2021-22 Game 10: Rangers at Oilers

The first game played by the Edmonton Oilers against the New York Rangers was not successful. Final score: 10-2 Manhattan, on October 24, 1979 at MSG. Studio 54 was in full swing, Sandy Duncan was in Peter Pan on Broadway, so was Gilda Radner with her brilliant show. On the charts, Herb Alpert’s “Rise” took over No. 1 from Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust.”

Glen Sather was playing Dave Lumley and Dave Hunter with Stan Weir, Wayne Gretzky with Brett Callighen and Blair MacDonald, Mark Messier spent time with Ron Chipperfield and Dave Semenko. On defense, young Kevin Lowe partnered with Lee Fogolin, who had NHL experience and would be counted on to play big minutes. Pat Price, Risto Siltanen, Colin Campbell and Allan Hamilton were the other defenders. Both goalies (Eddie Mio and Dave Dryden) saw action.

One year later, October 19, 1980, Edmonton defeated the Rangers at MSG, on a hat-trick from one Dave Semenko. He got an assist too, in a 4-2 win that saw Ron Low stop 33 of 35, .943.

The Oilers honor Kevin Lowe tonight, putting his jersey in the rafters for all-time. That 1980’s team was an amazing crew, I expect Lowe the final man from that amazing group to reach the HHOF. I’ve never had more fun watching a hockey club than the 1979-91 Oilers, can’t expect to be blessed like that again. I am hopeful!

THE ATHLETIC!

• New Lowetide: Is this Connor McDavid’s peak season, and how good could it be?
• Lowetide: Who is the Oilers’ top prospect now that Evan Bouchard has graduated?
• DNB: Oilers’ Tyson Barrie says what needs to be said as NHL faces reckoning
• Lowetide: Did Oilers general manager Ken Holland win the offseason?
• DNB: The Duncan Keith-Cody Ceci pair have helped to overcome a notable loss
• Jonathan Willis: Seven Oilers surprises so far in 2021-22
• Lowetide: Will Xavier Bourgault be the best Oilers’ QMJHL pick this century?
• Lowetide: What Evan Bouchard’s move up the depth chart means for the Oilers’ defensive pairings
• Lowetide: How hot streaks, shuffles and slumps will determine the fate of the Oilers’ second line in 2021-22
• Jonathan Willis: Evan Bouchard’s evolution, in context
• Lowetide: Zach Hyman’s buzzsaw style makes him an instant Oilers fan favourite
• DNB: Comparing the Oilers’ 5-0-0 start this season to their 5-0-0 start in 2019-20
• Lowetide: Oilers prospect Philip Broberg showing his potential
• 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?

WHAT TO EXPECT IN NOVEMBER

• At home to: SEA, NAS, NYR (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
• On the road to: DET, BOS, BUF, STL, WPG (Expected 3-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• At home to: WPG, CHI (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• On the road to: DAL, ARI, VEG (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• Overall expected result: 8-5-0, 16 points in 13 games
• Actual November results: 2-0-0, four points in two games
• Oilers in 2021-22: 8-1-0, 16 points in nine games

I think this is going to be a tough game for Edmonton, it’s been a few days since the team faced a strong group like these Rangers. I expect a close contest and I also expect the five-game road trip to define the month. Things are about to get ker-razy.

RANGERS IN THE EARLY 1970’S

For some reason, I remember teams who should have won a Stanley Cup but didn’t get it done. The 1971 Chicago Blackhawks had the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 that year but Jacques Lemaire scored from near center late in the second period and the Habs closed it out in the final frame.

The next season, New York Rangers had a great roster, probably the equal of my Boston Bruins or close. Jean Ratelle got hurt late in the year and he was a key player. That was a veteran lineup, two fine goalies (Eddie Giacomin, Gilles Villemure) and some terrific defensemen (Brad Park, Rod Seiling, Jim Neilson, Dale Rolfe) and a pile of fine forwards led by Ratelle, Vic Hadfield, Rod Gilbert, Walt Tkazcuk, Ted Irvine, Billy Fairbairn and Peter Stemkowski.

Glen Sather was on the 1972 Rangers.

Fast forward to 1994, and the Rangers would win the Stanley that wouldn’t arrive in 1972. Former Oilers on that squad included Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson, Craig MacTavish, Kevin Lowe, Esa Tikkanen, Jeff Beukeboom and Adam Graves. I’m bitter about Messier and Graves, probably will be forever.

Lots of connections between these two organizations, it’s right to have Lowe’s night when the Rangers in Edmonton.

THE ENTRY CLUSTER

There have been times when this little corner of the roster was also the heart of the order. In 2021-22, the Oilers have the look of an organization using only NHL-ready talent. It’s been a long time, even the MacT coaching era have Sam Gagner pushed to the show.

• 2020-21: 77 games, 10-17-27 .351
• 2021-22: 20 games, 3-4-7 .350

THE MCDAVID CLUSTER

• 2020-21: 366 games, 106-173-279 .762
• 2021-22: 45 games, 21-33-54 1.20

This is the heart of the order and features three ridiculous talents, plus a nice kicker in Foegele. Puljujarvi is such a big part of this team now, one wonders how Ken Holland is going to get him signed. Expect a big number. McDavid and Draisaitl are so dominant it’s mind blowing.

THE VETERAN CLUSTER

• 2020-21: 366 games, 54-93-147 .402
• 2021-22: 49 games, 4-26-30 .612

Edmonton has several veterans pushing, and haven’t traded some quality picks who were developed, grew up and then established themselves as NHL players. The Oilers general managers of the past would have dealt Nuge and Nurse, and would have acquired Hyman two years from now. This is a much improved area of the roster.

THE 30+ PLAYERS

• 2020-21: 121, 10-19-29 .240
• 2021-22: 48, 7-8-15 .313

This section of the team also houses both goaltenders. Mikko Koskinen is the most valuable of the 30+ Oilers so far this year and by some distance. Mike Smith is once again a health concern, but he has been good for a strong run each season in Edmonton and that may come to pass as well. I would count Kassian, Barrie, Keith and Ryan as productive full-time elders. This is a far more productive group than we’ve seen in past seasons.

Example? In 2012-13, the Oilers 30+ group included Shawn Horcoff (31, 7-5-12), Nick Schultz (48, 1-8-9), Eric Belanger (26, 0-3-3) and Ryan Smyth (47, 2-11-13). Those are great numbers, this is a better list, although much of the value comes from the goalies. In 2012-13, a broken-down Nikolai Khabibulin was a part-time solution.

LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE

At 10 this morning, TSN1260, we have a great show lined up. Steve Lansky from Inside the Truck podcast will help us look back on the career of Kevin Lowe and ahead to the Rangers game tonight. Colin Stephenson from Newsday will give us the lowdown on the NY Rangers as the hit town. Matt Iwanyk will help tee up the weekend, including Oilers, Elks, and a little event called World Cup Qualifying at Commonwealth (one week from today!). 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Friday bitches!