2021-22 Game Three: Ducks at Oilers

by Lowetide

Kailer Yamamoto took a couple of penalties on Saturday, and in his media avail Dave Tippett said he mentioned to the young winger “you’re a penalty killer, not a penalty taker.”

The story of Oilers wingers who have had “the talk” about penalties with the coach is a long and winding road, from Dave Hunter listening (or not listening) to Glen Sather about penalties late in periods, to Benoit Pouliot effectively sealing his fate as an NHL player with a series of penalties that added grey hairs to Todd McLellan’s head in real time.

Yamamoto has a lot of pressure on him, but owns the skill set to succeed. This is a big year for him, he needs to post offense, kill penalties and not take those reach-in fouls that mean you’ve lost your mark. I believe in him. KY has to stay healthy.

THE ATHLETIC!

WHAT TO EXPECT IN OCTOBER

  • At home to: VCR, CAL, ANA (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
  • 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: 2-0-0, four points in two games

The Oilers have an inviting October schedule, 5-2-0 seems a reasonable expectation from here. I saw the Calgary game Saturday and the Vegas road game as being the most challenging, and would offer the Flyers game and the coast trip to Vancouver as the next toughest games for the team. A 5-2-0 month would be a fine result. Anaheim won in overtime last night against the Flames, the Ducks are 2-1-0 entering tonight’s game. Anaheim’s team save percentage, .958, is just a little better than Mike Smith’s (.953) so far this season.

KIRILL MAKSIMOV

The Oilers have ended relationships around this time of year before. Todd Strueby left camp in 1985, and was traded in December for Mike Rogers. Bogdan Yakimov was unhappy about not being in the NHL and bolted to the KHL. Toni Rajala, coming off an impressive AHL season, sought the opportunity to return to Europe for a lucrative contract. The organization waived him and then terminated the contract.

Maksimov is a talented player, but the current management group didn’t draft him and based on the last 24 hours weren’t convinced he was a player they wanted to spend another year (final season of entry) on in an attempt to get him to the NHL.

He wasn’t on a trajectory to the world’s best league but he could do some things and maybe he develops some offense and things come together. Going back to his draft year, Maksimov’s offense fell of at a point when many forwards hit a wall.

The two seasons after his draft, notorious for being peak seasons for teenage OHLers, look like outliers today. I don’t think we’re dealing with a future NHL player, it would have been nice to see him for another year. I did not have him ranked among Edmonton’s top 20 prospects for The Athletic during the summer.

Edmonton isn’t the only team dealing with unhappy Russian hockey players and I do think this is a time (after the pandemic) when people are making life choices that would have been unlikely two years ago.

For Maksimov, I wish him well, while also wondering what it will take to crack the Russian talent vault for this Oilers organization. The curse of Nail is real.

CARTER SAVOIE

The Oilers will need to cast about and find some forwards who can push from Bakersfield next season, and it looks like Carter Savoie is at the front of the line. So far this season, he is 5-6-11 in four games with the Denver Pioneers. That works out to an NHLE of 99 points, perhaps a little high but these are early days with small sample sizes. His NHLE from last season in the NCHC (30) suggests he does have a chance at an NHL career (anything 30 or over is solid).

LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE

At 10 this morning, we’ll tee up the Oilers-Ducks and talk at length about goaltending rotations and why both men have to play. We’ll talk Dodgers-Braves and about last night’s Red Sox-Astros game, plus CFL trades with the deadline approaching. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!!

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Keeper_13

I think Bouchard on the first line is best for the coach but I think his development as a player would be better served by more at-bats against middling NHL competition. Would give Barrie more time to settle in and hope he starts playing better. We know Bouch will eat his lunch one day, would be great if there is a trade market for Barrie when that happens. Recent win-now moves have me concerned for the salary cap over the next few years. I don’t think we have the luxury of trading assets to clear cap space.
That said, if all I care about is winning the next game, Bouchard is on my top pairing. The question is not “is he good enough?” but rather “is he my best option?”

razor

How much better would this team be if we kept Bear, didn’t sign Barrie, and signed a Foegle equivalent? I think a lot better. Holland deserves some credit for his offseason and I like Keith, Ceci and Hyman, but Barrie is quickly becoming a major liability. Bear could have warmed Bouchard’s spot on the top pair until he took it from him. Bear as second pair and Ceci as third is much stronger D corps

Last edited 3 years ago by razor
flea

I like Foegele on that line. They are scoring 5v5 and that hasn’t happened in forever. Who’s the equivalent FA they could have signed? Your scenario leaves out that critical detail.

