G78 2017-18: Oilers at Canucks

In the last 10 games, Edmonton has a record of 5-3-2. The Vancouver Canucks, who have won two in a row, are 3-7-0 in their last 10 games. Tonight, Edmonton can move into No. 22 in the overall standings, ahead of the Manhattan Rangers. That would mean the Oilers would be scheduled to pick No. 10 before winning the lottery. This winning streak isn’t as bad as the “Patrick Kane victory” but has robbed the organization of an elite talent. Unless……the lottery offers salvation. Again.

THE ATHLETIC!

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• New Lowetide: Jujhar Khaira’s spot in the order.
• Lowetide: The college way doesn’t necessarily represent the best way.
• Lowetide: A superb summer in three movements.
• Jonathan Willis: McDavid’s season shows how much the NHL has changed.
• Lowetide: What are the Oilers getting in Cooper Marody?
• Lowetide: Draft 2018: The Oilers and the Republic of Finland
• Lowetide: Draft 2018: The Oilers and Sweden.
• Lowetide: Draft 2018: The Oilers and the QMJHL.
• Lowetide: Draft 2018: Oilers and the WHL.
• Lowetide: Draft 2018: Oilers draft history and the OHL
• Lowetide: Draft 2018: The Oilers and the NCAA.

HAMMER ON A DRUM, YEAR OVER YEAR

• March 2016: 7-7-0, goal differential -2 (14 points)
• March 2017: 10-2-1, goal differential +21 (21 points)
• March 2018: 7-5-2, goal differential +3 (16 points)
• March 28, 2016: Anaheim 2, Edmonton 1 (Source)
• March 2017 schedule complete

There are two more games to go and both would appear to be winnable (Vancouver and Calgary). A 20-point month would be an insane end to a pretty queer season. The goal differential has taken a major kick in the ass over the last four periods, perhaps the team can get some of it back by Sunday and turkey time.

AFTER 77, YEAR OVER YEAR

• Oilers 15-16: 30-40-7, goal differential -45 (67 points)
• Oilers 16-17: 43-25-9, goal differential +39 (95 points)
• Oilers 17-18: 34-37-6, goal differential -29 (74 points)
• March 26, 2016: Los Angeles 6, Edmonton 4 (Source)
• April 1, 2017: Edmonton 3, Anaheim 2 (OT) (Source)

There are 10 points still on the table and if you’re Todd McLellan every damned one of them means something. Now, he doesn’t have his complete roster and running the table is impossible, but driving up to 80 points should be the goal.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MARCH

• At home to: Nashville, NY Rangers, Arizona, NY Islanders, Minnesota (Expected 2-3-0) (Actual 3-2-0)
• On the road to: Calgary (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
• At home to: San Jose (Expected 0-0-1) (Actual 0-0-1)
• On the road to: Florida, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Ottawa (Expected 1-2-1) (Actual 3-1-0)
• At home to: Los Angeles, Anaheim, Columbus (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 1-1-1)
• On the road to: Vancouver, Calgary (Expected 1-0-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
• Overall expected result: 6-7-3, 15 points in 16 games
• Current results: 7-5-2, 16 points in 14 games

JOE GAMBARDELLA, BAKERSFIELD

• October-February: 32gp, 5-5-10
• March: 10gp, 7-0-7
• Source

I’m preparing an article about Bakersfield’s season for The Athletic, looking at statistical curios and indications that youngsters progressed during the campaign. Joe Gambardella has been on fire in March, scoring seven times in 10 games. Does this indicate a step forward? In my opinion, it’s more likely he is receiving more playing time and with better linemates. You can’t really tell much from a season of fourth-line minutes.

Connor McDavid has 5 gms left, but already has a career high 102 points- 3 shy of tying for 5th on this @EdmontonOilers list (dominated by the usual suspect) pic.twitter.com/fIU0wgLl2V

— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) March 28, 2018

I’m not sure about the criteria (99, Messier, Anderson all scored over 100 in 1982-83 at 21) but McDavid’s presence on this list is incredible. You have to remember the era and just how much adjusting there is to do. The 1981-82 Oilers scored 417 goals, fully 96 more than the league average of 321. This year’s Oilers have scored 220 in a league that is averaging 227. Yeah. The era-adjustment is a monster. If I had a vote, McDavid would be No. 1 on my ballot for the Hart.

I had tears in my eyes this morning learning that former #Expos star Rusty Staub has died at age 73. "Le Grand Orange" was my first-ever sports hero as a young boy growing up in Montreal. My column: https://t.co/EHuMkATLH0

— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) March 29, 2018

Those early Expos teams were part baseball, part carnival. The PA man was a big star (“Johhhn BOCCCCCC-A-BELLLLLLLAAAAAA”) and Claude Raymond (a Canadian) received a hero’s welcome each time he came in from the bullpen. Rusty Staub came to the Expos in a strange trade that almost got reversed (slugger Donn Clendenon wouldn’t report to Houston) but eventually got worked out (cost the Expos a great arm, Jack Billingham). He averaged 27 home runs, 92 rbi’s and 95 runs scored in his three seasons in Canada, Staub was the heart of the order. When they traded him to the Mets, I was spitting nails. The return was handsome (Ken Singleton was a more productive player, Tim Foli an everyday shortstop and Mike Jorgensen possibly the best fielding first baseman in team history), but my hero had been traded. I followed him in New York (he tore the cover off the ball in the 1973 World Series) and to Detroit where he spent some time as an early DH. When he returned to Montreal in 1979, I was thrilled to have him for the pennant race. Rusty Staub died today, and took some of me with him. RIP.

LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE

At 10 this morning, TSN1260. It’s our final show of the week and the guests are outstanding:

• Steve Lansky, BigMouthSports. Opening day baseball! Plus Easter and family, goodbye Mr. Staub.
• Andrew Stoeten, The Athletic. Opening day! Jays are going to win 90!
• Rob Vollman, NHL.com and ESPN. Who deserves the Hart, plus late additions who are helping.
• Frank Seravalli, TSN. Deadline deals that have worked, and those that haven’t.

10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio.