2021-22 Game 64: Oilers at Stars

Midway through the game last night, I was flooded with memories about horrendous calls against the Oilers in Denver. That was a big part of last night’s game, especially the overtime. Get ready: The home of striped heartbreak awaits the team this evening, against the Dallas Stars, deep in the heart of Texas.

First things first: What a great effort by the Oilers against the Avalanche. Led by the brilliant Connor McDavid line (Evander Kane, Kailer Yamamoto), Edmonton won a difficult road point on a night when Vegas lost another game.

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 0-0-1)
• 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: 6-2-2, 14 points in 10 games
• Oilers in 2021-22: 35-23-5, 75 points in 63 games

By percentage points, the Oilers passed Los Angeles for second place in the Pacific last night. Music! The team is on a 98-point pace for the year, if they win tonight, the trajectory would be a 100-point pace. Music again! Jay Woodcroft is 12-5-2, 26 points in 19 games with a even strength goal differential of 57-34, 62.6 percent according to Natural Stat Trick.

GOALTENDER

Mike Smith had a good night. He stopped 28 of 31, .903 on the night and .898 on the year. NST had him stopping six of eight HDSC and then getting beat on a low-danger shot. The first goal was bad luck (Tyson Barrie intercepted a goal-mouth pass, but in doing so put it on a tee for Mikko Rantanen), the second goal deflected off Darnell Nurse and the overtime goal was the end of a mugging by the Avs that began with Nazem Kadri ripping the helmet off Nurse (a penalty, uncalled) and ended with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar on a two-on-one versus Connor McDavid.

DEFENSE

Darnell Nurse was involved, three shots, three hits, two blocked shots and a takeaway. He was on the ice for the Yamamoto goal, deflected the Colorado PP goal into the net, was tackled by Nazem Kadri at the 10 yard line and went 7-10 shots against the Nathan MacKinnon line in 12:46. A big game from the big man, referee made the best play against him all night. Cody Ceci blocked a couple of shots, had a shot on goal and played a consistent game. He has good speed and stands up well at the blue, this pairing is 12-4 goals at five-on-five since the coaching change. This pairing played big, tough minutes against great players and played them to a draw at five-on-five.

Kris Russell had five blocked shots and a takeaway, he was on the ice for the first Colorado PP goal, had a tough time with the big Avs forwards. He was on for 3:46 of PK time, I thought the PK was good but unlucky. Tyson Barrie moved the puck well, had two shots on goal and the tough PK moment that led to the first goal. My guess is the incoming defenseman (Brett Kulak) will be his next partner.

Duncan Keith blocked a couple of shots, battled well although challenged by the physical Avs forwards and was also in photo (not his fault) on the chaotic OT goal. He passed well too, at times under pressure. Need that veteran savvy more often. Evan Bouchard had two shots, two blocked shots and a giveaway. I thought it was his best game in some time. The pairing was running around a little but were aided by Smith’s puck moving and good short passes.

FORWARDS

Evander Kane scored the tying goal, effectively ensuring a point in a road game. He had two shots, six hits, he is 13-8-21 in 24 games. Connor McDavid was at his best, had an assist, was solid in the faceoff dot, had a HDSC and skated miles. He was also hooked, grabbed, etc. It was a playoff atmosphere but he played through it. Kailer Yamamoto had his best game of the year, going 1-1-2, taking six minutes in penalties, driving Avs mad by the dozen. He will not give up on any play and looks healthy and rambunctious. Yamamoto now has 16 goals and 29 points on the season, both career highs. He is poised to become the fourth Oilers forward this season to score 20 goals.

Zach Hyman had two shots, four more attempts and had a couple of HDS chances but couldn’t cash, a rarity in recent games. Also took a couple of heavy hits. Leon Draisaitl’s pass to Yamamoto for his goal was just fantastic skill work by the big man, he also had two shots and a couple of good looks. Jesse Puljujarvi didn’t play much, not sure if he was banged up. JP had two shots, a penalty that was (I thought) marginal and was a pain in the ass for Avs on the back check. In a game against a team like Colorado, Puljujarvi’s positioning is doubly important. Consider Leon: With Puljujarvi last night, the big man was 4-4 shots at five-on-five. Without Jesse, he was 1-6 shots. He is the best right-winger on the roster.

Warren Foegele had a great start to the evening, had one good look and moved up to play with Draisaitl and Hyman for a couple of minutes. He doesn’t flourish in those trips up the depth chart, that might be a year two deployment. Devin Shore had one good look of his own creation, a serpentine cruise into the middle of the ice for a better look. He didn’t play much at five-on-five but did play well when he was on the ice. Derek Ryan helped keep the hounds at bay, he is in a quiet period now, owing partly to lack of playing time.

Brad Malone hit everything that moved and was 4-0 on-ice shots during five-on-five play. I know someone is coming out of the lineup, and it’s likely him, but he brings some jam. Ryan McLeod had one shot on goal, it was a good look too, but he doesn’t play enough when on the fourth line. I think the coaching staff is going to find a way to get him into the top-nine soon. Zack Kassian had three hits, a shot on goal, a clever shoot in that Leon almost caught for a great chance and then did things like go offside. This line didn’t hurt the team last night, credit Kassian for not taking a penalty on a night when refs were handing them to Oilers forwards like mad.

THOUGHTS ON THE DEADLINE

I like the Brett Kulak trade, for me this player was one of few on the board who could have helped Edmonton down the stretch. He can skate, is good in coverage, and I suspect he’ll play second pair often over the rest of the season. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him signed for next season.

Derick Brassard still has some skill left and I expect the Oilers will ask him to center a fourth line that outscores, even if it’s just a little. He might platoon with Josh Archibald on that fourth line and of course he won’t be an everyday player.

I can’t say Ken Holland did well, because the Oilers didn’t upgrade in goal. I can say he helpd his team get better, and that’s a good thing.

The payment for Kulak was an overpay, but there was cap involved and Edmonton didn’t have a clean 2022 pick to offer. You’ll read a lot of negative about this deal today, I would suggest it does continue a long line of overpays but is not something to lose sleep over. Sail on William Lagesson, I think you’re a better player than many believe and hope you find a home in Montreal.

I would run Kulak with Bouchard starting now. Suspect it’ll be Kulak-Barrie though.

LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE

We’re back baby! At 10 this morning, TSN 1260, we hit the ground running with Tyler Yaremchuk from Daily Faceoff and will have a special “Crossfire” devoted to events in Dallas involving the Oilers over the years. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!