OriginalPouzar

Yes, Flea, that is what I was going to say when I read the original post. Who is the Foegele replacement and please note that Foegle is signed for $2.75M for three high peak/prime years.

razor

My post says not using Foegele’s cap hit to replace Foegele, but rather Barrie’s. I think you could have found a 3W replacement for $4.5 million. In this scenario Bear continues to have the value contract instead of Foegele.

Last edited 3 years ago by razor
kgogshig

Barrie will get up to speed, give him a few games on the 3rd pairing. It’s nice that we have the depth to be able to cover him for a few games while he works out the kinks.

At the start of a season, timing can be a real issue with players. This is a very high skill team, when they round into midseason form and passes are clean and crisp…watch the fuck out.

JimmyV1965

Barrie does one thing well and has done it his entire career – score points. If he gets 50 pts this year, we can trade him for a second round pick.

who

Agreed.
Foegele has been a good addition, but is it enough to make up for Barries play so far?
And which is more important, a quality 3LW or a quality 2RD?

PennersPancakes

You’re right, the team thats 3-0 would probably be something like….. 3-0.

Barrie is having a rough start to the season, but got more points last season that Bear has his entire career. Kind of a knee jerk reaction after 3 games no?

Keeper_13

Sometimes you can lose a battle if it will win you the war. I see the bear trade as a clear loss, but I also like what Foegle has brought so far. Early days yet either way.

OriginalPouzar

Tip says Smith tweaked something – likely day to day but will know more after he sees the medical staff tomorrow.

hunter1909

With the Oilers having McDavid your fingers get tired from typing the superlatives…

Tonight he played the most awesome position in soccer – Sweeper – when he blocked the certain goal as Koskinen went on another one of his walkabouts.

In soccer, the best player of the team sometimes plays sweeper – which means he acts like a goal line defender one moment then takes the bal up to the other end of the field and slams in a goal himself. Only the very best can play this position well.

A work of Italian Art, McDavid is becoming.

Boil-in-the-Oil

The tried and true, old adage says … just score one more than they do.
I suspect we’ll see a lot of similar games, far too often this season. Just keep winning.

GO OILERS!!!

hunter1909

Calgary Puck is saltier than ever:

One of the Oilers they call a ‘Deutchland Douche’ lol

They say the NHL has an agenda to help the “little babies” win even if they cheat.
Beautiful stuff.

Crazy Pedestrian

Was curious and looked at some of their posts. Found some of these posts pertaining to the Oilers:

“Seems like these greasers are always on the PP.
Looks like the McWhining paid off.”

“The NHL. Would never put their little darlings in such a spot. Really, the league has to stop the molly coddling of that pitiful franchise. Butter soft schedules, ridiculous officiating it just goes on and on!!”

and my personal favourite:

“The Oilers get more breaks from the NHL than any franchise I have ever seen.”

HA! The Oilers have been getting the shaft end of alot of BS from the NHL for it seems like forever. From horseshit reffing and Non-calls, to forfeiting draft picks for FIRED coaches/GMs, to even worse horseshit reffing calls (Kesler was holding Talbots leg!), to using PROJECTED Goals scored by James Neal to settle the conditional 3rd round pick to the flames.

NHL darlings my ass!

NorwegianOiler

I have yet to see even an honest attempt at discerning which franchises (if any) are “getting breaks”. It’s always “your” team that is in disfavor and the other teams that get all the breaks. This phenomenon is most aptly explained by the various biases of observation rather than patterns of unfair conduct.

NorwegianOiler

That’s a disgrace. Everyone knows it’s “Deutschland”.

Last edited 3 years ago by NorwegianOiler
hunter1909

Best game of the season.

Who was complaining about Draisaitl?

Elgin R

The Bison King may just surpass his season high of 25 points this year. 3 games in and almost 1/4 of the way there. I should have taken the over on JP getting 42. Iis great to watch this young man play the game we love.

hunter1909

He’s a lock to double that.

Admiral Ackbar

I hope someone lights up Zegras in the next game for that spear.

hunter1909

Ducks play a great game of hockey.

Calgary, and Vancouver both play palooka hockey (unskilled, route 1 lack of creative play etc).

I think I already typed this. I might type this again. And again.

JimmyV1965

At least the third line looks good. That’s progress – I think.

Material Elvis

For the first time in….forever?

Bling

That was harrowing but Bouchard was inspiring. Loved his game on both sides of the puck. You can tell he already has a better sense of where people are and how plays are developing than Barrie, and he’s certainly ahead of where Nurse was at the same age.

Hopefully Tippett decides to keep this young RHD that he plays over Barrie when the chips are down, but really who knows 🙂

hunter1909

Nurse + Bouchard = NHL top 5 pairing the minute they get paired together.

