Do you remember the 1990 Stanley Cup run? Do you remember the thrill of your team being in the race, then the playoffs, then the final four? Do you remember the day in September 1989 Grant Fuhr wandered into the Oilers dressing room complaining of a stomach ache? That Randy Gregg examined him right then and there? That Fuhr would have an emergency appendectomy? Did you know Fuhr had a shoulder injury right at the end of the regular season? And furthur, did you know Billy Ranford was so bad in the first game of the playoffs the Winnipeg Jets behind Dale Hawerchuk had a right to expect to win the opening round series?
Finally, did you know, that during the Stanley Cup Final, owner Peter Pockling (his team up 2-0) was quoted by Sports Illustrated saying “I know that this is almost sacrilegious to say but if you look at the depth we are going to have in the next three years, we’re going to have an awful lot of talent. And the talent will be broad-based rather than on the shoulders of four or five people“?
Do fans believe the Edmonton Oilers are in it? Toronto fans believe the Maple Leafs can win it all, let alone in it. I sometimes wonder about Oilers fans. Part of the fan base seems more comfortable with the team on the downbeat. It’s like bad news is comfort food. That isn’t healthy. Could the Oilers win the Stanley Cup and disappoint a major portion of the fan base? I think this might be true.
This much I know: There are going to be many twists and turns between this day and the raising of the Stanley. Pace yourself. Enjoy the ride.
THE ATHLETIC!
I’m proud to be writing for The Athletic, and pleased to be part of a great team with Daniel Nugent-Bowman and Jonathan Willis. Here is our recent work.
- New Lowetide: Top trade targets for the Oilers at the 2021 deadline
- New Jonathan Willis: Oilers 2021 trade value rankings
- Lowetide: February report cards for the Oilers
- Lowetide: Difficult season for trio of Oilers prospects playing in the AHL
- Lowetide: Jesse Puljujarvi must be on the Oilers expansion protected list after breakout
- Jonathan Willis: The Oilers’ 2020 trade deadline splash: What we learned, a year later
- Lowetide: Revisiting our preseason predictions for the Oilers after 20 games
- Lowetide: Oilers begin to separate from prairie teams in Scotia North
- Lowetide: If Dylan Holloway turns pro this spring, will it be with the Oilers?
- Jonathan Willis: Could an Ethan Bear trade improve the Oilers?
- Lowetide: Is Oilers centre Kyle Turris playing himself out of the NHL?
- Lowetide: Tinkering with the Oilers’ top six — what are the best line combinations?
- Lowetide: Philip Broberg and the Oilers’ Leftorium
- Lowetide: Jujhar Khaira, a waiver reset and the Oilers’ future at No. 3 centre
- Lowetide: Is this peak Connor McDavid?
OILERS AFTER 25 GAMES
- Oilers in 2015-16: 8-15-2, 18 points; goal differential -14
- Oilers in 2016-17: 13-10-2, 28 points; goal differential +7
- Oilers in 2017-18: 10-13-2, 22 points; goal differential -13
- Oilers in 2018-19: 12-11-2, 26 points; goal differential -5
- Oilers in 2019-20: 15-7-3, 33 points; goal differential +13
- Oilers in 2020-21: 14-10-0, 28 points; goal differential +6
This season has been hanging around the 2016-17 campaign for much of the last month, and if a hot Cam Talbot was on the roster we could begin to imply the possibility of the same kind of run. Alas, this year’s team doesn’t have the obvious formula (McDavid scores, Talbot saves, Sekera and a few kids keep the blue competitive) but the records are the same. Is there a post-season series victory within reach of the current group?
WHAT TO EXPECT IN MARCH
- At home to: Toronto, Toronto, Calgary (Expected: 1-1-1) (Actual 0-1-0)
- At home to: Ottawa, Ottawa, Ottawa (Expected: 2-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: Vancouver, Calgary, Calgary (Expected: 2-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to Winnipeg, Winnipeg (Expected: 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: Montreal, Montreal, Montreal (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: Toronto, Toronto (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 9-6-1, 19 points in 16 games
- Current results: 0-1-0, 0 points in one game
I see the Toronto and Winnipeg games as being the best tests this month. It’s a tough schedule due to number of games. My predictions for this month are not unreasonable, the Oilers should be able to cover the bet. That in mind, a result tonight, even a Bettman, is important.
