It might be the best goal I’ve ever seen. When you add up the drama of the moment, remember Connor McDavid’s clear irritation on the brilliant Mika Zibanejad 5-4 goal, then the way he set his jaw and tore a hole in the space-time continuum starting at the Rangers blue line, this was majesty at a supernatural level. In a career where impossible becomes commonplace, that goal was beyond comprehension. Give the poets two centuries, maybe they’ll find the words. For the rest of us, we were witness to true greatness in Edmonton last night. Shocking.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New DNB: Connor McDavid’s otherworldly goal
- New DNB: Kevin Lowe Q&A
- 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 3-0-0)
- 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: 3-0-0, six points in three games
- Oilers in 2021-22: 9-1-0, 18 points in 10 games
A stunning game, absolute monster. A classic. I’m watching it now. If I’d taped over my wedding (which is on betamax) with this game, I’d be dead but willing to argue it was the right call.
GOALIES
Mikko Koskinen got the win, but he wasn’t the story. Could have been but wasn’t at the end. He stopped 20 of 25 shots, .800 and is now 7-1-0, 2.54 and .920. Goals you thought he could have stopped? First goal he lost his stick and looked awkward; Second goal Foegele bad turnover, point blank Rooney; Third goal Keith needs to take Kreider wider, and the puck changed direction off Keith’s stick. Zibanejad the first aimed by skate blade, completely legal and impossible to adjust. Zibanejad the second jailbreak off a non-call on JP in the corner and a fantastic shot. Don’t agree? Let me know.
DEFENSE
Darnell Nurse-Tyson Barrie played 16:43, going 13-5 shots and 2-1 goals. 8-2 HDSC, but it was the Nuge line (6-0) that drove those results. Nurse needed to drive Zibanejad wider on the 5-4 goal, although the NY forward was flying and I’m not sure what he could have done to slow him at the blueline beyond an open field tackle. Nurse was wildly high event, including three assists, four shots and five giveaways. Holy lord, what a line. Tyson Barrie went 1-2-3 with four shots on goal and was less chaotic. Are they back?
Duncan Keith-Cody Ceci played 18:01 going 7-7 shots and 0-2 goals. Tippett played them a lot. Keith had a tough night, turning over the puck just once according to the scoresheet but it felt like more. When he can’t win pucks in open ice, there is imminent peril. Keith had an assist. Ceci can get caught flat-footed at times but I will tell you he’s the defender on this pairing who has looked the best through 10 games.
Evan Bouchard played 5:22 with Nurse (3-2 shots, no goals), 4:40 with Keith (7-1 shots, 1-0 goals) and 3:58 (2-4 shots, 0-1 goals) with Slater Koekkoek. Bouchard was beyond brilliant, there was a sequence when he kept the puck in at the NY blue line multiple times. Just thwarting Rangers five at a time. Music! Had an assist, three shots, a giveaway and a takeaway. I love watching Bouchard play. Keith-Bouchard saw good results. Just saying.
FORWARDS
Draisaitl-McDavid-Puljujarvi played 17:33, going 10-8 shots and 2-2 goals. It was 4-3 HDSC. Draisaitl went 1-2-3 including the game winner, McDavid also 1-2-3 with a goal that seemed to surprise even its author, and Puljujarvi went 2-0-2 and scored in big moments. His second goal was a throwback, that’s how every winger scored goals in my youth. Grip and rip.
Hyman-Nuge-Yamamoto played 13:40, going 14-5 shots and 1-0 goals. This trio was excellent. Hyman scored, Nuge had an assist (another stunning, 10,000 feet magnifique to JP) and Yamamoto had two shots on goal. Hyman had six HDSC, Nuge and Yamamoto one. This line trolled the Rangers hard. I think that’s what the kids say.
Foegele-Shore-Kassian were 1-6 shots and 0-2 goals in less than six minutes. I have nothing to say. Edmonton’s third lines are doomed. DOOMED. The Kassian penalty for slashing was a joke, and potentially a big moment in the game. Devin Shore is 2-4 goals five on five this year, Derek Ryan 3-7. Gaetan Haas understands.
Perlini-Ryan-Turris were 1-0 shots in 3:54. I’m not sure how critical we should be about a line that gets a little over one minute a period. The third and fourth lines are once again lost in the supermarket.
THE START
There’s skill to the sky at the top of this roster. Dave Tippett is playing the hell out of it, with Nurse, Draisaitl, McDavid, Bouchard and Nuge all over 20 minutes a night. I think there’s room for Puljujarvi and Hyman to increase minutes, perhaps that’s the next development.
The Oilers are 9-1-0, best start ever. That was a memorable night, the kind of game that will be recalled for years and years. The Rangers are one of those teams, they bring out the best, and last night was no exception.
THE CONDORS
Raphael Lavoie is moving his feet, Philip Broberg is being trusted in big moments, Ryan McLeod’s exits and entries are splendid and plentiful. Last night, I liked Ilya Konovalov in net very much and thought Markus Niemelainen earned an NHL recall based on his play across the entire sheet of ice. Condors play again tonight, I’ll spend more time on the minor league team tomorrow.
Arizona wins a game!!!
And Chychrun finally gets a pt
Milan Lucic on pace for 30 goals.
ML playing for Sutter is a clock that keeps ticking
Your curse is powerful. You didn’t expect Shesterkin to let in 6 goals and then look what happened.. even Lucic scored..
Also of note, Leon Draisaitl is on pace for 82 goals.
You are fantastically annoying.
And both Nuge and McDavid on pace for 115 assists.
More than anyone in NHL history not named Gretzky.
Of note: Tage Thompson, Cole Sillinger, Marcus Folingo, & Rasmus Asplund are all on pace for 30 goals. Also, JT Miller, Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson, & Quinn Hughes are not on pace for 30 goals. Lastly, Jack Rathbone is on pace for zero points this year.
This is fun.
Lol Ziiing!
Worth noting…
Rangers goaltending.
Kesselring with a solid gap up and zone entry defence on a 4 on 4 (although the guy was going 1 on 2 for some reason), takes the puck and a quick up to Lavoie who heads in with Griffith for a clear 2 on 1.
Lavoie to Griffith and its 5-3 with 9 to go.
Shots 36-15 Condors.
6-3 Ontario.
Condors goalies getting smoked.
Cooper Marody -4.
Neimaleinen -3
I am amazed that top FA signing and Calder candidate Vladimir Tkachev is playing for the Ontario Reign.
We were hearing so much about him for a while, what happened?
While not looking quite like the Oilers PP, the Condors have now scored a PP goal in all 9 games – very very good offensive zone pressure for a good minute – Broberg with a nice keep in with his skate, over to Griffith who walks in and rips one home from the circles.
That’s Broberg’s 6th apple in 9 games (4 PP, 1SH, 1ES).
Condors with a nice goal early in the 3rd – catch the Reign on ba line change and, although the Reign recover, the leave Deharnais alone sneaking down – McLeod finds him from the side-wall and he snaps home his first pro goal.
Down 4-0, Lagesson takes a penalty and then Samorukov joins him 30 seconds later. Condors manage to kill off the first 60 seconds of the 5 on 3 but then……. 5-0 – no chance for Rodrigue (think Drai one-timer).
A quick strike 2 on 2, Niemelainen beat wide a bit but the backhand was still a grade B chance – Rodrigue stopped it but lost the rebound and it bounces in behind him for the 4-0 goal.
After dominating the first but ending up down 2-0 despite a 17-4 shot advantage, the Condors pick up right where they left off and dominate the first 5 minutes of the 2nd and come close to scoring a few times on the PP. As the PP ends, Malone is on defence due to 4 forwards on the PK and gets totally lost on a 2 on 2 against and then the 7 seconds of defensive zone time – a man is left all alone in front and Konovalov is out after giving up 3 on 5 shots (2 of them really no chance).
Shots 21-5 but down 3-0.
After the Condors give up a goal on the game’s first shot, they dominate the rest of the first but can’t score. Up 12-3 in shots and then, they lose a board battle on a dump in, the puck goes back to the point and Lavoie is about 10 strides late getting to his point man who walks in and rips one home.
The guy I wanted the Oilers to get in this last draft Sioux Falls stampeder Cole Sillinger is having quite a good 18 yo rookie season
Noticed that he was doing well earlier. Rare for a pick outside the top 5 to stick in D+1, much less to make an impact. Not a lot of guys have made the jump straight from the USHL either (at least from outside the USNDP system).
First shift of the game, Malone takes an offensive zone penalty, on the delay call Ontario comes down, seemed like a 2 on 2, the puck carrier drew Niemelainen wide and then Kemp went with the other guy down low and the extra attacker zoomed by everyone and was left all alone in front, took the pass and buried it.
First shot goal but no chance for Konovalov.
Kemp didn’t play that well, at all, but the forwards gave zero effort defensively.
The Mitch Marner redemption tour continues in Toronto.
After a wobbly start he scores 4 points tonight and 11 in his last 5 games helping the Leafs win their 5th straight.
To tie this random statement back to the Oilers, given the Oiler-centric community its posted in, that would put Marner with 12 points, tied for 4th on the Oilers in scoring, with two more games played.
And the Avs were hammered tonight.
No they weren’t.
They were leading 2-1 at the end of two.
They still have two top four D and a top 6 forward out with injury/Covid.
Toews was back tonight. So they are only missing Makar and Nichushkin. The Jackets were down Laine and Domi as well. Seems like a weak excuse.
“Seems like a weak excuse.”
Lol which one?
I lost track
Your goal with these posts is a foolish one. The fact that you do it anyway goes to show how much you respect yourself.
Maybe we should call it HH Derangement Syndrome. Marner is a great player. The Avs have a great team. That’s okay. Oilers are pretty good too.
HH is quickly becoming the OAN or Newsmax feed for Lowetide.
Always has been.
I thought he was more Tucker Carlson-esque- “hey, I’m just asking questions”. But now I can see that he’s Giuliani.
It still blows
my mind
how bad
the Strome for Spooner
trade was
And Eberle has scored again tonight and is on pace for 40 goals based on a 12 game sample size. Eberle for Strome was a hockey trade based on value and need for both teams. Strome for Spooner was gross negligence.
Chia made so many mistakes that were completely unfathomable. Can’t believe his still got a job in the NHL. If he ever gets a GM job again every other GM gonna be on the phone with him ASAP. “Pete, I’ve got this trade idea …”
Old wounds….. reopened.
Go Rangers.
Of note, last weekend, Luca Munzenberger picked up an assist in each of Vermont’s games against Boston College.
Olympian!
Jay W:
Marcus if very much an NHL prospect, he’s close. For Marcus, his transferable skill is that he’s very much a physical physical player, he hits to hurt, in a good way. Also his size. Its about cleaning up some of his puck play, his puck polish but he’s getting there.
Last night was his best game so far. He looked comfortable. He was challenged to improve. He put in a good week of practice and he played well last night and earned another start.
————–
Schaller-Cracknell-Griffith
Malone-Esposito-Hamblin
Lavoie-McLeod-Marody
McPhee-x-Kambietz
Samorukov-Lagesson
Broberg-Desharnais
Nioemelainben-Kemp
Kesselring
Konovalov
Rodrigue
——————
Safin plays pretty much over second game.
Reign are 7-0-0-1.
Question for the group who knows where to mine the data. Is there a place which shows a team’s record against any particular referee? I am loath to admit any official’s influence on the outcome, but I can’t ignore what I see every game. I am starting to think different styles of teams have better success when certain referees are calling the game. Very infrequent poster but thanks Lowetide for providing access to this amazing community.
scoutingtherefs.com
Thank you. What I was looking for and more.
Please post your findings! I’d love to read about what you find.
Konovalov with the start again tonight. Good to see him going back to back after Rodrigue got both starts last weekend.
Savoie given a major and misconduct late – a tough weekend for Savoie which included being moved off the top line this game and no points on the weekend.
Not a good time given Team Canada scouts in the building (so I’ve read – very unofficial source).
Dan Craig, the maker of the legendary Edmonton ice surfaces of the 80’s has retired (he moved on to be the NHL ‘ice guru’). The Oiler ice was unanimously considered the best ice in the league back then. It was even considered a factor in the success of those high flying, smooth skating teams.
Maybe he’ll be recognized by the Oilers org. in some fashion in the coming years?
Also the current 007, Daniel Craig is retiring.
I raised the idea that Kevin Lowe shouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame last night.
Lets compare him to a defenceman who isn’t in the hall.
Gary Suter-
Calder Trophy
All-Rookie Team
One Time 2nd All Star team
One Cup
Lowe-
Moar Cups
One guy was clearly a better player than the other but the worse guy is in the Hall and the other is still waiting.
And another:
“With the exception of Gary Suter and Doug Wilson, everyone ranked above Gonchar in career points is already in the HHOF. Also, after factoring in the era in which he played, his adjusted points are 9th all-time (896). He’s not as elite defensively as Scott Stevens or Chris Chelios, but he scored more per game than they did. Nor was he an elite scorer like Brian Leetch but he was better in his own zone.”
https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/best_nhl_players_not_in_the_hockey_hall_of_fame/s1_16448_33937298
Clearly better? Both got Norris trophy votes in 4 different seasons. Suter finished 3rd in his best season, Lowe 5th. Lowe was there for almost every playoff game helping his team win 6 Stanley Cups. Suter played in only 6 playoff games the year the Flames won.
Hey maybe Suter can get in for badly injuring Gretzky’s back which still plagues him to this day, or for the crosscheck to Kariya’s face after he scored a goal and starting his path to very early retirement.
Face it, your protestations, a full year after it has been decided, reek of a distaste for Lowe not based on his NHL accomplishments.
Lowe’s only resume is that he played for Cup teams.
Suter finished higher on both Norris voting and year end all star teams.
Suter Norris (3,7,7,8)
Hart- 8
Year end AS (2nd AS TEAM, 9,9,10,10,11,12)
Lowe Norris (5,7,8,10)
Year End AS (5,7,9,10,12,13,13,14,16)
Lots and lots of single votes in there. Jim Matheson?
My protestations have to do with that fact that Lowe is in the Hall over plenty of better players. Brad McCrimmon or Steve Duchesne would have won six Cups too if they were in Lowe’s place instead of him.
Gonchar has way better career accomplishments.
Randy Carlyle has a Norris trophy and Lowe got in before him.
You’re right that I dislike Lowe for being an arrogant ass that drove the Oilers into the ground and sidestepping ever taking credit for that.
He also clearly lacks the resume to be in the Hall over more deserving players besides being in the right place at the right time.
I’m fine if you don’t think Lowe meets your standard for who should be in the Hall of Fame. My issue with your protest yesterday was the hyperbole that Lowe was an average player who was just lucky to be on the Oilers. Then saying that he falls short of the criteria you throw out about Suter, when the spread on that criteria alone is pretty marginal does not make him average. Even that bit about lots of single votes for Lowe. Yet you throw in Suter’s 8th place for a Hart which was also a based on a single vote (was Eric Francis around then?). He’s in. Get over it. Move on!
He was an above average player lucky to be on the oilers.
Happy now?
I get he’s in, but I don’t agree with how the Hall prioritizes being on great teams over being good at hockey. Sorry if it makes you angry…..
Lowe is in the hall. Maybe chose an easier fight like who won the 2020 presidential election. Opinions are like assholes (HH), everybody has one. Does not make it true.
Ex players, coaches etc will not forgive Suter for intentionally hurting Gretzky in the Canada Cup series back in 1991. At the time salaries were just starting to go up because of Gretzky influence in the American market. People couldn’t get enough of Wayne once he got to L.A. Every player in the league should probably be paying him some sort of royalty tax because the salaries would be nowhere near what they are today without the Great One.
I would take Lowe every time over suter when building a Stanley cup team.
So would any other GM worth his weight in gold
Suter doesn’t know a thing or two about winning…
Defending or promoting G Suter on this blog is something
Flames drafted
One of the biggest Dirtbags ever in the league
He should have had a criminal charge for what he did to Kariya
He diminished Gretzky’s career with a viciously dirty and dangerous play
I have disliked him as a player intensely since that
One if a certain ilk of player that harm the game
Trust Kelly Hrudey to be a complete asshat. On the MacDavid goal, “If you look he gets help from a little pick from Draisaitl”. Bullshit, if it was a pick (which is very doubtful) it had no bearing on his ability to try to make a play.
He was encouraged by Sutter’s interview on TSN saying that McDavid only beat one player, not 4.
So 2 asshats???
So if you outskate someone, that does not count as beating them? This goalpost moving game is so confusing!
And three of those player attempted to make contact on McDavid with their stick to no avail.
sutter obvious can’t count.
I hope Connor heard that
There was clearly no pick on that play, it’s a complete BS comment.
Hrudey Sutter
Flames
Into the sun
End of the 1st period in Montreal.
Habs lead the VGK 2-0 after outshooting them 20-1
It would seem the Eichel Dead Cat Bounce is over.
Vegas scores 3 goals on 8 shots including their first 2 PP goals of the season.
Wow
habs outshoot Vegas 20-1 in the first period
Random mind-boggling stat:
Jacob Chychrun has no points and is -18 on the year. The no points makes sense given he has been on the ice for zero goals for (and 24 against).
0-14 at 5 on 5.
What the……?
Team matters but, still…. wow!
Here’s another one.
VGK have had 19 PP opportunities…they have yet to score a PP goal this season in 10 GP
Coyotes managed their 1st win tonight.
Chychrun was on for a 5v5 GF too, but was -1 again at 5v5 (he was officially -2 due being on for a Kraken goal with their net empty, I think).
The poor Coyotes players…
Florida Panthers playing without Sasha Barkov against the last perfect team in the league…the Hurricanes.
No problem….4-0 Panthers at the end of the 1st.
So the Panthers are another of the teams you hope to Lord over the Oilers. Flavour of the week or month eh?
It may eventually occur to you that I actually am a HOCKEY fan not a member of your tribe or any other.
I find it fascinating how teams are built and structured in the cap era.
If you have no interest in things outside your walled garden, please feel free to ignore my posts.
You are a human Dung beetle you stink up everything you touch!
I have a hard time seeing why this Florida post causes you to become so disregulated…
I’ve been really impressed with marchment’s undrafted kid in games I’ve watched. Carving out a spot as solid depth winger with some speed.
Yeah…it’s a great story.
Not often you see a player who spent considerable time in the ECHL hit the big time at age 25.
Carolina not taking it lying down.
After being outshot 14-6 in the 1st and being down 4-0 they outshoot Florida 14-8 in the second.
4-2
I have some thoughts on our power play, and why 50% WILL lead us to playoff success. 50% leads refs to stop calling penalties (they as afraid they are just awarding us a goal), and us to have to play through everything. This is exactly what will prep us for playoffs. And I wouldn’t be surprised if we continue to get the 1-2 power plays a game that we have got recently when we are in the playoffs.
LT, you told a story years ago that has stuck with me. It was when you visited the Spruce Goose exhibition. Upon approaching the plane the guide warned you ”remember the first time you see it, as once your eyes adjust you’ll grow accustomed to the grandeur”. The comparison you made was with McDavid.
I often dwell on that parable. Don’t think any of us take McDavid for granted but I do think we lose perspective of how sheer the brilliance is when we witness it day in and day out. The eyes think they’ve seen it all. And then every now and again we catch the Spruce Goose in full flight and our eyes are put back in their place.
It’s so true, and human nature being what it is we can’t overcome it after a time. If we think back to pre-McDavid Oilers, that’s chilling, but why would we? 🙂 He’s incredible.
I can recall the same sort of amazement watching Bobby Orr in his prime but McDavid may be taking that to a new level.
It’s moments like last night that justify the suffering of the DoD. It’s almost comical to look at the starting lineup from say 2011 and compare to what we have now.
I know the Eastern media and their somewhat disparaging approach to Oilers coverage is tiring but can you blame them? Envy is an ugly sin but an understandable one. If you tilled your field tirelessly hoping for a bumper potato crop and your neighbours field were poorly tended and fallow. But every time that lazy bugger lays down a hoe he strikes gold over and again, cant say you wouldn’t look at your patch of dirt and wonder why you’re so unfavoured.
No power play will ever be good enough for us again for the rest of our lives.
Watching Linda Ronstadt live in Hollywood on PBS. I’ve come to the conclusion I’m still in love with her.
I still think ‘Trio’ is the greatest supergroup of all time
The poster of her where she has a flower in her hair and looking over her left shoulder hung in my room for a very long time. It has been etched into my memory for over 40 yrs.
those eye just melt you
Perfect pitch is very hard to find.
You would probably like Alison Krauss too.
Her work with Union Station is memorable bluegrass and her collaborations with Robert Plant (I know!) are the stuff of legend.
