Jay Woodcroft and Dave Manson have a top pairing that’s working and by the end of the day may have another piece on the blue for the stretch run and playoffs. Woodcroft’s Oilers are the best five-on-five team in some time, how does this group compare to the MacTavish teams?
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: 7 Condors who could impact Oilers’ fortunes in the playoffs
- Lowetide: 9 Oilers prospects who could be available in trade at the deadline
- Lowetide: Is Oilers winger Warren Foegele doing enough to warrant his contract?
- DNB: Oilers trade deadline
- DNB: How Jesse Puljujarvi, as a player and person, became perfect fit for Oilers
- Lowetide: Darnell Nurse and Cody Ceci emerging as top pair for Oilers
- Lowetide: Ryan McLeod’s case for a spot on Oilers’ skill lines
- DNB: Oilers’ recent play only underscores that upcoming trade deadline must be a time to act
- Lowetide: Revisiting the Oilers’ choice of Evan Bouchard in the 2018 draft
- DNB: Markus Niemelainen collecting catchy nicknames as his surprise breakout accelerates
- DNB and Lowetide: Who says no? Evaluating 25 Oilers trades
- Lowetide: Oilers fans still adjusting to Ken Holland’s management style
- DNB: Ken Holland Q&A
- Lowetide: 3 trade targets that could help Oilers this season and beyond
- DNB: Oilers trade deadline expectations? Mailbag
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2021
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MARCH
- On the road to: PHI, CHI (Expected 1-0-1) (Actual 1-0-1)
- At home to: MON (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- On the road to: CAL (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- At home to: WAS, TBAY, DET, BUF, NJD (Expected 3-1-1) (Actual 5-0-0)
- On the road to: COL, DAL (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: SJS (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: CAL (Expected 0-1-0) Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: ARI, LAK (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 8-5-2, 18 points from 15 games
- Actual March results: 6-2-1, 13 points in 9 games
- Oilers in 2021-22: 35-23-4, 74 points in 62 games
A win tonight gets Edmonton to a 99-point trajectory, but the win would be the big story. The Colorado Avalanche are a tough on the road, tougher at home and are 6-3-1 in the last 10. Same record as the Oilers. Jay Woodcroft is 12-5-1 with a 44-30 goal share at five-on-five. That’s good!
WOODCROFT MANSON DEFENSE FIVE ON FIVE
I wanted to post this because it’s a reminder about our eyes versus the actual results. Evan Bouchard has struggled, I’ve seen it, and argued yesterday he must stay in the lineup. Looking at the results (via Natural Stat Trick), we see solid results in all of the possession numbers, while the goal share lags. It helps Bouchard that Nurse, Keith, Ceci, Russell and Barrie are all over 50 percent goal share, and I don’t think Keith-Bouchard should be partners against fast teams. That said, Bouchard’s results with the new coaching staff are absolutely good enough for him to play as a regular on the third pair. Makes it easier that Tyson Barrie is playing so well.
CODY CECI
As I watched Oilers fans rain blows upon Ken Holland online yesterday (more angry with the each tick of the clock) it occurred to me that we don’t really acknowledge the good things he’s done. Now, the list isn’t as long as the downbeats, but there are some positives. Maybe we can suss out the best way forward at the deadline?
- June 2019 drafted Philip Broberg, Raphael Lavoie
- July 2019 signed Alex Chiasson to a one-year contract
- February 2020 trade for Tyler Ennis
- October 2020 signing of Jesse Puljujarvi
- October 2020 drafted Dylan Holloway, Carter Savoie and Tyler Tullio.
- October 2020 trade of selection No. 76 for two picks that turned into Carter Savoie and Tyler Tullio.
- October 2020 signed Tyson Barrie to a one-year deal
- June 2021 signed Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to an eight-year deal
- July 2021 signed Zach Hyman to a seven-year deal
- July 2021 signed Cody Ceci to a three-year deal
- January 2022 signed Evander Kane to a one-year deal
There may be others, but the successes for Holland are signings or the draft. His best deadline deal was for Tyler Ennis. Perhaps that’s a better target for all involved, something nice but inexpensive that isn’t too spendy.
MY LIST OF PLAYERS TO ACQUIE TODAY
- G James Reimer. He isn’t sexy but he is consistent and durable. A Reimer-Koskinen tandem could work well for Edmonton.
- LD Carson Soucy. He’s an ideal fit for this team, might end up pushing Duncan Keith to third pair.
- RW Artturi Lehkonen. His availability is surprising but Edmonton should get him if available.
- LW Jake DeBrusk. Just signed to a two-year deal, that might make him attractive in Edmonton.
