It was an unusual night in California, as the San Jose Sharks waltzed the Oilers into a dull hockey game and appeared to be on the way to a 1-0 win. Edmonton got little done at five-on-five while also not giving up much in the game state, so both regulation time goals came on San Jose power plays.
The overtime goal? Well, Mike Smith made a great save, an exceptional pass and then Connor McDavid broke the sound barrier and scored the winner. I was nodding in and out of consciousness until the Nuge goal, perked up for the overtime and then sat around for an hour waiting for the adrenaline to burn off. Oh, those Oilers.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Finding Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ wingers elusive challenge for Oilers
- New DNB: Oilers player poll
- Lowetide: Making the final call on the Oilers 2017 draft
- Lowetide: How many more college players will Oilers sign this spring?
- DNB: Oilers fend off Blues but will need to fix defensive woes
- Lowetide: Strong March puts Oilers in position for top-3 finish in Pacific Division
- DNB: Connor McDavid at 100 points
- Lowetide: Early look at Oilers free-agent targets for 2022 offseason
- DNB: Why Ryan McLeod’s best outing matters so much to the Oilers
- Lowetide: The legend of Oilers prospect Matvei Petrov continues to grow
- Lowetide: Are Oilers approaching a crossroads with Zack Kassian?
- DNB: Should Oilers budget for Evander Kane beyond this season?
- Lowetide: Oilers’ 2022 draft strategy takes shape after trade deadline
- Lowetide: 7 Condors who could impact Oilers’ fortunes in the playoffs
- DNB: How Jesse Puljujarvi, as a player and person, became perfect fit for Oilers
- Lowetide: Revisiting the Oilers’ choice of Evan Bouchard in the 2018 draft
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2021
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM APRIL
- At home to: STL (Expected 0-0-1) (Actual 1-0-0)
- On the road to: ANA, SJS, LAK (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
- At home to: COL (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: MIN, NAS (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: VEG, DAL, COL (Expected 1-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: CBJ, PIT (Expected 1-1-0) Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: SJS, VAN (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 7-6-1, 15 points in 14 games
- Actual April results: 3-0-0, 6 points in 3 games
- Oilers in 2021-22: 41-25-5, 87 points in 71 games
The Oilers are on pace for 100 points, that’s rare air indeed and let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The two points did thrust Edmonton into second place in the Pacific Division and sets up a great game in Los Angeles at the Juha Widing Arena tomorrow night. Helluva night in San Jose, makes the coming six games of hell that start against Colorado Saturday a little less overwhelming.
GOALTENDING
Mike Smith stopped 31 of 32, .969 and now owns a .901SP for the season. His overtime save was spectacular and the pass was perfect. He looked injured with about two minutes to go, this season has been a constant worry about his health and ability to stay upright. On this night, he gave the critics little to bitch about beyond that worrisome leg. More time away would really hurt the Oilers right now, as Smith is 5-1-1 in his last seven, with a .921 SP. He is approaching the levels reached one year ago. All that said, methinks Stuart Skinner should stay close to his cellphone.
DEFENSE
Duncan Keith moved pucks out of danger at opportune times, had a giveaway and a takeaway and played an efficient game. Evan Bouchard took a penalty after getting beat and had a takeaway. There were a few good sequences for him in the game, you hope he builds on those things. One player who Edmonton needs to play with more confidence once the playoffs arrive.
Darnell Nurse made a great play on the Nuge goal, hammered the puck out after the faceoff and then followed the play up the ice. Made a deft pass to Hyman to get the ball rolling. Made a dangerous and relaxed route to his own net while being chased by a Shark and it almost ended badly. Cody Ceci had a solid defensive night, the pair was defending more than the coaches would like, but he blocked shots, hit people and interrupted sorties.
Brett Kulak had a shot on goal, a takeaway and used his foot speed to gain clearance on forecheckers multiple times. He can pass the puck, even under pressure. That’s good. Tyson Barrie had three shots, two giveaways and a blocked shot, his high eventedness (it isn’t a word but I’m going with it anyway) makes Kulak a suitable partner.
FORWARDS
Evander Kane had two shots, four hits and three giveaways, that’s not the kind of night he normally brings. He worked hard, I saw him on the PK for a bit, too. Connor McDavid scored, drew two penalties, had four shots and two HDSC’s. Logan Couture played well against him. Jesse Puljujarvi had chances but didn’t get good wood on the puck all night. Three shots, takeaway, his forechecking is such a weapon (caused an icing and lots of ulcers). The line was marked well by the Sharks, but I thought each man showed some gumption.
Zach Hyman made a key play in the game, corralling the Nurse pass and sending it quickly to Nuge at the goalmouth for the shoveling. He had the puck on his stick a lot in the game, but the Sharks have good coverage and constant support. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins stepped up to the second line and scored a massive goal (shorthanded) to get the team to overtime. Nuge had a HDSC. Kailer Yamamoto made some smart plays with the puck and had a takeaway. The line lacked chemistry, understandable.
Warren Foegele had one shot, two takeaways, giveaway, HDSC, created a rebound and I thought played well. Ryan McLeod had one look, carried the puck well (Oilers couldn’t pass the puck well for most of the night). Derek Ryan had one shot, a HDSC, and blocked a shot. This line was quality in possession and I think we’ll see it again, possibly against the LAK on Thursday.