As luck would have it, they just released their second album together “Raise the Roof.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/04/arts/music/robert-plant-alison-krauss-raise-the-roof.html
Hey Rafa Lavoie. Both Kassian and Turris can’t check to save their lives. Neither of them PK. Do you realize it is clear blacktop to #3RW in January if you get off your butt and do something in Bakersfield? The only obstacle is your own work ethic and imagination.
McLeod and Lavoie should do a tag team each other to be 3rd liners with Foegele on the Oilers by January.
Lavoie had a good game last night, his first of the season.
He is FAR from being an NHL player and I bet that he isn’t even a dim thought of an option for Holland.
He’s moving his feet now, they’ve convinced him playing time comes when he’s skating for the entire shift. Sometimes lessons take a little time.
Bourgault is not in the lineup for Shawinigan today…..
Injury or trade? 😀
Is this a cause for concern?
I don’t know – couldn’t find any information on it – just noticed that he’s not in the lineup.
I read he left last game with a possible eye injury.
Hopefully nothing serious.
Thank you for that info.
May I ask where you found that? Just curious why my sleuthing came up empty and what I missed.
Chicago fires the head coach and two assistants.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/chicago-blackhawks-fire-head-coach-jeremy-colliton-two-assistants/
We really feel bad about helping them get Jones
Jones is far from their most serious problem.
How can you run a organization and play hockey with the black cloud hanging over your head. Keith got out at the right time there going to have to purge most of the organization and some of the club.
It’s almost like he knew what was coming 🙂
Keith had a out Kane and Toews not so lucky they’re are left to answer questions that Hockey players aren’t equipped to generally answer.
Travis green next
No no no, the Dy’s are just about to turn the corner, right?
(haven’t seen a Canucks car flag for eons)
I would imagine he is in some trouble.
Thing is…it’s special teams that are bringing the Canucks down…the PP is totally impotent which is odd considering the available talent.
They replaced their PP coach in the offseason and all that seems to have accomplished is making a below average PP even worse.
They used to work it around and eventually get the puck to Pettersson for a deadly look in the slot. I don’t know why they went away from that strategy.
Nothing is rhyming and Pettersson has been tentative since the season began.
They tried Conor Garland on the #1PP last game and it did look better but the results were still poor.
Available talent – compared to who? McDavid and Draisailtl have more points than Horvat, Boeser, Pettersson and Miller combined the last 3 seasons and have almost as many PP points as all 5 on the Vancouver top 5. Hopkins has more points individually than any of those 4. And Jesse and/or Hyman can now go toe to toe with almost any of them as a valuable contributor on the PP except maybe Pettersson. Maybe if they could have kept Toffoli or Pearson their PP might actually be able to accomplish something.
There you go…off on another rant.
Vancouver’s issues on the PP have nothing to do with how many points the Oilers players have.
Sure it does
they are in the same division
if you’re not keeping up you are falling behind
Their available talent for a power play is not what you think it is. The Oilers clearly have the highest bar in the NHL for available talent for a power play but there are a raft of teams better equipped than the Canucks. A couple of more years experience for Hughes and Petterson and they’ll improve but they also need to replace likely Horvat for someone who can do the dirty work. They are trying to use Chiasson but their speed and passing aren’t good enough to make as much use of Chiasson’s as the Oilers could.
“Close to the Edge”
hmmmmm…
Bono?
No maybe. Could be Yes.
Mos def! Only that’s “close edge”
https://youtu.be/n832aqTvkaQ
“If I gotta make a move they not gonna know” – that’s the song that came to my mind as fitting.
It’s a Yes album.
live version on Yessongs may be even better than the studio version (which is excellent)
Right! I like only discovered Yes a few months ago but it didn’t click when I was reading the post.
Bono is close to The Edge
#HaHaGotcha
and Maudite too. 🙂
The Yes Album was an all time favourite. Close to the Edge was the subsequent album and a big disappointment.
All of the superlatives have been used up, but there’s something else no one has mentioned.
After Connor picked up the ding off the post, he totally ignored his own team mates. I have no idea what’s going on in his head, but it’s as if he’s meandering around solo on a backyard pond as a little kid…playing out a little kid fantasy. The pov from behind the Rangers net is fascinating in this regard. There are four Oilers back there simply watching…with the possible exception of Drai trying to position himself for a pass or a rebound. No way. He simply ignored everybody.
“Fuck it. I’m going it alone.” The only thing missing from this movie is a cup or a gold metal.
As Gretz once said..sometimes you just have to be selfish…in a good way.
I think that’s what separates the truly truly great from the very best. Just unshakeable faith in the force of their will and their talent to shape to it. I don’t think its selfish in the way we commonly use the word. To be honest I’m not even sure McDavid could explain the moment fully. Touched by God, that one.
That POV was also a good angle to give credit to JP who was way behind the play, basically still sitting in the crease area. Once he saw McD winding up, he hit rocket boosters to get back on side…turned around in time to watch the greatest goal on earth go in…
Last night was one where you’re so amped up after you can’t sleep. Usually that’s the case after I play a game with a 10:30 start, it’s been a while since an Oiler game had me so excited. Great game.
Shore’s injury is going to be an interesting study in how to re-work our bottom-6. Foegele-Ryan-Kassian is….not working. I hope we see Turris shift back to C and we run the following:
Perlini-Turris-Foegele
Benson-Ryan-Kassian
Not sure what you run at C with Shore out, suspect that McLeod is back. But Benson and Perlini need to get a clear shot at a job. Both Shore and Turris have been below replacement and don’t look like they are the answer.
