The Edmonton Oilers are heading out on the road with a 9-1-0 record and the top 10 scorers on the team headed for career seasons. Dave Tippett’s crew have won four in a row, are tied with the Carolina Hurricanes for the best winning percentage in the league and have a goal differential (via Natural Stat Trick) of 44-28 (+16), 61 percent.
Is there anything to be concerned with? Of course there is!
THE ATHLETIC!
- New DNB: What I believe and what I know about the Oilers after 10 games
- Lowetide: How close to balanced are the 2021-22 Oilers?
- DNB: Connor McDavid’s otherworldly goal
- 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: 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
- 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: 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
I have tonight as a win, but the Red Wings are a better team than we’ve seen from the winged wheel in several years, current trends have them as good as the 2015-16 edition that went to the playoffs. Tyler Bertuzzi has nine goals in 10 games, Sam Gagner will play Game 900 of his career and two rookies (Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond) are making plenty of noise.
We’ll have to wait and see how Tippett deploys his team but at practice on Sunday things aligned in this way:
- Leon Draisaitl—Connor McDavid—Jesse Puljujarvi
- Zach Hyman—Ryan Nugent-Hopkins—Zack Kassian
- Warren Foegele—Derek Ryan—Kailer Yamamoto
- Tyler Benson—Kyle Turris—Colton Sceviour
- Darnell Nurse—Tyson Barrie
- Duncan Keith—Cody Ceci
- Slater Koekkoek—Evan Bouchard
- Mikko Koskinen (Stuart Skinner)
- Extras: Mike Smith, Kris Russell, Brendan Perlini
These are the lines and pairings from Sunday’s practice, Ryan McLeod’s recall may mean he slides into the lineup tonight but Tippett has been known to wait for a practice and then proceed with placing the new man as a starter. If the team does align this way, it’s a big ask for the Nuge line and the Nurse pairing (imo). Bouchard will play, my guess is within a couple of minutes of Ceci at five on five.
THE COMMENTS SECTION
I think it’s fair to say that no one is happy with the state of the comments section these days. Some are mad enough about my refusal to ban or limit others, the only tool available is to lash out, at me, the blog or others. That isn’t healthy and I can’t imagine it’s fun for anyone, even the aggressors, who represent some of the oldest and most valued posters on the site.
This has forced my hand. As I can’t monitor the comments 24-7, I’m going to implement ‘time outs’ through each day. These will coincide with things like me driving to work, and working, either at the station or writing.
I will do my best to make these inconveniences as short as possible. I promise.
Tonight, this comments section will be the shortest game-day thread in many years on Lowetide, but the conversation will be respectful and I’ll be able to get my work done.
The world is a mess, everyone is angry. I’m not contributing to rage one more day. That is my pledge to you. I insist on respect. For me, for fellow posters and for all opinions. I don’t care about your race, your religion, your political allegiance, your success or failure in any walk of life, whether you’re on a beach or in a cave.
Welcome. Please be respectful. Thanks.
JESSE PULJUJARVI
I’m seeing comments about signing Jesse Puljujarvi and I understand it from the fan and team side, but if I’m JP’s agent this thing is going down to the wire next summer. The player has arb rights, an offer sheet is possible and all the cards are in the player’s hands. Why would the agent pursue an early settlement, no matter the offer? I can see an offer sheet, and Edmonton matching, but I can’t see an early conclusion to the negotiation. Ken Holland will need to work some real magic to get this solved with the current cap pressures.
Let me ask you a question: If there was a dispersal draft of Oilers players, when would Puljujarvi come off the board? Exactly. Edmonton is going to pay a high price on his next contract, and it will be signed late. That’s my prediction.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
At 10 this morning, TSN1260, we’ll spend most of the morning focusing on the Oilers. We begin with a rousing edition of Crossfire! at 10:20, and Tyler Yaremchuk from Oilers Nation and DFO pops in at 10:40. Max Bultman from The Athletic Red Wings will pop in at 11 to discuss an emerging force in Motown. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!
CC-Rider
Really too bad Ned was never available for free on waivers or only money in the off season.
By my eye, Detroit played the exact game they needed to, given the talent they have, to beat the Oilers. They were hungrier, never gave up on much of anything, solid goaltending.