OILERS 2020-21
This is five on five scoring per 60 (forwards); Puck IQ DFF% for all levels of competition five on five and overall save percentage.
Alex Chiasson is suspended from playing in tonight’s game, Zack Kassian is out and Dominik Kahun was unavailable at practice yesterday. The Oilers will see at least one new face in the lineup among forwards tonight, I ran these numbers using the lines and pairings at practice.
The big news is that Nuge is back with Draisaitl and Yamamoto, or at least we saw that at practice yesterday. Neal moved up yesterday but Kahun’s availability may have contributed. I think the Oilers need to add a scoring LW at the deadline, that’s one of the items I focus on in today’s article for The Athletic (link above).
Tonight’s game? I don’t know that the Oilers will win, but there should be four lines and three pairings working hard. May need Mike Smith to put on his Superman cape again.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
We crack the mic at 10 this morning, TSN1260. Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal pops in at 10:20 and Joe Osborne from OddsShark will talk about spikes from teams who fire their coach mid-season and if the Raptors are a good bet despite one dozen players and coaches being unavailable tonight against the Pistons. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!
Joe Thornton must have had to look down at the crest of his jersey to make sure it wasn’t a Shark, flashbacks to most of the last decade having their way with the Oilers.
A healthy Oscar Klefom would make a world of difference to this team.
Nurse
Klefbom
Jones/Lagesson
That’s a left side
I wish he could get that damn surgery done already – stupid Covid – so that there could be a sense in the off-season of if and when he could return to the lineup.
They won’t be able to spend his LTIR reserves next season if the intent is for him to be activated mid-season (which seems like the mostly likely scenario to me at this point).
A HELL of an in-season acquisition but tough to manage the cap with his $4.1M when he’ll be missing to start (presumably, given timing).
If you went for a drink to celebrate the last time the Leafs made the finals you would have to be at least 75 years old. You would think their media and fans would be a bit more humble at mid-season by now. So annoying.
Safin’s second Condor point just so happened tonight in his first game back… to go along with the goal he scored waay back in 2018.
Griffith creates the original turnover, Safin hops on it and knocks it past the Dman, forcing him to pivot. Safin collects the loose puck easily as he’s already going the right way and he works the odd man break with Griffith to perfection…
Here are your pictures:
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My goodness, that young man looks like a hockey player. Nice speed, obvious size, very nice pass.
That’s a great taste of what got him drafted, but my Gawd, where has the production been these years?
Anyway, that clip is the single most encouraging thing I’ve seen from him since draft day. Definitely answers some questions about what the player could be.
If he wasn’t already 22, I’d be pretty excited actually.
Haha, yeah there’s that too.
His draft +2 QMJHL boxcars: (42-3-11-13; regular season plus playoffs)
And ECHL pro debut: (54-16-19-35)
They had my expectations exceedingly low. He surpassed those instantly. Still a long way to go, but there appear to be tools at least.
His numbers regress in the Q, and I’m guessing it’s because he was in a poorer situation in the second outing than his first year. But I think given the right team and linemates and opportunity he could’ve been a point per game player in Junior.
But then he goes and falls off the map even farther. So I don’t know what to think. I don’t think any of us did.
The one encouraging thing IMO is that he’s a big man and they can sometimes develop by sundial. Look at Mihkiyev for TO… he looks like someone who fell off the Rantanen tree just like Pujo does now. Now he’ll never be Rantanen, but he’s likely a future full time top 6er.
Mihkeyev is already 25.
So I guess what I’m saying is… there’s a chance.
I believe the culprits for Safin’s development have been injury and consistency, the latter was noted in the draft year scouting reports and reflected in his draft position. If he could bring those skills on a nightly basis, that size skill and speed could have seen him as a first rounder for certain.
Hope he dials it all in and surprises. We’re due.
Yeah he lost almost a full season of development, and I’m guessing that and his drive were the reasons the Oil sent him to the E.
Every time I watch him he looks happy-go-lucky too. There’s a little bit of what’s in Pujo in that young man.
