An overtime goal in a big game (like last night) can cement a player’s name in the hearts of fans forever. The Edmonton Oilers didn’t give a hero much of a chance in the brief OT period last night, as the team’s skaters were once again beaten to every puck and unable to impact the onslaught from the Los Angeles Kings. It was a disappointing end to a rollercoaster evening, and this team’s inability to start on time may well cost the organization a playoff series win.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: How Oilers can finally fix salary cap nightmare
- New DNB: Five reasons why Oilers are facing elimination against Kings after Game 5
- DNB and Lisa Dillman: Why Oilers-Kings series has been a roller coaster through 4 games
- Lowetide: Reasonable expectations for Oilers could not see chaos ahead
- New DNB: How do Oilers solve depth issues up front after first shutout loss of Jay Woodcroft era?
- Lowetide: Early look at Oilers’ options for 2022 NHL Draft
- DNB: Mike Smith a big part of Oilers win in Game 3
- DNB and Lisa Dillman: Inside Oilers-Kings matchup between Jay Woodcroft and Todd McLellan
- Lowetide: Why Oilers line up as summer trade partner with Ducks
- DNB: Oilers’ Derek Ryan’s under-the-radar play instrumental in Game 2 success
- DNB: A long travel day, dim lights at morning skate and who’s on the real PP1?
- DNB: Oilers end seven-game postseason losing streak, a party five long years in the making
- Lowetide: 5 biggest Bakersfield Condors stories from 2021-22 AHL season
- DNB: How Dave Manson is making the Oilers blue line better
- Pierre Lebrun: Can Jay Woodcroft’s message help the Oilers move past recent playoff failures?
- DNB: Should Oilers play Jesse Puljujarvi and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on same line?
- DNB: Connor McDavid produces magic, Mike Smith mistake proves costly: 5 Oilers observations
- Lowetide: Oilers regular season report card for 2021-22
- DNB: Mike Smith never stopped fighting. A playoff run would be his ultimate redemption
- Lisa Dillman and Lowetide: Oilers vs. Kings position by position: Who has the edge?
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman and Shayna Goldman: Inside Oilers’ adjustments that saved their season
- Lowetide: Oilers’ exceptional April saves a turbulent regular season
- Lowetide: Stock up or down for every prospect in the Oilers system
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Oilers won two blowout games and are having a hard time getting back to disciplined games without major errors. Last night, the team started slow, got down by a couple and then came racing back to tie it in regulation. Proving they hadn’t learned one damn thing from the crushing lessons of the first period, the club proceeded directly to the ‘also in photo’ game winner. Damn shame, lots of hard work to get back in the game. Can the Oilers win in LA and bring it back for Game 7? We’re going to have to wait until Thursday to get the answer.
Mike Smith was brilliant but also let in a couple of poor goals, I wonder if we see Mikko Koskinen Thursday night. Doubt it, but he’s used to not playing for long periods and then being thrown into the breach. A better goaltending performance wins this game for Edmonton, that much I’m sure of this morning.
Duncan Keith had a terrible game, just extremely poor. Beaten wide multiple times, he had a saloon door evening and in the biggest game of the season. In 16:08 at five-on-five, he was 0-3 goals. His inability to get into position against Adrian Kempe was the key play in the game, but Keith was very poor in a big game.
Jay Woodcroft is repeating the errors of Dave Tippett one year ago. Natural Stat Trick shows 11 different forward combinations during the game, that’s incredible. No forward line played more than five minutes together last night. Starting overtime with Duncan Keith and Brett Kulak is another unusual idea, one would think running the top pairing (who were 48 percent Corsi and 0-0 five-on-five goals during the evening) would have been the plan. I’m a Woodcroft guy, but last night reminded me of Dallas Eakins. Too cute by plenty.
Connor McDavid was remarkable in the third period, without equal in talent during the big moments. He almost scored late, if that goes in, we’re having a different conversation this morning. Leon Draisaitl scored 2-1-3 on the night, doing most of the damage late. He was also on the ice for three goals against at five-on-five, his line (well lines) bitterly disappointing.
Jesse Puljujarvi didn’t play in the third period, received just 7:33 in playing time on the night. His biggest sin might have been falling down on a promising rush that was developing with Connor McDavid. Warren Foegele was also stapled to the bench in the third period, playing 7:26. A coach who shortens his bench that early, for any reason other than injury, is increasing the pressure on all other players. I don’t know if either man took a downturn physically. I can say JP hasn’t been the same player since Covid, and his recent illness appeared to take some of his game away.