The Oilers for big long stretches didn’t do that. Skinner made a huge mistake but I thought he played fairly well all things being equal.
Gibson was fire in the net against the Canucks … if he becomes available, the Oilers need to be in on him.
That will be the magic question. If he becomes available. I know it’s early still but Anaheim is in the thick of it to make the playoffs.
Entertaining game. Good effort from the lads to try to overcome a poor start and a worse second period. Loved the near-comeback – Bison King throws a pool party, Connor Connors (yawn), the equalizer trickles wide, and then Bad Things Happen. Can’t win them all. Skinner looked a little unsteady early and got away with an error or two (Darnell didn’t quite save a sure goal but certainly took away a 40% shot at the minimum) but really settled in nicely I thought. Oilers did not do him many favours tonight. Did like that a lot of the shots he faced were muffins from distance though. Really solid game from him with lots of teachable moments, none more so than the puck misplay/giveaway that ended up being the game winner. That’s a dang it Also a big teachable moment for any aspiring goalies out there. One minute you’re having a great game, suddenly whoopsie! it’s in your net, it’s all your fault, you let down the lads and now they’re blowing a horn, and twenty thousand people are losing their shit while millions sit at home and do likewise. Goalies feel extreme emotional highs and lows – if Skinner’s going to make it in Edmonton he’s going to need to handle these emotions without letting them affect his play. I really liked what I saw from him tonight. Detroit played a good first and really strong second period. Edmonton was interested early and determined late.
Does Skinner have good fundamentals? He seems slow in the net to me.
Definitely looks like a blocker type. I guess if he has good positioning he can get away with it. Like Giguere.
It doesn’t look sexy though.
I’d need an isolation camera on the goalie (or to attend) to give a fair assessment, and I should also say I’m not a goalie coach, just an enthusiast. Take this with a solid grain of salt, I never had a goalie coach and have tried hard to teach myself, but I’m self-taught.
One time he got into a spot of trouble early when he tried to anchor his skate on his right post and missed it on the inside, causing a long awkward moment where any save would have been difficult while there was a battle in front. I forget the details on the chance Nurse bailed him out on but I remember him giving Nurse an appreciative whack afterwards. I thought Skinner lunged on a shot from a distance I would expect an NHL goalie to use the butterfly, I think it was early but not sure, that’s a minor quibble but the kind of thing I push myself on. I also noticed that he made a couple of difficult stops look easy later on. From what I saw his puck handling is well below NHL quality – I don’t say that because of the gaffe, but because I didn’t like the way he held his goalie stick while leaving the net or with the puck on his stick and he seemed unambitious and tentative with the puck on his stick. I think his legs are too straight when he leaves his net – before you leave your net you should know exactly what you are going to do, and you should do that as quickly as you can without rushing, and I didn’t see urgency from him. I thought when shots were taken he generally had his feet set and saw the release, and I thought his reads were good. I think maybe he hasn’t fully realized how much net he takes up, and reaches a little more than he needs to some times. His tracking and anticipation looked good to me from what I saw. I saw half a dozen moments that weren’t quite skating errors as much as skating imperfections. I thought he used his leg pads really well.
I think it was a really good game for him, both in the sense that he kept his team in a game they didn’t seem very interested in, and in the sense that he ought to be able to feel good about his performance while also having a clear idea of what needs work and renewed motivation to work on it. When your goal is perfection, you’re always chasing.
Haha I actually think goaltending is going pretty much exclusively blocker type, and I think it’s too bad. 80s goalies didn’t make as many saves, but they were more exciting to watch. I think that right now the “perfect” save is considered to be in the chest. In the 80s, the “perfect” save was the big flashy glove save. My limited understanding is that at the NHL level, some goalies usually try to regain their feet on the rebound, and some goalies usually stay on their pads and adjust their position with slide pushes. Some goalies play deeper in their net than others. I think nearly all goalies now hold their glove upright, maintain active hands, lead with the head and chest, use the reverse VH, etc etc etc. I am unaware of much else differentiating NHL goalies except for skill level – I would expect 80% of NHL goalies to use the same save selection for 80% of the shots they might face.
Great empty net goal by Hertl and the flames are about to drop a game in regulation.