Nurse skates like the wind, is as tough as they get, and Bouchard exudes high class Montreal dynasty level defence smarts at 21 years old.

Bouchard is emerging fast. They perfectly compliment each other.

Last edited 3 years ago by hunter1909
Bank Shot

Koski played well in relief.
Barrie was rough tonight.
Bouchard is an absolute beauty.
Draisaitl is equal parts sublime and enfuriating.
Is Russell still injured? Koekkoek is not looking good and he hasn’t played even ten minutes in both appearances.

Eh Team

Smith was atrocious tonight. He had a bunch of company, namely Barrie and the Nuge line. Should have been an easy 2 goal win given remotely competent goaltending.

At least it brings Koskinen into the mix. He looked pretty decent.

Bank Shot

Yeah their was a fair share of goat horns to go around tonight. Nice to see them get the win regardless.

Los Angeles also lost tonight so it was an all around great night on the out of town scoreboard.

Last edited 3 years ago by Bank Shot
hunter1909

Oilers will never be a perfect team.

That said, RNH, JP, Hyman, Ceci, Keith, Bouchard + Nurse etc are starting to show that they are the cream of the Pacific Division.

In October.

Think about that. 3 games in and they already playing better than last season.

hunter1909

Draisaitl is possibly warming up for the next playoffs.

He already knows the regular season is like a walk in the park for him.

AsiaOil

Smith played two games with big shot numbers – absolutely no need for him to start this 3rd game against the Ducks backup – now he’s hurt. Tip is going to Tip with goalies. Thinking that you’re getting more than 40 games out of Smith is wildly optimistic and he should never start more than 2 in a row. You need to (over)protect the guy at his age even if he’s playing well.

tileguy

You might be right.

Admiral Ackbar

This honestly seems so obvious…. yet here we are.

David

The evidence is in. Coaches just can’t help themselves.

Ice Sage

Well, we knew the Oilers would have to outscore their defensive liabilities this year.
Credit to Anaheim and (oh this is painful) their coach for having good buy-in on a system that stymied the Oilers, clogged up lanes and counterattacked well.
Does Smith get a redemption start next game?

Gerta Rauss

Does Smith get a redemption start next game?

I’d go Koski/Smith on the B2B myself, we’ll see what Tippett does

Last edited 3 years ago by Gerta Rauss
fishman

I just hope he is able to start and hasn’t pulled something!

tileguy

No

LMHF#1

Bouchard with SEVEN blocked shots tonight??

6 SOG and 7 BS.

GordieHoweHatTrick

Bouchbombs
and
Bouchblocks

Fuhrious

Jesus, that’s a big swing in shot differential for one guy.

Admiral Ackbar

I hope Smith is ok. I just hate teams obv gunning for Koski’s glove, in broad daylight, without shame.

jp

You have to be kidding AA…

The man gave up 1 goal on 21 shots, got the come from behind win, and you’re critiquing the 1 goal?

Apparently without shame?

Last edited 3 years ago by jp
BornInAGretzkyJersey

IT’S A TRAP!!!

jp

Like a Devils type?

Admiral Ackbar

No no, not a critique of tonight’s performance. He held it together well. I just notice how the opposition is always high glove from all angles when facing Kosk. I see it and just don’t have confidence in the guy. I know, it’s not fair tonight…. but scouting is always looking for that advantage and I believe they know what they’re gunning for.

flea

Not to mention the one goal is a ricochet from behind the net, direct to Shattenkirk who snipes it. Oh and the net was empty.

Gerta Rauss

A win is a win as they say, but I think we’ll read some terms like ‘looser than Crazy Horse at the Fillmore East’ in tomorrow morning’s post

Tarkus

Good for Koskinen to get the win in relief, even though everyone hates him. 😀

hunter1909

He’s pure chaos, but If they win with him its tolerable lol

fishman

Definition of an ugly win…..

jp

Koskinen to 1-0, nice relief appearance.

jp

3-0.

NOT a pretty game, but they did what they needed to do.

jp

Hmmm. 🙂

Material Elvis

Yes, an ugly but entertaining win.

fishman

Yea Baby!!!!!

fishman

So Bouch wasn’t good enough to play last year???

David

He was, but coaches gonna coach.

Admiral Ackbar

Man, Drai makes a lot of cheat easy-out plays on the half-board and gets caught on it 1-2x/game. Those plays don’t often result in grade-As anyway. I don’t know why he doesn’t just make the right break-out play.

David

The whole team has to really clean up zone exits. It’s ugly out there.

fishman

This has been a pretty sloppy game by the Oil. I think it will be good for them to get out on the road. Now please lock this game down!

