The Edmonton Oilers and Arizona Coyotes are rocketing up the standings together this season, with the entirety of California sliding into the ocean. The question we will see answered in the coming weeks surrounds how many upstarts will make the playoffs. We can assume Vegas and Calgary will be two of the playoff teams from the Pacific, with one or two spots left to the Coyotes, Oilers and Vancouver Canucks. All of which makes today’s game a big damned deal.
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: Central Scouting’s midseason list offers Oilers some strong draft options
- New Jonathan Willis: The Oilers’ road forward — and perhaps to a Stanley Cup — requires trusting the kids on defence
- New Jonathan Willis: Oilers make a smart two-year bet on Caleb Jones, who has done nothing but improve
- New Daniel Nugent-Bowman: 3 things from the latest Oilers win: A lacrosse goal, Mike Smith’s resurgence and Connor McDavid’s new linemate
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: A defiant Zack Kassian issues his latest salvo against Matthew Tkachuk: ‘He messed with the wrong guy’
- Lowetide: Dave Tippett’s deployment of Oilers defencemen indicates Kris Russell is vulnerable to trade
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers Notebook: Jujhar Khaira’s future, Caleb Jones’ adaptation to NHL speed
- Lowetide: Oilers prospect pipeline could deliver below-average group in 2020-21
- Lowetide: Projecting William Lagesson’s future with the Edmonton Oilers
- Jonathan Willis: Kailer Yamamoto has impressed the Oilers and especially star linemate Leon Draisaitl
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: 10 bold predictions for the Edmonton Oilers in 2020
- Jonathan Willis: Inside a coach’s impact: How Dave Tippett gets the most out of the Oilers’ players
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Deciding what to do with Darnell Nurse, Mike Smith, Tyler Benson and Evan Bouchard
- Lowetide: Ken Holland’s targets for his first trade deadline with the Oilers.
- Lowetide: Ken Holland’s trade deadline options for the Oilers
- 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
- Lowetide: Complete Oilers top 20 prospects list, winter 2019
OILERS AFTER 49 GAMES
- Oilers in 2015-16: 19-25-5, 43 points; goal differential -24
- Oilers in 2016-17: 26-15-8, 60 points; goal differential +10
- Oilers in 2017-18: 22-24-3, 47 points; goal differential -29
- Oilers in 2018-19: 23-23-3, 49 points; goal differential -13
- Oilers in 2019-20: 25-18-5, 55 points; goal differential -2
We’re fast approaching the 50-game mark this season and the Oilers have already passed 50 points and reached 25 wins. With a victory in this afternoon’s game, Edmonton would be on pace for 95 points and 42 victories. The team needs to keep pushing but there are good stories here.
ON THE TENS
- First 10 games: 7-2-1
- Second 10 games: 5-4-1
- Third 10 games: 5-4-1
- Fourth 10 games: 3-6-1
- Current 10 games: 5-2-1
OILERS IN JANUARY
- Oilers in January 2016: 3-2-2, eight points; goal differential -2
- Oilers in January 2017: 4-3-0, eight points; goal differential -2
- Oilers in January 2018: 3-4-0, six points; goal differential -10
- Oilers in January 2019: 4-3-0, eight points; goal differential 0
- Oilers in January 2020: 4-1-1, nine points; goal differential +4
This January run was far from assured and I think credit is due to the coach and every player on the team. The Oilers were faced with joining the California three at the beginning of the month, and have delivered and then some heading into action today.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN JANUARY
- On the road to: BUF, BOS, TOR, MTL, CAL (Expected 2-2-1) (Actual 3-1-1)
- At home to: NAS, ARI, CAL, STL (Expected 1-2-1) (1-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 3-4-2, eight points in nine games
- Current results: 4-1-1, nine points in six games
Edmonton has already exceeded my expectations, and done it against some excellent NHL teams. More challenges to come, the final three games are going to be key in setting up February and the run to the trade deadline.
OILERS 2019-20
A massive story is possibly unfolding with the team currently, and it surrounds the No. 2 line. Currently running at a (five on five) 6-1 goal differential, the shot differential (40-42, 48.78) is a little shy. We’re 78:39 into this experiment (all numbers Natural Stat Trick), Edmonton badly needs this trio to click in all areas.
James Neal-Connor McDavid-Josh Archibald have been together for 45:19 at five on five, 2-1 goals, 19-22 (46.34) goal differential. Neal-McDavid are over 50 percent in shot differential (95-94 in 184:46) but just 6-7 in goals.
