The Columbus Blue Jackets are playing in season No. 21 in the NHL, we understand their nickname more clearly now, we reference them often when discussing Connor McDavid’s greatest goal (I think the one against the Rangers this year might have been better). We have seen the CBJ make the playoffs just six times, with two trips to the second round.
The first franchise “saviour” was Rick Nash, he spent nine seasons with the organization. Averaging 35-32-67 per 82 games in Ohio, he played just four playoff games for the Jackets. The next time Columbus had a very high pick, it was 2010 and Ryan Johansen was the choice. He played almost five seasons with the team, getting into six playoff contests. Pierre-Luc Dubois was up next, 2017, and he played in 26 playoff games but things faded and he was traded. Next? Kent Johnson, drafted in 2021. In the last 20+ seasons, Oilers fans often use gallows humour to get by, and mention how difficult it has been for the fan to survive. Let me ask you: Would you trade the first 21 seasons of Blue Jackets performance for the Oilers since 2000?
I didn’t think so.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Inside Oilers top prospects’ first and second half splits in AHL
- Lowetide: Should Oilers re-sign Brett Kulak based on early results?
- DNB: How Oilers’ Matvey Petrov mastered English and became a promising NHL prospect
- Lowetide: Connor McDavid’s outscoring reaches peak with Jay Woodcroft as Oilers coach
- Lowetide: Is Ken Holland’s unusual approach to team building close to success for Oilers?
- Lowetide: Recent rash of injuries to Oilers prospects a familiar story
- Lowetide: Ryan McLeod’s comparables are encouraging for young Oilers centre
- DNB & Lowetide: Why the Jesse Puljujarvi criticism in Edmonton misses the mark
- Lowetide: Evan Bouchard’s deployment is working, despite play in Wild loss
- Lowetide: Evander Kane’s scoring prowess and what he brings the Oilers
- DNB: Connor McDavid’s Hart case
- DNB: Dylan Holloway call-up? Jay Woodcroft extension? Zack Kassian trade? Oilers mailbag
- Lowetide: Stock up or down for every prospect in the Oilers system
- Lowetide: Making the final call on the Oilers 2017 draft
- Lowetide: Early look at Oilers free-agent targets for 2022 offseason
- DNB: Should Oilers budget for Evander Kane beyond this season?
- 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 0-0-1)
- On the road to: MIN, NAS (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 1-1-0)
- At home to: VEG, DAL, COL (Expected 1-2-0) (Actual 3-0-0)
- 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: 8-1-1, 17 points in 10 games
- Oilers in 2021-22: 46-26-6, 98 points in 78 games
Edmonton could reach 100 points this afternoon, a significant achievement and a rare one over the last 20 years. The roster will be curious too, as Darnell Nurse is not in Columbus and the status of Jesse Puljujarvi is not known. It gives us a chance to look at the depth chart currently, and possible recalls if Edmonton goes deeper than the first round in this year’s playoffs.
PLAYOFF DEPTH CHART (PROJECTED)
Edmonton’s roster is set, but injuries could impact things. We may get some clues about what the coaching staff is thinking today, as Darnell Nurse won’t play and it’s uncertain Jesse Puljujarvi will return. Here’s the assumed opening night lineup, all players being healthy:
- 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)
The coaching staff might run Shore over Brassard, or use Russell as No. 7 defenseman with two men on the fourth line, but that’s a reasonable estimate of a healthy roster listed on Jay Woodcroft’s whiteboard in his office. His whiteboard at home might be different but the work one is in this range. Now, here are the extra’s on the current roster:
- Devin Shore
- Josh Archibald
- Kyle Turris (LTIR)
- Kris Russell
That brings us to the top recall options. Some are obvious, others not so much, and on defense it really is wide open. Here are the top-10 recall options for Edmonton based on importance of role and scarcity of options.
- G Stuart Skinner. He has allowed two goals in his last 80 shots, and picked up a shutout against the Stockton Heat last night. He’s the last chance Texaco in net, with Ilya Konovalov having played just once in April. Olivier Rodrigue is on the Bakersfield roster after the Wichita Thunder (ECHL) season ended. Ryan Fanti is not on the roster.
- LD Philip Broberg. He’s back (1-1-2 in two games) and has enjoyed a strong AHL season, but needs to get games and eat minutes in Bakersfield before any recall this spring. It sounds like Darnell Nurse will miss the rest of the regular season, and that buys time, but the depth chart below Broberg is not strong. Based on last night’s game, I would place Mike Kesselring and Vincent Desharnais in the recall mix, and that’s damn dangerous because they’ve never played in the NHL. Dmitri Samorukov is done for the season, and Markus Niemelainen is currently unavailable but there is hope he’ll be back in the coming weeks. Slater Koekkoek’s status is unknown, he took a leave of absence several weeks ago and there is no word on any possible return.