Yeah, he was very close to a PPG in draft +1. Then injured for most of draft +2, as was mentioned. He scored 15GP/11PTS on return but then only 23GP/2A in the playoff and nothing in 4 MCup games.
Definitely some injury and situation involved, but the total failure to do anything through the playoffs isn’t a good look (much like the Oilers going 1GF-13GA vs Toronto).
(IIRC the Mooseheads had traded for him since they were hosting the MCup and he was expected to be a key player)
After being totally mediocre in his ECHL season, I’d pretty much written him off (unlike the Oilers, funnily).
But for sure there’s a chance. The tools are obvious and undeniable.
I’m still curious what has been going on with him over the last 12 months. Of all the Oilers’ property, for Safin not to have been playing games in Europe this past season seemed very odd to me. He was back home and, from his social media, didn’t seem to be actively injured.
Last night’s game was also his first game of the season for the Condors – the likes of Graham McPhee got in games before he did.
Seemed odd.
When I watched that play last night, i was like, “who was that?” – when I rewound to get a better looked, I was amazed at the play and it being Safin.
One play can only mean so much but he sure looked good.
Safin is a an enigma it seems.
Hopefully he was resting a nagging injury or something vs he couldn’t be bothered to play some hockey.
The first five Condor goals, and Skinner’s new mask can be seen here:
https://twitter.com/Condors
I will have Safin’s point on Goal 6 up shortly.
The Leafs advanced scouting and game plan for 97 and 29 was spectacular and well-executed. Credit to them.
McDavid and Drai were going 1-3 way too often. That is as bad a 3 game stretch those two have had, maybe ever?
Transition game was just awful. The entire D corps looked completely overwhelmed.
This is one you learn from and bury.
Fortunately, the Toronto media will quickly forget this Oiler humiliation.
Lavoie’s first assist today:
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Lavoie sends the pass in from the left point. Nice little crease-edge backhand relay though by Bittner to set up Smith.
Here is Lavoie’s second assist of the night, sparking a comeback which allowed Vasby to tie the game and then get it to shootout. Sadly, Lavoie didn’t get a shootout attempt and Vasby lost on kicks, as they say in FIFA.
He’s playing RW, and with the puck on the LW boards, he is covering the high slot. Defensive position is everything on this play, which doesn’t require a lot of Raffi… other than to be in the right place at the right time and make the right play.
Here you go:
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Lavoie probably has one of the best shots in that league, yet isn’t put in the shootout when he’s got two apples in the game. An… interesting coaching decision.
Sody scored on their first two, and Vasby not at all… Raffi might’ve been up next. But yeah, was really hoping for a shootout highlight.
He’s 13th in points and 5th in goals (going in to the game and didn’t get a shootout opportunity, which I was surprised to see when looking at this yesterday.
Wow.
Refs should have stopped that one after 2…..
Over the last nine periods, Condors have out-scored the opposition 15-1.
Some people are starting the call them “The Maple Leafs of the AHL”. Others prefer “Opposite Oilers”.
Who, exactly are those people who are calling the 6th best team out of 7 in the Pacific Division the Maple Leafs of the AHL?
Are they sniffing glue?
Allan
Are you going to do something about this or does everyone not named HH have to leave?
I’d deal with this infantile piece-of-shit embarrassment-to-humanity myself, but you prefer us to behave with manners. Well, except for HH I guess.
I don’t want to start a flame war and I don’t want to leave. But if nothing is done, I see no other options.
Every time a poster threatens to leave Lowetide because of DSF a troll gets their warts.
I don’t wish for HH to leave.
We all get to decide how we react to something we don’t like and IMO, your reaction and your post is not something I can support.
HH has crossed a few lines tonight that he does not normally cross. We can start a flame war over this, which is usually how this ends up and which will result in timeouts for everyone involved. Or we can time out the troublemaker. I’m actually surprised that a flame war hasn’t already erupted and that was my concern.
I’m pretty sure LT hates having to go through threads and delete flame posts, like he has had to many times. And I’m pretty sure he hates handing out suspensions. I’m trying to prevent us from getting to that point. All I can do is ask, which I have done.
You might also notice that there has been peace since I posted that comment.
