The Montreal Canadiens appeared in Edmonton for the first time to face the Oilers on December 14, 1979. In a season that featured history on a daily basis (everything was new!), seeing the Habs in Alberta had the impact of a Papal visit. Dave Lumley scored in the first, Kari Makkonen scored his second goal of the season (and the final NHL goal of his career), Gretzky, Lumley again, Messier late with his third of the year. Montreal didn’t get started until the third period, then received qoals from Pierre Larouche (22nd of the year), Yvon Lambert, Pierre Mondou. Lafleur had an assist, Bunny Larocque loses to Eddie Mio.
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: Ken Holland’s targets for his first trade deadline with the Oilers.
- New Minnia Feng: Zamboni Ursula: What if Oilers fans could change something in the team’s past?
- Lowetide: Ken Holland’s trade deadline options for the Oilers
- Jonathan Willis: ‘That’s the nicest goal I’ve ever seen’: Connor McDavid’s teammates amazed by his latest effort
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers notebook: James Neal’s resurgence, Matt Benning’s injury and the Tyler Benson recall temptation
- Lowetide: Oilers farmhands are pushing hard for NHL jobs
- Jonathan Willis: Zack Kassian’s breakout performance presents Oilers GM Ken Holland with a familiar dilemma
- Lowetide: Ken Holland, the Oilers amateur procurement department and the 2020 draft
- Jonathan Willis: It would be a mistake to write off the Oilers after their December slump
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: From Leon Draisaitl to the penalty kill, the things the Oilers need to improve to get back to the playoffs
- Lowetide: A shift-by-shift analysis of Kailer Yamamoto’s 2019-20 debut in the Oilers’ New Year’s Eve game.
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: James Neal puts on New Year’s Eve show to remember in Oilers’ thriller
- Lowetide: Midseason review of ‘reasonable expectations’ shows Oilers are on track with preseason targets
- Jonathan Willis and Daniel Nugent-Bowman: How are our Oilers predictions holding up at the midseason mark? We decided to find out
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers midseason report card shows an unbalanced team with a lot of replaceable parts
- Lowetide: Complete Oilers top 20 prospects list, winter 2019
OILERS AFTER 46 GAMES
- Oilers in 2015-16: 18-23-5, 41 points; goal differential -24
- Oilers in 2016-17: 24-15-7, 55 points; goal differential +6
- Oilers in 2017-18: 19-23-3, 41 points; goal differential -26
- Oilers in 2018-19: 22-21-3, 47 points; goal differential -7
- Oilers in 2019-20: 23-17-5, 51 points; goal differential -3
The Oilers are in a good spot right now, January has been most kind early days. Goal differential is starting to straighten up and fly right. Just for a reminder, the 10-game segments so far are: 7-2-1; 5-4-1; 5-4-1; 3-6-1 and now 3-1-1.
OILERS IN JANUARY
- Oilers in January 2016: 2-2-0, four points; goal differential -1
- Oilers in January 2017: 2-2-0, four points; goal differential -1
- Oilers in January 2018: 1-3-0, two points; goal differential -11
- Oilers in January 2019: 2-2-0, four points; goal differential -4
- Oilers in January 2020: 2-0-1, five points; goal differential +3
January 2020 stands out in the McDavid crowd, and with Montreal 2-7-1 in its last 10 perhaps Edmonton arrives in Quebec at a good time. The goal differential so far this month is encouraging but it’s early days. Also, this Oilers team famously stubs toes against lesser opposition.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN JANUARY
- On the road to: BUF, BOS, TOR, MTL, CAL (Expected 2-2-1) (Actual 2-0-1)
- At home to: NAS, ARI, CAL, STL (Expected 1-2-1)
- Overall expected result: 3-4-2, eight points in nine games
- Current results: 2-0-1, five points in three games
I projected five points from the first five games, Oilers grabbed the points in three games. A key moment in the season now, can this club get some bonus points from the final two games of the trip. Even a split sets them up at 3-1-1 heading into the last four games of the month. It’s a big game tonight.