Derick Brassard had a shot at goal and a couple of hits, he doesn’t get to the puck enough. He’s touching the puck more often than Tyler Benson did, but less than Devin Shore. Brassard will need to puck up the pace. Devin Shore took a penalty, had a shot on goal, a takeaway and a HDSC. Zack Kassian had a tough night in several areas, including errant passes, slow recognition of where he should be on the ice, and general lack of awareness. I like Kassian and what he brings (speed, size, abandon, more offense than most people think) but details matter, especially down the stretch and into the playoffs.
JAY WOODCROFT
I wrote about Ryan Nugent-Hopkins this morning for The Athletic, it’s about the best line that can be put together with the remnants and roll-ends on the Edmonton roster. Woodcroft’s record is 18-7-2, and answers have been found in important areas. He’s shown an ability (along with Dave Manson) to MacGyver situations and improve them with less than ideal solutions. One thing I always do (but don’t really write about) is to check and see if deployment changes for individual players under new coaches. Today, I’d like to note deployment of Evan Bouchard under Tippett and Woodcroft. Is Bouchard being used differently now?
- Bouchard 5-on-5 w/Tippett: 17:10 per game, 1.27 pts-60; 46.5 Goal diff; 53.6 X-Goals.
- Bouchard 5-on-5 w/Woodcroft: 14:11 game, 1.30 pts-60; 43.4 Goal diff; 54.7 X-Goals.
- Bouchard PP w/Tippett: 1:10 per game, 4.61 pts-60.
- Bouchard PP w/Woodcroft: 1:44 per game, 2.66 pts-60.
- Bouchard PK w/Tippett: 2:28 per game, 7.43 Expected GA/60.
- Bouchard PK w/Woodcroft: 0:39 per game, 4.79 Expected GA/60.
Woodcroft is using Bouchard far less at five-on-five, but the results (so far) are about the same for this young player in the game’s biggest state. On the power play, he’s getting more time, results aren’t there but these are small samples. On the PK, big dive and that makes sense. It’s possible Bouchard becomes a strong PK player in the years to come, but Manson/Woodcroft are using him differently and I think more efficiently.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
At 10 this morning, we roll through the township with two hours of the Lowdown. Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal will review last night’s game and look forward to the LAK tilt tomorrow night. Joe Osborne from Odds Shark will talk Tiger, NBA and NHL betting, and what secrets can help you reach success. Mike Snee from College Hockey Inc will preview the NCAA Frozen Four (on TSN) and talk about the talent on display (we’ll also talk Oilers prospects). 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter! Rock and roll!
The ‘magic number’ (Oiler wins + Vegas losses) to guarantee the Oilers finish top 3 in the Pacific is now 8.
11 Oiler games and 10 Vegas games to get there.
With the current point system, I like to think of the Magic Number as “points” – 16 points gained by the Oilers or lost by the Knights!
Yeah, I was trying go old-school with the wins.
15 points could actually do it, if Vegas picks up a couple of their remaining points via OTL.
If Edmonton wins tonight, they’ll be seven points up on Vegas, both teams with 10 games remaining. It should be a great race, but Vegas can’t stumble and those seven points have to be won in the 10 games. So, suppose they go 4-1 in their next five, and Edmonton goes 2-3. That’s four points gained, still three behind and now with five games left. It’s a wicked scenario for Vegas.
Yes a win for the Oilers tonight would be really nice to help solidify their spot.
It would also put the Kings just 4 up on Vegas, with only 9 games remaining, so they’d be vulnerable.
As you say, the Knights can not stumble though, like they did last night.
Vegas is in trouble.
Gives a whole new meaning to one of the city’s nicknames–“Lost Wages”.
They really are.
And it’s some beautiful poetic justice IMO.
Bettman .500 leaderboard now shows Vegas closer to Van than to Edmonton. LOL.
Oil +16
Depleted Cap Space +10
Dys +5
Sam Gagner scores twice tonight and records his 500th and 501st career points.
Just watched his 8 point outing what a night to remember.
Odds of making playoffs now down to ~1/3 after that loss to Vancouver. http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Western/Pacific/Vegas.html
Knights with 63 seconds of a 5 on 3 – no goal.
Yeah, they had some looks, Demko was excellent, but man, they look a shadow of their former relentless pressuring exuberant selves.
Eichel starting to enter Taylor Hall territory in terms of ‘top player who can’t make playoffs’
Yeah, Hall didn’t get to the playoffs until he was 27, but he did win the Hart for dragging that Devils team in. Since 2012, New Jersey, Arizona and Buffalo have one legitimate playoff season among them – the Hall MVP season. Add to that the Oilers woes while he was there, and Hall was just on bad teams for the most part. Eichel joins a pre-season contender for for the Stanley Cup and look where they are now. At least when Hall went to a contender they have stayed a solid playoff team. And they can complain of injuries all they want, but if Stone and Martinez weren’t already hurt when Eichel got activated, they would have had to make some major salary dumps to get him on the roster anyway. “It seems that destiny has taken a hand.”
Vegas tried to cheat the cap system like Tampa Bay, and got bit for it.
5-1 Canucks.
I am cheering for Vancouver. First time ever lol
If we had Demko I would put some serious cash that we make the final.