Waaahhh waaaaah. Give it a rest man. You simply don’t have to read his comments. It’s on you for being so bothered and offended by a troll. You could easily just scroll on by and yet you never do.
“Someone says something negative about my favourite hockey team and I have to take offense to it and defend them and prove this poster wrong”. That’s just as illogical as the troll coming into another teams forum to post negatively.
For whatever reason you and a couple other posters insist on engaging. Banning someone because you don’t agree with his opinions on posts? Very soft.
Honestly HH, this is where you really lost me.
I have no idea what you’re talking about. I engage with probably less than a tenth of HH’s posts. I support HH on some of those engagements.
Nice straw man though, DSF.
It’s pretty tiresome to have to deal with a piece of shit that is only here to stir up trouble trying to make this his own personal troll nest.
Now do the Oilers over the last 9 periods.
I did, did you not read the post?
The Condor post?
Yes.
Safin got starting line-up nod, which was a real nice pat on the back by Woodcroft.
Woodcroft Pre-game:
Re: Postponed match:
“Adjusted to the missed game by having lots of scrimmages and some foundational practices that allowed them to gel as a team. Many of the other teams had been together a month ahead of Bako and the break allowed the team to work on their game, heal up, etc.”
Re: Newfound defensive prowess
“Part of the identity we’re trying to instill is suppression of of opponents offence, and detail-oriented play. If we can keep the process… be defensively conscientious while offensively opportunistic we think we will see a lot of success.”
Re: Skinner since he’s come from Edmonton
“He’s starting year three of his maturation process. We expected him to have a big year, but didn’t expect we would start the year without him, and that’s a credit to him and the work he did to earn that call-up and his first NHL win. Got to see how NHL pro goalies deal with the day-to-day grind, how they practice, take care of their bodies, all things which are important for a young player to observe and we’re seeing the benefits of that now. We haven’t been giving up a ton of shots recently, but there are times when we break down and need a key save in a key moment and he’s provided it.”
As hard as that was to watch for a week…
Thank you Leafs…for accomplishing the ultimate goal…
DRY is back 🙂
Suckers.
Haha, that’s good.
Curious to see how this goes from here.
Obvs a lot made in the post-game PC about how the Oilers competed, etc., but the Larfs coaching staff just provided the rest of the division with the template on how to shut down this team. The rest of the division may not have all the horses to pull off what Toronto did this week, but it’s a copycat league, and i’m sure they’ll all try.
Is there the sense that Tippett and his staff are willing/able to adjust scheme/structurally enough to counteract a gameplan like the one we saw from the opposition this week?
Toronto isn’t the only team that has figured it out…they’re just the best at it.
If you watch closely, teams are surrounding McDavid with 3 players when he enters the zone reducing his options.
If you shut down McDavid and stay out of the penalty box, you’ll beat the Oilers 8 times out of 10.
If you play hockey…against the Nucks…you’ll win 8 times out of 10.
You can even spot them a 3 goal lead if you want.
It’s that all you’ve got?
Really?
Weak.
Thought it was pretty good and true…so…what’s your problem? Beside being on the wrong teams blog?
Almost as weak as Hughes -15 on the year?
2nd worst in the ENTIRE league. Ouch.
It’s cute that 2 of DSFs ‘elite D show themselves early’ (Dahlin and Hughes) are… well showing themselves early by leading the league.
Skinner with his 2nd straight shutout – he’s given up 8 goals in 6 games and has a save percentage around .940.
Keep it going Stuart!
Five games not six, OP.
Back-to-back shutouts for Skinner!!
Please, oh please let him blossom into a true tender. We could reeeeeally use an internal solution to this problem.
Safin with a great play at the defensive blue line to cause a turnover on board battle and a quick break and then a beautiful set-up of S. Griffith for, essentially, an empty net goal.
Wow, Safin!
Griffith bangs in a Safin dish 6-0
Joe G. with a beauty set up for Stukel on a quick break 2 on 1 to make it 5-0 in the 3rd.
Stukel pretty easy snipe on a great look in the low slot after Gambardella created the turnover and passed it out of the corner
WTF.
Are the Leafs “that” good or have we absolutely sucked 3 games straight? And what is up with Connor? He must be literally boiling underneath.