OILERS 2019-20
Sam Gagner will join the lineup, replacing Joakim Nygard who will replace Jujhar Khaira. If you’re looking for an entry spot for Tyler Benson, right now it would be Haas and Chiasson. Maybe they call up Benson and Malone, run them with Haas.
CONDORS 2019-20
Condors lost last night, but Stuart Skinner continues an impressive run out outings recently. In his last three games, his save percentages are .935, .975 and .923. Tyler Benson had two assists and over the last seven games is 1-9-10. Wilde had the lines and pairings, OP with nice updates in-game during the previous thread. Benson recall imminent? Sam Gagner is playing tonight, I think that’s a transaction (Benson up, Gagner to Bakersfield) that will be discussed and perhaps we see it after the All-Star break. Or before.
I think the Benson recall is overdue. I also think Josh Currie, Joe Gambardella and even Brad Malone might be able to fill a role. As we approach the trade deadline, I wonder if Ken Holland has a quick look-see on some of these options. If there’s an internal solution to the Khaira-Gagner issue (I choose Benson, your mileage may vary), a five-game audition seems prudent.
Thank you LT.
Thank you all you posters who think you have Kenny Holland in your speed dial
Thank you Reja for never learning punctuation (love you bud)
New and Improved Darkness hehe. Brilliant.
Not enough time for shoutouts. Keep on keeping on fellas. Poof. Ninja.
During the post game presser vs the Leafs, O’Keefe said the Oilers came out and played at a higher level than they have seen from any opponent in quite some time. I found that comment encouraging.
GOILERS
Oh I do like the chain comments but count me in boat that Hope’s if chain activated it repopulated to newest comment…its nice for us night shift workers trying to chase rabbit post fury in here.
Thanks for keeping this up LT. I did subscribe to athletic it’s just too much content for amount of time I have for fruitless mental walkabout while running extremely time sensitive and costly operations.
I think it’s funny. Hes not abrasive or ignorant or anything. Just doesnt stand firmly planted behind anything when not convenient.
The fact people keep wandering out into quicksand and peacock about like they are usan bolt about to break some world record is entertaining to me.
hunter1909,
hunter1909,
Why thank you!
@ Lowetide:
How about merely giving your posters a finite amount of posts per every day Lowetide exists?
That way you instantly free the blog from for example those sad Vancouver Island denizens who, despite claiming to be former Oilers fans are little more in 2020 than soft headed old trolls residing in cloud cuckoo land.
And, those particularly sad ginger headed solicitors hell bent on turning your precious blog into a living in Calgary as an Oilers fan centric load of horse manure.
Given the current toxic climate around these here parts, I would personally limit people to 5 posts a day. or 7, or even 10 but no more.
No need to thank me. Happy to help out.
Unfriendly Regional Arachnid Individual,
If nothing else, you Sir have one of the best internet handles of all time.
Re Daneault. I Just tweeted a photo of his puckiq chart. He’s elite 2 way C. If by any chance he’s available the Oilers gotta be in. He’s on a great contract too. Just dont trade Nuge. Gotta be futures and Montreal after the last 8 games might be willing to go scorched earth.
Take a look if you like https://twitter.com/frozenpools/status/1215537927645732871?s=21
Fair enough. Nuge has played with some godawful wingers since the departure of Hall. And I do think his PP play is important. As good as Nuge is on the PK, the strength of his game is actually the PP.
Why is 5 x 5 play more valuable? Teams spend more time 5 x5, but the Nuge is exceptional on the PP and that has value too. He might not be as good as Drai or McDavid, but the Nuge would improve the PP of virtually every team in the league.
I doubt the Habs trade Danault anyway. He’s the only legit C they have right now. The better strategy for the Oilers might be getting a couple wingers so Nuge can actually play with some quality.
He’s been OK it’s also pretty clear that a good bit of luck and partners (RNH) has helped this year. He was part of a very bad PK last year (83% SV%) but was pretty good two years ago (90%). I’d say he’s a solid PK forward who is also having a nice run of luck. But that’s all he is right now as the rest of his game is a disaster. If adding him to a guy like Jones or Lagesson gets you a better winger then you sign the papers and let someone else try make a player out of him.
