The Edmonton Oilers have to do something about their five-on-five goal differential. I know, I know, we’ve discussed it a time or two before, but the scene of the crime remains the old Moreau-Marchant-Grier stomping grounds.
Connor McDavid (23-17, +6), Leon Draisaitl (13-7, +6), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (3-4, -1), Derek Ryan (3-16, -13), Ryan McLeod (4-5, -1) are the current totals. There are 2-5 goals I can’t find but they exist all the same. I gave the McDavid-Draisaitl goals to McDavid, and am counting just five-on-five via Natural Stat Trick. That’s 48-54, -6, in 2021-22. Before you go wild on, remember the team is 13-17 (-4) since the injuries hit the blue.
A year ago after 23 games it looked like this: McDavid (21-19, +2), Draisaitl (15-7, +8), Nuge (2-0, +2), Kyle Turris (4-13, -9), Gaetan Haas (1-1, even), Jujhar Khaira (6-6, even), Devin Shore (0-2, -2). That’s 49-48, +1.
How can Dave Tippett crawl from the wreckage? I think Derek Ryan needs a break, Ryan McLeod has earned the No. 3 line role and Nuge could run at times in the middle with Tyler Benson moving up the depth chart to third line, with Warren Foegele taking the skill minutes. Something like Hyman-McDavid-Puljujarvi, Foegele-Draisaitl-Yamamoto, Benson-Nuge-Kassian. Riley Nash is also on waivers, that might be a solution.
THE ATHLETIC!
- Lowetide: Oilers may find inspiration from 1993-94 Detroit Red Wings
- DNB: Several Oilers issues coming to a head
- Jonathan Willis: Which Oilers are on track to make their countries’ 2022 Olympic hockey teams?
- Lowetide: Evan Bouchard’s first full NHL season a learning experience
- Lowetide: Analyzing Cody Ceci’s importance to the Edmonton Oilers and future deployment
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2021
- DNB: Brendan Perlini subscriber Q&A
- DNB: Oilers turn to Markus Niemelainen
- Lowetide: The Oilers won often in November, but is their roster built to keep winning this way?
- Lowetide: The Oilers’ prospect pipeline has produced 2 call-ups on defence this season. Who’s next?
- DNB: What I think and what I know about the Oilers through their first 20 games
- 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
WHAT TO EXPECT IN DECEMBER
- At home to: PIT (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- On the road to: SEA (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- At home to: LAK, MIN, BOS, CAR, TOR, CBJ (Expected 3-3-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- On the road to: SEA (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: ANA (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: LAK, SJS, CAL, STL, NJD (Expected 3-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 8-7-0, 16 points in 15 games
- Actual December results: 1-2-0, 2 points in 3 games
- Oilers in 2021-22: 16-7-0, 32 points in 23 games
The Oilers don’t have to win tonight, but considering the quality of opposition during this homestand, and the results of the first three games, it might be an idea to get a wiggle on at some point pre-Christmas.
WARREN FOEGELE
Warren Foegele is an interesting top-six option for the coach. I don’t believe he’ll spend the bulk of his Oilers career playing with McDavid or Draisaitl, but it’s interesting to see the top three LW’s and their isolated numbers away from 97 and 29.
- Foegele w/o 97 and 29: 1-6-7 in 246:14 (1.71 points-per-60)
- Hyman w/o 97 and 29: 1-1-2 in 107:44 (1.11 points-per-60)
- Nuge w/o 97 and 29: 0-2-2 in 113:15 (1.06 points-per-60)
Would Foegele cash more often playing with McDavid or Draisaitl? Don’t know, but lending him to the skill lines and borrowing Nuge for the No. 3 line seems reasonable to me. Now, Foegele’s five-on-five goal differential (9-17, 35 percent) is ghastly, but that includes 3-11 on the Derek Ryan ‘end your career in less than two months’ line. With Ryan McLeod at five-on-five, Foegele is 4-4, 50 percent. With Nuge, he’s 1-0. I think the Oilers should consider the idea. Or Tippett could run:
- Hyman-McDavid-Puljujarvi
- Foegele-Draisaitl-Yamamoto
- McLeod-Nuge-Kassian
For me, I’d rather run Benson inside the top nine, he’s a natural winger, excellent passer and is playing a simple and repeatable game at this time. Tippett has options, I think they should start with Foegele. Far away from the heart of the order, he has produced offense. If Tippett needs to improve up the middle, and he surely does, then the way is clear.