3 days to plan a recovery. 3 days to practice. 3 days till we get to beat down and release some bad energy on the Flames.
Please let our goalies find some consistency… all this hot/cold is bad for our hearts.
GO OILERS
There is no way the Oiler pro scouts can be employed after Turris and Barrie
No way
I probably shouldn’t ask, but what are their names?
You forgot Kahun.
He’s a 4th line player.
Kahun costs less than $1M on a one year deal, after which we retain his RFA rights.
This is not like paying Ericksson $6M for one metric forever until he retires from shame.
I have no idea what Eriksson has to do with the Oilers pro scouts whiffing on Kahun.
Failure is failure.
Failure is not paying a guy less than half of what he was asking for on the market to a one-year, no risk deal with RFA rights. Thats an amazing management success. Player success not so much so far…but a great step in the right direction for this organization.
Paying anything for a player who does not belong in the NHL will never be considered a success.
You’re on a roll for irony today.
Give him a break, he’s in his element tonight. He’s gotta milk it for all it’s worth.
He had to be pretty pent up after that 9-2 run for the Oilers.
Connor dished to Rishaug on the last question of his media avail. Paraphrasing:
Didn’t have the puck enough and didn’t make them uncomfortable enough to draw penalties.
Yup.
I somewhat dislike the comment regarding penalties. If you’re relying on the power play to win games, you are doing something wrong.
Find different ways to get 97 and 29 on the ice together if that’s what is needed.
That series will leave a scar.
So Tippet has coached like a guy losing his job. Why? Pressure, going full McLelland?
When you play your 3 best players an outrageous amount of TOI what happens?
They are already toasted. C and L look banged up and tired, and C is hitting, utterly the last thing a bone rack and best O player in the league should do.
Does everyone remember last season when some coach said (maybe Keefe) that over 20 minutes a night was something they’d never do, WAY too much.
Garbage coaching. Sticking with guys and giving vets a chance ok, not using better options weak when team play has never stabilized, even in the winning streak.
Nurse has has gone chaos again as well.
Keefe punked Tip, he should be embarrassed.
The Leafs get a nice mid month break while the Oilers play 5 games in 7 nights.
This won’t go well.
Seems like many are “shooting the messenger” tonight
They always do.
Inconvenient truths.
Will agree on the too much toi sentiment. Right now McDavid has excellent defensive impacts, bet we see that decline as the miles add up.
Folks should really not be surprised or disappointed by the last three games.
Our goalies are Koski and Smith. Coaches love to overplay Koski and then he gets sleepy. Smith is streaky and old and, notwithstanding his first couple games back, terrible.
Until we have consistent goaltending the results will be inconsistent.
Also, why the fuck was Bouchard scratched?
The Oilers were out coached…
Sure, there are many reasons the Oilers lost 3 in a row. The dominant reason is goaltending.
When you give up 13 goals in 3 games (3 in the first period x2) you have a goalie problem.
When you score one goal in three games, you have an offense problem.
😉
Agreed. But they were down 3-0 early in two games. Kills all momentum when your goalie takes the first period off.
More generally, my point is: Oilers fans need to temper expectations. This is a flawed roster. It is going to be a streaky season. It is fine.
Coaches
Also, the Oilers are among the top of the league for both goals scored and goals against. Long-term goaltending is a bigger issue.
GM
I, for one, would like to congratulate the Leafs on peaking 33 games before the end of the season.
#tooearly
What makes you think they’ve peaked?
They just whipped the Oilers without their best forward and #1 goaltender.
Woosh.
The Leafs are going to get better.
Further proving Matthews for the Hart is just east-media garbage. They don’t need him to win…he benefits from the team around him. Not the other way around.
Patrick Kane will win the Hart…and it won’t be close.
What an odd shot out of left field.
You figure the Blackhawks rebuild is over before it really started?
Shameful. The Oilers didn’t even compete in these games. They’re lucky to be in the weakest division in the league.
The west division says hello.
The compete was pretty bad. Especially today. Did the leafs even break a sweat? I mean serious, was there a hit, a fight, a cross check, a glove in the face. Absolutely nothing for pushback. Pillow soft. Bend over and take it some more.