Admiral Ackbar

Winning a game like this could mask the bitter taste they should have. I’d take the win, don’t get me wrong. But this needs to be a hard lesson. Tip better bag skate them.

jp

WTF, man.

hunter1909

Are you a Flames fan, by chance?

: p

Material Elvis

A bag skate? That’s only needed if the effort isn’t there. Not the issue tonight IMO.

Gerta Rauss

6th PP coming up

Let’s put this thing to bed

Ice Sage

wait a sec, I thought this Bouchard guy was gonna be a bust since he didn’t ‘arrive early’ smh I’ve so much to learn

Admiral Ackbar

Hey now…. he’s not Brogan…

jp

Or Bogdan.

striatic

Totally intentional. Old Man Bouchard is the best pool hustler west of the Mississip’ and that’s his patented bankeroo.

Tarkus

That’s the patented Bouch-Bomb-Him-With-a-Clapper-Then-Bank-One-Off-the-Rail. Brilliant.

Paulie

Bouch!!! talk about seizing your opportunity

Ryan

Dad!

Side

Bouchard is the father, Jesse is the son, McDavid is the holy spirit.

Tarkus

Bouchard with what will likely be the lowest-velocity goal of his career to put the Oilers ahead.

fishman

Bouch does it all!

Prairie_Sentinel

Bouchard the pool shark with the bank shot goal

OriginalPouzar

LOL – Bouch banks one in off Stolarz.

Credit Jesse on the area dumb though.

jp

lol

striatic

That really looked like it was in to me. Huge break.

fishman

Yea almost a Connor own goalie then he makes the save.

striatic

There aren’t many players with the awareness and hand eye coordination to keep that thing out.

Admiral Ackbar

What a smart fake then shot-pass by Bouchard….

Paulie

Does Tip go with 25-75 as 1st pair to start next game?

Material Elvis

I think so. Barrie is currently experiencing vapor lock.

jp

Very legitimate question, but I’ll guess no (while agreeing with the vapor lock comment).

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Huzzah!

Depth scoring, it’s been a while.

jp

Kassian!

Just glad to see him being useful.

Great pass by Bouch too.

Gerta Rauss

useful

That’s the best we can hope for at this point

Last edited 3 years ago by Gerta Rauss
jp

Well, full contributing member of what *looks like the Oilers best 3rd line since Marchant left town (with due respect to the 16-17 Letestu line, which Kassian himself was part of). That kind of useful, potentially.

Last edited 3 years ago by jp
OriginalPouzar

That would be a PP2 Goal.

Bouch is a star.

Tarkus

Good thing they bailed out the #1 unit. That top unit was disorganized AF on that PP.

godot10

I think I said the new year. It took to game 3, for Bouchard to leapfrog two guys.

See. I admit my mistakes! -).

Last edited 3 years ago by godot10
godot10

#CeciYouLater #BarrieBarrieBad

flyfish1168

Your favorite player got 2 goals 🙂

godot10

He is going to need about 20 of those to make up for all he gives up.

OriginalPouzar

He does make many defensive mistakes but he has been a net positive contributor the last two games and material to both wins.

flyfish1168

I hope Zack does get 20 goals. Love to see you give him some LOVE

OriginalPouzar

Perlini up to play with Nuge and Hyman.

Material Elvis

Yamamoto is playing his way into Tippett’s doghouse.

nafnikufesin

At least with bringing Koskinen into the game after the team has already faced 15 shots, he can’t let the first shot of the game in.

jp

Almost posted before the penalty, but Koskinen’s about 50/50 to get a win this evening I’d say.

N64

and Smith is now 0% for a L.

fishman

So Smith knicked????? SKINNER!!!!!!!!

Ice Sage

Well a good test in the third – ducks should be tired so it’s a matter of effort and smarts. this is where superior skill *should* prevail… but who knows this year in the NHL, it’s all upside down?!?

fishman

Sorry but “Should” doesn’t seem to be working this year in the NHL! Underdogs playing well so far. Hard to figure?

Admiral Ackbar

Bouchard is my only bright spot tonight. He’s legit NHL top 4 already, to my eye. The rest of the top 4….. not sure.

Scungilli Slushy

Armchair coach would sit Kassian Barrie and probably Turris next game

Yama down, Foegele up if Leon stays with Connor

What they are doing is momentum killing despite the talk they will give after

This is the same as always, not different. Despite a whack of new and better players

Have a good evening folks!

Admiral Ackbar

Tbh, that top line just has to produce more than 1 5on5 goal/game to justify 2 other lines without any river-pushes (assuming we want to call Ryan’s line good).