Tonight the Edmonton Oilers reach the halfway point of a most perplexing season. I’ve observed some wild championship seasons in my time and this doesn’t look like one. Of the teams I have followed closely, the 1981 Montreal Expos (“Blue Monday”) and the 2006 Edmonton Oilers are the most similar at this point in time.
A season has ebbs and flows, plus a lightning bolt or two woven into the story. The Expos traded a good young second baseman (Tony Bernazard) to Chicago for a pitcher with a sore arm in the winter of 1980, but they also signed Ray Burris (who had a fine year and some exceptional post-season moments) the same month.
Expos traded one of my favourite players (Ellis Valentine) for a brilliant reliever (Jeff Reardon) and finally called up Tim Raines for good—and he was lightning in a bottle. Despite the great pain that season held for me at the end, as a fan I remember best Raines on the basepaths and Wallace Johnson’s triple in September. You have to build to that triple, let the season wash over you, find out you can trust Reardon but Woodie Fryman might be faltering.
I’ll be honest I don’t have a good feel for this Oilers team, the 2006 group and the 2017 team were much easier to digest. This year is a season of careening, from brilliance to a punch in the face. The 2021-22 Oilers are heading at breakneck speed for something but you don’t know what it is, do you, Mr. Jones?
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Revisiting Oilers’ choice to take Kailer Yamamoto in 2017 NHL Draft
- DNB: Evander Kane’s presence was felt in his Oilers debut
- Lowetide: Why prospects stall in the AHL
- DNB: Oilers leaders believe Evander Kane will buy in
- Lowetide: Have Oilers trade assets changed in light of the Evander Kane signing?
- New DNB/Kevin Kurz: Why the Oilers are taking a chance on Evander Kane
- Lowetide: Grading the first 3 years of Ken Holland’s Oilers trades
- DNB: Adam Cracknell is now a Canadian Olympian.
- Lowetide: Leon Draisaitl’s history of long Decembers and what came after
- Lowetide: Three first-shot scorers in Oilers system in a race to make NHL
- DNB: Dylan Holloway resumes road to Oilers after frustrating injury interruption
- Jonathan Willis: Loss underlines how over-reliant Oilers are on offence from the defence
- Lowetide: Making the waiver call on young Oilers players as the deadline approaches
- New DNB: Oilers’ flaws can’t be ignored as losing skid goes from bad to worse
- Lowetide: Why can’t the Oilers win a trade in the Connor McDavid era?
- DNB: ‘We’re finding ways to lose’
- Lowetide: Midseason review of Oilers reasonable predictions for 2021-22
- DNB: The Oilers aren’t getting a dominant Leon Draisaitl right now
- Lowetide: What to expect from Dylan Holloway in Bakersfield and Edmonton this season
- DNB: Connor McDavid supports Oilers’ pursuit of Evander Kane.
- DNB: Ken Holland speaks
- Lowetide: Forget the Connor McDavid bump, Jesse Puljujarvi is the real deal after all
- Lowetide: Should the Oilers sign Evander Kane and what would it look like?
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers forward lineup isn’t deep or good enough
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2021
WHAT TO EXPECT IN JANUARY
- On the road to: NYI, NYR, TOR (Expected 1-2-0) (Actual 0-2-1)
- At home to: OTT, FLA, CGY (Expected 1-2-0) (Actual 1-2-0)
- On the road to: VAN (Expected 0-0-1) (Actual 1-0-0)
- At home to: NAS (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- On the road to: MTL, OTT (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 4-5-1, 9 points in 10 games
- Actual January results: 4-4-1, 9 points in 9 games
- Oilers in 2021-22: 22-16-2, 46 points in 40 games
A win tonight, and there’s no guarantee here people, would place the Oilers on a pace for just shy of 100 points at the end of the year. That’s likely a playoff team. In 2005-06, Kevin Lowe delivered a deadline that brought in a fine goaltender (Dwayne Roloson), a top-four defenseman (Jaroslav Spacek), a depth defenseman (Dick Tarnstrom) and a skill winger (Sergei Samsonov). That’s a helluva haul.
Could Holland add as much? Let’s say he’s already added Samsonov (Evander Kane). Can he add one or two blue? A goalie?
