This is a big game for the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights. Edmonton owns the all-time record (barely) 6-5-1 and arrive in Sin City without Darnell Nurse, Duncan Keith, Slater Koekkoek, Mike Smith and Devin Shore.
Vegas is without Jonathan Marchessault, Alec Martinez, Nolan Patrick, William Karlsson and Jack Eichel. Don’t worry, they have a really good team. If you’re worried, you have a right to be in front of this game.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: How promising is the Oilers’ Russian prospect pool?
- DNB: Could Leon Draisaitl score 50 goals in 50 games?
- Lowetide: How the Oilers most pressing needs have changed since the offseason
- DNB: Tales from the days Kailer Yamamoto, Ryan McLeod, Evan Bouchard and Tyler Benson were minor league roommates
- DNB: For Emily Cave, Colby’s widow, a trip back to Boston is about memories, love and legacy
- Lowetide: Is the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl even better than we think? A look at his stunning historic comparables
- DNB: Philip Broberg’s first NHL game was as special as he’d hoped
- Lowetide: Philip Broberg is ready for his NHL audition
- Lowetide: Why Kailer Yamamoto is still on the Oilers’ No. 2 line
- Lowetide: Three auditioning Oilers who are finding their groove and hope to find their place
- Lowetide: Should the Oilers move Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to the 3rd line?
- DNB and Max Bultman: How Hockey Hall of Famer Ken Holland helped create ‘the Harvard of hockey management’
- Lowetide: How good is Matvey Petrov and is he on an NHL trajectory?
- Lowetide: Will Ken Holland make an early-season trade to bolster the Oilers?
- DNB: Oilers lament Connor McDavid not drawing penalties
- Jonathan Willis: How the Decade of Darkness did — and didn’t — set up the current success
- Lowetide: Why can’t the Oilers put together an effective third line?
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 2-3-0)
- At home to: WPG, CHI (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
- On the road to: DAL, ARI, VEG (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 1-1-0)
- Overall expected result: 8-5-0, 16 points in 13 games
- Actual November results: 8-4-0, 16 points in 12 games
- Oilers in 2021-22: 14-5-0, 28 points in 19 games
A loss tonight and Edmonton reaches the quarter pole for the season with 28 points in 20 games. That’s a conference winner or close and teams with 115 (or so) points are generally considered Stanley Cup contenders.
Many Oilers fans are betting this team crashes and burns, and it could happen. My own feeling is that the organization will add at the deadline and give this group a fantastic chance to win a playoff round or more in the spring.
I don’t see a Dave Tippett firing, or a Ken Holland retirement. I did see Kevin Lowe’s exit from the general manager’s job, we all knew Steve Tambellini was going to get moved out, Craig MacTavish was a victim of a rip in the space-time continuum, Peter Chiarelli was never going to be here long term. Holland is here for five and it’s three now. That’s how I see it. You?
OILERS LINEUP TONIGHT
This is five-on-five points-60 for forwards, expected goals five on five for defense and overall save percentage for the goalies. It’s impossible to overstate the importance of the three rookies (Skinner, Broberg and McLeod) and how big a test they will face tonight. It’s my guess we’ll see many “well, that was nice while it lasted!” comments in the game day thread tonight, but that’s first blush and these experiments are a marathon not a sprint.
The thing I’ll look for tonight is Jesse Puljujarvi’s deployment. The VGK’s top pairing right now (according to Daily Faceoff), in the last 10 games (five-on-five via Natural Stat Trick):
- Nicolas Hague-Alex Pietrangelo, who are 9-9 goals with a 40.4 expected goal share.
- Brayden McNabb-Shea Theodore, who are 2-3 goals and 54 percent expected goals.
- Ben Hutton-Zack Whitecloud, who are 4-2 goals and 52 percent expected goals.
Puljujarvi is going to get some minutes against Hutton-Whitecloud, and that should be an opportunity. We’ll monitor tonight and discuss tomorrow.
