In the minutes before game time Oilers fans received the news: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins would miss the Arizona game plus another, and maybe more due to a wrist injury. Tabernac Saturday is a cruel cruel day. A day that began with bad ended with good: A shootout victory and a small increase in the team’s Pacific Division lead.
THE ATHLETIC!
The Athletic Edmonton features a fabulous cluster of stories (some linked below, some on the site). Great perspective from a ridiculous group of writers and analysts. Proud to be part of The Athletic, less than two coffees a month offer here.
- New Lowetide: Tyler Benson posting a strong November in hopes of an Oilers recall
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: A superstar shines, a goaltender stands tall and a ‘road hockey’ power play helps the Oilers return to form
- Lowetide: Why Dave Tippett’s deployment is a sign the Oilers need a No. 3 centre
- Jonathan Willis: A Jesse Puljujarvi trade is an opportunity of which only one NHL team gets to take advantage
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Leon Draisaitl takes the blame as the Oilers’ struggles against lowly foes continues
- Jonathan Willis: A list of which Oilers are most likely to be traded in 2019-20
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Q&A: Woodcroft on Benson’s ‘gift,’ the next step for Bouchard and acting like a proud parent watching the Oilers
- Lowetide: Oilers’ No. 2 prospect winter 2019: Philip Broberg
- Lowetide: Joel Persson’s demotion highlights difficult adjustment for Oilers’ ‘European showtime’ trio
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman and Jonathan Willis: Evaluating the Oilers’ readiness for the 2021 Seattle expansion draft
- Lowetide: Oilers’ No. 1 prospect winter 2019: Evan Bouchard
- Lowetide: Oilers’ college procurement could increase under Ken Holland
- Jonathan Willis: A shift-by-shift analysis of Caleb Jones in his Oilers season debut
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: ‘Sometimes it’s just unstoppable’: How McDavid and the Oilers’ power play dominated the Avalanche
- Jonathan Willis: Darnell Nurse, Caleb Jones and the crisis that’s looming in the Oilers’ middle distance
- Jonathan Willis: Basically, yes, the Oilers should keep Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ‘forever’
OILERS AFTER 26 GAMES
- Oilers in 2015: 9-15-2, 20 points; goal differential -14
- Oilers in 2016: 14-10-2, 30 points; goal differential +8
- Oilers in 2017: 10-14-2, 22 points; goal differential -14
- Oilers in 2018: 13-11-2, 28 points; goal differential -4
- Oilers in 2019: 16-7-3, 35 points; goal differential +13
This is a tremendous start for the Oilers, now holding a significant edge over the 2016-17 team. That first McDavid playoff squad is likely to catch this one, but I’m thinking (for the first time) maybe this one really does have what it takes to win the division. It was an impressive weekend.
OILERS IN NOVEMBER
- Oilers in November 2015: 4-6-2, 10 points; goal differential -6
- Oilers in November 2016: 5-6-1, 11 points; goal differential 0
- Oilers in November 2017: 5-6-1, 11 points; goal differential -1
- Oilers in November 2018: 4-7-1, nine points; goal differential -10
- Oilers in November 2019: 7-3-2, 16 points, goal differential +8
This team is five points clear of the best team from the past during this period. That’s significant. There isn’t much track left in the month, 16 points following up 19 points in October is truly amazing.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN NOVEMBER
- On the road to: PIT (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- At home to: ARI, STL, NJD (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 1-1-1)
- On the road to: ANA, SJS (Expected 1-0-1) (Actual 1-1-0)
- At home to: COL, DAL (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 1-0-1)
- On the road to: SJS, LAK, VEG, ARI, COL (Expected 2-3-0) (Actual 3-1-0)
- At home to: VAN (Expected 1-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 7-6-1, 15 points in 14 games
- Current results: 7-3-2, 16 points in 12 games
The Oilers exceeded my reasonable expectations for the month last night and have two games in hand to push the total higher. I had 88 points as the season, right now the team is on pace for 110. Incredible.
OILERS 2019-20
The bottom-six scoring has been coming along lately, Granlund is showing up on the scoresheet with some consistency. Added to Jujhar Khaira (who has been productive with skill lines so it’s cheating a little) and Gaetan Haas and maybe there’s more goals than there were a year ago from that group. All numbers via NST and five-on-five unless otherwise noted.
LINE 1 Leon Draisaitl-Connor McDavid-Zack Kassian played 19:22, going 23-15 Corsi, 11-9 shots, 0-1 goals and 1-3 HDSC.
