walking around my kitchen playing that song on my guitar!
Having trouble picking an Elvis song for the Flames Mid Year.
I’m currently running with Jailhouse Rock because they are breaking out of their early-season funk.
This crowd seems pretty hip with the rock and roll. Any thoughts? Has to be the King. And not grossly insult Flames fans (yeah, I know, but it is my cross to bear).
Great post.
It’s the heart of the matter. I wouldn’t underestimate the importance of forwards being in a position to receive a pass to defense success at moving it up. Predictability is the heart of the system.
Edmonton isn’t short on O as much as weak on D. They score enough, especially if you consider that tightening up play which is based on following the system will increase goals for. The GA has to come down from league worst first, the goalering is close enough to average
And this too
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z-GwdaKrn8
Micah Blake McCurdy @IneffectiveMath 7m7 minutes ago
Micah Blake McCurdy Retweeted Cirno Avery
As the playoffs approach you should all become familiar with my favourite ever youtube vid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4VvRWTD3Ok …
Rex Codex Libris @CodexRex 6m6 minutes ago
@IneffectiveMath Hilarious. This is actually how I picture @Lowetide at home, telling kids to get off his lawn and turn down that rock music
Worked for van Allen.
Does that make you Ted Green, though? Because if so, man I’m not sure there’s enough pity in the world…
Ooooh.
Slow clap for that one.
God I love this song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toJ3ZYWRh24
How much does it cost to ice 6 all round players. There are times you need more defense and sometimes more offense. There are specialty teams in all sports so your generalizations maybe oversimplification.
I told him he was Gretzky.
But more often than not the puck gets to the forwards and THEY get the puck removed from their possession. Watch the neutral zone folks and you’ll see for yourself. Not saying the D is great but if you actually look at individual players rather than stats it is very clear. New individual stat puck lost/puck gained. Giveaway takeaway are only recorded if it’s obvious. Battle results are much more important
Correct.
First in the studio, last out.
I could only hear it, but I was pretty sure your body language showed everyone that you really wanted to be there.
I hear you like to lay the lumber on folks too.
Lowetide,
Klinkhammer.
Ah gotcha Woodguy.
Thanks!
FTFY = Fixed That For You
Usually they quote the post, but change some things.
I did LT’s show after getting a concussion at work today.
I’m gritty and good in the corners too.
True story.
Never been good at acronyms.
What?
And you bastards quit putting words in my mouth. ha ha ha
Anyone decent on waivers today?
Technically the Oiler’s website broke the news first (by removing him from the listed active roster). I doubt they like to feature paper transactions on their twitter feed (assuming Hunt isn’t travelling).
In other words:
Chiarelli: Brad, we’re sending you down to the AHL. But it will likely be only temporary.
Hunt: How temporary?
Chiarelli: How slowly can you pack your bags?
Магия 10,
Why does Jason Gregor have to break this news and not the official Oilers twitter account?
Doesn’t go to the hard areas of the conversation.
Lacks verbglow/60.
Doesn’t talk a 200 foot argument.
Don’t like his body language when he’s on the computer.
Last one to log in, first one to log off.
Doesn’t listen to the discussion, just counts the adjectives on his little spreadsheet.
confirmed:
Jason Gregor @JasonGregor 1m1 minute ago
Hunt reassigned to AHL. Yakupov will be activated. Could see Hunt recalled tomorrow after Klinkhammer waiver period ends. #Oilers
Tape an aspirin to it, ya lily-livered fancypants ninny!
FTFY
Thanks Coach.
Yeah, Nashville, who has only managed to make the playoffs 6 times out of the last ten seasons.
That is what a strong defensive core does for you. The Oilers haven’t had a decent d-man since Mrs. Pronger decided she didn’t like Edmonton.
Year in, year out, we get all the nice shiny forwards up front and according to the stats many of them push the river on a nightly basis, but the defense are in way over their heads. The object of the game is to put the puck in the other teams net and keep it out of yours. The Oilers have a definite problem there. Every time I see a defenseman miss a check or even do basic coverage in their zone, I wonder how this makes the core of the team, “Soft”? The reality is there are pieces of the puzzle missing not only down to individual and team tactics, but right down to basic technical skills.
David Poile built his team around solid d-men and good goaltendin