One of the things this edition of the Edmonton Oilers will boast in the playoffs is a stronger group of wingerson the skill lines. Zach Hyman has 24-24-48 in 66 games, Evander Kane 16-13-29 in just 33 games. Kailer Yamamoto 18-17-35 in 71 games, Jesse Puljujarvi 13-21-34 in 58 games. Is this year’s Oilers team better than last year’s club? Does the group have more range of skills?
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Stock up or down for every prospect in the Oilers system
- Lowetide: Finding Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ wingers elusive challenge for Oilers
- 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 3-0-0)
- 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: 4-0-0, 8 points in 4 games
- Oilers in 2021-22: 42-25-5, 89 points in 72 games
I have Edmonton going 2-4-0, followed by a 3-1-0 finish. If it comes to pass as predicted, Edmonton’s final record will be 47-30-5, 99 points. I have tonight as a loss, the prediction was made before the start of the month, a win tonight would be devastating for the VGK, who play Arizona tonight and have a great chance at two points.
OILERS OPENING NIGHT PLAYOFFS 2021
- Nuge-Leon Draisaitl-Kailer Yamamoto
- Dominik Kahun-Connor McDavid-Jesse Puljujarvi
- Alex Chiasson-Jujhar Khaira-Josh Archibald
- James Neal-Ryan McLeod-Zack Kassian
- Darnell Nurse-Tyson Barrie
- Dmitri Kulikov-Adam Larsson
- Slater Koekkoek-Ethan Bear
- Mike Smith (Mikko Koskinen)
The top two lines have exceptional talent and some complementary pieces that are a little shy. The third and fourth lines have speed issues, and it’s pretty clear there are some even strength depth problems. Among the skill lines, only Nugent-Hopkins plays a significant amount in all three disciplines. Only Draisaitl and McDavid are over 2.00 points-per-60 at five-on-five, although Jujhar Khaira (1.67) and Jesse Puljujarvi (1.53) did show some life. Among defensemen, Darnell Nurse and Tyson Barrie were used heavily and five-on-five and on the power play, with Nurse, Larsson and Kris Russell deployed often on the PK. This is a flawed roster beginning with Dominik Kahun on No. 2 LW.
OILERS POSSIBLE LINEUP TONIGHT
- Evander Kane-Connor McDavid-Jesse Puljujarvi
- Zach Hyman-Leon Draisaitl-Kailer Yamamoto
- Warren Foegele-Nuge-Derek Ryan
- Derick Brassard-Ryan McLeod-Zack Kassian
- Darnell Nurse-Cody Ceci
- Duncan Keith-Evan Bouchard
- Brett Kulak-Tyson Barrie
- Mike Smith (Mikko Koskinen)
This is just the Woodcroft time. The top two lines are much better, featuring two exceptional additions (Kane and Hyman) and the two young right-wingers are a year older. The third line should be better with Nuge added in the middle, but has been inconsistent. That could be a key for tonight and the playoffs. The defense is still a work in progress, but the Kulak addition has calmed the waters. Prominent men who play in all three disciplines since Woodcroft? Zach Hyman, Nuge, Leon Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse, Kailer Yamamoto. The only real complaint I have about Woodcroft’s deployment is the lack of JP on the PP.
I have tonight as a loss. If the Oilers win it, the victory would represent a new level for this organization. The Avalanche are the class of the conference and could be two months from Stanley.
Last nights game was terrific entertainment! Both teams were flying and game played at warp speed. High skilled exciting game. Of course officiating remains a shit show. Koski played perhaps his best game but Kuemper just a bit better in the shoot out. More please!
Fantastic game! They are all good at hockeying. We, got beat by a goalie. Loved our play. That back check from leon!!!
Cant wait to see which team between the Avs and Flames play weaponized cap space in the first round.
If Vegas makes it, they’ll play Colorado… or Edmonton.
Fabulous hockey game. Proud to be an Oiler fan tonight. Huge point even if we did lose the coin flip at the end.
And as a bonus, it looks like our goaltending glass has flipped from half-empty to half-full over the last couple weeks, which is not something we could have said after the Calgary game.
I don’t know why everyone is so happy with a 5-1 loss.
Ryan Holt
@CondorsHolty
·
14m
Early reports on Phil Kemp are all positive, so that’s a great sign.
Bookmark.
Playoffs are a different animal.
If it is Calgary and Colorado in the Western final, unsure about Makar, Girard and Byram surviving law of the jungle rules against a Sutter team.
Calgary will have a tough time getting past the first round.
It’s the NHL.
Every team has a tough time getting out of the first round.
JW is all class, getting a flawed team to fight like hell against stiff competition, extend the man already, married an Edmonton girl for God’s sake
Refs swallow their whistles, don’t want to impact the outcome, and then call a penalty with three minutes left to play and another in the overtime.