I like Danault enough I would over pay for him IF it wasn’t for the one-year term left on his contract after this year. That will be an expensive signing and I would rather not lose RNH.
Need to add good players.
Most personal preference, I’d say. Danault does almost all his damage at 5-on-5 and has outpaced Nuge in even strength scoring in 3 of the past 4 years while quite handily outchancing his opposition and being- by my analysis- a better defensive forward. For some numbers to back that up:
5×5 pts (per-60):
Nuge – 27, 37*, 34, 21* (1.5, 1.96, 1.75 & 1.13)
Danault – 33, 27*, 39, 45* (1.82, 1.49, 2.06 & 2.37)
* denotes prorated over 82 games
STAT: Nuge / Danault (the past three years)
CF% 47.4 / 56.2 (4th in the league among Cs w/ 2000+ mins)
GF% 48.9 / 54.1 (44th in the league)
SCF% 47.1/ 55.6 (6th in the league)
HDCF% 47.2/ 56.6 (6th in the league)
relCF% -2.24 / +4,53
relGF% +3.25 / +4.08
relSCF% -2.38 / +3.73
relHDCF% -2.22 / +4.58
Now, in fairness to Nuge, these results don’t exist within a vacuum. Danault has played with vastly better wingers on a consistent basis and adding him wouldn’t change the fact that we’d still need to add a top-6 winger (or two). However, even when Nuge had top-6 Ws, he wasn’t a particularly strong 5-on-5 producer.
All in all, I think they’re close in value but I believe his results better fit what I’d like to see out of my ideal 2C. Since 5-on-5 production is more valuable and there’s a gap in cap hit, I think the Oilers would need to add.
Yeah the .9375 SV% isn’t sustainable, but that doesn’t mean Khaira hasn’t been excellent.
He and Nuge are easily the best Oilers in limiting shots against on the PK. They’re also 1-2 in xGA/60.
They have been good. And they’ve been lucky.
Nygaard was great in the ozone. I’ve never seen him take the puck to the net like he did tonight, with quickness and determination. Good to see.
They did, but yeah difficult to complain about and Oilers win and a bunch of rivals losing.
Also, a fun tidbit I noticed earlier
Last 10 games:
Boston 5-1-4
Toronto 7-1-2
The Oilers were both of the “1”s.
Who wants to take this one?
LoL
Another strong win for this group
I called the sleepy start in texting with a buddy of mine, not surprised to hear they enjoyed themselves in Toronto
Huge game in Calgary-woot.!
Is this a proper reply or merely a “Harpers Hair” Lowetide response to trolling reply?
The older I get the less things make sense lol
Woody was on with Gregor and Studs earlier today:
– Asked about Benson – didn’t say anything we weren’t aware of – like last year, has found his game and is just making so many plays.
– Asked about Bouchard – “I see him growing before our eyes in that part of the game” – talking about defence. Developing his “proximity to the check” and his “physical relation with the check”. Junior players often play off their check but you can’ give pro players that time and space. Part of it is net play and determining where his opponent goes. Part of it is off the rush. Very coachable kid and has a great relationship with Manson. Playing huge minutes now.
My personal note: he has come a LONG ways with defencing the rush and the blue line – much more aggressive than the beginning of the year. With the minutes, to my eye, over the last 4-5 games he’s got to be averaging close to 23-25 minutes. He just starting material PK minutes as well.
– Struds asked about the offence of a guy like McLeod – Woody feels very good about his defensive concious and responsibility, d-zone faceoffs, etc. Trying to develop “habits required to be a production pro hockey player offensive. Often comes from playing on the inside. You have to define what that means and hold the players accountable to what your looking for……… trying to get him the willingness to stay in plays, get your nose in the paint, etc…..”