Fingers crossed that the Canucks are made of sterner stuff than the Blackhawks and don’t concede three in 3.16 minutes. While waiting I saw Tarkus’ stats on Le Bourg and looked up Dylan Holloway’s Condor stats 32 8-13-21 -4. I do not follow these things that much – how do they look (notwithstanding his injury)? Canucks up 5-1!
Holloway’s counting stats don’t come close to representing his play or value – he’s a zone entry savant, a puck-hound (crazy motor) and a scoring chance creation machine.
His impact is similar to Yamamoto prior to his recall.
His passing ability is exceptional.
A bit late but thanks to both.
I just noted the Dy’s made it 5-1 with McNabb in the box – HH is really ‘opposite George’ these days
…these past few years.
All of the years.
Hah! Rafferty could still win the Norris one day….
Your goddamn right he will.
Andersson loses a battle and Markstrom with bad tending.
This doesn’t just happen to Oilers players.
The more you watch other teams’ games, the more you see a bad goal and defensemen getting walked or making bad decisions. Heck, how many times did Colorado loose to the Coyotes this year? Makes me more patient with our team’s many shortcomings.
Hedman made almost the exact play Nurse did the other night, dawdling back towards the net and allowing the forechecker to strip him and get a shot off. Somehow he’s a Norris favorite but Nurse is a cap dump.
Some Oilers fans need to get out more.
It would be wild if the Knights missed the playoffs. Their window is closing fast. Ageing roster, no assets, and no cap space. They seem to be slowly outsmarting themselves.
Yeah, it’s remarkable. “how to sewer a team in 5 simple steps”
Still a great chapter in NHL history.
5-1 nucks, hot damn it is fun watching the Knights meltdown
Not sure DeBoer survives if they miss the playoffs.
Lehner’s a big crybaby he’ll have a major meltdown before their cheating asses are eliminated from the Playoffs.
This really exposes the risks of the old ‘Kucherov’ IR hide-the-salary circumvention – it only works if you make the playoffs. Such a shame.
Speaking out about some fairly important matters does not equate to being a “big crybaby”.
Sorry that many forms of “team hazing” from the “good ol days” is now known as physical abuse.
I think people are reflecting on to Lehner how they didn’t like Vegas unceremoniously dumping the Flower after a Vezina-winning season and taking the team to the Cup finals in their inaugural season.
Then him speaking out about the Eichel situation … and then Eichel getting traded to Vegas right after was also a bit off-putting. Like he knew that Vegas was in on Eichel and decided to turn to social media to grease the trade wheels further.
Appreciate what he’s doing advocating for mental health … but if I was a Vegas fan I’d want him to be more focused on stopping pucks and spend less time crusading on social media.
He accused Coach Alan Vigneault of being a thug drug pusher. You better have witnesses, video are something substantial before you try to wreck a man’s career and family on some Twitter Rant. Like any of his teammates are going to befriend him knowing he’s on a Twitter telling all.
I am not sure if you are referring to Lehner standing up to bullying and abuse or the fact that he has bipolar, or both, but either way, shitty comment.
There’s 2 sides to every coin you might get a different story from ex-teammates and especially ex-coaches if you were sitting down having a beer with them. I remember our Star Captain Andrew Ference squealing on some of our younger players shenanigans, running straight to Chop Wood Carry Water. Why do you think our team was in such disarray. Perron a excellent team player got the hell out of that shit show faster then you can spit.
Edmonton city council has voted to end the mosquito spraying program this summer suggesting dragonflies will take care of the problem..
You can’t make this shit up.
Candice Bergen as NYC mayor Kate Hennings in Sweet Home Alabama after smacking a mosquito – “One down, six million to go”
Having worked in swamps – let me say that estimate could easily add another pair of zeros.
Oh it’s so much better than that. I almost fell over laughing picturing a giant fan blowing mosquitoes out of the city.
”Council voted on Monday to redirect $507,000 from the aerial mosquito program to create educational and biological pest control measures. Some options like bat boxes, dragonflies, and using an oscillating fan were suggested as possible alternatives.”
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/without-helicopter-spraying-will-edmonton-be-ready-for-mosquito-season-councillor-asks
in reality they will still be doing ditch spraying with ground crews.
The educational part I like the best.
Now, all they need to do is mandate the mosquitoes into the re-education centre.
If the Dy’s prevail tonight in regulation, a 3 pointer tomorrow between Edm and LAK will pretty much seal the deal in the Pacific. Should be fun.
4-1.
~ I have it on good authority that the Dys can’t win this game 6-1.~
The free spot on the bingo card fighting back again, even with the flu
even Mcnabb can’t hold back the free bingo spot. 4-1
Canucks 2-1 over Knights heading to the first intermission.
Eichel opened the scoring but the Canucks potted two in 20 seconds.
Flames lead Ducks 1-0.
Lindholm from Johnny.
But that game means next to nothing to anyone. Anywhere.
Of course it does…until the Flames clinch the Pacific.
3-1. Curse of the golden helmets.
4-1. Vegas looking horrible, slow, big gaps. McNabb will rescue them, no doubt.
Don’t forget Stone. Oops!!
I’m surprised HH isn’t basking in the glow from Oilers fans cheering on the Canucks tonight.
2-1 Canucks. Go Canucks Go!
Worth noting…Brayden McNabb is back in the Vegas lineup after a very long time on IR.
The cavalry is coming.,
Worth noting – that is last week’s “news”. McNabb was activated March 30 and has already played the previous 3 games.
