The Hockey News would arrive at the Rexall Drug Store at noon Wednesday, I could ride my bike there after school to pick it up. I still remember the reading order: Transactions (called “player movement”), Boston Bruins story, California Seals story, Scoring leaders, scoring by team, Player of the week (east and west), Ken McKenzie column, Bill Libby column, WHL page, OHA page, QMJHL page (WHA would be after scoring leaders once it arrived in 1972, lots of unusual looking Swedish and Finn goalies), AHL, IHL, college hockey (college hockey was confusing because the articles included stories from all over without giving me an idea about what the divisions were, it was years later I figured it out).
I read it like that, then cover to cover, followed by staring at Bobby Orr Yardley black label (after shave) ads, Frank Mahovlich (CCM) ads, on and on. Once I read it through? Do it again. By the following week, it was worn thin. My Dad might have a read through, maybe on Saturday morning. He was checking on the Leafs, maybe old Gordie.
The Hockey News has been replaced by endless resources, and I love having quick access. Still, there was something about the anticipation of walking into that prairie drug store, with the smell of perfume, tobacco, licorice. Mrs. Stenmark didn’t put it in a bag, she’d roll it and use an economical amount of brown paper around the middle of the magazine and then an extremely small amount of scotch tape to hold it. Rexall in Maidstone was a pleasant experience, and is a fine memory.
THE ATHLETIC!
- Lowetide: Evan Bouchard is going to be the Oilers’ secret weapon in 2021-22 — and he’s already showing why
- DNB: How the Oilers’ new-look second line wears down opponents and makes a difference.
- Lowetide: Amazing opening night facts on players, past and present, from Oilers opening night rosters
- DNB: New Oilers forward Zach Hyman may have a higher pay grade, but his style isn’t changing
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers final roster cuts
- Lowetide: How Ken Holland is increasing the Oilers’ talent pool, and why fans are nervous about it
- Lowetide: Oilers prospects thrive as junior, college and European seasons begin
- Lowetide: Does Dom Luszczyszyn’s 2021-22 preview mean math hates the Oilers?
- Lowetide: When will the Edmonton Oilers fully embrace analytics?
- Jonathan Willis: How the 2021-22 Oilers mirror their coach’s best teams from the past
- DNB: Maxing out LTIR
- Lowetide: What might Oilers do if Kailer Yamamoto’s goal scoring slump continues?
- DNB: Oilers’ Mikko Koskinen much happier with family by his side again
- New DNB: Duncan Keith’s decline, by the numbers and video
- Lowetide: 9 bold predictions for the 2021-22 Edmonton Oilers
- Lowetide: Why Colton Sceviour could be an important addition for the Oilers
- DNB: Derek Ryan Q&A
- Jonathan Willis: How can the Oilers find a long-term solution in net?
- Jonathan Willis: Darnell Nurse, in context
- DNB: Warren Foegele Q&A
WHAT TO EXPECT IN OCTOBER
- At home to: VCR, CAL, ANA (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- On the road to: ARI, VEG (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: PHI (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: VCR (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 5-2-0, 10 points in seven games
- Actual results: 1-0-0, two points in one game
I have this game as even, not because the Oilers are poor, but because the Flames under their new coach are going to want to set a tone. In order for Darryl Sutter to succeed, Calgary has to win the provincial season series. Last season, Edmonton won the series 6-4-0, and neither of these two teams will take 70 percent of the points unless they’re riding major luck.
Sutter needs a sock in the jaw, and I expect it’ll be early in the season. Now. 8pm Mountain. These two teams play tonight, and then not again until just after Christmas. Sutter is giving his “if we make the playoffs, anything can happen. In order to make the playoffs, we have to beat Edmonton.” I’ll bet money on it.
Oilers 50 wins?
If the Oilers are destined to win 50 games, and I’ve seen that suggested as a target, then winning games like tonight will be vital. I have Edmonton in the 45 wins range, and believe the club will finish in second place overall among Pacific Division teams.