– Gregor asks about Maksi and the challenges of going from a scorer to a different type or role – Woody says minutes/opportunities are “merit based”, not about draft position, rank, etc. Challenge for young players is ability to carve out their niche within the team concept while developing skills. He’s seen HUGE gains in his game over the last 6 weeks……. one of the most consistent lines with Cave. He’s learning how to find his way in this man’s league but commanding respect of teammates and his share of the ice. Playing a hard and heavy game. He’s playing important situation – big part of PK, played 4 on 4 and in the shootout. More opportunity will come from him on the PP.
Personal Note: I agree completely – he’s been so much better the last month, noticeable creating offence more often and making plays.
– Asked about Persson – Came down with a great attitude and excited to play more minutes. He’s getting PK time for the first time as a pro. Poise and low panic point at offensive blue line – keeps head up and a high ability to find open man. Good first pass. The experience he is gaining on the small ice surface is helping him. Real good teammate.
Thanks for the update.
Thanks OP!
Thank you!
The Oilers did not play well tonight, but they found a way to beat a bad team. There’s something to be said for that. Playoff teams find a way to win, even when they don’t have their plus stuff. Not sayin the Oil are a playoff team. Just sayin.
Peka Rinne scores.
Bravo.
https://youtu.be/I1Su1dDVBiw
Why would you say he’s better than RNH? This will be his first year scoring 15 goals. He’s scored 50 pts once.
talbot been very good for the phlegms tonight
Even if the flames hold on to their one goal lead and win, it is still looking like a very successful night.
Perhaps his ability on the PK is limiting certain types of high danger chances – preventing the cross seam pass, etc.?
He’s been on the ice for 3 SH goals all year and the team having success with him on the ice on the PK is not a new thing.
What we even want from the Habs. Gallagher?
Unfriendly Regional Arachnid Individual,
texmex,
who,
I like Tatar – problem is making the cap space work. Hence the crazy move Nuge plan. For the record my jersey is a Nuge one, I don’t really want to see him go.
What would the add be on top of Nuge? I through Gagner in mainly as cap fodder and the fact he’s UFA next year which might be enticing to Montreal. They’re still desperate for a long term Left D solution I guess, so does that make one of Samorukov, Lagesson or Jones the add? Rather than a pick I mean.
Vegas 4-0 down against the Kings. Can we pull of the Holy Grail of winning and all our rivals losing? Minnesota probably not a strong bet tbh
Really like Tippett’s game mngt. He’s not afraid to mix up the lines and he does it in a logical way. He sees the Sheahan Archie Nygaard line is the only one doing anything, so he throws McDavid in there a couple times. And then throws Nygaard on the first line as well. In the third, McDavid Sheahan and Archie take the dzone draw and then throws on Neal when they penetrate the ozone.
Funny you should mention that. Stauffer was chatting with Burke today about the how well rnh plays in Montreal and the bell center. Stauffer then says:
“Keep that in mind, for down the road folks, cause they (habs) could use a center”
Hmmmm
Vegas down 0-4 to the Kings after 1. Weird!
You must be new around here.
I could see the Habs trading Tatar if they are out of it. Or maybe Domi, if they can’t get him signed. They have Drouin, Domi and Letkenan on the left side if they trade Tatar.
I can’t see them trading Danault. French Canadian and the only veteran center they have. He’s been very good for them.
He’s riding a 93.75% SP on the PK which is totally sustainable. Might want to take our winnings off the table before reversion hits like an avalanche (his PK SV% number was 83.33% last year). Khaira and Jones for Kapanen?
It really was. In his hometown Montreal, to see his parents in the stands, cheering like crazy was super cool. Its wonderful how we all just keep cheering for our kids, deep into adulthood.
Flames next. Who’s in goal?
GO OILERS!
You want madness? How about Danault and Tatar for Nuge, Gagner and a late round pick.
I love Nuge, but I might do that if there’s a) a chance that Danault would resign here and b) Nuge has no interest in signing again.
In a swap of Nuge for Danault, I’m quite certain the Oilers would need to add. Not only for the cap hit but Danault does what many people think Nuge does (shutdown, outscoring C). In fairness to Nuge, though, we’re comparing a guy with regular top-6 linemates to one who hasn’t had that luxury.
And the rain started here as the empty netter went in. Yay. Goilers!