Leon Draisaitl had a fabulous power play assist, a couple of great looks (one in OT), a takeaway and won nine of 11 in the dot. He was tripped in overtime, no call. Connor McDavid had a PP assist, three shots and a HDSC. He was incredible in OT, and added a new wrinkle when knocking a Coyote to the ice with some vengeance. A key play in the game came when Christian Fischer engaged in some shenanigans with 97 and then raced away to score the second Coyotes goal. No penalty on this play either. Zack Kassian had three shots but also three giveaways. The line got a steady diet of Brad Richardson-Fischer-Michael Grabner, plus defenders Alex Goligoski and Jakob Chychrun. Coyotes were mostly effective against the big line.
LINE 2 James Neal-Sam Gagner-Alex Chiasson played 12:43 and went 17-4 Corsi, 9-2 shots, 1-0 goals and 4-0 HDSC. That’s a great number set.
James Neal scored a fine power-play goal early in the game and had three shots, two HDSC at five-on-five. Solid road trip from the veteran. Sam Gagner was impressive subbing for Nuge, his assist came after gaining zone entry and taking full advantage of OEL falling. Samwise first passed for Neal (who was racing for the net) and then out front to Chiasson who broke his slump. A good night for the veteran. Alex Chiasson scored a goal, had three shots and two HDSC. He needed that goal.
LINE 3 Joakim Nygard-Riley Sheahan-Josh Archibald played 7:25, going 7-6 Corsi, 4-3 shots, 0-1 goals and 1-2 HDSC.
Joakim Nygard was part of the furniture on the third Arizona goal, love the effort chasing your mark to the net but try not to park your ass where the goalie is supposed to go. He did have a HDSC. Riley Sheahan and Josh Archibald worked hard but not much showed up on the score sheet to prove it.
LINE 4 Markus Granlund-Gaetan Haas-Patrick Russell played 7:16, going 8-7 Corsi, 5-2 shots, 0-0 goals and 3-1 HDSC. A good number set.
Markus Granlund scored another big goal. His first 15 games with Edmonton were pedestrian but the veteran has been an enormous help lately. He had three shots and two HDSC. Now three goals in four games. Gaetan Haas had a shot and a dangerous chance, and won five of seven in the circle. Patrick Russell grabbed an assist, and had a shot plus HDSC.
PAIRING ONE Darnell Nurse and Ethan Bear played 18:48, going 22-17 Corsi, 11-10 shots, 0-1 goals and 1-5 HDSC. Duo was stapled to the McDavid line.
Darnell Nurse had a terrific chance to score in overtime via a McDavid feed, had three shots at five on five and worked hard defending. Ethan Bear had three shots and is more dynamic with the puck than his partner. His work in the Arizona zone last night signals a player who can get to clean air on his own with vision and the ability to make defenders miss both him and the puck. He’s going to score some gorgeous goals this season.
PAIRING TWO Oscar Klefbom and Caleb Jones played 17:13, going 18-15 Corsi, 9-8 shots, 2-1 goals and 2-2 HDSC.
Oscar Klefbom had a nice assist, three shots and played well. He intercepted a headman pass in OT that would have resulted in a clear breakaway. Caleb Jones defended well and he’s jumping into the play more. I don’t see how they can send him back.
PAIRING THREE Kris Russell and Adam Larsson played 15:22, going 14-13 Corsi, 5-3 shots, no goals and 4-5 HDSC.
Kris Russell had a takeaway and some poor clearing and he defended most of the time and so did Adam Larsson. Russell was mostly effective in the defensive zone. Neither man is a quality passer, so the pairing is unable to book passage to the offensive zone. Adam Larsson is rock steady on the third pair, a real luxury for coach Dave Tippett he can run the vet here because of two rookies filling more prominent jobs.
GOALIE Mikko Koskinen was the star of the game in my opinion. He made three outstanding saves in the third period to keep Edmonton within a goal. He stopped 26 of 29, .897.
CONDORS 2019-20
Lines courtesy Wilde, who also confirms the defensive pairings, which I believe have been consistent for a few games now. The RH blue is where a lot of the current offense is coming from, Woodcroft is running two lines of veterans and one line of prospects. Team lacks depth, but Cooper Marody is back and should be in a feature role.