PLAYOFF OILERS
- Evander Kane—Connor McDavid—Jesse Puljujarvi
- Warren Foegele—Leon Draisaitl—Reilly Smith
- Zach Hyman—Ryan Nugent-Hopkins—Kailer Yamamoto
- Tyler Motte—Ryan McLeod—Zack Kassian
- Darnell Nurse—Evan Bouchard
- Alex Edler—Tyson Barrie
- Duncan Keith—Cody Ceci
- Semyon Varlamov—Mike Smith (Stuart Skinner)
I don’t think Holland will do this much, and don’t get hung up on the specific names, I wanted to quickly grab options that might work and could be available. The goaltending is a must, I do think defense (a shutdown type) is also a priority, and maybe Dylan Holloway pops in Bakersfield (5, 1-4-5 and he’s dynamic, touches the puck a ton) and an internal solution arrives from California. I do think Markus Niemelainen is NHL-ready, perhaps he can deliver in the shutdown role from the third pair.
Either way, Kane was a major get for Holland and the Oilers, and an indication that the pre-season verbal about moving into the top tier of NHL teams remains the goal.
One more thing about Kane. As he continues to play, and have success, I expect there will be a desire to sign him long term. I am fairly convinced this will happen. How long will the contract be? It won’t be the six-year deal he signed with the Sharks, but I think it’ll be three years, possibly four.
THE SENATORS
Based on reports Ottawa will have Brady Tkachuk tonight but his linemates (Drake Batherson, Josh Norris) will not be available. Watch for Adam Gaudette and Alex Formenton to cause fits for the Oilers, though. Ottawa always has great young talent. Tonight is a big night. A win is important but the Senators are a tough out.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
A busy morning celebrating the CMT World Cup qualifying victory over the USA and discussing the NFL weekend results that have the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams on the way to the Super Bowl. Plenty of Oilers-Sens previews with Jason Gregor plus Al versus Sal on Crossfire! (pew pew) and we’ll slide another guest in at 10:20 (still thinking, there’s so damned much to talk about today!). 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!
One can have a conversation regarding the 1st and 3rd goals and if they should have been stopped or were bad goals.
Bottom line is that, even with McDavid’s goal being “meh” on Murray, the Oilers got out-goaltended in this one.
Mikko made some solid to plus saves, for sure – Murray. made more and let in less goals that “could be discussed”. End stop!
People blaming Koskinen for the overtime goal are demonstrating their ignorance.
He’s not a great goalie, but that was a snipe from in close. And don’t start with the going down to early nonsense, again you don’t know what you are talking about.
On the other hand, the shift length was a disgrace. Again.
Overtime isn’t rocket science. If you can’t figure it out you aren’t competent.
I don’t think I’ve ever said this, that was arguably the worst game Draisaitl has played in 3 or 4 years..
players have off nights and thank the hockey gods that McDavid & Draisaitl have so very few of those games.
I’m thinking Tippett better get those players some extra rest because they look exhausted.
The all star break.
Not sure why they would be so sired – they played 15-16 minutes last game – the travel from MTL to OTT is essentially nothing and, even through the first 40 of this game the lines were generally being rolled.
They were only really taxed in the 3rd and OT.
Thought that was one of koskinnen’s better games. He let in a stinker in OT, but that comes with the territory for him. He made some big saves throughout the game and wasn’t scrambling around all night.
OT was a joke. Some really selfish play by the team leaders. Ridiculously long shifts.
Mcdavid was off all night – way off. How he missed that pass in front of the net was head scratching. His timing just wasn’t there.
Fourth line looked really good again. McLeod has elevated his game by simply becoming more engaged physically. He’s not rubbing guys out, but all he needs to do is dig in and battle along the boards.
McD could not take a pass tonight or keep the pill on his stick.
Drai was making lazy passes and too many giveaways
Both of them stayed out way to long on shifts in the OT
Mico needs to stop that OT goal. That big of a man cannot cover that side ?
Ryan played great
Jesse is lost
Nuge was an angry man
Kass can go away . Sit him for a game. He has been bad and lazy for awhile now.