But there isn’t any anti-Oiler news to take from the Knights/Canucks games so there was an attempt to manufacture some.
Worth noting, I have gas tonight. Also, 3-1 Canuckleheads.
Was it worth bloating tho?
Worth noting … it’s now 4-1 Canucks.
I believe you mean 5-1……
And now 5-1 Canucks with McNabb in the box. Viva Las Vegas!
lol not so fast…
Watching a little bit of the Canucks and Vegas game and holy Lehner does not look good. Terrible rebound control. And a quick google search and he is listed at 250lb!!! Don’t know how that is possible for a NHL goalie
Goalies used to be gymnast and have reflexes like a Cat, size didn’t mean shit. Andy Moog was only 5’8” when Andy and the Oilers slayed the mighty Habs. Now Goalies are basketball tall and with the huge equipment they look like Lacrosse Goalies. Utube Mike Palmateer that was one fun Goalie to watch. Mikko with his equipment on is twice as big as Palmateer but I would put my money on Mike to make dynamite saves that fire up the team. Mikko is boring to watch he doesn’t really make saves its more of the puck just hitting him because he covers 3/4 of the net.
Lol
Summarizing!
Have a night, Xavier Bourgault:
3 goals
1 assist
6 SOG
1st star
Season totals now 34-30-27-57.
And that’s just the tip of the icebourg.
The Bourg has another goal…and it is so awesome it has to be called “Bourgtacular”:
https://mobile.twitter.com/Cataractes_Shaw/status/1511871784949272576?cxt=HHwWgMCy_ZnYn_spAAAA
And heeeeeeere’s the hatty:
https://mobile.twitter.com/Cataractes_Shaw/status/1511877065112526849?cxt=HHwWgoC9ocaLovspAAAA
That’s Bourgalicious.
Mon dieu! Qu’est-ce que c’était Bourgtastique!
Wait a second here…
Is it pumpernickel or Pumper Nicholl?
I have a feelng I’ve been spelling it wrong and dissing poor Bernie.
Bernie Nicholls would have 60 plus Goals if he had Leon spoon feeding for 82 games. The man knew how to finish.
Gear down there, Big Rig. Bernie nly scored 60 once, and just so happened to be his first and only full season getting fed by one Wayne Douglas Gretzky.
Your right Gretzky Spoon fed him and I think Dave Taylor was on that line or was it Thomas Sandstrom anyhow you still need hands which he had. He hit 70 once 8 players have achieved that milestone I thought for sure Bossy was in that club but he only managed 69.
Coolhand Luc? I think maybe. or maybe he wasn’t first line yet.
Pretty sure it was Lucky Luc, based on +/- and points (https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000401989.html)
What a nice career he had.
Yeah, no shit:
1431gp, 668–726–1394
Beautiful numbers.
Drafted 9th round, 171st overall… largely because kids in Pee Wee could skate better.
#scouting
Gretzky & Nicholls played on two separate lines that year. They teamed up on the powerplay & penalty kill, on which Nicholls scored 21 & 8, respectively, of his 70 goals. At evens they occasionally clicked for a goal but it was the exception not the rule.
The Kings were stacked with quality wingers. Nicholls typically played with Luc Robitaille & Dave Taylor, not exactly chopped liver. And the whoe damn team played out of its mind that year.
Thank you for that they were a fun team to watch fire wagon Hockey. Mike krushelnyski scored 26 times, I found Mike to be one of the most underrated players I can think of. McSorely racked up 350 PM anyone that breathed on Gretzky would get a good ole-fashioned thumping by Marty.
I believe the season started off that way, but as playoff pressure increased, Ftorek went with playing the two together more often (sound familiar? lol). And Gretzky, Kontos and Nicholls were definitely together in the playoffs that season. Nicholls himself credits that season to playing a lot with Gretz.
The Kings struggled to give Wayne quality line-mates. It’s why Nicholls ended up beside him, and why he was traded the next season. That looks prescient in retrospect because that was his last year of high offensive output.
Nichols scored .97 points per game for the 6 and half seasons after he was traded from the Kings. He was 1.1 points per game in the 2 seasons before Gretzky showed up in LA. He scored 225 points in 126 games playing with Gretzky (almost 1.8 points per game). That is the power of Gretzky in his prime. I think he would have continued to score at a pretty high level with Gretzky, but they wanted to change their make up a bit, and the team was only .500 at the all star break so they traded Nichols to get Sandstrom and Granato so they got a very good haul.
Sammy with his 10th while shorthanded and his 500th point. Attaboy Sammy, his Red Wings are up 1-0 after the 1st on the woeful Jets.
And now The Bourg has a PP marker for his 28th goal as he zips one from between the circles:
https://mobile.twitter.com/Cataractes_Shaw/status/1511862405537615876?cxt=HHwWiMCy9Z-2m_spAAAA
“Elite players are elite early”
just don’t look at Roman Josi or Kadri this year
Josi has a very unusual development path.
He was selected in the second round out of the Swiss league and spent the early part of his career playing behind a couple of guys named Shea Weber and Ryan Suter.
Once given the opportunity he blossomed…scoring 40 points as a 23 year old.