Finally, at five on five this season, Connor McDavid’s on ice goal differential is 47-42, +5. The rest of the Oilers roster? 44-67, -23 (39.6 percent). Last year, McDavid was 77-75, +2, easily the poorest of his career. The rest of the roster in 2018-19? 69-103, -34 (40.1). The trouble is still the trouble. That second line could help in a big way.
TRADE DEADLINES PAST
March 14, 1994—Oilers traded D Dave Manson and 1994 sixth-round pick (D Chris Kibermanis) to Winnipeg Jets for D Boris Mironov, C Mats Lindgren, 1994 first-round pick (C Jason Bonsingore) and 1994 fourth-round pick (R Adam Copeland). A fantastic trade, BoBo is one of my favorite post-Stanley Oilers and Lindgren was a decent center. The first-round botch hurt like hell, but the general manager was on fire with this trade.
CONDORS 2019-20
Condors lost last night, as Mark Williams (who takes all those great photos) said on twitter Bakersfield needs some stops. William Lagesson is probably back during NHL All-Star week and the break that goes with it, maybe Yamamoto takes the flight, too. Condors back in action tonight, I’ll have an article on Evan Bouchard at The Athletic after the Oilers game this afternoon.
It’s odd that the poster seems to completely disregard age of prospects – equating performance of one player at 20 with another player at 24, for example.
Yes, I think it may have been him – there was vigorous pushback as you say.
Or let’s them know where the bar is and pushes them to reach higher.
If it’s demoralizing and not challenging, then these are not the droids you’re looking for.
Wonder if this would be demoralizing for Benson and some of the others trying to get called up. As in, “man, this guy is good and he can’t even make the Oilers”
It’s blowing me away that this guy is panning out. I watched some video back in his draft year and was hoping the Oilers would pick him (complete flyer pick). I’ve checked in on him a few times over the years and did not think he was going to be doing much. Now this. Wow.
A post of mine from the 2013 draft…
Malone and Garlent flamed out by the looks of things, Slepyshev ended up coming to NA for a short while. Hogberg has found his way to the show as well.
Neat!
Sean Patrick Ryan@TheOilKnight
Condors lose 4-3. Brandon Manning was on ice for all 4 goals. 3 times his man scored and pretty sure he screened Starrett on the 4th. Tough loss.
***
Brandon Manning still sucks. I’m sorry, but it’s true.
Manning needs to be benched again like last year & play Lagesson. Directly responsible for all 4 GA in this AHL game.
McLeod was good again, Makismov had some chances, Markus Granlund was best player on ice.
Super behind on tracking, still on the January 17th game; just want to note that there’s going to be another discrepancy between mine and the AHL’s official data on the goal scored at 5:36 into the 2nd period. The defensemen they have on the ice for it are Kulevich and Samorukov – the standard third pairing for the game – but it was actually Manning in Kulevich’s place. Easy mistake, Manning’s #23 and Kulevich is #24. There’s a really simple screenshot in my Twitter thread of the game’s stats.
OP seems to have abandoned the Condors.
They lost 4-3.
Granlund with 3 points.
Call him up!
Kesselring should get 2 seasons, save 4 months, if we’re being fair.
Thank you. I thought the NL storm needed to be mentioned!
We will see if Kesselring scores 24 next season.
I wouldn’t bet on it.
Thanks for this.
Funny thing. Kesserling turned 20 not quite a week ago.
Age 19 Raffery was playing in some league called the NAHL.
Age 20 he played in the USHL and scored 28 points (I didn’t know one could play a full season in the USHL at age 20).
Kesserling scored 34 points in the USHL last year, age 18/19.
One of these things is not like the other.
Both of these things are not like the other.
The dam finally breaks and the Canucks win 4-1.
Outshot San Jose 39-17.
Which you are not using enough.
EDIT: I am sure most readers enjoy and appreciate your updates, but when you get involved in a back and forth, most commonly with HH, as a courtesy to all could you use the reply button? It makes skipping past much easier.
McDavid is now 9th all time in points for the Oilers with 448
In his sights next is Ales Hemsky with 477
I think it might have been Pouzar, not sure. I was really happy about the Sheahan signing at the time and recall significant GF%rel pushback.
Chief Inspector,
Chuckled at this, thanks for the laugh!
Well gentlemen, it’s getting that time of night when the humour ceases and the vitriol begins. All the usual suspects seem to be here, so let the games begin.
Vancouver leading 1-0 after two.
Outshooting San Jose 27-7.
Dell has been outstanding.
It has about as much to to with the topic as your daily policing of my posts.
Feel free to worry about yourself.
Very impressed with the Oilers today. Focused and determined.
Sheahan and Archie!
Bear – so mobile in small spaces with the puck and then an accurate pass. Beauty.