THE ATHLETIC GET TOGETHER
A quick note to thank all who attended the Rec Room event on Saturday. I was pleased to see both genders well represented and had a chance to chat with most of you. My takeaways are that you are very interested in the prospects, in the next Darnell Nurse contract, in the possibility of Taylor Hall’s return, the next trade, Dave Tippett’s role, Tyler Benson’s arrival. I wrote all the points and ideas down and will be writing articles based on your questions and comments in the coming weeks. Thanks for taking the time. I was truly touched by the number of people who took the time to attend and to take part in the discussion.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
A busy morning (I’ll be on the round table at 9) starts at 10, TSN1260. Dan Ralph from The Canadian Press joins us at 10:20 to talk Grey Cup and Jason Gregor will be my guest at 11 to chat GC and Oilers impressive road trip. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!!
FYI. For all the Canadians who go to Cuba this year, get out of the resort and go to Trinidad.
Nice town.
Its great to see the Oilers continue to get points. This wonky roster might be legit. 🙂
I would like to point out that his screen name is “Halfwise”. If he was “Allwise” he’d still have both legs
This makes sense to me. Pisscutter is the guy who never takes a break (even to pee) and is relentless in his pursuit to getting the job done.
Yes, also known as a “tough nut”.
We are in the midst of an Assignat Economy as we speak.
Does anyone remember their History? Does anyone remember what Napoleon was forced to do to pull France away from bankruptcy and hyper-inflation?
Ahh, an idealist. You know this sad state of affairs you so decry came about because of Central Planning, right? …But next time will be better, lol.
No corporations are getting zero interest rate loans on this side of the Atlantic. But they’re damn close in the socialist paradise of Northern Europe (and Japan).
And you know that ZIRP came into being as a European Central Bank policy to save the Governments from a sovereign debt crisis, right?
So yes, I agree, let the Central Planners fix the price of money at a higher level—lol, if they can (everyone knows they’ve lost control and cannot any longer).
Let’s see how long our profligate Governments survive with higher interest rates.
Yikes.
The French tried the same idea in the 18th century.
+100
The final tenuous link to sound money was lost when Nixon and the United States defaulted on their debt, by closing the gold window for countries redeeming US dollars.
Proximity to central bank ponzi money then created the parasitical financialization economy and facilitated the return to feudalism.
Nah, TDL will work too. JP can be traded any time, he just can’t play in the NHL this year. It would be the same as trading any prospect playing in NCAA or Europe.
Not really, he is retaliating when treated in kind. If you are going to dish it out you should be man enough to take it. This is especially true when in the other guys yard!
The invention of the remote garage door opener played a huge role in this.
I’ll explain how some day.
Well he’d best get busy…only 4 days to make that trade.
You’re forgetting who the Oilers GM is: the guy who traded Lucic + a conditional 3rd for the 15th best goal scorer in the past decade.
Wilde is a pisscutter.
Wind has no effect.
Hopefully the boys get a solid day of rest yesterday and are ready for a solid skate today with an update on the likes of Khaira and Benning.
Going to be a tough game tomorrow night against the Avs without Nuge.
Well that turned fast. Count me as not surprised it is because of a rabid reaction from Hunter who on a good day is a bit of an old dog, but every once in a while shows his true colours.
This could mean any number of things but I’ll deduce from prior conversations that you’re talking about monetary policy on the federal level – and it’s like yeah, but in service of whom? Tactics are value-neutral. What’s the outcome?
It’s money. Shit’s made up. Even old-school monetarists did some stuff that sounds batshit to us.
The obscenity of corporate loans with zero interest rates is just a single arrow in the same grotesquely overflowing quiver as government subsidies for highly-profitable industries with venomous externalities and foreign aid to apartheid states and monarchies and military juntas. Or, say, the infuriating ubiquity of private equity barbarism and scam-philanthropy.
Picking a cog in the vast machine of the globalised financialized economy always seems strange to me. The ruling class played for keeps, as always, in the ’70s and it’s been straight W’s for 40-odd years since then in pretty much every aspect of the game. Only now are democratic forces (or what will become them) beginning to stir at a mass level.
Because money got a divorce from reality.
Wilde,
Good luck with your quest!
You’re pissing into the wind.
Martin Necas with a 2.56 P/60 at 5v5. He’s going to be good. Between Necas, Aho, and Svechnikov, the Hurricanes have some serious young talent at forward and they had another excellent draft this year.
Notable that J. Staal is struggling. .56 p/60. Rough start
Why did productivity track with income until sometime during the 70’s they got divorced?
This really made me laugh.
That’s why I always use two hands … you have to respect the tool when you use it.
You aren’t exactly making sense.
Try again. You aren’t too far off.
You foolish troll, you showed your partisanship! Big mistake.
Also, you’re starting to sound like Oiler fans of the past 10 years – “scorching the NCAA”. ???