We have a Dylan Holloway sized hole on the roster and it’s unfortunate that he can’t play
3C is the biggest hole for sure. Well, 3C and 3LD but I think that 3LD could be filled internally this season (perhaps Niemelainen in the next bit as management will likely want to give Samorukov a good stretch in the AHL first, but Samorukov at some point this season).
I think 3C could be filled internally in time by Holloway (I’m less positive that McLeod can get to that level) but, given he won’t even play until January (likely), it seems a bit of a stretch to project him in to that role this season.
As of now, 3C looks to be the main deadline acquisition target – Getzlaf and company.
Hey OP, has McLeod been making any noticeable progress in playing more physically?
Not really to my eye. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a high end AHL player but I haven’t seen any noticeable change in his play in that regard.
That’s unfortunate. There’s a lot of ways to win a hockey game, not every player needs to forecheck like Foegele, but it’d be a nice up-arrow if the thing he acknowledged he needs to work on was being worked on.
(Thanks for the updates, btw)
To me there’s no such thing as a 3LD hole. About as end of the roster as you can be. We have two NHL players slotted to play there. It’s fine. If a rookie can come in later and get some development time in that position, great. But it’s not a worry.
I don’t agree – I think the ability to play (and trust) the 3rd pairing for a good 13 minutes of 5 on 5 per game is important.
Russell is really struggling and I don’t think his game is coming back, he may not be a legit 3LD any more and Koekkoek, well, Tip/Playfair decided he couldn’t play for half the game last night.
The goal now is Stanley Cups and deep rosters win Stanley Cups.
Remember 3LD is also one injury away from the top 4.
The Oilers are very vulnerable to injury to any top 4 D, left and right. Preseason the chatter was Russell and KK could play their offside but both have been poor. Niemelainen and Bergland would be a leap in the dark and we seem to be past peak Willie.
I’m not 100% sure Niemelainen’s skills will translate to the NHL when the game is that much faster but I’ve watched him in the AHL for a full season (well, as full as last season was) and a solid portion of this season. He is pretty much an elite defensive d-man at the AHL level.
I believe the Samorukov could fill a 3LD role over the two incumbents and could thrive with a partner like with Barrie or Bouchard but believe Holland will want to give him more that a handful of games before he’s called up.
Niemelainen, to me, could be a serviceable stop gap to Samorukov if there is an opportunity for 3LD. His AHL ability is substantial. He was a 3rd round pick out of major junior – it seems his game is suited to North America.
He’s got a chance based on viewings.
EDM Goal Share after 10 gp (9-1-0)
Even strength(5v5,4v4,3v3)
97 w/o 29(2-4) 33%
29 w/o 97(4-0) 100%
97&29 On(10-4) 71%
93 w/o either(3-2) 60%
Ryan (3-7) 30%
Other(2-4) 33%
Net EV +3
Special Teams:16-4
Net ST +12
Empty Net:4-3
Net EN +1
SO/PS 1-0
Net SO/PS +1
Goal Diff +17
So, 3rd line RW or center over goalie?
An upgrade on 3C would allow Derek Ryan to play 4C. Shore can play wing.
Which to me is just a sign of solid depth.
The fact that Koskinen is performing the way he is allows us to wish for upgrades in other areas.
Damned pesky S cap
We’ve only lost one game! 3 en against seems wrong.
Two times the opposition has scored with their goalie pulled and down by two.
This also relates to when the opponent scores when their G is pulled, I think…
Ryan & other start to worry .. we have way more depth but bottom 6 not all the way there ….
Not sure when so many of the posters in this place are going to realize that it isn’t that the Oilers need to change the way they play in the playoffs…it is that they *haven’t* played like themselves in the playoffs. Not once. They’ve been tight, rushed plays, not executed, not been present. That goes for the coaches too. They’ve been paralyzed.
If they display their talent and play as themselves – they’ll win. If they try to be something else – they won’t. That’s it.
While I’d agree in part, the Oilers still aren’t that strong at quick skilled plays in the neutral and D zones. Watch sky contender: the puck management, awareness of teammate location, and ability to think the game quickly are strong at least in 3 of 4 lines. Oilers are good but they will have trouble against deep teams.
Interesting for sure. I thought McDavid was tight in the playoffs last year. Maybe nerves got the best of him. They should face a much worse team in the first round this year.
They either need a Coach with attitude or the team has to given itself one. The team needs to walk into the playoffs expecting to win. Tippett isn’t Sather – so the team probably has to figure it out. Or they’ll be reloading at the Coach position next year (which might turn out to be the right choice anyway if Woodcroft is actually ready).