TYLER BENSON
The young winger seems to be pushing ahead of Brendan Perlini, but will need to show some offense in these games to come. If he can, even a little, Benson should be able to survive his rookie year and then push for more playing time.
Why do players fail in making the transition to the NHL? For Oilers forwards, it’s often about the offense. I don’t know why Jani Rita failed and Jujhar Khaira found his way, only that it happened. Here’s a sample of past prospects and how they performed in their “last chance Texaco” seasons using even-strength points-per-60.
- Jani Rita, 2005-06: three points in 132 minutes (1.19 points-per-60)
- Brad Winchester, 2006-07: nine points in 457 minutes (1.19 points-per-60)
- Marc Pouliot, 2009-10: 13 points in 383 minutes (2.03 points-per-60)
- Teemu Hartikainen, 2012-13: 1 point in 196 minutes (0.30 points-per-60)
- Anton Slepyshev, 2017-18: 12 points in 581 minutes (1.24 points-per-60)
- Tyler Benson, 2021-22: 0 points in 56 minutes
There are several things these men have in common, including at least one NHL appearance. Winchester is the only man on the list who was drafted by the same management group that also sent him away, the rest being orphans.
You might think that I will say Marc Pouliot is the player on this list that represents the biggest miss, but for me it was Teemu Hartikainen. He delivered a 1.01 points-per-60 at even strength as a rookie in 2010-11, getting lost in the flood that was Taylor Hall, Magnus Paajarvi and Linus Omark on left wing. The next season, he delivered 1.36 points-per-60 at evens before falling back in the season above and eventually being dealt.
Pouliot is the one man in the group who had a full season (2008-09) to show what he could do, and produced 1.66 points-per-60 at even strength. The Oilers traded Kyle Brodziak summer of 2009, most thought to make room for Pouliot behind Shawn Horcoff, Andrew Cogliano and Sam Gagner at center.
The 2008-09 season was the final MacT coaching year, and Pat Quinn moved in a different (Ryan Potulny) direction.
Tyler Benson is an orphan but is in the lineup and trying to make his way. There are Oilers fans who want Benson to play on a skill line, and if Zach Hyman moves to right wing it’s possible. I expect Benson will need to deliver some offense from the fourth line to make it happen. Tough row to hoe.
NEW for The Athletic: The Oilers’ prospect pipeline has produced 2 call-ups on defence already this season. Who’s next?
https://theathletic.com/2980820/2021/11/27/lowetide-the-oilers-prospect-pipeline-has-produced-2-call-ups-on-defence-already-this-season-whos-next/
Jay Woodcroft. Kidding.
So far 2 dmen and a goalie.
I think the next move is someone going back to Bakersfield
And then it’s Holloway Baby!
I am in favour of Woodcroft as Edmonton’s next head coach, no idea how to get him here, though.
Agreed, just kidding about the timing of it.
I think you bring him up as an Assistant Coach and go from there.
He’s already been there and done that.
The options are airplane, bus, or hitch hiking.
You hire him for the 2022-23 season if they don’t win the Cup this season.
let’s win a playoff series first
As am I and it seems like Holland to groom Tip’s successor. Another recycled coach does nothing and I’d rather go with an experienced young guy like Woodcroft who has been in the league (and our system) for quite a while now. Plus he has had success as a head coach.
Have a reception committee collect him in Bakersfield and drive him up the Pacific Coast Highway, then try to make for Idaho/Montana for border entry.
The Oilers have committed to Dave Tippett and he has committed to them. I know many here want to send him away tonight, but the team is built around his style and priorities and Holland has tailored the team for him. I think the Tippett story needs to run its course.
2 d-men, a goalie, & a forward.
McLeod slightly different in that he started the season here, then got sent down, but currently the Oilers are using 4 guys who played games in Bakersfield earlier this season. And it’s still November.
McLeod is a player that looks to stick around for awhile.
I haven’t even thought of Woodcroft as the Oilers next coach, he sure gets great reviews. I get that the head coach drives the bus and makes the most important decisions, but I really see coaching as a team effort.