Adin Hill with two apples on the night.
Although the flames had been on a “10 game point streak”, they’ve also now lost 3 of the last 4 games – all at home.
“We’re the Oilers. We just show up and win”.
0-1 on road trip with Boston waiting lmao
Still going to be a top 3-4 team in the West.
Fun fact about the next 4 opponents on the road trip.
Home Record.
Boston 5-0-0
Buffalo 4-1-1 (I know!)
St. Louis 3-1-1
Winnipeg 4-1-1
Meh. I’m a Bruins fan and that defense is loose as a goose right now. Matt Grzelcyk-Charlie McAvoy is their best pair and they’re not running it. Boston is not exactly playoff ready as it stands.
Boston is averaging 35.4 (3rd) shots/game and giving up 27.9 shots against (3rd).
Their shot differential is +7.5/game…best in the league.
They’ve played 2 game against Florida and one each against Carolina and Toronto so their opponents have not been Flopsy and Mopsy.
Their GF/GP is only 2.70 so it appears their problems are at the other end of the ice but, after a very slow start, Bergeron has come around.
Interesting.
Of note, before tonight, the Oilers had won 10 straight on the road, dating back to last season.
I expect that record to be further tested.
There are some tough outs there.
I would expect those home records to be test when those teams play the Oilers – they have shown to be a tough out.
Every game is a tough out for every team.
I hate the phlegms. But at least they work hard and don’t give you an inch without you outworking them for it.
Sutter could have done something incredible with the Oilers squad.
Didn’t deserve to win but at least 3, I won’t call them missed, ‘ignored’ calls in the 3rd.
4 PP max rule in full effect.
Sometimes I like to watch the other team’s feed, and I did tonight. Their talking heads describing some of the interference Detroit got away with: “that’s an easy call to make for a referee unless it’s on Conner McDavid.” Another time: “Wings draw the sixth most penalties in the League. McDavid, for all he does, must draw the fewest.” Later that same shift: “McDavid gets dumped – the referee was looking the other way.”
It’s not just us who see it.
Not the best way to start the road trip. I was banking on this being the best possible game to win.
There’s a big element of randomness to winning and losing. A bounce here, a call there, a bad nights sleep, loosing one of your top forwards early in the game.
(that last one was for Godot 🙂 )
Oilers were pretty bad for half the game.
Good push to end it.
No puck luck or it would have been another miraculous comeback.
Skinner was fantastic.
Whelp. That’s a loss. Going in it should have been a win, but they didn’t deserve it and the Wings did. Sucks, but happens. Not a huge deal, imo, just unfortunate.
Can’t win ’em all.
Memo to Oilers: Hockey games are 60 minutes long, not 25.
They’re just saving the other 35 minutes for when it really matters 😉
(I hope)
Not a good game for the team. Can’t no-show for the first two periods and expect to win many games.
Damn!
Has McLeod played this period?
4 minutes left. Do they have the juice?
Detroit playing tenacious defence
They really did.
Nope.
Wings sticks have been excellent tonight.
I don’t know if McDavid is “faster” this season but I think he’s quicker with his acceleration and change of speed.
Decision making, too I think. Processing speed as well, if possible.
Nuge likely to get his first soon to tie it up.
Geez Hyman has had some good chances tonight. Needs to bury one of them.
Big save by Ned on Bouch after a strong play by Ryan.
Redwings play by play “McDavid for all he does, he draws the fewest”
Holy fuck. How did they miss the tripping call on McDavid?!
I don’t think he was tripped…..
I’d have to check the replay but it sure looked like it in real time.
I checked the replay and Seider definitely tripped McDavid — no question about it.
You are correct, on the first replay I saw, I though I saw something different. I was wrong. Sorry.
Great chances for Yamamoto and Hyman on the pk.
Ballsy play by Ned….
Even the Redwings colour guy is wondering why the wings aren’t called for tripping on McDavid lol.
Hope it’s only 2.
Bonehead penalty by Nurse.
Yup, can’t do that Darnell.
Wow, um.. the New Jersey-Florida game looks nuts. 7-3 Devils. Knight got torched.
That’s 7 points in 11 games for Bouch (5 at even strength)……nominal PP time.