Loser point , but man you can’t lose a game like that
You can play that shitty if a playoff miss or 4-0 out is cool
A self respecting coach can’t continue have that
It’s like pro hockey 101 was failed
Only saw half the game and was stunned at how bad the passing was tonight. They were throwing pucks around like manhole covers. The radio call said the ice was bad, but that doesn’t excuse throwing pucks up the way they did from what I saw in the 3rd period and OT.
It’s as if they’ve won 4 straight and so now the urgency no longer exists. Very careless hockey tonight.
Wheels should fall off in Anaheim soon. They have 16 games that went to OT so far this season. Lots of points from there. The number of OT games will likely dip in the second half and they aren’t a good possession team.
McDavid’s on-ice shooting percentage so far this season is 7.5%. His career low is 9.93% over a season. Guy has been snake bit and the regression will come fast and furious at some point.
This team is playing better possession then they were to start the season. The wins should keep coming in bunches if goaltending can be just average.
Hey look. A cry for attention.
Comment section is the best right now. Amazing 🔥
I missed the game. Comments suggest we got Tippeted again?
No, Koski eating most of it tonight with two bad goals, in particular the first goal of the game.
Shift entitlement in OT, some of which is going at the coach, some at the players.
Happens once players, happen a lot coaches
Kassian getting benched was a delight to see. And Ryan promptly stole his lunch money. Maybe we will get one or two periods out of Kass next game now.
Foggy, I was less delighted to see sit. He is likely being asked to do too much and that’s not on him. Or maybe the coach felt he just didn’t have it tonight, dunno.
Boosh got some big minutes and was pretty much full value. Shooting earlier in the PPs would be handy, though, help open the seams.
Teams clearly have the cross-seam to Drai for the one-timer on the PP completely sussed. Feed them Boosh bombs till they respect’em. Hopefully when Kane is up-to-speed he can give them a new look, a different threat from the other side of the ice. Could be back to terrifying in short order.
Bouch was mediocre
Execution of basics is job one. Not scoring is second. The top players were sloppy and forcing plays (except Nuge), the lesser guys played a better game
Execution is the most important thing second half to prepare for the point of everything NHL hockey
Kane must be wondering WTF? If he starts at it too then we know, and the playoffs success thingo – she gone
IMHO … that OT goal should have been stopped & caught. I chalk this as another loss due to poor goal-tending.
On the other hand … why the heck isn’t our team scoring more? Is it coaching? Offensive systems design? Line construction? Poor play/execution?
So much skill being wasted.
This post is awesome. It just furthers my point that the angry mob is looking for blood and all rationality is out the door.
The GWG was top shelf blocker side, but sure “it should have been caught.”
Wonderful hockey players but the cool kids are pretty damned selfish. 2+ minute shift to start the 3rd and then played 99% of OT. If Duncan Keith is the leader we’re led to believe he should tear a strip off them.
It happens all the time so obviously the coach is fine with it.
It’s impressive they are still standing after 2 min, but I don’t recall a team being successful with this strategy
Leon was not good tonight and was so sluggish and sloppy any other lower player would have been riding pine
I have never seen a player make slower line changes skating off, especially this game
He was skating around like he was injured in OT
Mind boggling coaching
Tippet coaches like a coach trying to tank
Exhaust your cream and frappe the lot
McDavid is the leader both literally and figuratively and is the worst offender.
Firmly agree with this … Holland goes out and gets better forward depth, but the coach can’t keep his top players from losing their discipline out there.
He needs to calm down and be more mature in his game IMO
It was clearly obvious from the cheap seats that McDavid needed to get off the ice and get someone else with fresh legs out there. I hope that he figures that out… I am sure that he knows, and that friends and family will tell him.
Drai is even worse
His mom and dad prob texted him immediately. 🙆
Why are they doing that flip off won defensive zone faceoff still????
I have never ever seen a team use that as a set play. It’s a turnover every single time.
No coaching on this team
Tonight proved it yet again
PK Subban with 50% retained, for a lesser prospect or mid-round draft pick plus expiring contracts?
Say PK Subban (50% retained) for Lagesson and Koskinen
Unfortunately at this point in his career, Subban has lost several steps and continues to deal with the lingering effects of a back injury. Nashville unloaded him at the right time.