A Fun Game.
Assholes.
It was.
And the refs are.
Great game.
Oilers playing some good D here.
JP ad RNH with some looks you would like to see converted….
Kane seems to be fading just a hair here.
This result means nothing.
nothing means nothing, which is everything
#nihilism
Hunter1909:
I have a VERY good feeling about this year’s Oilers
I think Oilers are watching their 2006 videotapes and know understand that when PLAYOFFS appear, it is time to revert to a Kassianesque brand of mahem.
You spelt Kane-esque wrong.
lol
Look, this isn’t sour grapes at losing. This is objective. MacKinnon saying, “that wasn’t a penalty…” Come on, this guy is a dweeb, you took two penalties in OT, moron. McDavid wrecking him in the corner in OT was hilarious and warmed my soul.
I want a boat paddle one timer from one knee, 97 to 29, to trigger MacKinnon tears and an Avs exit in the conference final.
Fuck everything tonight we are honored to witness great hockey.
Needed Turris’ sweet moves.
That’s a bit extreme but the SO strategy coulda been better in retrospect (I know, I know) –
Oilers have 3 left hand shots and Kuemper was closing down the 7-hole and moving left to right pretty quick.
I also think he was in 97, 29 and 93’s heads a bit after stuffing them in OT, ergo Drai’s blast.
Hyman or Yamo as Right handed snipers should be considered if/when next game goes this far. Not Jesse!
Fuck Colorado. Playoffs beckon!
(on third finger of JD, and 2nd or 3rd Budvar Czech beer as I speak)
losers!
There are certain matchups that often result in the way the NHL product should look nightly.
Years ago used to be sharks Oil, Red Wings Avs
Avs Oilers are it now ImO
Fantastic game
They lost momentum in the third ( shouldn’t have been the team behind a step) but played pretty tight
Kuemper stole that one
Oilers PP needs a point or RHShot threat to open up some space…. and keep the PKers honest.
Barrie’s the guy that has open space on the PP. Teams don’t respect his shot and focus on McD and Drai.
They don’t respect it because it’s never used….
Bouchard?
That might have been Koskinnen’s best game of the year and we still lost the goalie battle. Holy holy crap!! Great game though. Team played great. Koskinnen looked confident and composed. McDavid and Drai were the best players on the ice. This team could be a contender with a goalie like Kuemper.
we didn’t lose the goalie battle. We lost in a shootout which is pretty much a coin flip
Kuemper stood on his head in OT. That was a remarkable performance. He’s the only reason it went to shootout.
I agree, but that doesn’t mean Koski lost the GK battle. That game doesn’t go to OT if Mikko isn’t brilliant when we’re short handed at the end.
Nathan scored and Connor didn’t. You could just as easily say we lost the centre battle. Personally, I’d say they just got one more lucky break than us
Kuemper has been the best goaltender in the NHL in 2022.
The Oilers could be a contender with the goaltending they got tonight, and have gotten for the last 10 games or so. Kuemper-like goaltending, well that would be nice too.
After tonights game, the Oilers have the #8 SV% in the NHL since Woodcroft was hired. Da fuk, right?
At the same time, Colorado is #1, and by wide margin (.928 for COL vs. .919 for NYI in 2nd place; for context the Oilers in 8th are at .909, with 16 teams under .900 since Feb. 10th).
If only he was available by trade or free agency.
I know right?
If only Holland had known, the Oilers could have picked him up as a UFA back in 2017.
And Holland reportedly did eventually try trade for him, offering a 1st and Samorukov for the last year of his current deal.
A couple of clear mis-steps, missing out on him as a free agent, and not beating the Avalanche offer for him this past summer.
Except… the guy they kept played nearly as well.
I find it’s best not to get side tracked on those kinds of details.
I believe we are now four full points up on LT’s “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.”
And maybe more importantly, two statement games in the bank against the team we might need to beat to come out of the West. Avs won’t be feeling too comfortable about a match-up after those two games.
I don’t know if I’d call this a statement.
they blew a lead with 5 minutes left and lost whilst having a PP in the OT.
It was a fun game, I enjoyed it.
I hope they are furious that they pissed that lead away and lost.
Yeah. Because that’s what they did, pissed it away.
I agree they should have won but the goal scored shoulda been a penalty on Rantanen for a slash to Nurses hands and the puck pops to McKinnon who makes a great shot. Then the crap penalty(shoulda called an interference and a dive, imo). We outworked the top team in the league, could have score in ot except for ridiculous saves by Kempour and lost in the skills competition. Miles better than 6 weeks ago when everyone wanted to blow up the team, no?