- LC Brad Malone. I chose him over several other veteran candidates because he has more utility (center, can PK, has a good shot). Other candidates are Seth Griffith (he’s actual fire right now), Colton Sceviour.
- LW Tyler Benson. If we’re still considering him a prospect, then there is a scenario that could get him back to Edmonton due to injury. Cooper Marody is also available.
Any recall of a forward is likely to be a bottom-six option, as Edmonton would elevate a current third-line forward on the big club in to the McDavid or Draisaitl lines. YMMV, but for me Skinner, Broberg, Malone and Benson are the top recall options currently, with Markus Niemelainen in the mix as soon as he’s healthy and has played enough to get comfortable.
Knights up 4-2 halfway through the 3rd. Preds lost in OT to the Wild.
SJS scores to get within one with 3mins to play
Tied with .9 seconds left
and they’re going to OT lol
Thompson in net for the Ni by the way
Sharks damn near clueless at 3-on-3
WTF?
I was going to reply a few minutes ago assuming a Vegas win.
Wow.
OTW and it’s all ‘OK’ I guess.
Slashing in the balls, lol.
Pretty much lol
DAL/VEG on Tuesday is a decent sized game for those two teams….
Yeah definitely huge. I mentioned it late last night.
Really we should be cheering for the Sharks here
Shoot-em up time
SHARKS WIN SHARKS WIN!!
lol
Oh my god!!!
That is a huge lost point for Vegas.
Some years you just don’t have it… wow.
Unreal collapse
Should knock their probability back down to single digits.
Yeah. Just shocking.
They’re still ‘in it’ if they can beat Dallas on Tuesday, but they need every one of these points.
They’ve basically been choking, most of the season.
Eichel fails in the shoot out.
SJ win in the shoot out.
Vegas with 90 points and 3 road games trailing Dallas by 3 points.
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Come on LT, approve!
No sir. Don’t need old memories hanging’ round.
It’s a quote from a Steve Martin movie!
Steve Martin said “come on, LT. Approve” in a movie???
Ha ha. Ok. No problem my friend! I respect you and this honored place. All good.
It’s approved.
Summarizing!
The Bourg finished with 1+3 as Shawinigan erased a 5-1 third-period deficit and won 6-5 in a shootout. He had a game-high 8 SOG and was named 2nd star.
Tullio, despite a game-high (three-way tie) 5 SOG, was held pointless as Oshawa’s third-period comeback fell short in a 6-4 loss. The Generals head home now trailing 2-0 in their series.
That was disappointing. Given how dominant they’ve been at home I’m wondering if someone more observant than myself can say what Woodcroft does with last change?
From my civilian eye, its more about deploying the d-men against certain lines. The Nurse/Ceci pairing, in particular, hard-matched about top line(s).
It had nothing to do with last change. They out worked CBJ, they were out goalied and out reffed.
Connor McDavid just set a career high in points.
Not a peep?
Was never in doubt, still more to come.
Nice to see though.
Maybe because around here, we do not extrapolate everything into an “oh my” moment. It’s nice, and as McDavid would say, he would appreciate a Stanley Cup more. Now back to under the bridge with you.
Or as they would say in my day, “Into the mud, scum Queen”.
Peep
Peep peep
Peep peep peep
Jays lose in bottom of the 10 th. 2 run homer for Astros.
And Romano’s team-record consecutive saves streak ends at 31.
Hell of a run though…last blown save was last April 8th.
Hmmm post deleted ystd. Gonna guess it was the swearing which I’ll refrain from in the future, that’s on me, got too excited. Everything else is public record especially the bit about a pro-golfer. If it was the bit about the Raptors I stand by it and point to all the 80s Oilers and of course the Covid favorite – The Last Dance.
Winners want to play, not to sit out until it’s convenient.
Not a good omen to lose to a team like the jackets today. I’m not sure I liked the idea of Woody riding Smith as hard as he’s done lately when it was Mikko who salvaged the season earlier in March when Smith was healing up. Need to keep both men hot. But play has been great lately so shouldn’t read too much into it.
Anyway, onwards and upwards, Pittsburgh tomorrow.
I can see Mikko getting one more start if the Kings lose or we win. Woody will ride Smith hard in the Playoffs hopefully no injuries. The next start could be Mikko’s last start as a Oiler. A 901 save percentage just doesn’t cut it in todays game.
I can see Smith and Dustin Brown getting well acquainted in the playoffs.
