The Edmonton Oilers have eight more games remaining on the schedule and at some point will begin resting veterans for a game or more. I doubt it will be tonight, as the Calgary Flames are the opponent. The Oilers are 5-4-0 against the southern Alberta team and there’s a small chance they could meet in the postseason. Vancouver awaits. Now is not the time to pull punches.
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: Oilers complete April report card
- DNB and Murat Ates: Edmonton vs. Winnipeg: Five things the season series taught us about how they match up
- Lowetide: What Kris Russell does well and how the Oilers deploy him
- DNB: A 2nd Hart Trophy is firmly in Connor McDavid’s grasp
- Jonathan Willis: Which Oilers need to step up down the stretch?
- DNB: Get ready for Ryan McLeod
- Lowetide: A look at the best value contracts on the 2021 Oilers
- Lowetide: Dominik Kahun’s season of struggle with the Oilers has a silver lining
- Lowetide: An early look at ideal Oilers’ free-agent targets for the offseason
- DNB:McDavid’s latest goal shows why he’s in a class of his own
- Lowetide: Why Oilers fans shouldn’t worry about Philip Broberg’s SHL season
- Lowetide:Let’s make a final call on the Oilers’ 2016 draft class
- DNB: Re-sign Ryan Nugent-Hopkins? Free-agency targets? Oilers mailbag
- DNB: Oilers sign Dylan Holloway to ELC
- Jonathan Willis: Should the Oilers re-sign pending unrestricted free agent Tyson Barrie?
- Lowetide: Five Oilers prospects who deserve NHL tryouts now that the trade deadline has passed
- Lowetide: Are the 2020-21 Oilers better than the 2016-17 team?
- Lowetide: Oilers’ top 20 prospects, trade deadline edition
OILERS AT 49 GAMES
- Oilers in 2015-16: 19-25-5, 43 points; goal differential -26
- Oilers in 2016-17: 26-15-8, 60 points; goal differential +10
- Oilers in 2017-18: 22-24-3, 47 points; goal differential -26
- Oilers in 2018-19: 23-23-3, 49 points; goal differential -12
- Oilers in 2019-20: 26-18-5, 57 points; goal differential 0
- Oilers in 2020-21: 29-17-2, 60 points; goal differential +18
The 2017 team and this year’s model are close in record and the McDavid-Talbot crew were finding the range in outscoring and catching up in a quick hurry. Tippett got a fine record out of a team that was basically even in goal differential last season.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN MAY
- At home to: Calgary (Expected: 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: Vancouver, Vancouver (Expected: 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: Vancouver, Vancouver (Expected 1-0-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: Montreal, Montreal (Expected 0-1-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: Vancouver (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Expected May record: 4-2-2, 10 points in 8 games
- Actual May record: 0-0-0, 0 points in 0 games
If my prediction comes true, Edmonton would finish 33-19-4, 70 points in 56 games. I picked them for second place before the season and that’s where they’ll land. My predictions for ‘reasonable expectations‘ are going to be close in some areas and not so much in others.
POSSIBLE LINEUP
This is five on five points-60 for forwards, Corsi five on five for defensemen and save percentage for the goalies. In the Thursday night Calgary game coach Tippett shuffled the lines, so we could see a different look tonight.
OILERS GAME 1 2017 PLAYOFF PAIRINGS AND GOALIE
- Nurse-Gryba: 9:34 together, 1-4 shots, 0-1 goals, Nurse TK, Gryba took a penalty.
- Klefbom-Larsson: 9:04 together, 3-3 shots, Klefbom scored, Larsson drew a penalty.
- Sekera-Russell: 8:24 together, 5-8 shots, Sekera 3 giveaways, Russell 1/1 gv/tk.
- Cam Talbot: Stopped 41 of 44 (.932) in the loss.
These are the numbers and lines/pairings for the first 2017 playoff game against the San Jose Sharks. Question: Do you like the current lineup more? Here’s an estimate of what the pairings could look like opening night playoffs 2021:
- Darnell Nurse-Tyson Barrie
- Dmitry Kulikov-Adam Larsson
- Caleb Jones-Ethan Bear
- Mike Smith
I’m uncertain about Jones’ role in the coming playoffs, he’s earned the No. 3 LH spot but Russell gets some starts. We’ll see.
