The Edmonton Oilers left a point in the shadows of Disneyland last night, but grabbed a Bettman on a night when (lack of) concentration, aggravation and Kerplunk seemed to be on display every shift. We’re on the Vegreville.
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 Jonathan Willis: Oilers salvage a point as newcomers settle in (and produce) with Connor McDavid
- New Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Are Oilers poised for a long playoff run after Ken Holland’s deadline moves?
- New Lowetide: Ken Holland’s Oilers trade deadline active, targeted and predictable
- New Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Andreas Athanasiou acquisition the most intriguing deadline move for Oilers
- New Jonathan Willis: Shrewd addition of Tyler Ennis gives the Oilers insurance, options up front
- Jonathan Willis: Connor McDavid returns to the Oilers; now the task is to get him linemates
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Oilers bolster blue line by acquiring Mike Green; Is a scoring winger next?
- Lowetide: Oilers’ European prospects offer interesting options for the future
- Lowetide: Making sense of the Oilers forward depth chart for the summer
- Lowetide: For Oilers’ Kailer Yamamoto and Leon Draisaitl, first impressions are long forgotten. Why not for Jesse Puljujarvi?
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Stepping out and up, Leon Draisaitl puts himself in the Hart Trophy mix in Connor McDavid’s absence
- Lowetide: Making sense of the Oilers defensive depth chart for the stretch run and the summer
OILERS AFTER 64 GAMES
- Oilers in 2015-16: 23-34-7, 53 points; goal differential -33
- Oilers in 2016-17: 34-22-8, 76 points; goal differential +12
- Oilers in 2017-18: 27-33-4, 58 points; goal differential -37
- Oilers in 2018-19: 27-30-7, 61 points; goal differential -26
- Oilers in 2019-20: 33-22-8, 74 points; goal differential +3
Last night’s loss sets up tonight’s game against Vegas as doubly important. A win would have placed Edmonton one point behind with a game in hand, but a regulation win tonight merely ties the Golden Knights, although the Oilers would have a game in hand.
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
- Fifth 10 games: 6-2-2
- Sixth 10 games: 6-3-1
- Current 10 games: 1-1-1
OILERS IN FEBRUARY
- Oilers in February 2016: 2-10-1, five points; goal differential -23
- Oilers in February 2017: 6-6-0, 12 points; goal differential -1
- Oilers in February 2018: 5-7-1, 11 points; goal differential -4
- Oilers in February 2019: 3-6-4, 10 points; goal differential -14
- Oilers in February 2020: 6-4-2, 14 points; goal differential +1
This month remains the best of the group although the playoff team is catching up. Fun exit from February coming up!
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM FEBRUARY
- On the road to: CAL, ARI (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 1-1-0)
- At home to: SJS, NAS, CHI (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 2-1-0)
- On the road to: TBY, FLA, CAR (Expected 1-1-1) (Actual 2-1-0)
- At home to: BOS, MIN (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-1-1)
- On the road to: LAK, ANA, VEG (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 1-0-1)
- At home to: WPG (Expected 1-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 8-5-1, 17 points in 14 games
- Current results: 6-4-2, 14 points in 12 games
A huge game this evening, I do believe Dave Tippett made the correct call having Mikko Koskinen start the Vegas game. Two points in regulation would be a massive late season win.
OILERS 2019-20
Connor McDavid made a defensive play (on a Ryan Getzlaf back door) that was so good I stood up and yelled at the television. Offensively, he was outstanding, and his two new linemates grabbed a goal and an assist each. I thought Tyler Ennis had a tremendous game, Athanasiou less obvious but clearly effective. All numbers five on five, via NST.
LINE 1 Andreas Athanasiou-Connor McDavid-Tyler Ennis played 12:45, going 15-9 Corsi, 8-4 HDSC, 2-0 goals and 7-2 HDSC. Impressive debut for the trio, probably the best since Cream. McDavid played 6:46 against Josh Manson, 1-0 goals.
Andreas Athanasiou scored the goal that secured the Bettman, good eye finding the puck before any Ducks. Also a lovely pass on the Ennis goal. He had two shots and three HDSC. Impressive debut. Connor McDavid was on another level again, posting two assists (plus a PP assist), one shot, three HDSC, drew a penalty, took a penalty and won 11 of 13 on the dot. Tyler Ennis scored a great goal on a deflection and was the key component of the tying goal with a fine individual effort driving to the net. Had four shots and two HDSC. Bet Zack Kassian regrets that suspension now!