It doesn’t get any easier than half a Jet team this years team would blow that Jet team out of the water. The additions of Hyman and Foegele along with the maturity of Jesse a Relaxed Nuge and the Dynamic Duo running on all cylinders I say bring on the Jets
Yes… sort of. Mentioned by another poster at the start of today’s thread is the powerplay effectiveness. The reason they cannot play like themselves in the playoffs is refs swallowing their whistles and NHL allowing it to happen. When teams can focus on hooking, holding, and interfering with McDavid and Drai with no accountability in the form of penalties and the threat of a 50% or even 33% chance of Oilers scoring, the league removes the effectiveness of that skill. It is a problem. Take away powerplays from the 10 games so far and how many would the Oilers win? Sad but true. If the league doesn’t change, which I don’t believe it will, the Oilers need to become a 4 line balanced team. The problem is, as long as we have the dominance of McDavid, Draisaitl, PJ and Nuge plus Nurse and Bouch on the backend, those guys are horses that can play half the game, and demand to be on the ice. That leaves little time to build confidence and get the bottom 6 into the game. I think Holland did an excellent job this summer building a better bottom 6 but playing less than 10 minutes a night has to be difficult to be in the game and effective. Sitting on the bench, watching for large chunks of time is not conducive to effective performance. I don’t know the solution, other than to play them more and to create more of a team game. I don’t think it is so much a matter of needing different personnel but rather finding an important role for every member of the team to contribute.
Teams have things that hold them back at times, and sometimes they never get over it. My Bruins could NOT beat the Montreal Canadiens for a loooong time. They won a semifinal in 1929, then lost two then one again in 1943. After that, they lost 18 playoff series before winning again in 1988.
The Oilers have lost two playoff seasons in a row because the other goaltender was either slightly or a lot better, because the coach stopped trusting his young defensemen, and because (last year) the power plays dried up and Edmonton wasn’t able (or prepared, some would say) to overcome it.
I don’t think they have been tight, I think they have been outplayed and stubborn, from the coach down.
“My Bruins could NOT beat the Montreal Canadiens for a loooong time. “
That’s not enough o’s … said the former Habs fan 🙂
Oilers are averaging 4.5 goals per game, easily the best mark by a very wide margin.
I think sniffing around for a 3C is the most glaring need, tenders are tending, fenders are fendings, Nuge is toying with the orchard. Cody Eakins on a rental? He’s got a 70% Def zone start, can’t really hold the Buffalo against him. Shame he’s not right handed but he’s still good on the draw over 50% on a terrible Buffalo squad.
Peaking at Ottawa, Ennis has 6 pts in 10 games with about 11mins a night. Shame Tipps hated him lol
Most Goalie Wins
Frederik Andersen 8
Mikko Koskinen 7
Sergei Bobrovsky 6
Seeing Miko race out of his net to join in the overtime fray makes me believe he is way more comfortable overall now that his family has joined him. I honestly believe we could see the same tandem next year with Smith as the backup. If Miko can get us into the third round he will be resigned, maybe for a few less dollars, maybe not.
Ya that was nice to see
I was also glad Tipp didn’t pull him
It was loose in front of him, 50-50 on the team and his play, and unless they deal they need him to gain confidence and fight through
Both Talbot and Dubnyk rebounded from prolonged poor spells, albeit not in Edmonton. Mikko has played many excellent games for the Oilers and has been good so far this season … hope springs eternal.
“Give (two) poets two centuries, maybe they’ll find the words.”
I’m picking you and EE Cummings.
But Cummings is dead…… so…. just you. 🙂
Unless of course you ever tape over that wedding video …
In which case, I’ll choose “Infinite Monkey Theorem”
That reminded me of the Simpsons episode when Bart ghost-wrote love letters to Mrs. Krabappel whilst using a photo of Gordie Howe:
“A million poets could write for a million years, and yet only capture three-eighths of your beauty.”
LOL
Krabappel
Gordie Howe
Three-eighths
#Genius
As for Koski
Im with the CoH grades
They scored on 5 of 10 HDSC
2-3 would be closer to normal. And makes it a different game
Not that they stop them all, but they were all stoppable
Im not sure Holland will sell the farm to get a goalie, based on his own comments on not overpaying for marginal improvements, depending on what happens as we go along, but I’m sure it’s on the radar
Another way to look at this is,
Mikko had a tough game. But he had the mental fortitude to hang in there.
“There’s an old saying that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. You have to work your way through these things.” – Ed Belfour
I guess it depends how you view goalies
After one of the goals Koski was looking straight at the bench skating towards it
He’s a decent NHL goalie. We have seen him put the team in a hole multiple times
This year they can score there way out, so far, but it’s the loosest time of the season, it will get harder to do that
For me there needs to be consistency most of the time stopping shots they should, the ‘odd’ bad game in a season
It shouldn’t be so many weak games, weak goals, and first shot goals, for me.
Especially if there is no game stealing aspect. Fuhr had a lot of stinkers, and a lot of HOF brilliance, especially when it counted
Starting to see alil Smith rub off on Koskinen, he’s much better at keeping himself in the battle when he’s having a bad game.
Reading some of the posts below, I would like to point out that last night shouldn’t be held as a shining example of how to play hockey that will win a cup.
It was not a master class in coaching. It was not a fine display of the defensive game. It was not a dual of two great goalies.
It was a game of individual mistakes and brilliance, often in the same shift.
For spectators, it was amazing. For the coaches? Meh.
That game could have easily swung the other way.
Agreed.
The biggest mistake was Tip starting Mikko. Unforced error.
9-1
Thats actually the smartest thing to do. Is he a guy you can run with in the playoffs or not?. Need to figure that out and pretty soon
Running your goalie into the ground during the regular season to test if he will be able to handle the playoffs is silly. You are going to fatigue your goalie and kill his confidence.