U 18 Scoring
Below are my ranked players and their scoring totals in Texas:
- No. 1 RW Dylan Guenther, Edmonton Oil Kings: 3 games, 2-3-5
- No. 3 LC Mason McTavish Peterborough Petes: 3 games, 3-2-5
- No. 4 RD Brandt Clarke Barrie Colts: 3 games, 2-3-5
- No. 8 LD Simon Edvinsson, Vasteras IK: 3 games, 0-2-2
- No. 13 LC Francesco Pinelli, Kitchener Rangers: 3 games, 4-3-7
- No. 15 RC Logan Stankoven, Kamloops Blazers: 3 games, 2-3-5
- No. 18 RW Nikita Chibrikov, St. Petersburg: 3 games, 2-5-7
- No. 21 RW Fabian Lysell, Lulea: 3 games, 1-2-3
- No. 24 LW Brennan Othmann, Flint Firebirds: 3 games, 1-1-2
- No. 25 LW Fedor Svechkov, Ladia Togliatti: 3 games, 2-3-5
- No. 28 LC Brett Harrison, Oshawa Generals: 3games, 1-0-1
- No. 31 LW Conner Roulette, Seattle Thunderbirds: 3 games, 0-2-2
- No. 33 RW Chase Stillman, Sudbury Wolves: 3 games, 0-1-1
- No. 34 RW Isak Rosen, Leksands: 3 games, 2-0-2
- No. 35 LD Olen Zellweger, Everett Silvertips: 3 games, 0-5-5
- No. 36 RW Simon Robertsson, Skelleftea: 3 games, 0-1-1
- No. 40 RD Corson Ceulmans, Brooks Bandits: 2 games, 1-3-4
- No. 42 LW Sasha Pastujov, USNDTP (U18): 3 games, 3-2-5
- No. 44 LC Oliver Kapanen JYP: 1 game, 0-0-0
- No. 45 LC Wyatt Johnson, Windsor Spitfires: 3 games, 1-1-2
- No. 48 RW Samu Tuomaala, Karpat: 3 games, 4-3-7
- No. 49 RW Prokhor Poltapov, Moscow: 3 games, 0-1-1
- No. 50 LD Ethan Dal Mastro, Mississauga Steelheads: 3 games, 0-0-0
Geez, the Oilers are going to be a very big, very fast team in a couple years. Here’s hoping Holland makes the right moves this summer as the team transitions to complementary players like McLeod, Holloway, Bouchard, Broberg and Samaroukov.
Yes indeed. Imagine if Lavoie can improve his wheels over the next 2 years as well!
Overlooked somewhat in all the other stuff going on with McDavid, is the rate at which he is piling up assists. Right now, his assist total of 58 would be tied for 8th in scoring. Kucherov had a big assist year in 2019 with 87 in 82 and that would have been good for 17th in total points. Even in ’06/07 Jumbo Joe’s 92 assists were equal to 13th place overall and his 96 assists in 05/06 would have been good for 10th.
Over an 82 game season, Connor would be on pace for 97 assists – above Thornton’s best. Only 3 Players have ever broken 100 assists in season, Gretzky (11X), Lemieux (1) and Orr (1). Lemieux would have had a few more without injury. McDavid can make plays.
Back in the day draft pools would draft Gretzy’s goals separate from his assists. Connor is heading there quickly
Flames schedule is brutal too, only 2 games in basically the next two weeks. They’ll just have to sit back and watch themselves get eliminated. I question whether the final 4 between Van and Cal are even played at this point.
Wrong post
Drai with a 7 point lead on Marner for 2nd in the scoring race – Marner with only 5 games to go.
McDavid with a 16 point lead on Drai and 23 point lead on Marner.
My goodness.
Of note, Sam Bennett with another 2 assists tonight – 4 shots, 2 hits, 60% in the faceoff – only 16 minutes though as there weren’t many special team minutes.
That’s 13 points in 9 games as a Panther.
I WANTED HIM DAMN IT!!!
Hall racked up a couple more helpers as the Bruins put a beating on the helpless Sabres, nothing but production for Hall.
Hall has been very productive since the trade (10 points in 11 games) – not quite at post-trade Sam Bennett levels, mind you.
Love flames cast-off Sam Bennett right now.
Good for Hall, he is definitely playing well, but in his 11 games, he has played Buffalo 6 times and has 6 of his points against them. So far this season, 15 players who played at least 6 games against Buffalo have averaged >=1.0 PPG against them, including Justin Schultz (8/8). Buffalo’s team defense is worse than Ottawa’s and about the same as Philadelphia’s.
McDavid now 13 points from 100 with 6 games to go. I was personally thinking he’d finish with 97 (to match his number), but I think he can do it! Just have to solve those pesky Montreal Canadiens… (they’ve been pretty good at keeping him at bay all season)
Also, No big deal or anything, but lazy Draisaitl is now tied for league lead in +/- (while holding 2nd place in points).
Yeah, not a defensive bone in his body.