Edmonton has tremendous advantages over Calgary, starting with their top line. In Leon Draisaitl-Connor McDavid-Jesse Puljujarvi, Edmonton has a searing talent trio and artists will write poems and songs about in the future. Calgary’s top unit tonight (Matt Tkachuk-Elias Lindholm-Johnny Gaudreau) is slick and damned dangerous, in more ways than one. In spite of their exceptional skill, Edmonton has the edge.
I’ve liked what the Zach Hyman-Nuge-Kailer Yamamoto line has been doing since being put together, and it’s only a matter of time before the line cashes. Calgary’s second line tonight (Dillon Dube-Mikael Backlund-Brett Ritchie) is an odd grouping, suspect Andrew Mangiapane will slide up before or during the game. If Ritchie plays on the unit, major edge for Edmonton. Mangiapane? Call it a wash.
Edmonton’s third unit appears to be Warren Foegele-Derek Ryan-Zack Kassian and they’ll run against Mangiapane-Sean Monahan-Trevor Lewis. It’s another Sutter “mixed bag” special but the skill on the line exceeds the Oilers.
Milan Lucic-Brad Richardson-Walker Duehr is the most Sutter line possible in modern society. Duehr is a steamroller with size and he did score reasonably well in college. Double shifting McDavid and Draisaitl might be a plan against this unit. Edmonton’s fourth line will be Brendan Perlini-Ryan McLeod-Kyle Turris/Colton Sceviour and I can’t handicap this area of the roster because there’s too much unknown. Call it even.
Calgary’s defense is likely to be Noah Hanifin-Rasmus Andersson; Nikita Zadorov-Chris Tanev; Oliver Kylington-Erik Gudbranson. Edmonton will reportedly run Darnell Nurse-Tyson Barrie; Duncan Keith-Cody Ceci; Slater Koekkoek-Evan Bouchard. Edmonton traded it’s young (Bear, Jones) while the Flames (Andersson, Kylington) have two fine young blue pushing to help Hanifin and Tanev. Calgary would have a decided edge here, but Zadorov and Gudbranson are slower boats and so we’re left with a fairly even, an surprisingly flawed, set of defensive groups.
Jacob Markstrom had a difficult year in 2020-21, suspect he’ll be miles better tonight. Mike Smith was brilliant on Wednesday, this seems a wash, too.
I have this as a pick ’em, with Calgary having the edge as the more desperate team. Edmonton could put this game to bed in the first 20, but there are disturbing issues (passive play with the lead, holes in coverage, dangerous passes, soft goal allowed after brilliance). I think it’ll be a helluva game. Too close to call.
Nice to see the Oilers finished the game without any injuries. anderson needs to be suspended hand in the way or not there was a head butt. sutter team will slow down over the long season. They never can keep this pace up.Yam needs to protect himself better to survive in this league. I would not be surprised if he is traded at some point this season.
Here is hoping that Shore can play on Tuesday because Ryan McLeod is STRUGGLING – he’s lost his confidence – couldn’t even take a pass right on his stick with no pressure clean (near the offensive blue).
I was thinking that Mikko starts the next game but looking at the schedule I’m not positive.
They play Tues (home) and then Thurs/Friday on the road before like 4 days off.
If Mikko plays Tuesday then he’ll get 2 of the next 3 – which is fine but, ultimately, with the way he’s playing, they should want Smith with two of them (and the Friday game is Vegas – after playing in Arizona the night before).
This may be true now (although Nurse, Ceci, Bouchard all have good size) but the group perculating in Bakersfield is massive:
Broberg – 6’3, 203
Berglund – 6’3, 209
Niemelainen – 6’5, 203
Kesselring – 6’5, 215
Kemp – 6’3, 211
Yes they are, but we are all systems go now. Maybe Sammie can help this year and add a little crust.
