2021-22 Game 5: Oilers at Golden Knights

The Edmonton Oilers are 4-0-0 to start the season and have enjoyed great scoring success in the early days of 2021-22. Edmonton leads the league in goals (tied with Florida, 18). The discussion we had all summer, about forwards driving play, seems to be carrying the day.

It’s miles too early to make any sweeping statements, but the verbal is going to build around some of Ken Holland’s summer moves if things continue in a good direction. Last night, Warren Foegele and Zach Hyman helped carry the load and the Oilers left for Vegas looking like a contender for the division crown. We’ll know more later tonight.

THE ATHLETIC!

• New Lowetide: Should Jesse Puljujarvi drive his own line for the Oilers in 2021-22?
• New DNB: He’s a one-shot scorer’: Oilers prospect Carter Savoie thriving at DU
• Lowetide: The Oilers finally have an effective third line — so how should they deploy it?
• Jonathan Willis: Success or failure for the Oilers could depend on their Duncan Keith-Cody Ceci tandem
• DNB: Evan Bouchard subscriber Q&A
• Lowetide: First impressions of 2021-22 Oilers — is this strong start sustainable?
• Lowetide: Which Oilers AHL players are most likely to be called up in 2021-22?
• DNB: The Battle of Alberta gets heated
• 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: When will the Edmonton Oilers fully embrace analytics?
• Jonathan Willis: How the 2021-22 Oilers mirror their coach’s best teams from the past
• Lowetide: What might Oilers do if Kailer Yamamoto’s goal scoring slump continues?

WHAT TO EXPECT IN OCTOBER

• At home to: VCR, CAL, ANA (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 3-0-0)
• On the road to: ARI, VEG (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
• 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: 4-0-0, eight points in four games

The Oilers have delivered strong starts before and faded, but this team isn’t running a hot goaltender and the four wins delivered included many repeatable pieces. This isn’t the “McDavid scores and Talbot saves” Oilers, there are multiple scoring options and the team is +6 in goal share (excluding EN goals).

Including all goals, the Oilers are 18-10 after four games, hockey-reference tells us the average NHL team (after four games) has scored 11-11.

GOALIES

Mikko Koskinen stopped 25 of 26, .962 and is 2-0-0 on the season. His save percentage for the year is .957 and you should expect regression. I still think he’s as good a bet on any given night as Mike Smith. Stuart Skinner was the backup, we’ll find out later today how Dave Tippett will handle the Vegas game. My guess? Koskinen.

DEFENSE (five on five)

Darnell Nurse-Tyson Barrie played 17:55, going 8-7 shots and 1-1 goals. Nurse skated miles, blocked some shots, flattened a few townsfolk, shot the puck in to good retrieval spots. Solid on the PK. Barrie picked up a couple assists and was solid with the puck save for an errant pass that began the sequence that led to the Coyotes goal. Pairing looked much better than Saturday, big test tonight.

Duncan Keith-Cody Ceci played 16:33, going 8-9 shots and no goals. Keith had four shots on goal, two takeaways and plenty of time on the PK. Seems to be settling in. Ceci led Oilers defensemen in PK toi, couple of shots on goal and a few shots at the opposition. Ceci had one HDSC. So far this season at five on five, the tandem has played 60 minutes, 28-29 shots and 3-2 goals. Remember, we promised each other 200 minutes at five on five before making any kind of statements. So we’re 30 percent of the way. Stay the course!

Slater Koekkoek-Evan Bouchard played 12:07, going 8-7 shots and 1-0 goals. Koekkoek made a couple of fine outlet passes and offered support defensively. Bouchard got an assist on the first goal, along with a takeaway, several sublime passes and four shots on goal. I don’t think there’s a high chance he plays with Nurse tonight, but one never knows.

LINES

Nuge-Leon Draisaitl-Kailer Yamamoto played 11:43, going 4-6 shots and no goals. Decidedly uninspired effort, although there were some individual moments of note. Nuge’s pass to McDavid for a power-play goal was outstanding, he now has six on the season. His shorthanded area bounce pass on the Hyman goal was also fabulous and he did have a great individual chance. Leon Draisaitl had a great chance down low but was quieter than normal (did manage some good passes that didn’t cash). Yamamoto drew a penalty, two shots and a takeaway. The line needs a spark.

Zach Hyman-Connor McDavid-Jesse Puljujarvi played 11:21, going 6-1 shots and 0-1 goals. I thought the trio had lots of jump but had some vapor lock (the goal against came on a turnover by Tyson Barrie followed by some scrambled looking defense the coach will want to review). Hyman had two HDSC’s at five on five, scored twice on the power play and did Hyman things on the regular. McDavid’s stick is now Thor’s hammer, as he once again had a multiple goal night (2-1-3) overall. His stats are four games, 6-5-11. Man. Puljujarvi made a nice play on a McDavid goal, passing off and then driving to the net for what looked like an uncalled pick play. Had a HDSC, worked well with McDavid and tried like hell to get onside during one sequence where McDavid was winding up for a big moment. Line looks good. The five on five goal came with Leon replacing Hyman.

Warren Foegele-Derek Ryan-Zack Kassian played 11:03, going 6-4 shots and 1-0 goals. This line is an instant fan favourite and for good reason. Foegele’s first period goal was skill and effort, and he is 1-2-3 after four games on the No. 3 line. Derek Ryan played well, stymied progress and played a responsible game. Kassian had an assist on the Foegele goal, had five hits and added 14 minutes in penalties. He must have seen Sceviour’s quick start in that category and felt the urge to get it all back in one night.

Brendan Perlini-Devin Shore-Kyle Turris played 7:30, going 4-3 shots and no goals. Perlini had a shot on goal and got pucks deep, suspect he’ll play tonight and maybe we see a tweak next week against Philly. Shore won a lot of faceoffs and was effective on the penalty kill. Turris had one HDSC, two shots, two takeaways and drew a penalty. Might have been his best game as an Oiler.

YAMAMOTO

The young winger is coming up on 50 minutes at five on five without a point, Zach Hyman is 47:28 without a point in the same game state but is part of the power play and has cashed shorthanded. Hyman is 0-4 and Yamamoto 0-3 in on-ice goal differential at five on five.

What to do? Coach Tippett has options, but the third line is playing so well and he’ll want to give Hyman some time with McDavid on this road trip. Clock is ticking for young Yamamoto, but I’m hopeful Tippett sticks with him. Nuge could use some five on five success too, maybe it happens tonight.

LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE

At 10 this morning, TSN1260, we kickstart the weekend with a parade of cool guests. Steve Lansky from Inside the Truck podcast will pop in at 10:20 to talk about the Oilers, the Canadiens and MLB’s playoff coverage. At 10:40, Jonathan Von Tobel, host of The Edge and Senior NBA Analyst for VSIN, will pop in for our first look at the NBA season. Matthew Iwanyk has done an exceptional job getting the word out on the two Canadian Men’s Soccer games at Commonwealth in November (v. Mexico and Costa Rica), we’ll talk to Matt about his impact when using his powers for good. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Friday!!!!