Rough game for Jones. Troublingly poor read on the first goal not taking Hall.
There is a second “reply” button, just below those two.
It works…like this!
Let me try
Nope. Still not getting it. Gonna have to explain it again /s
If you re-read his comment, Gerta is obviously aware of this fact.
No.
I’d like you to tell me why you felt that tidbit needed to be part of your post?
Cause from where I’m sitting, it had nothing to do with the topic.
Don’t think so-the (quote) and (reply) in brackets are the same as always-this didn’t change when our host enabled threaded comments
I think he was making a sarcastic at the people relying to HH in-line.
LoL…got it
I’m light headed from all the shoveling
And I think I smell burnt toast
Would you like me to ask for his autograph for you next time?
Day comes out of the box and gets a breakaway but can’t cash – Condors keep the pressure though and Granny puts it home from distance via a screen by Cave – Day and Malone with the helpers.
Condors up 2-1 after one.
Marody left and didn’t return – don’t know why.
Did LT switch the reply button back?
Todd Macallan,
That’s too much
Agreed. If he gets the Ferland contract I’ll be not pleased. Even if he is far more likely to outperform Ferland over the course of the deal.
Larsson will be 28 when he becomes a UFA. Depending on price the smart move would be to extend him this off season and move Russel and possibly Benning. It would give the Oilers a veteran right shot D to help break in the likes of Samorukov and Broberg. He also gives veteran cover in the even of injury on the right side. I think many here forget that Larsson is still not up to his normal due to broken leg and missed time. He makes the D better as he is a difficult player for the opposition to play against. Patience is required to assure we move the correct players to assure the optimum D group moving forward.
Demko playing tonight in Vancouver.
Where is the like button?
Harpers Hair,
Yeah they will get a week off
And then they will be ridden harder than they have been all season
Don’t expect Fleurys Markstroms Rittich Andersen’s schedule to get any easier
Their backups are going to play even less
Wooooow!
A conference call with one of the Flames owners.
Like I said, pretentious.
Condors get that right back – Deharnais up to McLeod with a beauty touch pass to Granny to put him in on a 2 on 1 with Stukel – pass goes across and a pretty finish by Stukel.
First shot of the game goes in on Starrett but it was a 10-bell chance off the rush – I think that was the Deharnais pairing that got just walked.
Spector is “Spec”ulating on Twitter for Kass 4 yrs btw 3.25 and 3.5. Classic case of loving the player and hating the contract if that’s the case
Anderson has been a legit top 6 winger once in his career and is currently following it up with a proven middle 6 AHL winger type season – injury notwithstanding.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he was looking for more toughness – I’m guessing he’d prefer not to have Rinaldo in the lineup.
The GM bar has a long tradition of acquiring past their prime players on the premise that a change of scenery or “an opportunity for the cup” will help them rediscover previous scoring touches.
What about a percentage update in the west l? Here comes the hawks it’s going to be a buyer’s market at the deadline.
Montreal blows a 2 goal lead in the last two minutes but win 5-4 in the shootout after dominating the overtime.
You just know the Canucks will handily lose tonight’s game.
Damnit Habs you were up 2 with 2 mins left and had one job.
They aren’t playing in this game.
What about the Flames?
I would sign Archie to a 2x 1.25=2.5 million during the break. What I like most about Archie besides his name is that he plays with a edge this will be valuable in the playoffs. If we lose Kass and if JJ doesn’t rebound we’re back to chasing for functional toughness. I would also sign Kass to 3×3.33=10 million during the break. I know as a fan you don’t value Kass like myself, what would you offer Kass or would you just straight up trade him in a package deal for proven top 6 winger like a Josh Anderson type.
You’re going to sign and trade Kassian for Josh Anderson.. Fucks in the actual what’s is going on here.
Vegas takes Montreal to OT.
No one suggested you shouldn’t post your personal speculation.
Engaging in a conversation is healthy.
Don’t you think the Flames sated their lust for functional toughness when they dumped Neal for Lucic?
They need scoring and Treleving has been very open about it.
Do you think he’s lying?
Don’t think anyone is going to offer much for Calgary’s defensive depth as it’s looking like the shits. Brad is going to have to dig deep into his Chad box to provide any impactful top 6 talent for his club
Looks like my choice to fade the overplayed goalies down the stretch is paying off (2000 min+)
Price 30-34 4 GA
Binnington 7-11 4 GA
Rittich 16-20 4 GA
Fleury 22-26 4 GA
Andersen 28-34 GA
You’re next Markstrom
Those goalies are about to get a week off to re-set.
They’ll be fine.