- LD Jacob Middleton. He isn’t sexy, but is effective.
- LD Calvin De Haan. He plays well against elites and has some filthy in his game.
- LW Andrew Cogliano. He would be a nice depth add for the bottom-six F.
- G Jaroslav Halak. I’ve always liked him, he’s a good goaltender.
- LD Brett Kulak. An under the radar option, he’s solid.
There is no Lowdown today, but I will be part of TSN1260’s trade deadline coverage from 10-2. Tune in! There is a rumour of hand-to-hand combat if there are no trades by noon!
If you aren’t somewhat rolling 4 lines on a back to back following a hard game that went to OT so you arrived in hotel @ 4 am:
You are quite likely at risk of blowing a tire near end of 3rd period.
I was hoping he’d call the timeout after the tied it up. I’ve been a fan of wood’s use of them dl far just surprised he didn’t.
Should off traded for James Reimer who can handle Playoff pressure.
The key components missing are:
could they have?
At what price with likely needing some contract or salary juggling included?
San Jose signed hertl. Specifically he signed as they assured him they aren’t going to go wandering in the desert. They didn’t appear too interested in pulling garbage duty at this deadline and Reimer at under 3 million is a nice certainty for another year.
Just looking at the on ice numbers.
Nice recovery from Keith-Bouchard. 1-0 goals, 9-2 shots, only 5-7 scoring chances, but 2-1 HD chances. All the best numbers among the blue.
Oilers with 3 solid pairs now, plus Kulak added to the group.
I see it kinda like how Oates played a big role in 2003-04 here. He might be past his prime, but he taught a lot of those young centeres some fine tips and turned Stoll, Horcoff and Reasoner into top-tier faceoff men.
If Keith’s legacy as an Oiler is mentoring Bouchard through his rookie years, that will be a fine legacy to have. Bonus points if they put Bouchard’s name beside Keith’s on the cup 😉
Wow, just caught up on the comments and no sign of hairball. Wonder why?
Oilers allowed 16 shots at 5v5 tonight playing the best team in the NHL.
Good game by our boys tonight. The back pressure by the forwards is vastly improved since WoodMan took over. Forecheck and cycle game is miles better since we added Kane.
Get Nuge back and add Brassard to the 4th line, and Kulak to stabilize the D pairings and the Oilers are going to be hell to play against.
So, played with cap friendly on Vegas. If deal goes through it would give them enough space to activate mark stone and ONE of lehner or Martinez.
It’s a 2 out of 3 type scenario. But at least now one of those 2 CAN be stone.
So, very shortly, to the forward group, presuming no more injuries, we are adding Nuge, Brassard and Archie so, who comes out?
Malone is easy.
One would think Shore would be an easy second but, to my eye, he was been a very nice player recently and the coach likes him on the PK (even though he seems to get scored on alot…. maybe he should be out for that reason).
Who is the 3rd? I think they want Archie in the lineup and Brassard is going to play, right?
Is Ryan out? Kassian? I don’t think coach will sit Kass…..
I don’t think Malone is easy at all. I LOVED his game tonight. And the 3rd line was excellent too. Such a difficult decision.
I can’t believe we’re talking about the bottom 6 in this way. When was the last time?
At this point I don’t start Brassard till he’s had a couple practices. And I’d probably make ARI his first game.
I liked Malone’s game as well, and he did play two minutes on the PK and didn’t get scored on. At the same time, for me, yes, Malone out is still the easy choice and I think Archie can bring everything Malone does with a bit more speed, a bit more skill, etc. Malone is a good road fill in for now mind you.
Tough to pick 3 forwards and 1 dman to come out of the lineup, hey? Nice problem to have.
It’s easy to say Russell on D, but he was being used in high leverage PK and 5v5 situations in the 3rd last night (and on the right side).
I’m not calling for it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in there for game 1, round 1 (in part because Kulak doesn’t ha long PK resume).
And up front it’s not hard to imagine any of Malone, Shore, Kassian, Archibald, Ryan or McLeod being healthy and not playing on a given day (guess I can add Foegele and just say the entire bottom 6 🙂 ). Brassard isn’t a 100% lock either obviously.
I’m not even sure what I’d do with those 15 forwards and 7 D if I was the one filling out the lineup card.
Glad there’s 19 more games left for ManWood to sort things out.
Here is my guess:
Kane McD Yamo
Hyman Drai JP
Foegele RNH Ryan
McLeod Brassard Kassian/Archie
That would be my initial play too.
How good was Evander Kane tonight?
There was alot in that game that was number 1 bullshit – my goodness that missed interference on Yamamoto and two PPG against of ticky tack calls…. geez.