Kadri is having a great season but its a big stretch to call him elite.
https://theathletic.com/3062997/2022/04/05/nhl-player-cards-colorado-avalanche/?source=user_shared_article
what would you call just a haircut below Mackinnon? (4.6 to 4.5)
And then there’s Devon Toews who didn’t even crack the league until 24
A 4th round pick who worked his way up.
A great season.
He also spent a full season in the AHL and a cup of coffee in year 2 before he was brought up full time. Because of the depth Nashville had on the blueline, he was not forced to play top pairing minutes until he had time to develop.
Josi is an awesome talent whom I’ve had the pleasure to watch for 10 years in person. No one knew he’d be elite when he first arrived.
Just sayin.
Agree completely…and while he was not “forced” to play top pairing minutes , he also didn’t get the opportunity for obvious reasons.
Very similar to the situation with Shea Theodore with the Ducks.
He was blocked by a very deep D corp in Anaheim but exploded when given the chance in Vegas.
Good parallel. No two players are alike, but not rushing kids on defense, can pay dividends.
He didn’t play behind Weber, Weber is a right shot who mostly plays right D. Suter was the only one in front of him on left D his rookie season in 11/12. He was kept in the minors as a 21 year old while Francis Boullion was their 2nd pair LD. He played 23 minutes a night in the strike season 12/13 (the full 48) one season before the one you mentioned so he had already been given a full opportunity at that point and got 18 points in those 48. His “blossoming season” was already his 3rd full time player season.
Based on your logic, Bouchard has blossomed a year sooner and with less games in the NHL prior. He turned 22 at the start of this season and has 35 points in 70 games. And he has more even strength points than Josi did that season, since Josi was mostly on the number one unit in Nashville with Weber, while Bouchard gets half the time on the PP, mostly with the second unit. Whatever Barrie’s other flaws are, he is better on the PP that anyone Josi was competing against in Nashville.
Noah Philp was on with Stauff today.
Did confirm multiple teams were interested.
He did say that he’s more comfortable at center over wing – he’s played center his entire career except for this past little while.
Still working on when he’s heading to Bakersfield – he’s got a few exams to finish up – so probably next week sometime.
Oh, and, yes, he does think he improved over his time as a Golden Bear (what an odd question from Bob).
The Flames were confirmed by Stauff earlier this week as one of the other interested parties.
Love to know how we got Fanti though. The interest would’ve been even broader and deeper there.
I presume that looking at the Oilers not having a legit and established NHL starter going forward was part of it (and also a clear line to the AHL starting job with Skinner being in the NHL next season – battling with Konovalov for that job).
The Bourg picks himself a, how do you say, pomme as Shawinigan opens the scoring five minutes in.
It sure feels like JP’s missed many good chances this season, and I think it will open the door for a value contract sooner rather than later. His “everything else” so strong I wouldn’t want to bet against him improving his finish and having a couple 30 goal seasons sprinkled in with a steady 20-25-45 player card. Let’s hope they are in an Oiler sweater.
and for the love all that is kind, please sit Kassian. He’s like a rubber duck – floats around, bumps into a few things, but isn’t helping the outcome.
There is no doubt that Jesse is not currently a great “finisher” – while a Finish-product, he’s not a finished-product in that regard.
Of course, we also know that his value comes from MUCH more the counting stats but, at the same time, counting stats is what gets a forward paid.
This should serve to keep contract numbers down within reason – its likely another bridge for 2 years but if there is a way to get him to sign the Klefbom-contract (give or take), that would be a boon.
Ok Gene, calm down.
Excuse me? A rubber duck definitely helps you get more clean in the bath.
Go West Coast (Vancouver and Anaheim) tonight!
Seth Griffith misses and empty in OT (tough angle, backhand) – 30 second later, scores an absolutely BEAUTY to win the game. Walks the d-man on a 1 on 2 and then dekes the goalie out for the winner shelf!
Well deserved two points for the Condors – Baracuda took over in the last 10 minutes of regulation, other then that, it was domination.
Oh my – Malone misses a clear cut breakaway (from center). A few minutes later, the puck is flipped up in the neutral zone, Berglund makes a terrible play on it with his glove (flubbed it) and it scoots by him. He did have support but, I think it was Deharnais, the lunged at the puck and lost the open-ice battle at the faceoff dot, and the Baracuda went in all alone and tied it up.
2-2- late.
Baracuda break the shut-out with 9 minutes to go in their 5th PP of the afternoon.
Its 2-1 Condors with lots of time left – its NOT a close game but here we are.
I like Kulak, he is now our best d man at defending the net and boxing opposition out.
Hes adding a skill that is needed.
Weird how we add guys like that from other teams and those skills tend to erode with us. See Fayne, Mark, etc. Maybe it’s the coaching, maybe its the punishment netfront gives to players. As it sits, I’d be more afraid of Manson on the bench than taking a crosscheck in front and that has value.
Unfortunately Mike Smith is still playing hurt. He willed that win last night, and with all the loose pucks dropping around the net I have no idea how one or more was not whacked in.
You can count on Smith to give you everything hes got, but he has limitations and I doubt he will get to 100%. Still, enjoy while we can right.
Is Smith injured? Can you post your source?
Sportsnet highlights!
Maybe he was ham and egging it so the boys could have a unofficial timeout.
2-0 Condors after two period. The score underscores the domination, shots are 23-10 for the Condors and they are full value for them.
Holloway is a MAN among boys out there.
Actually a Boy-Man amongst Men-boys.