It’s early in the season. The back to back was ok. You have to be careful as the season progress. I don’t feel we are at that point just yet
“I play a position where you make mistakes. The only people that don’t make them at a hockey game are the people watching.” – Patrick Roy
Weird game. Oil not good early. It seemed to be a pandemic of puck mishandling by the Oilers. Almost everyone on the team was bobbling the puck and missing with even short passes.
It might have been nerves. Big ceremony with all the greats in the building and a fired-up crowd.
Ice again?
It could of, as Oilers fans we’ve put ourselves through a few decades of being on the other side of moments like this.
I’m going to hop on the fortunate swing and cheer the fuck out of it until it stops.
Oilers are 9-1, wins come in all shapes and sizes. Some at the expense of Rangers goaltending, it’s a beautiful game of mistakes and opportunities.
100% agree.
They weren’t very good for half the game and dug themselves a big hole.
For me the significance was how determined they were to come back, and that they have the skill to actually pull it off.
It showed how good they can be, and IMO it’s pretty exciting.
This roster is an enigma wrapped in a riddle.
I’m betting none of the current 30+ crowd will be on our Stanley Cup winner.
Salvation Lies Within.
And Holloway, Samorukov, Bourgault, Tulio, Broberg, and others (Niemelainen, Berglund) are all rock hammers.
Duncan looks like he has 10 years left in him.
Sorry I can’t post right now,
Captain Obvious is on the phone,
Apparently the Oilers could use a 3C
Better clarify,
my name is Pescador
I am an Oilers fan
I have nothing to complain about
I’m beginning to think that Bouchard could carry Keith.
Also.
Tippet get criticized for so much daily that I think its important to give him his due when he tactics work, even those that were “deemed wrong”. by many to start with.
Kudos for the timeout in OT to rest his stars with an offensive zone faceoff. The 2nd TO he’s called recently that seems to have worked.
Criticized for the top 6 line deployment – this is not a shot at Godot as I read it in a few places but the criticism re: allowing fox to play against both Connor/Leon doesn’t really work when the Nuge/Hyman duo are rocking. Deployment worked.
Criticized for switching Barrie and Bouchard early. Well, Barrie had a fantastic game (one bad pinch early aside) and, at the end of the day, bringing Bouch’s minutes down here and there is likely a good think – he’s never played in the grind of an 82 game season.
Bouchard at the offensive blueline tonight was brilliant.
Why does he never pull the goalie? Smith wasn’t pulled when he let in like 4 after 15 shots. He only went to Koskinen when Smith got injured. Koskinen should have been pulled after the 2nd giveaway goal against Philly. He should have been pulled after the 3rd goal last night. If only for a wake up call to the team.
I’m sure there’s evidence of this on the interwebs, but I seem to recall Tippett basically saying that he doesn’t pull goalies because he believes they have to fight through adversity.
This kind of tactic may lead to immediate pain. But if the goalie knows it’s up to them, and they build adversity over a season, it may help in playoffs. Its phil jackson style: dont call time outs, players need to figure it out.
Yes he’s the reverse of Mike Keenan I can think of at least 10 times he could of pulled Mikko or Mike and chose to let them ride it out.
If only Tippett woulda pulled Koski Oilers mighta won. 😐
If we say that a forward who gets significantly more goals than assists (say, Cam Neely) is putting up “Cy Young” numbers, then what do we call the opposite, i.e., significantly more assists than goals? Because that’s what Nuuuuuge is having (0-14).
Perhaps a Craig Janney? Not sure if there’s a baseball reference (cf. Cy Young) to be made.
Suggestions welcome.
Our host referred to the number as “Tommy Herr boxcars” earlier this week. That is probably a good place to start.
I saw that–and remembered the name from collecting baseball cards as a yute in the 80’s–but never understood what the reference meant.
However, upon further review, the Tommy Herr reference is indeed apt.
From Wikipedia “Although he never won a Gold Glove Award, Herr retired with the highest all-time career fielding percentage for National League second basemen (.989)”
Seems like he got a lot of put out ASSISTS, that’s the closest I can get to the reference of tommy herr boxcars.
8 HR, 110 RBI in his best season, I believe. (another with 2 HR, 83 RBI)
Oates
A couple things on the McDavid goal:
1) on a broad level, the NYR are a large-market team so the goal may be seen by a larger than normal amount of US fans – maybe the league can take notice of what type of excitement can happen when the stars can play without being infracted with.
2) I wonder if the Oilers being 2/2 on the PP last night and 50% on the season had anything to do with the fact that the 4 defenders didn’t infract with McDavid.
The PP is a weapon even when they aren’t on the PP.
NFL players are retweeting the video replay.
Chuba?
Mapletron?
Kittle.
I think the league’s agenda is pretty clear’ no? Create parity. This goes for the (lack of) penalty calling for obvious infractions against skill players which allows low skill teams to be more competitive than they should be, and extends all the way up to their asinine points system (the magical 3 point game). Their game management isn’t perfect, but it helps a lot of games to get to OT. Bet an and owners clearly want as many teams as possible to stay in the playoff race as long as possible. This is what makes them the most $’ sadly.
Will fans keep showing up in Carolina Columbus Florida etc if your team sucks and you are bottom feeders for 10 straight years. As much as the players dislike Bettman they owe him at least half their pay cheques for expanding the game into non traditional hockey markets.