In any event, it sure didn’t feel like going in to Denver was where rubber roads were going to present themselves for a dive down the standings – similar to how that didn’t happen on the SW roadie.
Inspiring game, despite the result.
Smith looks to be returning to form.
Scoreboard helping tonight.
I hate Dallas.
Derrian fucking Hatcher and all the rest of them.
This oiler team is good. Despite some ‘golden globe’ moments and ‘ref-luck’ going the other way, they outplayed the Av’s until the last period and then it was a sawoff. The third period, high altitude push by the Av’s led to some puck control in the O zone but mostly outside shots and one on ones with goalie. I like our chances moving forward as long as we get middling goalering.
I’m probably going to get to see a sea of red over this but Imma gonna say it anyways.
I need to see more from Pujo. Now he hasn’t had as much time with Manwood as the other players and I’m hopeful… but there’s no reason for him to not be as effective as Nichushkin was out there.
Looks a bit timid coming off his injury. Should be enough runway for him to get his game going before playoffs start.
Sat for both Ryan and Foegele on shifts tonight. His decision-making and awareness leaves a lot to be desired at times. He’s been back three games and wasn’t out that long…
Can’t really argue with what you are seeing. It’s almost like the game is moving too fast for him right now. He has shown that he can perform at a higher level; hopefully he knocks the rust off soon.
Fair, a goal wouldn’t hurt to chip in. But his line’s goal-share is very positive so he doesn’t seem to be dragging on anyone. His dzone game is very good and if you watch him exclusively he makes life absolute hell for dmen. They hate to play him he’s too strong and opens up play/screens for the elite talents to score.
Not the same league but a comparison last year is tkachuk. Not contributing a tonne offensively but still doing things that contribute to the team that aren’t on the scoresheet.
Yams has certainly taken that to heart and the crooked numbers are starting to show.
Wasn’t his best night for sure but he is just back from injury. Give him a few more games to get back in the groove.
He was all lost in the supermarket this game
He doesn’t have Yama’s IQ but his physical talents are crazy
I think he’s also still suffering a bit from not being completely in control of his lankiness. He seems to not know where to go behind the net and has been plowing into teammates lately
I bet he peaks offensively at 29-30 years of age.
Agreed
That’s a great comparable, Puljujarvi with the higher end obviously.
Botht the new guys going to join the team in Edmonton per Woody
A couple of thoughts. Neither goalie is that great but healthy Smith is better than Koski. His weak goal against was at least a solid scoring chance
The Avs are more polished and creative offensively especially down low, I hope the Oilers get there, they’ll be impossible
The Oilers held their own easily missing three better players than they iced in Nuge and the two newbies
I don’t mind Malone and Shore at the moment. They are adding some needed competent grit
Yama may be changing the dynamic if there ends up being a decision as to which RFA they keep. JP was discombobulated this tilt
Kane makes the Oilers a different team. Kenny’s senses must be working overtime
Special teams cost us tonight. At a minimum we need to be even on special teams. Our 5X5 play was really good tonight. Also wonder how much of an advantage the altitude is to the Av’s playing at home?
would help if the refs were neutral
Yea would help a lot!!!!!! No end to that topic!
Awesome XTC reference….:) Best double album of the early Eighties!!
A point on the road against the best team in the NHL? I’ll take it. The Oilers now have to go 10-7-2 to get to the magic 97pts and guarantee a playoff spot. Here’s what that might look like now. I had this game as a loss, but it turned into a tie, so I turned the LAK@EDM tie into a loss.
64-EDM@DAL-L
65-SJS@EDM-W
66-EDM@CGY-L
67-ARI@EDM-W
68-LAK@EDM-L
69-STL@EDM-W
70-EDM@ANA-W
71-EDM@SJS-W
72-EDM@LAK-W
73-COL@EDM-L
74-EDM@MIN-L
75-EDM@NSH-L
76-VGK@EDM-W
77-DAL@EDM-W
78-COL@EDM-L
79-EDM@CBJ-T
80-EDM@PIT-T
81-SJS@EDM-W
82-VAN@EDM-W
Stop being so negative 😉
The LA games are wins, so is Calgary, Columbus and one of the Avs games. Way too much fawning for the opposition. Not enough fawning for the boys in Copper and Blue.
Give the team their due, they are better than the blog wants them to be.
I’m not fawning or being negative. I tried to be somewhat scientific in my handing out of wins, losses, and ties. I looked at how team’s did at home vs on the road (and 2nd of back2backs as more difficult) before making a decision. Once I ranked the games from easiest to hardest, then I assigned the wins to the easiest, ties to the middle, and losses to the most difficult games. 97 points is what they need to guarantee a playoff spot although it is possible they get in with less. So the amount of wins, losses, and ties is simply based on achieving 97 pts. This is simply what it says it is. A version of what it might look like to get to 97 based on a ranking of most difficult to easiest opponents left.