The team continues to give us awesome moments. The finish of last nights game was something to remember! You can feel the team bonding.
I was also wondering how the team “looked so flat” etc yet they were anything but flat. They stuck with the process to break the trap.
I seen Woodcroft seize his opportunity on the penalty kill to beat them as the Sharks game plan changed for their PP. He had Nuge/Hyman out and he had Connor/Evander on deck.
Judging by the OT win celebration they really did want those 2 points. The save, the pass, the goal, it was a nice moment for the club.
McDavid’s goal celebration was a beautiful moment to watch.
Crazy timing: I literally just listened to John Shannon (not 120 seconds ago) state that he’s never seen this group of guys celebrate like they have been – then I read this post.
That was a dual celebration… check the angle from the end of the rink. Smith and McFlash are pumpernickling in unison at each other before they get swarmed by the rest of the team.
Sharks did not look pleased to see such shenanigans on their home ice.
But, in the immortal words of Michael Palin in A Fish Called Wanda…
“Good.”
What a beauty, Niemelainen with a great zone exit and entry (looking like Scott Niedermaier) on the PK, leads a 2 on 2 with Hamblin who takes the pass, tries to give it back but it bounces back to him and he takes it to the net and a great deke and back-hand.
2-0 Condors.
Here is the play:
https://twitter.com/bcurlock/status/1511777455530381313
In 2019/20, Smith started game 1 against the Hawks, was pulled 28 minutes in and Mikko played the rest.
In the 2021 playoffs, Smith started and played all the minutes against the Jets.
It would definitely be unusual, but I wonder if there is a chance we may seem somewhat of a split int he 2021/22 playoffs? At this point, I don’t know who may be playing better as they head in to the playoffs.
In late 2019 “the bad” Mike Smith had had a series of poor games and lost the starter’s job to Mikko who held it until New Year’s Eve when the Oilers eked out a win against the NYR when Yamo made his season debut.
Koskinen then got the flu and Tippett leaned on Smith over an Eastern road trip that saw the Oil win over Toronto, Boston, and Montreal. Smith was sensational in those games.
Perhaps “the good” Mike Smith has similarly found his game and can continue to deliver solid performances.
Even so, I agree that Smith / Koski should both get playoff games as they appear to play best in a shared role.
But who’s kidding who it’s all voodoo, man.
Yes, it looks like Smith has taken until the end of the season to round into mid season form, maybe because of the various ailments he has endured. Here is hoping he can stay healthy.
That is a game I will remember for a long time. Connor skating all the way back pointing at Smith for full credit on the goal prior to embracing each other in celebration. What a game. What a finish.
Not bad for a backup (as determined in recent days by the LT comment section).
Smith does not look like he is in mid season form to me. He looks like he is playing hurt with a nagging injury that just isn’t fully healed. This will not end well.
Looks like you and me are the only ones on the Smith train to start game 1 of the Playoffs.
The game 1 starter will depend on which tender is playing better heading in to such game.
3 weeks ago, that was Mikko.
Today, this is Smith.
Who knows who that will be at the end of April/beginning of May.
Thanks Captain Obvious no doubt Woody will go with the hotter tender which happens to be Mike Smith at the moment. Most people on this board are on Mikko, myself and Ashley are the only ones I’ve read over the last couple of weeks that think Mikey will start the pressure packed game 1.
I haven’t made a call, but I don’t mind either starting, or Skinner. I’ll trust Manwood to make the decision they feel most comfortable with. I haven’t been as hard on Smith as most (nor as supportive as you or Ashley).
Part of me prefers to have the depth in net a 1A/B provides, rather than having all the marbles ride on the health of one star tender, like, say, Cowtown.
Call it The Roloson Effect.
I thought you were hard on the Skinner train
I am! Skinner has been a Rock Star In previous Playoffs. Oilers have done it before starting very little scouted Moog and there’s been others that were a surprise to start game 1 under the OBC. I’m just spitballing who will start game 1 and looks like Woody likes the Veteran Smith.
Taking aside the potential injury, Smith “looked” at good to my eye last night as he had all season – less swimming and lunging and just making saves. Really good with the puck over the course of the game – moving it to his d-men efficiently.
With that said, I 100% go with Mikko on Friday. Yes, Smith is the “hotter” goalie right now, for sure, but he’s started 3 straight and, even without being banged up, a night off would make sense. Add some potential banged-upedness and I would think its go to be Mikko on Friday.
Thursday
This is hilarious as OP has made this mistake now for two weeks!
Ya, I don’t know why I keep effing up the date of the game. I may have had a few strokes…..
Consistency is a good thing, right!
There has to be a story behind why you have mixed up the game dates a few times now.
Speaking from experience, if he’s in another time zone, it can really throw things off depending on where you look. For example, on Yahoo fantasy, game times are always adjusted to my time zone. It throws me off and I’ve made those kinds of errors when just quickly scanning the upcoming schedule.
Given what I’ve understood to be his rather international life, that would be my first assumption.
He was in Costa Rica then Arz. He is back in Toronto as far as I know. Has been for two weeks I believe.
All true (except I live in Calgary, not Toronto).
Could it be a cry for attention?
I wish there was – I just keep effing it up. I don’t know why.
I feel shame.