LINE 2 Nuge-Leon Draisaitl-Josh Archibald played 9:45, going 8-7 Corsi, 5-3 shots, no goals and 2-1 HDSC. Draisaitl played 10:51 against Josh Manson, going 0-1 goals.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had three shots, one HDSC and drew a penalty. Got a PP assist, giving him 50 points in a season for the first time. Leon Draisaitl had two takeaways and won nine of 16 on the dot, scored on the PP and has 99 points. He seemed docile at times defensively, as in not picking up Henrique on the third goal. Josh Archibald was quiet after being thrust into an impossible situation, Chiasson jumping up to replace him later in the game. The line misses the Spokane Kid.
LINE 3 Markus Granlund-Riley Sheahan-Alex Chiasson played 4:37, going 2-4 Corsi, 2-3 shots, no goals and 0-1 HDSC.
Markus Granlund didn’t move the needle at five on five but did get 49 seconds on the PK. Riley Sheahan drew a penalty and was effective on the PK. He was one of the culprits (it took a village) on the first goal. Alex Chiasson had a great chance on the PP but didn’t cash, but was pedestrian at five on five. I’ve written that sentence about him plenty this season.
LINE 4 Jujhar Khaira-Gaetan Haas-Patrick Russell played 4:16, going 3-2 Corsi, 3-1 shots, no goals and 0-1 HDSC.
Jujhar Khaira had a shot, HDSC and 1:43 of solid PK work. If he can play that role every night he’s worth the roster spot. Gaetan Haas had a shot, a takeaway and won three of seven in the dot. His speed was noticeable on the forecheck. Patrick Russell had a shot, a HDSC and a giveaway. Plenty of chatter recently about his being taken out of the lineup, I don’t see it to be honest. Plays a depth role and plays it well.
A regulation win tonight for the Oilers does the entire division a favor, Vegas has won six in a row and are threatening to run away with the Pacific. A regulation loss tonight and the Flames will have a chance to climb into the top three.
PAIRING ONE Darnell Nurse and Ethan Bear played 17:37, going 19-19 Corsi, 11-10 shots, 1-2 goals and 4-4 HDSC. Both men were too casual on the second goal against, offering little resistance on the Deslauriers goal. Needed support but none came on the Henrique goal.
Darnell Nurse had three shots, two blocked shots and his instincts were a little off in going 0-2 on ice goal differential five on five. Played too far off the shooter on the Deslauriers goal and overloaded the left side (Nuge had the man) and effectively left the middle of the ice for Henrique. Ethan Bear had four shots and two giveaways, moved the puck effectively again. Absolute music with the puck, he’s winning the power play job. Bear was unable to impact the two GA, allowing passes to dangerous areas twice. You’d like the defender to get a deflection or interruption in that moment.
PAIRING TWO Caleb Jones and Adam Larsson played 17:10 going 15-13 Corsi, 8-5 shots, 1-0 goals and 3-4 HDSC.
Caleb Jones has graduated to the NHL, his calm feet and full skill set on display consistently now. He had two shots, including a fine chance, played a steady game. Adam Larsson had one shot on goal, a giveaway and a penalty. He activated into the offensive zone several times, it’s my least favourite play.
PAIRING THREE William Lagesson and Mike Green played 11:07, going 9-8 Corsi, 3-4 shots, 0-1 goals and 4-2 HDSC.
William Lagesson had a shot on goal and two giveaways, I found his passing to be off the mark. Perhaps he is still adjusting to the speed of the game at this level and a new partner. Mike Green had a shot on goal and a couple of hits, he denied sorties like a veteran. Both men had vapor lock on the first goal, an umbrella of indecision falling over the slot.
GOALIE Mike Smith stopped 17 of 21, .810. He was indecisive on the first goal against and the difference in the game was a goal. He made several splendid saves but not enough to win the day.
THE PENALTY
Should have been a penalty and a dive. Calling it the way they did inserted the officials into the game story. It’s been a problem for ages and isn’t getting better.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
We will be tearing up the blacktop starting at 10 this morning, TSN1260. Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey brings his considerable powers of observation and a wealth of experience to the radio and applies it to last night’s game at 10:20. Joe Osborne from OddsShark will talk the trade deadline and the impact on betting, the Raptors chances to repeat and March Madness. Tyler Yaremchuk is in Vegas with the Oilers, he will join us at 11:25 this morning after getting a full 12 hours of sleep. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!
I have been sky high on this team’s chances in October a couple of times, but now that it’s March that’s fantastic.
After One:
2-0 Edmonton
14-12 Edmonton shots
21-19 Nashville Corsi five on five
==
Good road period, skill is king, stay out of the box!
Kassian with a giveaway.
I started enjoying OP’s idiosyncracies once I saw a picture of him. It wasn’t what I expected (first time for everything) and made him a real person in my eyes (instead of the cartoon of a world travelling, non-sleeping, pathologically obsessed with his own workouts, diets, and the Oilers, and yet nonetheless practicing and succesful corporate lawyer–which, I think we all have to admit is a combination strange and extreme enough to be something akin to a bizarro superhero).