The reason I had LAK at EDM as a loss is that they are better on the road than at home this season. As for Calgary, I hate writing it down as a loss but Calgary is having a great season. They are the #2 team in the West, so our likelihood of losing to them is higher than any other team except Colorado. I hope we run the board, but this exercise is only to give a clear picture of what is needed to guarantee a playoff spot (97 pts). Over 6 full seasons from 2014 to 2019, the highest non playoff point total is 96.
Yamo probably needs to be drug tested by the league. Insane strength knocking down multiple avs players with a slight brush of contact. I mean, it finally took a slew foot in the 3rd by MacK to slow down the beast.
Need to incorporate more of the helmet tugs in the offensive zone. That could be a useful play down the road.
Heck of a 5 on 5 effort. Worst OT ever.
Every team playing the Oilers knows you can get away with penalties because “calling penalties on McDavid is unfair to the league”. Seems now that the ignored calls for McDavid is spilling over to the rest of the team.
Really well earned single point in this one, despite the officiating trying its best to take that from us too. And really nice to see McDavid’s linemates step up when he wasn’t his normal superstar self.
Hope there’s still some gas left in the tank for tomorrow…
Yea you have to wonder how much energy they will have tomorrow. They looked bagged last half of the third and were a mess in OT.
it’s the altitude, always a tough out in mile high city
He has too much skill, so it is unfair to others, it is the role of the ref to create an even playing field. McDavid has it too easy because he is so talented that he HAS to actually work (much harder than everybody) to get what every player deserves. Life isn’t fair, so this makes it more fairerer, er, eh?
It’s in the official unwritten NHL official’s unofficial handbook.
Solid, solid game. No complaints. Tough to beat a team And the refs. we outplayed them 5×5. They won the special teams with two fluke goals and a tired players in OT dancing to “send in the clowns”… I swear I heard that in my head while Kane looked for the puck…
We play like this and we win 8 of 10 times.
Nothing to hang our heads about.
This team is for real!
After going back to watch the OT goal, look how small Smith made himself just before the shot. There was so much open net. I was taken aback.
That shot was just ripped into the very top right corner on a 2-on-1 by one of the top 10 players in the league, with the only defender back being a forward. All you can do as a goalie is hope that the shooter misses.
It wasn’t even just that – it was a quick strike 2 on 1 but, arguably, 2 of the 5 top offensive players in the NHL defended by a forward who had been out there for 50 seconds.
He and Koski have some major technical issues for sure, however that was quite the shot
Perhaps if he didn’t have so much to shoot at he misses high etc, cause he’s not missing that
I hate that helmet rule, it cost the Oilers the game tonight.
But it’s a rule, so for Christ’s sake, tighten up your chinstrap. I can’t believe how many players leave it dangling 4 inches below their chin. Including Nurse.
Maybe it’s my fault. I saw the 3 Oilers conversing before overtime, and my first thought was man, Nurses chinstrap is awful ly loose.
3 prayers to a deity of your choosing as penance.
They could of called a penalty on Kadri.
When’s the last time McDavid won a face-off to start OT we’re always starting on D why not start Leon who’s a better face-off man gain control then Leon and Connor switch.
Avs reminded me of the Tampa games… every benefit of the doubt from the refs.
Poor result, but a lot of nice things in that game
On to Dallas
Nice to get a look at how the avs win all their games.
The refing was objectively terrible.
But so was the overtime.
Oilers were competitive though and that’s huge.
Should make a difference in the playoffs when they don’t call penalties right guys?
Who are we kidding though.
They didn’t call that penalty on Kadri in OT for pulling off Nurse’s helmet. Oilers are just not dirty enough for the NHL.
Paper tigers are gonna get beat in playoffs
If the Oilers played 20 games against Colorado the penalty count would favour the Avalanche 200 to 20.
The ref bias in favour of the Avs tonight is on another level.
IFTFY
You should watch the games more closely. Thief talent didn’t score a single 5v5 goal. And yes the Avs are an excellent hockey club, but you know what the Oilers are also an excellent hockey club.
Bunch O Little Boys. Lean on em in a series and you cakewalk it.
Your insecurity is showing.
For a team that is supposed to have 6 Norris candidates, 2 Vezina candidates and big speed demon defense wizard forwards, they really needed to depend on gift calls to win in OT at home.
Probably chewed off all his nails watching that game tonight.
Please watch the games before commenting.