Lemieux and Danault as well
Yeah he gets the season finally and hopefully is not needed in playoffs. Question in if any team is desperate enough to give him a 1 year contract or will he get a PTO
Mikko? I think will certainly get NHL contract offers for next season (and well in excess of league minimum) – I’d project his AAV in the $2MM range.
If you ask any fan that isn’t a Oiler fan they laugh at how we’re putting all our hopes on old man Smith who’s never won when it counts. They laugh even harder at how bad Mikko is once there’s any pressure involved and his gifting of the first goal of the game. Four years of Mikko have been more than enough. I wish him the best if he can land a back-up to a back-up job out East.
Who cares?
I don’t allow comments about public figures that discuss illegal moments, published or unpublished. That’s the rule, please and thanks.
Understood and I shall refrain in the future.
Thanks for the clarification and apologies for the transgression.
This was a nothing game today so the result isn’t a bid deal. But it wasn’t a nothing game for koskinnen. He needed to inspire confidence that he can be relied upon. And while he wasn’t awful, he wasn’t good either.
This is why the team had a horrible stretch in the middle of the season. The Oilers absolutely dominated this game for long stretches, but the goalie failed the team at important moments.
I agree, they absolutely dominated for long stretches and only scored 2 goals, much like they did during the horrible stretch in the middle of the season.
The Bourg opens the third with his 33rd goal of the season less than a minute into the frame, capitalizing on a miscue by the goalie:
https://twitter.com/Cataractes_Shaw/status/1518335082959884289?cxt=HHwWgsCy3dTtmpIqAAAA
He then adds an aPPle for points on all 3 Shawinigan goals so far.
the team is garbage
a disgrace
Yammamoto is utterly useless
Koskinen garbage
Hahahahahaha
Koskinen is not a goalie.
Woodcroft is an abject failure.
if Holland doesn’t fire them into the sun by noon,
he should go get lunch
Only disgrace here is your comments on this webpage
Fire Holland by 10am!
The mall’s on fire.
Did you enjoy the game on Friday?
I don’t see either one a Oiler next year.
Ver mom was telling me the other day that you forgot to take out the garbage. Again!
Hi verdad!
I’m late but:
Bahahaha
When Kane made that hit on the jacket D-man Blakenburg behind the net the kid winced in pain that you could actually feel through the T.V. Can’t wait for big boy Hockey now that we have Kane for a bit of push back on the first line.
Until the 4th goal against, they actually played “better” than I thought they would – engaged early, had their legs – just one of those games where they couldn’t pull away and their goalie didn’t come up with as many big saves as most games recently.
To be honest, I was not a fan of some of the forward deployment today.
That first line was fire early and I’m not sure why Woody would spell Yamamoto for Kassian for shifts. In addition, I thought McLeod was one of the best forwards through two but he got moved out of the top 6 for Kassian’s bump.
That didn’t make sense (at least to me) and, for me, was a factor in the loss.
Oh well.
The Bourg with a nifty backhand setup for Shawinigan’s first goal:
https://twitter.com/Cataractes_Shaw/status/1518315380468600835?cxt=HHwWhsC-3enykZIqAAAA
This is definitely forget quickly territory. Horseshit ice, ridiculous too-many-men call, no finish.
Oilers the better team. Oh well.
Roslovich, a righty hand shot was available for cheap early this year. Something for the summer.
Really doubt that … he’s from Columbus and is still on a cheap contract.
It was common knowledge. He fell out of favor, he was press boxed, and of course he was listed as trade bait. So pretty sure.
But as I said, perhaps something for discussion this summer as we all analyze the roster.
I’ve seen that damn cannon way too much today.
Colorado so much better at this than we are
4-2 in O-hi-o…
On to Pittsburg – I have confidence that our team will put this one behind them and be ready for the next one.
And thats the ballgame
I want the Oilers to acquire Kukan so they can have on their D:
Kukan
Kulak
Koekkoek
Keith
More K’s than Nolan Ryan!
I wouldn’t mind seeing some McDavid/Drai shifts……… its been a while….. any of Kane, Hyman, Yamamoto – even McLeod to be honest.
Louie is not gonna let that bad call go and I love it.
He has been pushing lately, or better described as just telling the truth. Seems each f the last 4 games he has commented on poor penalty calls.
I think the Oilers will score but this might be one of those games where the puck just doesn’t go in – combo of luck and goalie.
We’ll see.
Ah being out-goaltended. It’s been a while! So which coach/GM do we blame? I’m out of practice.
The last time Mikko started
Koski’s been OK, Elvis is having an allstar game.
On the bright side will get a higher draft pick.
I give credit for that one – well done!
Shirley you can’t be serious.
KRusty with another beauty chance
Got ’em right where we want ’em…
We’ll see. Elvis is a real hound-dog today
That’s a win for the refs … awful penalty call.