This argument with BoP is completely out of bounds
Perfect summary
Are you sure? I keep reading about this monies site that gives you the wood
Absolutely. He’s very much a long shot.
As for his first AHL season I’d assumed he must be injured given the games missed, but I have no idea. Seems like virtually identical to the Marody situation (if injury), except without the strong first AHL season.
I’m just trying to differentiate Kuffner a bit from a literal trade throw in to even out contracts. I think Redmond from the Persson trade and guys like Norell, Fontaine, Pochiro from recent years fit that description. They were never ever in the plans. Kuffner has value on some level. You’re right that it’s mostly for AHL skill, but I do think he has a better chance of playing NHL games than a lot of the guys who are/will be in Bakersfield.
I don’t think Tippett will though. Pretty sure Green is 3RD and Benning is 4RD. Period.
When’s the last time Benning played 19:42 in a game?
Hmm…. Nov. 12th 2019. He’s only had 3 games all season where he played 17 minutes.
I do think we’re likely to see a Benning/Green 3rd pair at some point, but Green was brought in to play. Benning is the depth.
Three Coaches Agree.
Sure he has a chance.
His start in the AHL as a 23 year old is really underwhelming, but I don’t know his usage or linemates at all.
If he plays more than ~20 NHL it will be a pleasant surprise and a bonus.
The farm will need to import talent so the few good forward prospects have some players to play with.
As OP says, less nephews and more players.
The first thing he should do is re-insert Benning in as 3RD and use Green as defence depth – which is was acquired for? Spot start him giving Benning and maybe Larsson the odd night off (not sure about Larsson though).
Firstly, travelling to meet the new team, getting in to ANA late and then playing back to back nights on the road seems silly with a healthy Matt Benning as an option.
What was provoked – you made a comment about wanting to sign Ennis after a one-game sample size. I responded with a comment that he had a 60 game sample size this season and a 10 plus year NHL history.
I provided a hockey-based response to a comment and you responded with personal insults.
What boundaries? You don’t like my posting style? You don’t like me challenging your hockey posts with substance? You don’t like me? That’s all on you.
The only boundary that is not being respected is your own boundary – the promise that you’ve made to yourself multiple times that you will ignore me – the promise you keep breaking.
You not wanting me to respond to your posts is not a “boundary” – that’s you asking for the intent of the community and forum to be changed for your liking. I respond to hockey based posts with hockey based responses, without personal attack or insult. Sorry if you don’t like it.
People who are bashing the team for this loss don’t understand the concept of “schedule loss”. Edmonton was playing the 2nd game of a back to back, and the 3rd game in 4 nights with travel while Vegreville had 2 full days of rest before this game at home. Veg also was coming into the game on a 6 game winning streak overcoming TB and WAS during this run, so they were playing well.
Add in the injuries, the lineup shuffling with new players, the 2nd best goalie in the game and the result was almost ordained. Fleury WAS perfect and it’s a tough standard but Koskinen had to match or better that level to give us a chance and he wasn’t. We hit about 3 posts and we needed those to go in during the first and hang on the rest of the way.
The Knights’ PBP crew remarked that the second period was the best period the team played in the entire season but Koskinen and the Oilers shut them out. The third period was just a case of a tired short handed, discombobulated team not having the energy to push back.
Accept we were in a tough circumstance, take the loss and move on and get the next one.
But there’s no stat for that. I mean we can isolate Archie with a C that he has played both sides with… but we can’t isolate his stats by the side he was on.
Hard to get worked up about this one. Injuries, infused talent, tired team, and a formidable opponent in play on this night.
I am very interested in seeing what Tippett does with Green for the rest of the season. He looks like he has played too many games on a garbage Detroit team. His attention to detail is not there yet. It looks like the he has the skill but not the will at this point. Quick fix for Tippett? I hope so!
Why did Russell try to trip that guy twice? One of the dumber penalties I’ve witnessed this year.
I think Archie is a better player on the left side.
LT, I assume this sort of unprovoked “attack” is not what you are looking for in your community.
I will now start to ignore this poster’s exceedingly more consistent personal insults
Because you’re an adult?
Draistaitl taking too much abuse aka ‘Hack a star” as well tonight. Shehan tried, Ennis tried.. those guys had jump, but Shehan was 1 v 4 most of the night. Where’s the help? (remember those give and goes with Benson) They sent down Benson too soon.
Khaira has a couple good PKs, a good shift here and there.. but face it the play dies shortly after he gets the puck… Not creating, not possessing.. much… Press box. Could have used Ganger tonight is some ways.