What game did you watch? Because the Avs outside of goalie were no better and the Oilers were missing Nuge
Twice as many PPs and only 6 shots more
Give the Oilers a couple of years with a proper coach like they’ve had and a top goalie
Oilers were clearly the more talented 5×5 team.
Your DiveAlanche are frauds.
I don’t know about this take. Did you watch this game? I think if you pitted these exact teams together for 20 games, home and away, I’d guess it would be closer.
Oilers were the better team most of the night. Altitude effects rolled them. Reffing goes both ways and it definitely favoured Colorado tonight.
No doubt Colorado is good, but it would be closer than 15-5. The hockey gords also don’t take kindly to diving and embellishment. That was pretty embarrassing from the top team in the league.
Nurses helmet pulled off, mcdavid blows a tire, and kane loses it in his feet.
Ugh.
Next two are in Edmonton – no home town elevation advantage for the Avs.
Now about that reffing advantage….
It’ll still be there
Makes it all the more the sweet when you win.
Kadri pulls Nurse’s helmet off and without a defender on the ice, at 3-on-3, they score. Just like they drafted it up. These referees were played like a flute by Col tonight.
I saw it too, watched it again in stop motion. One frame at a time. Completely premeditated. Kadri reaches on to D’s head even before they are going down. And then pulls it down. Bullshit stuff, veteran move blah blah blah
Kadri baited Nurse perfectly.
try a little harder reja….
Yeah that was dirty. But easy fix is to strap your helmet on tighter. Hopefully Nurse learns.
There’s gotta be a call, you cannot just pull another player’s helmet off. Fack that’s just messed up. They have to send a video of that to the league. If they might meet up in the playoffs, they need to get ahead of that.
Absolute horseshit. In OT the unwritten rule is to let them play unless a questionable play results in a chance going the other way. That is precisely what happened. Oilers don’t even get the calls when it’s the old-timey rules.
Fuck this I’m irate!!!!!
Smith is to deep in his net easy to go high when you have that much room.
And easy to go to the deke if you come out.
That shot by MacK was a perfectly placed rocket. No one’s stopping that
Definitely needed to be at the top of his crease, he knows 29 is shooting it. Challenge!!!
That wasn’t Smith’s fault.
No goal was Smith’s fault tonight he played solid.
Bit of bumbling and Nurse losing his lid.
Its fine now and now everyone realises the Oilers are a fine team.
No more loser mentality crap.
Smith needs to Challenge ask any shooter less room when Goalie attacks the shooter. Anyhow Smith played good hopefully he peaks come Playoff time.
It was a 2-on-1 with the forward back as the lone defender … if the goalie challenges there then the attackers can go back door with the pass. Smith was hung out to dry.
Smith was decent tonight. No bad goals and they got to OT and earned a point on the road against the top team in the NHL.
As long as the goalies don’t let in any stinkers, this team stay with any team in the NHL.
A quick-counter Makar/MacKinnon 2 on 1 with a tired McDavid defending…. ya, I’ll cut Smith some slack on the perfect MacKinnon shot and how he played it.
Didn’t win but the DiveAlanche are frauds.
Makes you wonder…
<squiggle fade to imagination>
Oilers looked completely gassed in that OT. I think 3 guys fell down. Oh well take the point and on to Dallas.
Too bad but now we all know that the Avs are beatable.
Such shit ice in that arena
What a comedy of errors on by Kane, McDavid and Nurse.
All 3 Avs goals occurred on flukey bounces.
He pulled his helmet off didnt he
Yup, he sure as shit did.
He absolutely did. What a cheap play.
100%
Watched the replay. Completely intentional.
EvenWood will be demanding pictures of Spiderman in a few seasons.
Hanging on for grim death at the end. Five players +20 minutes. Drai 23.21! At altitude!
the arena played connors got no limit? no no no no
We’re due.
The biggest takeaway from this game: they can roll with good teams now.
but how come ? I thought the Avs were the best thing since sliced bread ;)…
Omg. What an intense game!!! Just what we need to grow our confidence!
This OT is gonna be Electric!!!
Or not..
Great game so far.
Now get that 2nd point!
That point means a lot more to our team
A well earned Bettman.
Overtime!!!!!
Oilers are going to be a better team with Nuge, Kulak and Brassard in the line up.
Edmonton have been on their heels since the Mcdavid penalty.
They’re out of gas. Late to everything
yup- they hit the wall
I’ll take the point and pray for 2
The Avs broadcast described Smith’s playstyle as ‘like a crab’ and now i cant unsee it.
Bison King i raise you a King Crab.
Ha ha good description of Smith doing the “crawl”!
such a massive kill