Well the Sens certainly have a leader in young Stutzle. Fight, key face-offs, game-winners… If Murray can be Murray, they will have a much improved record next season.
Is it an appropriate time to comment that the Oilers lost to a team missing THREE top 6 forwards?
We watched the game, we all know that, what is your point?
The Oilers are horrific
No
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/your-online-secrets/201409/internet-trolls-are-narcissists-psychopaths-and-sadists%3famp
I think this was posted before. Have you read it?
Are you aware?
Here we go again blaming the goalie for everything.
The goalie got beat by a great shooter as he telegraphed his play, giving the shooter more then enough time to make an amazing shot to an unguarded area of the net.
Not blaming the goalie but he did fail making himself the runner up in the goalie battle this evening.
The blame for the defeat is on the coach, he was also runner up in the battle of coaches this evening.
Leviticus 16:20-22
Need to make that save he lost focus, second rate Goaltending has never been excepted in Edmonton.
I’m not blaming him but if he stands up that shot hits him somewhere near his bellybutton is all.
Sure, but we can’t say that the shot still goes top shelf or doesn’t find the twine elsewhere. It’s way too easy to say the goalie should have stayed up, or should have this or that.
Koskie is paid a nice $4.5 million a year to use his 6.4 frame to not get beat over his head cause he’s down to early and cheating off the post when there was no pass anywhere for him to cheat to.
He managed to tip a harmless shot up over himself and knock it into his own net earlier. The team needs to score for sure agreed, especially that PP which is sucking the life out of things right now but your goaltender shouldn’t be allowing two muffins a game.
It’s absolute insanity. That was such a fallback game by the coach after last game where Tipp actually rolled the lines.
Hey Tipp, the formula for the 7 game losing streak doesn’t need to be brought back.
25 and 24 mins for 97 and 29. Dead powerplay. Plenty of zone time that doesn’t actually create danger. Koski softy first goal (not on Tipp but part of the formula).
I’ve seen this movie a million times. Do. Something. Different.
I guess we got a point and there were some good things but it was an ugly game. Top teams handle that.
Saw a group of players confident in their game plan playing as a team against a group of players playing as individuals with no actual game plan. I’m not sure what Tipps agenda is with puck possession and creation other then whatever is created off of scrambles. It’s a terrible way to construct things.
solid post
Both he and Holland should be fired tonight
Tonight!
Just Tipps, Holland has assembled a roster that should be able to compete on the high end of things every evening. All teams have worts, coaches job is to figure out how to win regardless.
Agreed. This team is far better than they are showing.
Something is in the water.
So far, Kane does NOT have his sea legs. Hope that’s just the rust.
Not that unexpected.
RNH and Nurse , trade bait, and then Koskinen, does he ever think about standing up in the goal like a real goalie?
This particular brand of GPT-3 needs tweaking.
Do better.
All three on for game winner
pathetic all around
disgusting
God damit. If Tippett and Holland can’t get this shift length bullshit under control they should both be fired. I’m as big a fan as 97, 29 and 25 as anyone but they need to stop being so selfish. It’s been going on for years
aw frack
missed opportunity
Koskinen with his best Lil John impression there gettin low! Man that was weak sauce to end it but what Nuge had himself a terrible OT.
Woof, that was ugly.
Would really like to see a new look on PP1. It’s starting to cost them games, nevermind win them.
Yea lost the special teams battle tonight.
What is the kill shot for. PP1?? I guess 29?
He hasn’t scored a PP goal in almost two months and I find him standing around doing a whole lot of nothing lately.
Dunni what the deal is but there’s a lack of urgency and creativity on the PP right now and it’s actively sucking momentum from the rest of the team.
Id split McDavid and Drai up and run McLeod out there on one of the units.
He seems willing to shoot now and is quick enough to get to an open spot.
You mean Barrie back?
Great shot, damn shame the goalie handed in his position papers early to the enemy.
The oilers need to rethink the OT strategy. They try to force too many plays. Twice that shift nuge through the puck up the ice blindly to no one.
Don’t think that’s their OT stategy. Nuge seemed panicky in overtime.
I didn’t just mean Nuge. They need to hang onto the puck instead of trying to force plays. There was a few times where guys could have circled back to maintain possession but instead forced the puck forward and lost it.