I haven’t checked since but in the 1st period we outhit them 20-7.
And at the point of The Line Change we were out-shooting them 11-10.
Clearly, the team was emotionally deflated by the turn of events in the 2nd. Considering how the series had gone, and with the refs only seeing one colour, I’m not sure what team wouldn’t have been.
Larsson was the only D that played physical in the 3 games. Leafs forwards were dipsy doodling in the Oilers zone without a care in the world. Nurse must think he’s won the Norris already because he never once got his hands dirty in the 3 game shellacking.
5 days removed from winning 9 of 11 and the coach’s job is apparently on the line…….
Teams go through slumps and get blow out – Tampa did last season and won the cup.
Get blown out by the Flames and it might be.
Could happen – seems unlikely – given the flames penchant for getting blow out by the Sens….. and the Oilers….
True, but this was one hell of a slump… and against The-Center-of-the-Universe of all teams…
At least it wasn’t against Calgary?
Agreed. Such a load of horseshit.
TBY got swept by CBJ… Columbus(!!) the year before winning the Cup.
Imagine if they fired Cooper and traded everyone out of desperation because some Negative Nancys in the fanbase couldn’t even.
You don’t think there’s a difference between what Jon Cooper has accomplished in TB opposed to Tipp in Edmonton? You’re not firing your coach when you win the presidents trophy.
Cooper is a fine coach. Certainly there are differences.
But he also missed the playoffs two years after losing in the finals the first time (2014-15). Two years later, they were swept by CBJ in round one. If fans had cause to complain on the surface, that was the time. Briesbois stayed the course, and they finally tasted victory from Lord Stanley’s Chalice the very next season.
I am not saying that is the prescribed pathway for the Oilers.
But now is not when I pull the ripcord on Tippett. The scars from the coaching and management carousel we’ve become all too accustomed to around here is enough for me.
Steady as she goes. They’ll bounce back.
Unless Holland knows they are team sick or really banged up (which has to do with coaching directives) he can’t be impressed.
That was really offensive to anyone that cares.
Of course Holland is not impressed – at least I would presume not.
I believe he also has been along long enough to know not to put too much in any 3 game stretch.
I wonder if he was impressed with the prior 11 games?
What was offensive? My post? Please…..
Your catastrophizing is offensive to anyone that can control being overly emotional and having some rationality.
Pretty sure he’s calling the play of the Oil against Toronto offensive to anyone who cares (implying people like Holland).
I seriously enjoyed the final minutes. Oilers are a young team. Holland is putting together a capable defence but it takes time. Leafs are a year or, maybe two ahead of the Oilers curve, is all.
I was just saying that to Ma Kettle as the game wrapped up.
LOL that Oilers defenceman falling over…
13 GA…1 GF… in 3 fucking games…
that , ladies and gentlemen, is when teams start ignoring their coach. Tippett’s days might be numbered.
I agree
Piss poor coaching with this roster
LT has the balance pic
Thing is the time is never Perfect
At some time you have to push ahead of perfection and get the job done.
Every Cup winner and contender has made significant trades to get up and over.
The Oilers have over seasons lost these trades but they have to be done when elite talent is in prime.
Holland need to show what 80 million years of contacts and experience comes down to.
Might be the worst ass kicking the Oilers have had since moving to the new building. Was very reminiscent of the DOD. If the Oiler franchise wonders why the fans are still traumatized, well, it because the team has given them reason….The series was a thorough thumping from goaltending, to defence, to all 4 forward lines, to coaching. Completely dominated. I don’t think Tippets days are numbered at all since the team is preaching continuity. But I do believe that he was completely out coached in this series. Poor decisions that started with poor goaltender choices, to horrible lineup deployment, to terrible line changes, to absolutely brutal hard matching while having last change.
First game all year JP didn’t have the legs going
That was a compliment btw
Season series over. No chance.
Toronto wins best of 9 series.
Meh…I’d prefer winning the best-of-7 series anyway.
Nice to see the Leafs not laughing and joking around.
They seem more relieved, than arrogant.
Am I on the record as saying I don’t like players like Barrie?
Yes.
What has happened with him here?