Of note, Bouch is over 26 P/60 on the PP…. that’s PP2 time almost exclusively.
Leon has started skating in this 3rd period…..
The goal will come but they are going to need some more saves too…. leaky still.
McDavid scores! Caught Hronek flat-footed. Plus he has rocket skates.
Well thats how to start a period!
Hold on, it’s comíng!
What a play by Nurse, what a zone exit and Leon-like backhand pass to spring McDavid.
if the oilers lose this game, at least it will be against another eastern team. Detroit seems to be one of those “trap” teams the oilers should be winning against, but seem to have a tough time beating.
prove me wrong oilers.
After Two:
3-1 Detroit (2-1 Detroit in the second)
29-20 Detroit shots (13-11 Detroit in the second)
39-15 Detroit Corsi five on five (15-9 Detroit in the second)
Kassian gone for the game. Edmonton needed a spark, Jesse got it for them.
Jesse certainly didn’t ride McDavid’s coattails on that goal……
Well, if I’m being honest, he doesn’t have a history of producing away from McDavid…… not saying he can’t, just hasn’t done so in the past (and hasn’t had the “opportunity” since early last season).
But the last two Jesse goals were not McDavid dependent. He is beginning to do stuff on his own. His production is becoming less McDavid adjacent.
At this point in the season it is easier to project Puljujarvi as a 30 goal scorer than a 20 scorer. Speed was impressive plus, slap shot goals, wrist shot snipes and net front shovels.
The “Friends” had the Patron. The Bison King had the Red Bull.
Oh well, maybe they’ll wake up for the 3rd.
I think you were a little early with the balance photo LT. No one is playing particularly well, but our defense is getting exposed in our own end. Good goaltending and timely scoring have got the Oilers this far but we really struggle to defend in the dzone. I count 2 dmen, Nurse and Ceci, who you can count on to win a puck battle. Maybe Keith, on some nights.
This team is missing Larsson, Bear, and last years Russell.
I knew that whenever I published the balance photo someone would say it was too early, but for me this Oilers team is showing a new wrinkle even tonight. they haven’t played well, there’s some wobble from the rookie goalie, but they have a chance to get in this game.
If they aren’t the best team in the third period, then they’ll lose their second game in 11 tries. I don’t think anyone should panic, but your mileage may vary.
I’m not panicking, but this team has some holes on defense.
Maybe 1 or 2 of the young guys in Bakersfield will step up later in the season.
Or maybe Holland deals for a rental dman at the deadline.
Either way, I don’t think the current group is good enough to contend for a cup.
I think Koekkoek is the replaceable part, but to my eye Nurse-Bouchard is solid (5-4 five on five) and Keith-Ceci are 7-7 at five on five.
Koekkoek-Barrie is 3-4 and Koekkoek is 0-1 without Barrie. I agree with you on the Bakersfield kids, they need some time but that’s a possible solution.
I would think, if they were going to call a player up for 3LD, it would be Niemelainen at this point.
Broberg isn’t an option for them – they have been very clear about wanting to take their time with him – Woody keeps saying “he’s right where he needs to be” and, last weekend, Holland was in Bakersfield and spoke with Ryan Holt – basically said he’s there for the year – maybe they’ll see in the 2nd half.
Samorukov is just getting his game shape back after a couple of injuries.
I would agree, but Lagesson is also an option and the coach knows him. Sometimes that’s the difference.
Yeah I could see KK being replaced. Maybe they should give Russell 6 or 8 games, just to get him in a rhythm, and see if he has anything left.
Plugging that hole would be a start, but a contending team can’t have 2 right shot dmen that need to be sheltered defensively.
Dare we use the cliche “The next goal is a big one”
Even toed ungulate sighting
Gawd – I love that boy.
Wow, Hyman damn near scored to end the period.
Announcer: “Detroit has one of the lowest ranked penalty kills”
…
Announcer: “McDavid gets slips the puck past penalty killer Sam Gagner”
Yep.
He does lead their forwards in PK TOI/G at over 2.5 minutes…… wow.
For someone with 7 goals on the year, Hyman is definitely not a plus finisher.
He had a bunch of good looks in the Tor-Mtl series and nothing went in. No deception.