Yep happens 30 times a game for both sides. The bench-front is overlap territory (unless puck goes there) – brutal
And a streak ends
Replay didn’t go far enough, looked like the sixth Oilers skater was jumping onto the ice at the end of the clip. And of course, we get scored on during the ensuing PK.
Could’ve been called on both teams
This “crackdown on too many men penalties” is annoying – no impact on play, etc., etc. – chincy and terrible.
The refs are just inventing penalties now.
I think I have read/heard this is a league-mandated “crackdown” on two many men penalties.
Its silly and annoying.
Thats a chintzy call
three freakin games out of four?
Oh wow, horrible call
97 stoned
On a game day? Tsk, tsk.
It’s 4-20-4
Oilers playing too loose here.
Great pass by Barrie back to McDavid – shocked that didn’t lead to a goal.
Far side corner was open low
To be honest, I don’t agree at all with Woody moving McLeod down (4C) to put Kass in the top 6 to start this period.
To me, McLeod was one of the team’s best forwards through 2 periods.
Relentless Hyman draws one
Cue Godat with a Kass culpability reference.
I’m not sure if he was supposed to vacate so low to the goal line on that play or not.
He made about three pretty meh plays that shift where he could’ve done better.
2 games, no Jesse, 3 goals against he McDavid line. Did that line have 3 goals against in the last month with Jesse?
Yes, OP, Zack blew it. The other teams best forward is breaking for the net, one goes with him, than stand around and cover air.
Kassian is an absolute liability defensively. There is NO reliability in his game.
That depends on if team structure calls for Kassian to vacate his primary defensive position to take that guy – there were 3 other players in the vicinity.
We don’t know what team structure calls for in that case.
One doesn’t allow the other team’s best forward a free unencumbered path to the net. One should maintain position between the player and the goaltender and/or the player and the puck. Kassian did neither.
All the other Oilers players were busy with assignments. Kassian’s man make it outnumbered. There was no logical reason not to go with him.
You don’t know that the team structure calls for that – you just don’t.
No, other payers were not “busy with assignments” – they were scrambling out of their positions.
What you ask for Kass to do is interference.
No, body position.
No opposition team’s game plan has “let McDavid skate free and unencumbered and unattended into the rickibox”.
Of course, that’s not the game-plan but, of course, its not necessarily Kass’ assignment and, going back to look, its 100% not and it was McDavid not digging in – the goal scorer was the center’s man – he was i the area and didn’t do his job.
It really was McDavid with primary culpability:
https://www.nhl.com/video/bjorkstrands-25th-goal-of-season/t-332072518/c-11491064
No, the mistake was Kassian’s letting the forward skate free to the front of the net. McDavid was supporting the down low coverage properly. It is next to impossible to McDavid or the centre to adjust for free flyers coming from the slot to the front of the net.
The winger has to mark that guy.
Center has to mark that guy down in the low slot.
Wingers have to pick up the free flyers fromt the outside.
Centers need to pick up the open guy in the low slot – McDavid, the center, was right beside him but not checking him.
Good wake-up call I hope
Great recovery by Ceci and Kulak on that Nyquist speed rush.
At 5 on 5, the 6 d-men are all between 9:30 and 11:15 (give or take a few seconds) – through 2.
Woody has been going to Kass for shifts on the top line here or there for quite a while now.
Personally, I like Jesse and Yamo as the top 6 wingers (and McLeod as the fill in) but Woody is definitely experimenting with this.
I’d guess Kass was benched for much of the time he was out of the box and then Jay made sure he got a shift at the end so legs weren’t too tight going forward.
CBJ had some good shifts that period, but we are far more. A better period than the first, and continues a trend of improving as the game goes on.
#adjustments
*had* not *are*
Okay *are*, too.
After two:
2-1 Edmonton (1-0 Edmonton in the second)
24-20 Edmonton shots (14-8 Edmonton in the second)
34-23 Edmonton Corsi five-on-five (20-12 Edmonton in the second)
9-6 Edmonton HDSC (7-1 in the second)
==
PLEASE put McLeod with Leon and Hyman! One of them will score today, promise!
Hyman is just relentless, he won’t give up on anything. Just like my Mom. 🙂
Barrie now top TOI for D, 2 minutes more than Russell. Barrie, Ceci and Kulak all real close. Keith, Boosh and Russell the next tier.
Team work rate is off the charts since Woodcroft took over. Perhaps some of Kane’s influence too. Starts with Leon and Connor. Leon especially has been playing a hard physical game on the cycle, retrieving and maintaining possession around the goal line, reverse checks and the occasional flashes of nasty. Connor playing with more of an edge too. Will need that in the playoffs.