When Foegele came over, he offered a strong scoring option for the No. 3 line and a pristine outscoring record. It was also known he played many of those minutes with veteran center Jordan Staal, and perhaps running him with Nugent-Hopkins is the best plan.
- Hyman-McDavid-Puljujarvi
- Benson-Draisaitl-Yamamoto
- Foegele-Nuge-Kassian
NIEMELAINEN
I think he’s won an NHL job. Unless Niemelainen falters, I think all of William Lagesson, Philip Broberg and Slater Koekkoek are going to be well behind, with Kris Russell No. 7 on the depth chart. When the dust settles, we may be looking at this:
- Darnell Nurse-Evan Bouchard
- Duncan Keith-Cody Ceci
- Markus Niemelainen-Tyson Barrie
Where does that place Broberg? Back in Bakersfield until injuries hit again or the trade deadline. Where does that place Dmitri Samorukov? Somewhere between the moon and New York City after the deadline is my guess. Habs would love him. Just saying. Niemelainen is turning the established order on its head. If he keeps going, this thing is going to end differently than the projection. I had him No. 12 on the Oilers top-20 prospects list last week.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
A busy morning on the Lowdown, starts at 10 on TSN 1260. We’ll have Crossfire! (pew! pew!) with Al and Sal (we even have our own produced intro now, read by GOD ABOVE!) plus we’ll visit with a Minnesota Wild reporter (tracking down now) and spend a little time talking Flyers. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!
NEW for The Athletic: Tyson Barrie’s contract and skill set make his Oilers future uncertain.
https://theathletic.com/3001897/2021/12/08/lowetide-tyson-barries-contract-and-skill-set-make-his-oilers-future-uncertain/
The best thing about that game is that I am not going insane and in fact there was a dog barking on the broadcast. I had a testy 15 minutes of pausing the stream and listening trying to figure out where that sound was coming from until Jack Michaels mercifully referenced it.
Chicago Blackhawks
@NHLBlackhawks
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26m
UPDATE: Coach King on Jujhar Khaira’s status – “He’s up. He’s talking. He’s very responsive.”
Glad he’s responsive and seemingly doing alright at the moment.
That’s three in under a year now, again, medical science just isn’t up to date with this stuff.
Bad result. Good effort. Sort of the opposite of the Oilers hot start. They play like this most nights, they’ll be just fine.
I’m going to choose to go with the premise that, just like a team will win a couple they should’t at the end of hot stretch, they will lose a couple they should at the end of a slump.
This is where I’m at as well. That was the best “team” effort in a few weeks. Didn’t score but the bottom six were moving well, got some shots, hell even Kassian seemed engaged.
The two botched goals against in the 1st stung but there was ample opportunity to tie that game up. Skill guys are squeezing the sticks and standing still something fierce on the PP. That will correct. Darnell Nurse is fun to watch.
If there is one specific thing I’d quibble with I’ll call out whoever is teaching these guys net-front footwork. This whole “spin to the side” thing that all of Foegele, Hyman, JP, Nuge and Sceviour did last night ruins a perfectly good screen. Stand your ground and get active with that stick! Don’t spin out of the damn way giving the goaler a clear line of sight!
Ya, I specifically recall Hyman doing that on a Nurse wrister on the PP….
Seeing a lot of teams coming together, starting to settle in for the big push, Oilers going the exact opposite way. Minny finishes it’s checks, Oilers rarely do. It’s why Captain Nemo stands out , only guy wanting to, hell , Kassian et al do it when they think they are due a benching. Swooping snd one handed stick checks. Oil are again , still? The all flash , no jam team. Get ready forcsome real embarrassing drubbings, aside from this one. Oh, and watching the players stare at the ceiling as they obviously give up, mskes me mad snd sad.
It’s ok, Chicken Little, we’ll all be alright.
The big push? In early December?
Coaching not the players.
Well LT, looks like it’s time to break out the Counting Crows ‘Recovering the Satellites’ CD for tomorrow’s post…
Full credit to Cam Talbot tonight. The Oilers were the better team for most, as far as carrying the play and creating chances. He won the tending battle and gave his team the chance to capitalize on a couple Oiler mistakes (by d-men and goalie).