Enjoy your magic kookaid beans. I see you’ve been drinking a lot of it. What’s the basic premise of finance? A dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow. But please, don’t let me stop you from making drunken predictions.
I once heard a Vancouver bartender lay some smack down on an arrogant Nuck fan. He said, “Mark my words, the oilers will win another Stanley cup before the Canucks get their first.” That was 2012. Seems to me that he was talking to you.
hunter1909,
How’d they get all the money when we did all the work?
For a start, women were suddenly “liberated” around 1971 and house prices doubled quickly to ensure that no longer was a single income deemed enough to purchase a single dwelling(home).
Fast forward to 2019 and the banks and NWO have stolen everything.
I wonder what happened to that
Was doing the last WOWY for the night and ran into something so unbelievable that I now have to stay up late to double-triple-quadruple check.
You don’t say I watched the Broad Street Bullies documentary today that and the Red Army Documentary are two of my Favourites.
Relax. Dude’s just pushing people’s buttons. It’s nothing personal.
Ha ha I was cheering for Anaheim, since the NYI might be Oilers Finals partner.
I don’t want to admit this but you’re starting to grow on me.
Old school hockey culture is a reflection of the society that spawned it, you dumbass.
Yeah real degenerate how young people in their 20’s would buy their first homes, and start making children. Like they did back on those days you call “degenerate”.
Man, I had forgotten the details of that story. Old school hockey culture is degenerate. I bet you Reja loves it.
Akim Aliu is no stranger to controversy. Here is an interesting story from the back pages
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/akim-aliu-hockey-hazing-big-read/
Seems like the pot calling the kettle black. You like to dish it out but seems you don’t like it when it gets handed back. That is a typical bullies mentality. Karma??
Hook line and dashing silver sinker!
I hear Dallas is doing good – so good they beat down a division rival for the Oilers… yay, go Stars!
Firstly, after the Canucks next game, Quinn Hughes no longer qualifies as a prospect as per Pronman’s crieria.
Fine, include him as a prospect now but you can’t on the weekend by your own. I would think you can admit that if a team’s #1 prospect is removed, the team ranking likely decreases, no?
That is neither here nor there, if you are being honest in the discussion how can you include a player that is on the team and helping the team (and use him to evaluate the current team) and then include him in the category of a future addition.
It would be like Oilers fans talking about Ethan Bear as a future addition to the team – it makes no sense.
A pro Oiler narrative is germaine. This being an Oiler blog after all. No?
You are becoming boring.
\
Coming of another concussion, I think the Ferland will be smarter than that.
The questions is how effective he will be – there were large question marks about this coming off his previous injuries and the answers weren’t trending favorably for the canucks prior to yet another significant injury.
You keep trying to impose YOUR notion of what a prospect is on everyone else because you think it benefits your pro-Oiler narrative.
Corey Pronman and every credible prospect evaluator disagrees with you.
Give it a rest.
With two of the top five prospects now full time NHLers, that prospect system, while still good, is no longer top 5 and likely not top 10.
Those two players are on the NHL team and contributing to the NHL team – they are not prospects that are going to be added to the current team at a later day – although they will improve.
Harpers Hair,
Have you donated your $50 to this site yet? By my calculation it’s impossible for the Wild to hit 60 home playoff dates by summer 2022 …
[ Player (plus/minus Player): CF – CA (CD) / / CF% ]
Bouchard (plus Lagesson): 71 – 47 (+24) / / 60.17%
Bouchard (minus Lagesson): 257 – 214 (+43) / / 54.56%
Lagesson (minus Bouchard): 128 – 117 (+11) / / 52.24%
[ Player (plus/minus Player): GF – GA (GD) / / GF% ]
Bouchard ( plus Lagesson): 4 – 3 (+1) / / 57.14%
Bouchard (minus Lagesson): 7 – 11 (-4) / / 38.89%
Lagesson (minus Bouchard): 1 – 2 (-1) / / 33.33%
Ferland may be back this Friday.
Without those two in the line-up they really don’t have a shit disturber or a answer if a team decides to get physical. Ferland’s adrenaline should be pumping getting back into action, the back to backs between divisional rivals always gets chippy. It’ll be interesting to see if Ferland dances with Kassian or Nurse.
Babcock and Peters the new Keenan, Crawford?
You know what they say about coaches that like to go to the whip…
Shelf life of smartie in a fat kid’s lunch box.
In the 06 playoffs, MacTavish actually admitted that the team used the trap against Detroit. He joked something to the effect that he was scared to admit it, because in Edmonton it could lead to a public flogging.