Gritty win.
Best game of the year from the Bottom 6 by my eye.
Looking forward to the summary tomorrow to see if the fancies line up with that hot take.
I watched the game where they sucked for 2 periods. How about you?
Or do you just think, hey, they won, so they must have played well?
I bet Tippett did like the way they recovered, battled back and found a way to win the game – good teams win games where they don’t have their A game.
They’ve been pretty darn good, period over period, for a strech of games now – all teams, elite teams let alone solid/good teams, have bad games and periods.
They found a way to win – in regulation as well.
OriginalPouzar,
I can’t think of a reason why they would trade him. Would need both an overpay and NHL Fs going back… or at the very least blue chipper or a 1st rounder.
MTL is so short of forward talent on the roster right now, I don’t think they’d be contemplating trading their top EV TOI and 2nd in EV points, signed for another year.
They would probably be more than happy to give someone Weber for a quality forward though…
Great last 8 minutes. Archie at the 8 was great.
No coincidence he’s out to get the empty netter.
Tonight was Nygards’ best game. Had four or five net-jam plays. Those will start going in if he keeps it up
It’s time for Benson to replace Khaira. He was awful.
One more game to go and a fairly important one!
I can’t imagine the team not being ready to go for puck drop in Calgary.
I don’t know what game you watched but they controlled the whole third period, which was enough to nab the 2 points with Chase getting the Beautiful winning goal.
Some have mentioned Danault as the 3C acquisition target – I never really had much of an opinion as I didn’t really know his game visually.
It tonight represents his general game then, at just over $3M and signed for next year, hell ya that’s a player I’d welcome.
Would the Habs let him go and, if so, at what cost? Not a rental, signed for next year and then UFA.
I’d much rather get a guy like him with a tiny bit of term than pay a big rental price for Pageau – of course, if the price for Danault makes sense – won’t be that cheap given a year of term.
Tough to see them trading him. Further, I think those suggesting he’d be a 3C acquisition are profoundly underrating him. He’d immediately our 3rd best forward and would improve either our 1st or 2nd line (depending on how the Nuge-Drai-Yamo line). If anyone were pushed to 3C in that arrangement, it’d be Nuge.
By accounts, he’s their tough minutes C tasked with sawing off the opposition’s best.
Highly unlikely they’ll trade him for anything other than an overpay.
Great win! Van, ‘Zona, and the Peg all lost in reg. Now if the flames lose it will be a perfect night!
Come on Minny!
In other news, Pastrnak got another hatty and is now at 35 goals… wow. That guy can score.
Edit: apparently Vegerville plays tonight too. Come on LA!!!
Who remembers those times when the Lowe+MacT Axis would routinely lose season after season, paralyzed like rabbits from proactive hockey management+coaching?
Holland+Tippett bring the missing link to this team; patience + the missing link from the Lowe+MacT Axis namely the ability to run a team properly.
Holland+Tippett enter the 2020 season with spare parts left over from the bad old days plus a handful of good to wonderful players and then adding a bunch of nobodies they’ve done something that the Lowetide blog and the rest of the fans have failed to do: exercise patience until the nobodies start picking up the message halfway though the season like we’re all starting to re-witness from the start of the season.
When the Oilers were dominating to open the season the general Lowetide and elsewhere mentality was unbelief, then when the team sunk back the mentality around here was “they’re fucked” and now what is the consensus?
It looks like they’re starting to find the range with the no-name players threatening to score timely goals like Chiasson. It’s watching a hockey team finally grow straight and true and to quote Angelo Dundee it’s…”beautiful stuff!”
Big Goal by Chase he won us the game.
Happy they got the win, but playing like shit is playing like shit.
I bet Tippett didn’t like that effort. At all.
I thought they were out-played through the first two, but also clearly not out-talented. The Habs look like all they really have going for them is “Try” and that worked for them for two periods.
No way did we give 60 minutes and no doubt publicly Tipp will be unhappy. But like I said above I think there were shenanigans between the TOR and MTL games. They still pulled out the win, so credit to them for that.
Jones -2 in 7:46