Koskinen garbage as always
a disgrace
the whole team is a disgrace
shameless losers
should we fire Holland tonight..?
So made me think of this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lN4TSslz-0
Better call up the Condors instead.
Tipp soundly outcoached in overtime again. Ottawa rolled them quick. Nurse played a 2:40 shift, i dont know what you expect. Not an amazing goal but great shot by Stutzle.
That was a putrid goal which should never go in on an NHL goalie. Brutal.
Except snipers score all the time NHL goalies.
Down way too early. As usual.
Cue all the Koskinen apologists.
Cue all the Koskinen haters.
Que all the blame the goalies for everything, never give them credit, overlook everything else going on.
Meh, so says every angry fan about every goal scored top shelf.
Short side top shelf from that angle is a weak goal every damn time it happens, no matter who the goalie is.
I’m not absolving the rest of the team from a crappy effort.
But Koskinen lets in those backbreaking, awful goals at the worst possible moments in games. This is not the first time this season … it’s almost every game he starts where he lets in a stinker. This is the same goalie that set an NHL record for letting in 4 goals with zero saves in a game.
Unless the Oilers get an upgrade over Koskinen, they are not making the playoffs this year.
In my opinion, Nurse was far too passive on the OT goal. Stutzle walked in untouched and had time to pick the open spot. It’s been a theme all year!
Somebody please buy Mikko a Greyhound bus ticket.
Want to see him go, but don’t want to see him lose his head either there, Robespierre.
It’s only a game but Mikko can’t allow that Goal especially in a playoff OT. He’s obviously not the answer and Holland is just biding time till Smith returns and possibly Stalock is up to the task.
Good shot but you’d think a 6ft 6 G would have that blocked off from that angle.
Koski was quite good otherwise
Nurse fuckinexhausted all he could do was genuflect in front of the shooter. Honourable mention to 97 and 29 for their 2 minute shifts as well.
Pretty sure Koski swore there…
Ugly game to watch. Oiler lose to the Sens. Not good enough.
Maybe someone other that Drai and Nurse should have seen some icetime in OT.
Nurse was having an amazing overtime but that last shift went on far too long. Drai never should’ve come back out so quickly, that was Nuge’s shift.
Ugh. Really good game by Kos wasted by losing focus for a second…but what a shot..,damn.
If he’s not sleeping at the wheel on his goal line that shot means nothing. A Peewee Goalie learns about the importance of playing his angles. Holland for heavens sake get it over with and fire him into the Sun.
Was that a Gordie Howe for young Stuzle?
Missed out on getting an assist.
Crap
How to make yourself 5’10 by Mikko Koskinen
That always amazes me how small he can make himself look.
Frustrating OT loss. Missed execution all game long and continued in OT.
That kid is a player.
Tough not to get the win there.
Willy should have hit him harder….
Good battle level from koski lately
Koski holds the fort!
New Look OT is still on.
Urgly game but we got it to overtime. Our skill should get us some good chances. Let’s do this!
The oilers skill should beat the Sens
Real question, did Kassian play tonight?
He, Foegele and Shore didn’t see much ice in the 3rd – none down the stretch – he lost his spot to Derek Ryan……
Thanks
Yamamoto has sent McDavid in alone on net twice tonight…
Good, a point. So far I have liked Ryan’s placement on the 3rd line.
So important to get at least a point out of this
Done.
Has Kassian been benched with Shore or am I dreaming on the couch?
It’s called ‘shortening the bench’ in the last 10 minutes of the 3rd, but yes.
Pujo should not be the puck transporter
When he’s playing well, he can certainly transport the puck through the natural zone with power and confidence – tonight, not at all.
Wel, not a good game by Pujo. Did not see one decent pass or move by him. Was Kass light (in a good way) as in he did breakup some Ottawa sorties in the D-zone. Is there an injury to his hand? Or is his confidence level so low? Maybe he should play with a shorter stick, Whatever, he is not helping Drai at the moment.
Kafuk square in Russel’s numbers. Would love to see Kass show him how he rag dolled his brother.
Kass fights to defend himself……. if he was hit in the numbers, perhaps.
Yea would love to see that but not in a tie game in the 3 rd!