You very rarely make a mistake on fact dates etc. I actually changed my plans a few days ago because I thought the game was on Friday. I also thought ESPN made a mistake on the date had to go N.H.L.com website for clarification. You caused a bit chaos in my life with this phantom Friday game.
You’ve earned an oops or two! I appreciate and enjoy your Condor updates.
It’s funny, I rarely know when games are on in advance. I usually check my phone the day of to see of there’s a game, but you repeatedly messing up the dates has burned this game into my memory.
Now I’m starting to feel bad.
I really, honestly, don’t know why I keep posting “Friday” – I know its Thursday and I know they are essentially playing every second day for a stretch but, for some reason, that is what I keep typing.
Its not purposeful and I apologize.
No need to apologize – I am more entertained than anything.
I’ll try not to ruin the outcome of the game for you on Friday.
I can tell you the score of the game before it starts!
The Wire scam in the movie The Sting.
A bit different but yes!
^^^
This is actually a pretty hilarious thread. Good on you, OP, for being a good sport.
Kassian’s play last night was down right awful. Not skating back to take his man and waiting for a break to go try to score a goal. This is pee wee shit. Continues to cough up the puck on the exit and just seems disinterested.
I am finally seeing him the way Godot has for years now. This player cannot play in the playoffs as it could be the difference in close games. We need to be playing Ryan both for his play and importance on faceoff’s. Hopefully Woody is seeing this also.
He grenaded the puck off the boards into a defenders pants who just reset to his dman 3 times exiting the zone by my count. just lazy hockey. he’s a better player than that, but 1 game per 30 aint gonna cut it
He hasn’t been good, and I’m not suggesting he should play over Ryan or anyone else, but he was one of the better Oilers in the playoffs last season.
Very good first period – Stalock making many saves for San Jose.
A dominant Condors’ PP late results in a 1-0 lead – lots of pressure and good chances and a seeing eye floater by Kaldis finds its way through traffic.
Holloway with the primary on the pass back to the point.
I think it was Hamblin with the screen and Cracknell will get the secondary.
I’m too much of a wimp to stay up late anymore, but I fist pumped and got fired up watching the highlights! Cool team.
I don’t think people realize how in-your-face that Smith pass was.
He literally copied Reimer’s own play on the puck just seconds before.Reimer had just smack passed the puck up the left boards to a player at the blue line… who led the sortie which Smith snuffed out with his save. As soon as the puck was in Smith’s control, he did the exact same thing as Reimer, except farther, to more open ice and to a human lightning bolt.
It was a perfect “anything you can do, I can do better” moment for an OT game winner. The Sharks looked quite upset at the double pumpernickel and the resulting gang celly, as they were leaving the ice.
Well F**k the Sharks! Hate trap hockey.
I was cheering so loud I did not hear if Louie said McDavid had a ‘shooter’s mentality’ on that one!
Louie is one of the best. His commentary oozes with kindness, intelligence, and respect. A gentleman through and through.
He has a real gentleman’s mentality.
Jack, we’ve talked about this….
Smith is what we used to call in the good old days a gamer!
Niemelainen doing what he does, crushing bodies.
For me, Samorukov was the next call up as he’s been rolling for a few months now and playing great hockey.
With his most recent injury (ugh), there is a more clear line for Niemelainen if a recall is needed.
If he has another shoulder issue I would say Niems is the keeper
I had Samu as the keeper because I think he has a higher ceiling, but won’t get there if he’s injury prone, and a physical player
Feel bad for him
Injury, and shoulder injury, is becoming a concern but I’m not quite at the point where I’m going to move him down the depth chart or limit his potential/ceiling due to it. The trend in that regard certainly isn’t good though.
I agree with you, but if this injury is a serious one it’s going to mess with his Oilers chances. With that one-way contract, he’s penciled in as Oilers 7D for next season. It’d be a damn shame if he’s got to come to camp behind the 8-ball again next year. Hoping for the best, or at least nothing too too bad.
I don’t want to take anything away from Smith’s performance, but we live and die by recency bias in sports. Obviously got the win and an incredible OT pass to McDavid, but I thought the goal he let in has been consistently a problem for him in terms of motion in his crease.
Agreed. When he flops and goes down there is always some uncertainty that he will be able to get up. Mike is a warrior but the time to hang up the sword is near.
Maybe someone can design a combination goalie stick / walker / cane to help him get up after he falls.
He didn’t “flop and go down” on the GA?
Yeah not a great goal, but he made some five bell saves and only let the one in. That’s good enough for me.
We recency bias, and KH probably has confirmation bias right now; “ya see, just had to get Smiddy some games!”
Agreed, but this post really needed to be after Koskinen’s fluky run in the past few weeks.
We also suffer from confirmation bias, and we will go to the ends of the earth to try to support our established opinions. This post is a case in point.
Facts don’t matter and won’t change most people’s minds.
We are a stubborn breed.
No we’re not 😉
That’s contrarian not stubborn and many of us fit in that category too?😉
It’s mistakes at critical times that are the difference in players and teams
Smith has been on the right end of things lately. Still the weak goals hurt
All we can hope is we get out of this season with good enough goalering and Holland doesn’t balls up his chance to upgrade
Or Gretzky after Holland takes over for Burgers and mentors Keith for a time as the grey beard ambassador in the top offices
It worked so well with the coaches (younger, more current with something to prove) hopefully everybody noticed
Are we really complaining about a PP goal where the puck was passed right to left across the ice and the goalie was looking around the right side of the NF Shark, where the goalie then had to move left, pickup the play all the while looking past the NF Shark who was still screening the goalie…and the goalie was .969 on the night?