I’m rooting for optimus prime. 97. Largest two digit prime number. Just as interesting as 100. Just doesn’t come with the fan fair.
Nurse played 31:34 tonight – my goodness.
Larsson 23:54
McDavid – 22
Leon – 24
Jones was at 9 – clearly a reason Nurse was so high.
I wonder if Lagesson gets a shot here soon (unless Koekkoek is back next week).
Have they started the Connor McDavid wing at the Hockey Hall of Fame yet?
I feel like they’re gonna need a head start.
Build it & they will come…new HoF.
I think it moved.
I know it broke!!!
So satisfying. Beating the flamerz is always great. Ending their season is almost a spiritual experience.
I think I like Singh as the play by play on the national broadcasts. Seems like a legitimately nice guy with some passion for what he’s doing.
I like him as well
He’ll do for all non-Oiler games.
I’m not so sure the flames are going to make the playoffs. I mean, I know I ready in the last day or so that they were a “very good bet to make the playoffs” but I’m not 100% sure……
Just you wait, there will be a meeting of rubber and roads.
Catch ya next year, Johnny Golf!
Few things better then seeing Sutter hockey fail miserably.
End of a pandemic us all I’ve got
Also Johnny Hockey.
Na na na naaaaa, na na na naaaaa….hey hey heeeeeeey….GOODBYE!
https://media2.giphy.com/media/3oz8xBwn8AU6Bp1hKM/giphy.webp?cid=6c09b952eed6e82cda9327dcfbae95909f4ab463a5514247&rid=giphy.webp&ct=g
Well that pretty much eliminates the Flames
Well that was no Picasso but satisfying win against the assholes from the South!
Smith making sure the Flames know to get the fuck out wooooo
Sutter really turned things around in Calgary…
LoL
2 empty net goals LOL poor Flames
That’s just salty.
Don’t think so – McDavid, to Drai, to Archie, to Nurse – no?
I think just three
Yup, edited out my mistake!
And another Boom! lol Never been happier to score empty net goals.
Mcd started the zone exit on that…but it passed thru Leon, Archie and then Nurse got the empty netter
4-1 and suck it Flames
Archie passing to Nurse there cost McDavid his 4th point — ha!
Hee Hee!
Rubber road has been painted orange
Very nice!!
Great to get the insurance goal!
BOOM for ending the flamerz season!
Wooooo Calgary worse team ever
Fuck it fLamers…
that should be another McPoint on the Archie empty netter
more empty net coming up
Yea Baby!!!! Suck it Flames
Archie…woohoo
With a 2-1 lead to protect and under 5 minutes left on the clock, Larsson makes another solid play, passing the puck to RNH who proceeds to shit himself with the puck, coughing it up in the zone instead of getting it the fuck out.
This is the $6 million player Oilers cannot possibly live without lol
This game can’t end soon enough!
Think of it as twisting the knife in the fLames…?
I don’t like much of anything about this strategy.
Giving a completely inferior team a chance by defending a one goal lead isn’t smart whether it turns out or not.
On the plus side – McLeod keeps driving the puck deep – really strong zone entries from him.
Yay Johnny…shooting from the goal line…you go boy…
What an absolutely shitty team Calgary is, like probably worse then Vancouver who at this point is about to be regulated.
What happened to the Flames jerseys? They used to have the national flag, to help the Calgarians remember the country they play in.
Ever since Wexit, Alberta is all that counts
Not a fan of Archie with McDavid (and Nurse/Barrie) on the 4 on 4 – that’s half pregnant. Go with McLeod or Jesse.
I like that the coach already has enough faith to put Highlander out at 4 on 4 though.
This kid is never going back to the AHL.
Ref losing control of the game because they don’t make the calls. That is why game management doesn’t work
This times infinity
Game management works when you set a standard and stick to it. When your standard changes from period to period, you get frustrated players, coaches and fans, plus a lot of questions about your eyesight, ancestry, and even whether or not you’re pregnant
But Giordano isn’t in the box?
Eat shit Gio.
Careful, Gio… there’s an Elkhound lurking beneath that Corgi veneer.
Giordana is so tough with those sucker punches.
phlegms are one of the NHL dirtiest teams. Another slew foot. Why the NHL and the refs don’t call these is beyond me.
We have no answer
Refs are supposed to be the answer. game management stops it
Lucic is a piece of shit. So happy he is not on the Oilers.
I guess it’s not a slew foot if you’re down by one
Lucic is a coward, which is why he’ll be the Flames captain next season.
Draisaitl has been dealing with a ton of blatant penalties lately.
Ya but he embelishes too much. Which means they get into his head. Which is their plan…
Play through it…that gets them into their heads.
Leon embellishes?