I was thinking last night at this point I’d rather see Berglund than Barrie. Barrie’s skill and outlets were needed badly last season, this year he’s not even the best option on PP, already.
McDavid’s presser was gold. 3 minutes in he said something about making the fans proud…then very briefly looked dead straight into the camera.. That’s gold Jerry!
Condors win, I watched most of it. They were mostly dominating play and the vets were the difference. None of the youth really stood out, unfortunately.
Skinner started, had a meh game, no really tough saves other than the 3 he let in. 2 were of the D’s fault variety, I didn’t see the 3rd.
Maksimov did not play, I saw him in a suit before the game started and he didn’t look injured, hopefully he plays in the next game. I have high hopes for him as a legit bottom 6 option next season.
I had it on in the backgrund while i was watching the OIlers game and every time I looked over, I saw Cracknell, Griffith, Malone, etc. – it sees they were reyling on the vets which lines up with what you said.
Didn’t see the number 50 once and I’m almost glad to hear that Maksimov didn’t play (same reason) – hopefully his issue isn’t long.
Connor is magnificent!
Jesse is in bloom and only just getting started. How the hell was that a roughing penalty?
I can’t wait to see this team when Bouch starts unleashing his bombs!
Yamo is a warrior. When is the NHL going to start doing something about punches to the head/face when a player can’t protect themselves?
Smith is amazing, the 1st goal was off a rebound because the point shot was deflected by LT’s guy before he buried it. That’s not on Smith.
IDK I thought the McDavid line has been meh for two games. JP has been great. McDavid has been okay and Drai has been meh. The big difference is they finish. They’re money and they know how to score. McDavid scores a hat trick and I don’t think he was vintage McDavid at all.
I’ve liked the second line quite a bit, although they had some ugly moments tonight as well. What they don’t have is a finisher. I would switch Yama and JP.
On a positive note, it looks like Foegle and Ryan have breathed some life into Kassian. His best game in many, many moons.
Barrie was awful. He’s a giveaway machine. Hopefully it’s like last year and he finds a better level after a couple weeks.
And stop if with all the frickin penalties. It’s seriously disrupting the flow of their game.
Good points
I thought Kassian was bad. He was energetic but he didn’t win many puck battles and was not in sync with his line.
He seemed out of position a lot. Wrong side of the puck. I judge a lot of how guys do on how they are pushing possession and keeping plays alive.
JP is brilliant at it. Constant pressure on the opponent. Like Hyman he’s relentless.
Steamrolling Monahan was pretty good though.
It’s funny how I agree with you that McDavid and Draisaitl haven’t been their best but yet, through 2 games they have a total of 9 points.
Going to be a fun season.
Agree with all of this.
I guess its a good sign that they are winning without peak McDavid and Draisaitl.
Now the question is are they winning because of superior skill at finishing? Or are they just lucky?
The only thing I know for sure is that Mike Smith has been the best Oiler in the first 2 games.
It’s awesome how McDavid has a game where he’s not as noticeable, ‘quiet’, and gets a hatty and 5.
The “Let’s Go Oilers” chant being hammered out during the post-game interviews is quite impressive. Even the reporters seem a little taken aback.
Rob Brown points out that some shifts Pujo is the best player on the ice, which is a helluva thing considering he plays with McDavid and Draisaitl.
I don’t disagree.
He’s a bit of a locomotive out there… once that train gets rolling, he can be tough to stop.
He still gets “in the way” quite a bit and struggles with his outlet passes. Lots of room for growth for our boy still.
Tipp sounds like he unbuttoned the collar before the post-game tonight
Tippett says to Rishaug that he’s interested in knowing how many actual scoring chances (compared to raw shot totals) Smith faced tonight.
Agree with Tipp on this. Lots of Flames shots from the periphery.
I was surprised at how surly Bouchard was tonight. Very effective. He’s not a third pairing D any more.