Tough, perhaps unreasonable, crowd.
It seems that every single goal that either of the Oilers tenders let is is immensely scrutinized on social media – every single one – and if I re-load my twitter feed within a few minutes of a goal against, the tender will be criticized by at least a sizeable sect of the “Oil Country” no matter how the goal was scored or how stoppable it may have been.
I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it in my 40 years as a fan.
Yeah that goal was the same type that Leon has been blasting past goalies all year. Hertl’s not in Leon’s league (though he’s about to get paid like him) but he’s a good enough goal scorer that you would expect him to score from that spot on any goalie in the league.
Smith did what a goalie is supposed to do … kept the Oilers in the game. Then he made the best breakout past of any player on both teams the entire evening in OT.
I think Woodcroft has a good handle on the goalie tandem and will alternate them in a platoon during the playoffs. Tippett was vapour-locked on needing Smith to be the starter. Woodcroft understands that they need to rest between games to be at their best.
That pass from Smith to McDavid was absolute perfection . Goal of the year .
Gotta give credit when it’s due. That was just an incredible play. The hockey sense and pass were both spot on. The dual fist pump celebration was icing on the cake.
McDavid going through four guys was the goal of the year.
The Smith pass was just a really intelligent situational play.
McDavid in his presser after the game said it could be play of the year. He was referring to the totality of it, including making an excellent glove save to prevent the team from losing, then immediately jumping forward to one hand the pass up the middle to get the win off a beautiful move by Connor on the deke.
That was Brent Burns coming in with speed and trying to go top corner from the hash marks. And there aren’t 3 goalies in the league with the moxie and skill to make the play Smith did, it was way harder to execute than the play Reimer made at the other end. I don’t disagree the goal against the Rangers was a more spectacular individual effort.
Which time? The Rags or the Jets? Only McDavid would make a person have to ask that question.
Perfect line and weight, just outta Burns’ reach.
Must be nice to play with 97 and space – just place it within 30 feet of him
Let’s not overlook the effortless glove save on Burns to start it all. He snagged it out of the air like a pop-fly right to his glove and was half-way to relaying it the moment the rubber hit his hand. Lordy, had that not turned out, the pitchforks would be out.
Heroes are made on taking risks.
McDavid commented as well on Smith’s draw weight curling skills to place it right where Connor needed it.
Down at the water where the Nanaimo river spills into the Pacific ocean, I’m doing a traditional Kraken dance that will lead into a Canuck prayer and both will tie into a Duck call. The powers of the Pacific will help the Oilers on their off day.
If it doesn’t work, I’ll return tomorrow to kick sand into this stupid oceans face.
I’m over on Gabriola visiting my old man, I will join you in the dance, prayer and call.
When looking for team bonding stuff,
early in the game Hyman comes out strong from behind the net and quickly fires a wrister at the net…..then notices Nuge standing ALL ALONE to his right, and appears to feel bad he didn’t see Nuge and make the pass.
later in the game….. Hyman “made a key play in the game, corralling the Nurse pass and sending it quickly to Nuge at the goalmouth for the shovel in.”….and they hugged…(makeup celly)
Later, Smitty shovels the puck to McDavid for the primary assist on the game winner and McDavid points all the way back at Smith as the two players race towards each other, perform the simultaneous/mirror image “double pumpernickel” and then meet up at the blueline for the group celly.
#TeamWorkMakesTheDreamWork
Good observation/connection on the Hyman plays.
Check that, Skinner is starting today. I forgot it’s an afternoon game and it’s starting now
Also, no Samorukov which we knew. Earlier this week Gretz said he was at the doc but it’s his shoulder and they are concerned.
Also, no Broberg (who Gretz said is ahead of schedule), Marody (who Gretz said should be back next week) or Lavoie (similar to Sammy – they don’t know yet but are concerned it’s not minor).
How worried should we be about the Drai injury? Any armchair doctors out there?
Tendon injury of some kind? MCL sprain? Bruising? It has only been one game and I miss him so bad.
I can qualify as an armchair doctor.
I think it’s extremely unlikely it’s ligament or tendon injury because the team let him skate on it yesterday, and he was a game time decision (or close) to play.
What I am hoping is that it is just a bad bruise. Not a doctor at all, but in the pre-game presser, Woodcroft thought Draisaitl might actually play in last night’s game. He took the morning skate, and while it was noted by the announcer that he stepped on the ice gingerly, he seemed to skate fine once he got going. So him not playing seemed like a game time decision. Maybe because it was against the Sharks, it is possible the staff thought he’d be better of skipping this game to recover a bit more. If that was the case, it is a good thing they eked out the OT win. No 2 points is ever certain in the NHL. I mean Colorado has lost to Arizona, New Jersey and Vancouver in the last month.
Fingers crossed Leon is good to go for the Kings. Every game is important, but they need him more against the Kings, (worth 4 points in the playoff battle, and the tougher opponent). Also, having McDavid and Draisaitl take on Kopitar and Danault, is preferable to McDavid/Nuge matching up against on those centers.
Pulled muscle or cramp, nothing a Robaxacet and a couple of beers can’t fix.
…. and a couple of darts!