It is true, Gene is just a huge gentleman, as much off the air as on.
Rem Pitlick sounds like something Dr. Frankenstein made from Oilers journeymen.
Welp, night folks. Why did I hold on so long? I should know better….
Not sure what Nurse was doing on the last goal against. Went way out of position to try and check that guy.
Likely in the name of pressing given the 2-goal deficit.
Just about had Mikko Kough-It-In.
He is rattled something fierce.
Time to give Mikey a phone call and tell him to get the hell off the couch and do his job.
Did he really play that poorly? At least 2 of those goals were absolutely not his fault.
Lol, Kulikov with the breakaway goal.
Could there be a more perfect ending?
Maybe Talbot will the the ENG.
It had to be him. Too bad Talbot didn’t get the shutout to cap it off.
PP O-5 tonight,
1 fer the last 21
Woof
Man, that second goal was the killer. Russell let’s Folingo alone on a 3on3…. Brutal. Can’t block shots if you aren’t between the guy and the net… **sigh**
Thats the second game in a row he’s made a bone-headed play that ended up in his own net.
He looks tired, maybe time for a rest
Yes. Rest, for the rest of the season.
Tipp keeps throwing Russell over the boards ……
Anyway, some run support would be nice for Mikko
Second goal was a result of Russell sleeping on the job…
Nurse’s rush defence is elite.
Damn, Drai, er, Talbot.
Night folks. Wife wants to watch Friends episode 6 season 2. I’m joiner her. Trust me. I need some happy
Give Rachel a hug for me😊
Just to clear, are you on a break?
This team is tough to watch sometimes. They are way too cute off the rush. Shoot the bloody puck!
I’d say it costs them a grade-A at least once a game. Saw a few this game. Maybe they’re gripping their sticks a bit too tight…
McDavid line staying out way too long and not playing smart hockey.
Damn, the Talbot save and goal against….. ugh.
Wow – great read and save by Talbot.
Bouchard with the correct color of jersey
Great story. But man, Dadbot is a terrible speaker 😂 I miss him.
Hmm, I thought he did pretty well. Heartfelt, not too starchy or scripted, like most NHL players. Some little stumbles here and there, but that’s fine.
Maybe he was just nervous. Lots of repeated words 2 sentences later. Sounds like the ideas just weren’t flowing as quick as he’d like.
Nah I agree with the other poster. He wasn’t trying to be perfect. Came across as genuine to me as well.
Cam looked like he was getting a little teary eyed there, no?
Good on Gene making fun of the dog barking stuff 🙂
Trying to get headshots out of the game, suspend Trouba for a long while. That is a predatory hit. Guy looking down and no let up… in fact the opposite. Trouba aims shoulder directly at head.
Agreed that was vicious and unnecessary
Gordie Howe would disagree.
It’s on you to protect yourself at all times.
Trouba laid out a clean hit, and unfortunately JJ was lights out before he hit the ice.
It’s not same game.
It’s all so fast now.
After Two:
2-1 Minnesota (Oilers with the only goal of the second)
30-17 Edmonton shots (20-7 Edmonton in the second)
36-21 Edmonton Corsi five-on-five (23-10 Edmonton in the second)
==
A fine second period by the Oilers, attention to detail better and if we’re honest they earned a tie but the second goal didn’t come.
Nurse-Bouchard pairing are doing well, McLeod line with some jump.
Is smith ever coming back?? Haven’t heard anything about him for a while.. this team needs a spark. Better 2nd but one bad goal may be the difference this game.
https://twitter.com/danyallstar15/status/1468392755223089154?s=21
this is why some of us wanted Zegras. That vision!!!
That was amazing.
Yeah, when you don’t take BPA, you gotta have a good reason. I guess time will tell whether Broberg was a good enough reason. But at this point, that tradeoff isn’t looking great. If we instead had Zegras and were desperate for D, we could surely trade Zegras for a better D-man than Broberg. (Would Buffalo give up Dahlin for Zegras right now? I bet they’d think about it.)
For Dahlin? I don’t think they’d think about it long before its a resounding “no”.