I don’t think that plugging new players in here and there and switching things up is making much of a difference anymore – not sure it’s as much of a player issue as a strategic challenge. Anyway, all I know is that I rarely watch an Oilers game and say “man, we really played a strategically smarter game than the other team.” I’ve definitely seen Calgary and Winnipeg control a lot of what we do even though we have the two best players in the world and we have superior offensive acumen.
As for the author’s question of “What do I see?” I see a change coming. I don’t know if it’s the coaching staff, players, the relationship between them, the ability of any one individual, changing the X’s and O’s, the team toughness, the goaltending, but something big is going to happen. The expectations for this group are too high, everyone involved (fans, players, coaching, management, ownership) are “all in.”
When did you see Calgary run the Oilers show?
Ew, that’s an excellent point. I haven’t. Definitely an overreach on my behalf.
In their dreams.
Goaltending has gotta steal a few games a year, right? Critics aside, this is a fun team to watch as a fan. I think they could get better as they get defensively organized.
I was surprised to see the Tippett hate because all I thought in that game was how the patchwork D is holding up. Broberg, Lagesson, and even Bouchard are basically ROOKIES and he’s got them out there playing with confidence.
Loved Russell’s play too and I think Tipp deserves credit there too. The ability to seamlessly integrate players is partly due to the coach, IMO.
I don’t know if they are executing perfectly, but it’s an imperfect lineup, especially right now. Touch it up at the deadline and the team might make some noise.
Love to see the Flames lose.
What I love even more is the Oilers are second in the league in pts% (only Carolina is ahead of them). To be fair, though, Washington, the Rangers and the Leafs are fairly close behind.
For all their issues this year the Oilers have managed to do the most important thing; win.
Welcome Back to the West F-lames…
Here’s to it suddenly finding your miserable selves in a dogfight to make the playoffs.
Flames blow a 2 goal lead and lose 4-2. That’s too bad.
Atta boy Connor (Kyle).
Boom – empty netter.
Should flames fans worry given they have so many more home games to play and they are not good at home?
Absolutely.
Although it’s got more to do with having to play the likes of Vegas/Oilers/Jets/plus the rest of the West who they have scrupulously managed to avoid so far this young season.
Or that’s what I predicted and hope I don’t look like any more of an idiot.
Watch Kris Play in junior for the Tigers. Never thought of him as a shot-blocker back then. He truly re-invented his game. He has blocked more shots than many goalies
Congratulations to Russell on recording the most blocks ever, surpassing the record previously held by Lego.
He talked to the media a bit about that yesterday (https://www.nhl.com/oilers/video/pre-raw–russell-112621/t-277437406/c-9665051).
He recognized what he needed to do and willed himself to the career he’s had. Respect.
$4M X 4 with high end trade protection and signing bonus buyout protection was, of course, a wild contract but truth be told, he probably came close to providing value for that deal for the first 2 or 3 years. He was asked to play 2RD for a large portion of those years and, while offence died during most of those minutes, that went both ways.
The team would have been worse without him during that contract and, he’s outperformig his current contract over the last week.
Slow start this year (I thought he was done) was likely due to missing most of camp, etc.
Great interview and the media asked him some good questions. Played great tonight, next man up mentality.
A beautiful cross ice feed from Samorukov to Safin to unleash the teddy bears…… 1-1 near the end of the 2nd.
So the Oilers don’t play till Wednesday and Tippett says they are looking forward to having 2 full practice days Monday and Tuesday to get back to some basics. They haven’t had a true practice day since October because of the schedule and travel. Once they get back to game action, the OIlers get 8 of 10 at home where the Oilers are 8-1 so far A number of tough opponents among those 8 home games. Both road games are against the Kraken, who have a poor record thus far, but tonight managed to stop Florida’s quest to set a record game home winning streak to start the season. Just goes to show there are no guaranteed points in the NHL. The bottom rung can beat a top rung team, if they play well, get hot goal-tending and the top rung team has an off game.
The Kraken have beat FLA, CAR and TBL in the last week.