Torpedoed the best PP. Torpedoed top line scoring by forwards. Been a destabilizing tire fire defensively on a team that needs to learn game in game out structure.
Bouchard is already a better player. Trade Barrie while his points look tasty. Tout suite.
How has the PP been torpedoed??
‘The combination of good defense leading to good offense’ , guess the Oil don’t know that.
You know what would be cool to see after the oilers lose this game? Every player breaks their stick in half in succession on their way to the locker room.
“There lie the accursed hockey sticks of the worst 3-game stretch in McDavid-Oilers history. They will be burned under the light of the moon to purify the evil from inside of them.”
We’re going to need a bigger boat.
We should probably start by getting a boat first
Hard to fetch all that lumber after the bandwagon left town.
I guess we’re back to chopping wood…
I’ve been fashioning some torches lately.
Maybe we could re-purpose for some sort of raft?
I guess Mike Smith won’t be playing against the Maple hymans anymore. You’re not thrown off at all. Jesus.
The Wee Willy was as big a problem as the Hyman in the crease.
Just sayin’.
I have never seen a game where the refs call 5 penalties on one team and not one against the other all game
you actually have to try to draw penalties though. the Oilers are playing with zero passion. you’ve had 2 games to figure this Leafs team out already and then you do this in game 3?
Hymen 2x on Smith. goes unnoticed.
Refs have been paid off. Unquestionably…
I hear you. They have also been leading this entire game…by multiple goals.
Tell me if there’s another team in the league that can get ZERO penalties 2/3 games in a 3-game series…playing against the fastest guy in the game. No chance.
Thank baby Jesus it’s not a 14-game series. That would be lose faith in the sport/change your team forever kinda series.
Connor not drawing the most penalties in the league is almost as criminal as Turtle leading the league in penalty differential.
If I never see an Oiler that is horribly out of position make a last chance effort and deflect the puck past the goalie it will still be too much.
Or score an own goal fumbling around like a minor leaguer figuring it all out.
It’s pretty bad that I’m already dreading Saturday
I’m quite looking forward to Saturday – they’ll break out of this rut soon – its been 3 games against a top team. They are clearly not in the same tier as the Leafs but they are a legit playoff team in the North and better than the flames.
Look forward to seeing Lags and Bouch personally!
I’m making space in the fridge already.
Of course, I’m making space by drinking beer, but I look at it as a win-win.
Classic.
Quick release there Turris……..
Thank you, I didn’t want to watch two minutes of Leaf powerplay
Wait, the Oilers lose a draw on the PK and get scored on? Go figure…
There are things this team seems to be organizationally invested in that are without question wrong.
We see it season after season.
As knowledgeable fans is it wrong if we notice it?
Is it wrong if we know what is missing?
Is it wrong if we see players for what they are, over forever?
At some point a team has to move forward. The Oilers are so completely stuck at almost.
Youth is no longer an excuse. Every team plays youth because cap.
It ‘s plain and simple obstinacy at some level. The same issues repeatedly.
What’s the definition of insanity?
I have also never seen a team that has so much trouble making line changes. It’s appalling at this point.
Repeated odd man chances and killed offensive pressure.
Blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
20 year rebuild.
‘Things’
Can’t editblob:https://lowetide.ca/5f8eabea-91e4-4581-a5e0-0cfd4fe655d7.
I blame the fans.
Well, not the tier one fans. They bring home Daryl’s bacon.
Should the Oilers try Caleb Jones at left wing with McDavid and Puljujarvi?
No
We have extra D, and Jones would probably be better than any left wing the Oilers currently have to try there.
I thought you liked Nuge.
And Jones has been good to my eye, since he’s gotten back into the lineup.
I have Nuge allocated on another line.
Provide a list of success stories of moving dmen to forwards at this level
Burns, Byfuglien come to mind.
Do you see similarities between those 2 and Jones?
And is that the end of the list?
Wendel Clark.
Brent Burns
Marty McSorley
Jim Roberts
Red Kelly
There are a few more recent examples.
4-0 Condors – Espositto with his second from Niemelainen and Malone.
P.S. Tulio is not in the lineup.
I feel the leafs can shot someone on the ice and get away with it tonight. They are innocent of all crimes.