Zegras is legit and he very well may turn out to have the better career over Broberg but its no surprise he’s a more material player at this stage. It was known on draft day that the high skill forwards that were available would arrive earlier than Broberg.
Broberg playing NHL games at all right now is a bit ahead of schedule – at least in my opinion.
Well, there was some pushback…
Solid period.
That was awesome how early Broberg activated there – pass went back to Drai and he took off – clearly coached and good on the youngster (we won’t talk about the muffin in the offensive zone – o-zone faceoffs are good).
How the hell did 97 get off the wall that fast with 2 wild in close quarters?
Stealth mode
This is where we need Mikko to stay sharp and ensure he stops the grade Bs and low grade As….. Oilers are carrying the game, its close to domination, they cannot have the deflation of a tough goal against.
I’m happy they aren’t challenging, that one is 50/50 to me.
Hyman was pushed in but he may/likely had time to get our of the crease before Talbot tried to come across.
That’s a big goal – McDavid doing 95% of the work and Jesse finishing it off.
5% for JP? collapse on net, find open space, stick on ice, capitalize on shot; worth more than 5% to me
ok
For me they made a low high play and someone was in position not tucked right in to the defender.
Baby steps
Nice goal.
Keep pressing. More than half a game left.
Bison King scores.
Poor Khaira:
https://twitter.com/BradyTrett/status/1468412370573676545
Hopefully its not as bad as it looks (as per the past).
oh man
I hate to see that happen to any player, but especially sad to see Khaira down like that again. How many times can he come back from concussions without risking serious long term effects. Thoughts are with him..
Me too
Very concerned for a fine young man and someone I especially pulled for as an Oiler
Not a head hit and down like that
He has to hang them up at least in the NHL
Clearly he can’t take another
Maybe if he wants more pro hockey it has to be where he will be more safe
Oh Jujar! That was as hard a hit as I have seen in some time. Hope he is OK but that was brutal.
Just saw the Khaira hit tonight. Tough to watch. Feel terrible for him. Here’s hoping he makes a full recovery.
So why does Leon have a mouth guard. It’s never in his mouth. Serious question
He is teething.
The worst thing for me is Tkachuks do it too
Hope to see more motion/movement on this PP – as per earlier in the season.
I though McLeod was one of the better skaters last game and again so far tonight – got his legs and making plays/passes.
Nurse’s offensive game has looked good through 3 periods and a bit.
Ceci was a jenga piece that couldn’t be removed. Barrie cannot fill that hole in the top four D like Bear could have. But then almost all of us knew that last season and last summer.
If one is going to play Russell with Broberg, Broberg shoud be on the right side.
Broberg with Bouchard would make more sense. And Barrie with Nurse.
I look forward to Ceci being back on Thursday – eligible to skate tomorrow (assuming testing goes as hoped/planned).
Agreed
As I see it plus skating is the key to offside, enough time
Rusty isn’t quick enough do so experience so no advantage
If play continues this way we could be in for an ugly stretch here against murderers row. Oilers offended all but dried up currently and they aren’t going to win very many 2 to 1 games.
Oilers pretty much have to win the special teams battle. Haven’t been doing that lately. Wild with 29 th PP score easily on their chance.
That was a terrible play by Koskinen… and terrible by Russell on 2nd goal.
After One:
2-0 Minnestoa
10-10 shots
13-10 Edmonton Corsi five-on-five
==
Oilers get into penalty trouble and Koskinen makes a weak play on the 0-1 goal by not holding the post. Nurse slow to remove the Wild player from the scene.
Broberg got walked and Russell wasn’t close to good enough in coverage on the second goal. Russell also pinched, looked questionable in real time but will have to go back and look.
Edmonton has itself in a spot of bother here, but it’s of their own making. We know they’ll win again someday but I don’t see much evidence of desperation.
jmo.
100% there’s just no hustle or second effort.
Broberg didn’t get walked on the 2nd goal.
There we go, the game has settled into a nice malaise now that the lead has been established.
One bench killing goal followed by an absolute back breaker.
The sting has left the Oiler attack.
Wild will lock up the middle and the boys will be content to play out on the perimeter.
Shoot black disc towards net
At least Ryan was not responsible for a goal against!
Game is not over yet. Still time!