Actually Tampa shut them out 3-0 but they did beat the Capitals.
Yes, that’s what I meant, Caps, not sure why I typed TBL – thank you.
Kris Russell is “a little bit crazy guy” for blocking all those shots.
-goaltender Mikko Koskinen immediately after stopping 36 of 38 shots.
I’m still in disbelief that Phillip Broberg is leading the Oilers in ice time in a road win against Vegas…..
Seriously HUGE
Nurse 25 minutes / gm
Broberg 22 minutes / gm
Keith 13 minutes / gm
#GiddyUp
#ZegrasMyAss
Broberg’s an outstanding young defenceman. Top pairing as is.
So is Bouchard. Top pairing as is.
Do the Canucks like Samorukov?
Kassian, Samorukov, Petrov, and Turris for JT Miller.
Godon’t do it.
I like Miller as a target as well
I’m not sure what it would take (or how to make the money work) but I think the 1st rd pick would have to be in the package
1st, Yamamoto, Lagesson.
15 + 5 and posters want to fire Tippett.
Koskinen steals another game and posters will be submitting trade proposals dumping his salary tomorrow.
I wonder if Oilers fans will ever be happy.
No, the answer is no.
You wonder if we’ll ever be what? You made that word up.
JP really shines that 3rd line imo.
Foegele McLeod JP instills some confidence in me.
Yes he does – good line. However, Kassian does not appear very useful on the 97 line unless 29 is there.
That being said, two games with Kass on the first line and 2-0 so what to do?
Let it ride baby. Let it ride.
I believe Kass has 4 points in the 2 games you’re referring to, No?
I thought Kassian was awful tonight. Came in 2nd in every race and every puck battle.
Kass outscored both Connor and Leon tonight 🙂
With no power play time.
He was first forward back to scoop up a puck high in the Dzone early in the 3rd. Agree he didn’t have a good game overall though.
Hyman was easily the best top 6 forward tonight IMO.
The line has been good with Puljujarvi, but were they any better than with Kassian etc.?
I think Foegele-McLeod deserve a lot more kudos than this for being effective with a bunch of wingers including JP.
I was worried about the Ceci signing this offseason but he has been unreal so far.
Bouchard is amazing. No Brogan to be sure, but still a very good player.
The third line looked great tonight.
God love him, but McD really needs to learn how to consistently backcheck.
My new deadline shopping list: a top 6 RW. Yamo and Kassian are not going to cut it long-term/ in the playoffs.
Mayhaps the Oilers braintrust can cast their glance in the direction of Connor Brown?
4-6-10 in 15 games on a team that even Arizona looks down upon in the standings.
And you can never have too many Connors.
Does a ’23 2nd get it done? Too much? Not enough?
Maybe not enough?
Quality idea though. And a former McDavid teammate to boot (also a linemate? I’m not sure).
Kass is the former linemate…. 🙂
Ha. Whatever the lines Connor Brown is nice hockey player who could help the team. He’s got a year left on his deal ($3.6M) after this one though, so it’s a pretty unlikely transaction.
Rodrigue starts for the Condors tonight.
Look forward to seeing Samorukov and some others with elevated minutes and responsibilities.
Filip Engras scored the OT winner (and had an earlier assist) in a 3-2 OT win.
Kudo’s to Willy Laggs.
Low event hockey
Keys to Mikko and Russells game? Rest?
Keith? Smith? also Rest?
How many points is this one worth for the Oilers:
1) on the road
2) against a team that made the playoffs last year
3) rested and playing their starter
On the other hand, opponent had some important injuries.
Then again, Oilers also had important injuries.
There’s no way to know; the Oilers won, so the resident authority on the subject won’t be by for a while.
You know what Bookje would say….
I don’t, please share
I honestly don’t
Among other things, Bookje was famous for one particular line
He was fond of saying “F#@& that guy” “Just F#@& him”
Doesn’t sound the same coming from me. Bookje knew how to deliver an expletive. And he didn’t use placeholders… it was full frontal profanity. 🙂
Vegas is not an Eastern team.