I think I leave him there and then double him in on Barrie’s minutes here and there. Nurse can cover for Barrie’s own-zone deficiencies. Seems unfair to ask Koekoek to do the same, whereas Bouch is a help to Koekoek.
Dunno. I don’t think there’s any bigger conundrum for Tippett right now.
Yeah I didn’t know Bouchard had that in him. It was kind of the only question mark. But it damn sure looks like he can defend (well) at the NHL level.
Bouchard is big/long and has a big hockey brain – he will pick up the nuances of defending quickly (as we are already seeing) – big, skilled, smart and a hard worker (from accounts).
Yes, for sure.
Surly and assertive in the Dzone was not a given though. Really great to see he can do those things, and be effective.
I agree with others also that the 3rd pair is the best place for him for now, even if it’s not on merit.
McDavid: Three career hattricks against Calgary. A hatty of hatties.
Hyman comes across as a very genuinely nice, good person. Loving his game and I’m glad he’s here.
Sounds like a classy individual especially his love for his firstborn.
Honestly, all the new guys impressed me tonight. Foegle, Ryan, Kassian line started the turnaround for the Oil- Oilers were not great to start, and some hard work by this line paid off. Skill looked like it won the game tonight but Hyman’s speed stood out, PJ’s snipe from Ceci pass, when Flames got some momentum, etc, etc. And for the little time the 4th line was out there, they were never really in danger of being scored on. Holland should get some credit.. time will tell I guess!
Maybe I haven’t paid close enough attention but where is the play by play of the LA Kings game?
It seems like they are able to achieve the “unleash Kopitar” part and that’s about it.
haven’t you heard? Detroit are the next ‘up and comers’ – as proof, they beat the Dynasty’s tonight!
I assumed they won again, as well as the Avs and Kraken? Podkolzin scored again too?
That next Jesse contract is going to be bigly. Hope Kenny is planning ahead for it.
As in like next Thursday.
There isn’t much cap space next year. Early days still, lots can change.
2 games in and Ceci has made a wonderful pass to spring a breakaway in each game. The guy has some passing chops. More to come as the forwards get familiar with him.
Is there an echo in here?
In here here here
Ha ha:
That would be 3 games in a row (one exhibition) where Ceci has sprung a forward for a breakaway…
Smith (.957) covers the bet against a typical Sutter team, lots of shots from the outside and hope for the best.
Marky Mark – not so much with his stellar .879.
Can you really fault him on any of the goals? He’s gotta find a way to stop JP on the 4th but it’s a perfect shot, across the body, tough to stop. Neither mcdavid goal was on him and Ryan bats one in.
I’m interested to see the fancies on this one as I also though Calgary didn’t generate a lot of high danger chances, or at least no more than the Oilers
The 4-2 Puljujarvi goal… feels like these Oilers are for real!
couldn’ta imagined that 2 yrs ago
I will happily eat crow on Keith. He looks like the goods so far.
Very smart with the puck and also defensively.
Pretty neat to see him and Ceci threading pretty passes all night.
I thought Ceci had a great game. In fact, only one defenseman tonight disappointed me.
(The one Nurse was forced to cover for, time after time)
Agree Ceci had a really nice game.
That was a fun game to watch. I like the new guys.
My three stars:
McDeity
Treebeard
Pujo
No particular order. They were all worthy of 1st.
Was that Keith who took a number for KK, and caught Lewis with that big hit?
Yes – I don’t think there was a great replay shown though. I rewound it and you don’t get a great look at it on the broadcast.
Mama Kass is going to sleep like a baby tonight.
Duncan Keith giving Trevor Lewis payback for the hit on Koekoek before the clock ticked down was a delight.
Do other teams also have Tabernac Saturday?
I think they call them Sutter Saturdays…
??????
Haha, oh my.
Fun game, despite the shots I felt like the Oilers were always in control of this game. Some things to work on in the d zone but some good stuff happening too.