Granland back down, Chaison PB, Khaira PB… . please. Archie must be injured.
Green looked good. Id like to see green with Benning. Though Lagesson was pretty good. Jones had a very good game and keeps getting better. Nurse, not a great game. Larrson, getting worn out.
I’d go.. Nurse Bear… Klef Jones, Green Benning…. Larson and Lagesson sit. Is it sacrelige to say PB for Larsson? He’s not getting it done… give him a few maintainance days.
Vegas is probably the 4th best team in the league despite their record.
We just played them at home on the tail end of a back to back with a banged up squad.
Don’t crash the stock market
Well Hunter…
Looks like your bride just shut you out, blue balls are throbbing & your disheveled suit is a dead give away of your drunken state. Now you’re cruising the casino bars for cheap hooker & a good time.
Good talk – very mature.
So awesome that our management after fucking years of rebuilding still can’t put together a team that can compete with an essentially new franchise. Love it.
I dunno, scheduled loss night, killed it in first period, could have easily been up 3-1 except crossbar and Fleury standing on his head.
Vegas returned the favor in the second, Koski kept us in it.
Third period didn’t start the greatest, but even still had some push back in the second half despite being a tired team, with new players, one of which only played one shift in the third, virtually no time to practice with the new team. Our best D man still out along with the little engine that could.
If not for Fleury, a much closer game IMHO.
Hopefully AA injury isn’t serious, and with him, Klef, Yamo, Kass insrted hopefully in the near future I’m still super jacked about where this team is and where it’s going compared to what anyone thought in the pre-season.
Yep. But what good is hate when you can’t catch them? Too fast, too cohesive, too experienced. Vegas is winning the Pathific going away and the Oilers need to focus on not finishing in a WC spot.
I don’t think the Oilers win a single game in a best of seven versus Vegas. This team had a lot to learn still.
Haas ineffective…
Oilers need to generate some hate for Vegas. We got our butts handed to us tonight.
Do you have anything substantive to add or just a personal shot dressed up as (a failed attempt at) humor?
archi invisible… basically since he took that shot to the face couple games ago.
Kinda like playing Anaheim the other night x 9?
I’ll need to see a return to the Oilers of November to exhale again, thanks!
We play 9 teams not in the playoffs in March and 5 of those are against the bottom 7 teams in the league. Schedule doesn’t get that bad.
Arizona and Winnipeg are 4 points behind us and we have 1 and 2 games in hand after tonight’s loss. We’re in great shape.
Khaira…. registers a shot.
Hope Kailer is back next Thursday for the Hawks game, I’ll be at that game.
McDavid trying hard. Ennis looks like a gamer
Harpers Hair,
Ugh that sucks. Hope they are just holding him out as a precaution. Gotta be tough to fly cross country then play a back to back.
Do the Oilers actually have ONE shot in this period? Fucking pathetic effort. All that work from the GM and the team just mail’s it in.
getting worried. Oilers looking like a team that is fading, not surging.
Chaisson needs to see the press box. Geezus..
drglen,
Good news is that when we get healthier, some of those underperformers go to the press box.
Out of the game with a lower body injury.
Just a soul-crushing display of ineptitude, I feel bad for the visiting Oiler fans and tix there aren’t cheap!
Serious doubts about this squad doing anything in the post-season even if they make it (which has dropped about 15% tonight)
Ugh that sucks, bit we still have games in hand on most of the chasing teams.
Get home, get some rest, get the new guys more acclimated at practice on Friday and give the Jets hell on Saturday.
no juice from bottom 6, miss yamo… new guys not clicking tonight, where’s the speed? green looks good.
Sit Khaira and Granland, bring back Benson. It was better with him, than this.
Also, 2 or 3 crossbars tonight.
Man the oilers have played bad the last 1:5 periods . Can’t win a batlle anywhere
getting Kass back will really help the Nuge line when Ennis can go down to play with them
Yamamoto getting injured on such a nothing play in a 3-0 game has really hurt the team
Time to cash in those torch and pitchfork shares.
I’m wondering if AA is in shape…
I know, I know they are pros etc etc.
But the way the season was going for the Red Wings, you never know.
dang
Tippet should throw 97 with 93/29 for a shift or 2
Didn’t have to be – Oilers not as good as they look, it’s gonna be tooth and nail to make post-season at this rate, and even then, Vegas (and Anaheim even) show just how to shut them down. Schedule really doesn’t get easier either.
Rains once, build a boat we’re doomed I tell ya doomed!
Outside of the first 10 minutes the team has played like shit it’s not the goalie that’s the problem tonight.
The definition of a scheduled loss
“I let in first one…”