Win is worth zero points.
Ah, but neither is Colorado, and beating them would be worth many points…unless the Oilers actually did it, in which case the win would be valueless because of the phase of the moon.
If the Oilers beat Colorado today it would also be worth zero points because Mackinnon is injured.
And if Colorado’s strength of schedule were more difficult and the Oilers won, the Oilers would lose points. It’s a hard league to be good in.
Three stars tonight
1) Mikko’s Glove
2) Mikko’s Blocker
3) Mikko’s Stick
Nice win
This team has warts but we keep on winning
A 3 day break will give the walking wounded some time to recover
Odd, but good, to see the Oilers able to win a game where McDavid and Draisatl didn’t hit the scoresheet.
McDavid’s point streak ends at one.
It’s odd to see McDavid and Draisaitl shut out, win or lose. This is the first time it’s happened this season, right? Because there’s only been one other game that McDavid was kept off the scoresheet, and Draisaitl certainly wasn’t.
Officials with a very well called game tonight
Credit where credit is due
DeBoer looking at dressing room checklist:
shut down 97
shut down 29
outshoot
outhit
saw off at G
WTF happen?
The saw off at G part was missing!
Well said. Tough for Connor & Leon … great sign for the Oilers.
Broberg being elevated since #1 #2 and #3 LHD is out
23:30 played tonight and played well other than the Theodore play
He could play exactly like this for the next 10 years without developing further, and he’d still be a great pick at #9 overall.
I love his controlled and stick-y aggression at the blue line. And his recoveries. And calm. What a transition to the NHL.
Go Jets!
Since the Jets beat the Oilers in the first of that back-to-back, they’ve lost five straight, scoring only five goals altogether.
And now trail Calgary 2-0 in the first.
Jets can’t score in a cathouse with a fistful of hundreds.
lmao that’s a good one
Vegas 11-4 coming in.
Oilers now 7-0 vs the Pacific.
And sphincters’ ….relax
Is that a good idea?
Much quieter last 10 minutes.
Nice win!
Great win. Way to close it out.
Huge game by Mikko.
I’ll take that regulation win on the road.
Whew.
Russell is a timeless warrior!
The guy gets none of the respect he deserves.
He doesn’t corsi well but he keeps goals against down.
That has real value.
I think his teammates respect the heck out of him.
This would make a great Western Conference Final matchup
Lots of talk about Vegas injuries even though that just means Chandler Stephenson plays one line higher.
not enough talk about how injuries pushed our #1 Ahl defenseman all the way to number one defenseman as the leftorium is decimated
22 minutes already
#2 LD, #1G…
More like # 1 2 and 3 LHD and #1 G
Really 1 2 3 and 4 LD out.
Ya I was thinking that as he was out for the last shift. Short time again In AHL. Unbelievable!
Well, they have to learn how to close out games like this against teams like this. Good to get practice.
Nice play by Kassian to setup McDavid
Oilers playing to win a one goal game
Oilers parking the bus now – I don’t like their chances
McD realizing this ‘let them play’ thing works both ways.
Great game.
3rd period has been all Vegas
too many Oilers standing and watching
score effects
Both.
Kassian is one of the laziest checkers i can recall. He coasts into the area both dZone and ozone. He doesn’t belong on the first line. Period.
Might need a Benson GWG😉
That’s the spirit.
McDavid wincing in pain
Took a big hit that he didn’t see coming.
Goal was a deflection
Koski with 2 good saves since
McDavid also in picture
He’s been poor in his own end this game IMO
Damn – was that Ceci who hesitated with the puck in the slot there.
Yup.
I was harsh on him at first viewing too. Replay seemed to show he never really had control of the puck.
It’s the parity league.
Officials will be looking to call one on us soon.
I’m thinking the coaching staff has instructed/encouraged Jesse to shoot the puck when playing in the current deployed configuration.
Several benefits to having JP on line 3
Russell standing up at the blue line tonight
Nice to see Yamo on the bench.
Great shift by the McDavid line – that’s the correct zone to play in.