What is the Oilers goal song? I tried to make it out after the empty netter. The crowd liked it!
La Bamba!
La Bamba I think
Yes its a tribute to Joey Moss I heard!
Ahh ok! I thought they were playing it at the end of games for Joey Moss, didn’t realize it was the goal song. Seems like a good choice, crowd was rocking!
LaBamba is the “win song” not the “goal song”.
Imagine the Flames thinking about how hard they worked tonight and the prices they paid to make plays and still lost by three.
This may be my favourite comment of the night.
There’s the Archibald replacement….McDavid!
Well I enjoyed that game.
Nice poke check by Nurse, great game by Smith, all the offense too of course.
Why is the broadcast obsessed with showing Connor’s grandma this year…both games now lol
Years prior it was his parents.
Back in the day it was Walter.
I’m all alone tonight. I still clapped.
that was a hard-working ENG.
That’s 3 points for Jesse
And a hat trick for some other guy
McHatty!
Why is Koekkoek playing so little? Louie needs to change his “mentality” …. in more ways than one. Great game to watch.
Not sure giving up over 40 shots a game (especially at home) is a good long term strategy…..
Flames are shooting from everywhere… let’s see the HDSC stats
The HDSCs favour the Flames just as heavily, though I agree their chances haven’t seemed that dangerous (or close to the net) for the most part.
Shades of Eakins, preaching Corsi
Is it just me or do the Oilers look like they could use a Logan Stanley on the bottom pairing and an Adam Lowry centering the 4rth line?
Are the Jets selling already?
Haha, no.
I know “moar bigger” has fallen out of favour, but we could use a few tall trees who can play.
Yes, that would be amazing obviously.
I think 30 or 31 teams would be happy to have Lowry at 4C and Stanley at 3LD though.
I was happy to see the team stand up to the attempt to intimidate them, good group push back.
Still the D group is pretty small for me. It is good they all can pass now and skate.
The league might stick its guns on cross checking, but having D that can play a strong physical game on the boards still matters, especially when the whistles go away later.
There is a reason Hyman said Doc was the hardest guy he had to play against. Keith although not heavy wouldn’t be a treat either, he is nasty.
I don’t think anyone is worried going into Barrie or Kook’s corners.
Lowry would have been a welcome addition for the last one-half metric forever, and having him on the fourth line would be spectacular.
Getting reallllll tired of the announcer being as excited for a Flames backhand from the boards as an Oilers breakaway.
I can’t recall a Hockey Night in Canada where that wasn’t the case, though? Why tire of it now?
Feel the same way. Guy almost piss’s himself any time Flames get a chance. Not real happy with DeBrusk either.
It would feel a lot worse if we were losing.
I’ve always loved Duncan Keith. What a smart, effective player.
It’s so cool he’s an Oiler now for me, even more so that the Dys fans hate him.
I hope he plays really well through the two years.
Yeah, it’s funny how, pre-analytics, bringing in a veteran stud D would have been celebrated way more… (maybe the deal wasn’t so lop-sided?)
He really does possess that killer instinct.
Something that’s been missing for a long damn time.
Not to mention how well he processes oncoming plays in real time.
Keith is playing well… very happy to have him on the team. Question: would you rather have him or Klefbom?
Both.
2016-17 Klef or game but nagging injury problem Klef?
One thing’s for sure. I prefer him over Caleb Jones. There were some fans screaming bloody murder when that trade went down. Looking good so far
Keith makes some sneaky smart plays
Connor still hungry. When is he not?
Maybe HH was on to something.
From this vantage, it would appear that Ian Clarke >>> Jordan Sigalet.
Bison scores a huuuge goal!!!!
Yessa! Huge goal good pass by Ceci.
What a release
Outscore the mistakes.
That’s the way for this team to
win.
Decent defence. Heavy and constant offence.
Pujo breaks up the play behind his own net and then leads everyone across the blue line to score. What a player.