Crazy people wanted to blow up the team. Some of us said wait until the lineup is healthy before doing anything rash.
Nobody was happy with the goaltending… Maybe Sierra…
Now it’s a stretch drive against playoff bound teams and so far it’s working quite splendidly.
Second place Pacific is the Golden Spot right now and it shall be.
I know there were score effects but MacKinnon just said they were gassed and I thought the oilers weren’t pressing them enough toward the end
Hopefully they learned a bit more
Blown leads against Avs, LA, Dallas, St Louis in the last three weeks.
Getting points and that’s important. Next step is locking it down and not having to talk about getting a point.
Golden opportunity in OT and they couldn’t get it done.
They’ll be the first to tell you that you his game leaves a sour taste. It’s for the best, steps in a process.
Also agree. We need to find our “killer instinct” to put teams away. It’s the last piece of the puzzle. They should be motivated to learn it after losing late in a game they should have won.
All I can say is I’m glad the team didn’t come up flat, or have a lopsided victory.
Tight games like this, perhaps even especially a loss, will have them in tune for playoffs in the manner we’d most expect.
Damn. Nothing to hang our heads about. That was a great game! Any other goalie and we win this one walking away.
Mikko was flat out brilliant! I can’t really think of anyone who didn’t pull their weight tonight.
This is a great game to get us ready for the playoffs.
We’re good. We can play with anybody. Now we just need to find that killer instinct to put teams away.
We’re better for playing this game. It is gonna show come playoff time!!!
Can’t wait for the rematch!!!
538 has this as the ‘highest quality’ game of the week – good call!
Man this team has come a long way
Oil keep playing like this (with NHL goaltending) we can win a few rounds.
No complaints about Mikko, tonight. Big game and he came up Big! Both he and Mike are feeling it lately and the timing couldn’t be better!
Drai will take some flak for that SO effort, but he picked his spot — low blocker side — and Kuemper made an excellent save.
That’s a very, very difficult save to make.
That’s too bad – I thought they outplayed COL for large swaths of that game
It was a good game by 2 good teams
Great game. Kemper was great, so was Mikko. Oiler goalies continue to do their job.
Powerplay needs to cash…
Hat tip to Kuemper but I expect $27 million worth of cap hit to cash on a 4v3…
This is a bit silly.
Also, the Avs $29M PP went 0-2.
Well. That was a hell of a game for all involved.
2 points would have been nice but I’m not going to complain about that game.
That was enjoyable.
Excellent game! They should be proud of that effort, one of the best of the year despite the result.
Also: two points in two games vs the Avs under Woodcroft is not bad at all.
Huge point, Huge statement game. Nothing but rainbows.
Out skilled in the lottery. JP will have vivid dreams tonight
Yeah he needs to change the curve on his stick
the goalie of the number one team in the NHL stole them one.
Man Kuemper is the main reason why the Avs won. Koskinen was great tonight though.
First shoot out goal allowed by Mikko in a couple of years if memory serves. He was fantastic.
Very well played – just too many missed chances. Damn.
JP needs to work on his shooting this off-season.
Better team lost
better goalie, by a hair, won.
50 shots!
Oilers are an elite team.
Hockey = mostly goalie
Well, Colorado did play an OT game the night before.
And they are missing their 2C and captain….
Oilers had 50 shots. It was the goalie. Both goalies were amazing, truth be told.
Shots were 11-0 in OT…..
Colorado was gassed.
Oilers took it to them pretty much all game.
That was one of Darcy Kuemper’s best games of his life.
Drai… why?
WTF Leon?
so the refs have Tegridy?
Can’t believe we didn’t score!!! That was a crazy overtime! Kempour deserves a lot of credit. We could’ve scored 5 goals on an above average goalie, tonight!
Koskinen was calm, aggressive, square to the puck and had quiet feet all night. Very well done.
That move by Nuge in tight was sick and sneaky.
All by himself – all kinds of time…..
Kuemper’s been amazing.
Fun evening, looking forward to the rematch.
Also, Oilers get at least one point on a ‘sure loss’ night
They’re a .500 team vs. the Avs.
Of course the Avs are a 1.000 team vs. the Oilers..
Nuge, GET IT UP!!!!!!! Dammit
Kuemper wow
I bet the casual play at times by Bouchard can be frustrating for coaches
Holland went after him this past summer.
How do we get Kuemper as our goalie?
Trade Kassian and Barrie for picks?
Offer him more money and term than anyone else on July 1st?
Great recovery Bouchard
The NHL shouldnt even have refs anymore. Its a dinosaur system. They should have games reffed up above by a panel of 3. If 2 of the 3 call it a penalty it gets whistled.
And they shoot a player down by laser if it’s a penalty?
If Kane’s out there instead of 93 this is over.