In the biggest game of his coaching life, Jay Woodcroft called on the coaching wisdom of Dave Tippett (Ethan Bear, Dmitri Kulikov) from a year ago. Baffling.
Darnell Nurse played well to my eye, he missed some time during the game with some malady, still he played over 20 minutes. Cody Ceci also played well, for me they were the best pairing available.
Zack Kassian had a fine evening, scored a goal and was on the right side of the shot share. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins played well to my eye, and I liked Kailer Yamamoto’s game.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Who knows? The head coach is actively ignoring what worked for him during the regular season, so maybe Puljujarvi and Foegele are scratched with Derick Brassard and Devin Shore replacing them. I will tell you, that game had a weird vibe, and the things Edmonton is doing now (like taking 10 penalties a night) do not resemble the button-down Woodcroft Oilers that got this team into the playoffs.
I would suggest the coaching staff go back and see what was working in the final games of the regular season, dispense with the needless post-whistle scrums, cut back on the penalties and re-introduce passing into the team’s overall game. Passing lessons for all defensemen and Zach Hyman might be a plan about now. As for the forward lines, if all are healthy, then the best trios I’ve seen are Kane-McDavid-Puljujarvi, Hyman-Draisaitl-Yamamoto, Foegele-Nuge-Ryan and then Ryan McLeod and Zack Kassian as the extra forwards. Dress 7D.
Jay Woodcroft had a ghastly game, and is danger of being the man who thought too much. Can he recover in time for Game Six? Hell if I know.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
At 10 this morning, it’s going to be lava hot on the Lowdown on TSN1260. Bruce McCurdy from The Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal will join us at 10:20, with Lisa Dillman from The Athletic bringing the LA side at 11. Plenty of time for your heat seeking verbal missiles, 10-1260 text and @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!
Holy crap Smith you dumb
homy crap refs you let a mugging happen and then call that??
Condors do press but can’t tie it up.
Wolfe was the difference in the game vis-a-vis Skinner – no bad goals on Wolfe vs. 2 for Skinner (although he did make some solid saves).
Wolf is a nice prospect for sure, two years younger than Skinner and a much later pick in the draft. Goalies are voodoo though, Skinner has good potential and Wolf may be blocked by Markstrom in Cgy for 4 more years.
Dustin Wolfe with a MASSIVE save on Cracknell and 15 seconds later Skinner with a Smith-like puck handle for a gimme – it went off the stantion towards the net but Skinner got back but one-handed a weak play to the Heat player.
Skinner with TWO ROUGH goals in the 3rd.
3-2 Heat with 13 to go.
Summarizing!
Wanner was held scoreless with 2 SOG and finished even on the night. MJ lost 5-3 and now trail their series 3-1 “going to Winnipeg”.
Now Philp draws a PP, gaining the zone, dumping it in and interfered with on the chase.
Skinner lets in an AWFUL goal, a weak shot from the half-boards, less than a minute in to the 3rd.
2-1 Heat.
Brosseau ties it right back up.
Esposito and Philp cause a turnover – it pops to the slot and D. Brosseau chips it over Wolfe.
Watched the Kempe goal a couple more times and the more I watch it the more I hate Kulak’s effort on it. Obviously primary error on Keith but if you look closely Kulak was really slow to recognize obvious danger; specifically that Keith was going to be beat. Kulak was forward skating in full stride, closer to the middle of the ice and “ahead” of Kempe (as in deeper). And we know he can fly. Had he read the danger he quite easily beats Kempe to the net forcing a backhand shot or pass to Kempe’s support players. Now those guys were real threats but I’d argue Kempe was a larger threat and McDavid or even Keith could have taken away the passing lane.
Dive headfirst, take a penalty but do NOT let Kempe walk in untouched.
Hindsight and replays are a dangerous way to judge the players. In the moment… yes Kulak didn’t save the day and he could have if he knew what was about to happen, but he probably expected more from Keith, as we all did.
Perlini rips a snap shot from the hashmarks and Malone tips home the PP equalizer late in the 2nd.
After killing off a 5 on 3 without allowing a shot, on the very next shift, the Condors allow the Heat attacker to walk in to the slot and snap one home.
1-0 Heat with 7 to go in the 2nd.
Even game.
Skinner has made some real nice saves.
Woody called Broberg “insurance” in his media avail late this afternoon.
Sounds like they will probably go 12/6 with Russell drawing in and Kulak will move up to play with Ceci.
Damn Klefbom’s arthritis a million times over.
A lot of thoughts today. I won’t give my idea of a lineup as the people that make those decisions are smarter than me. I can’t get over how we came out for periods 1-2-OT. In a absolute critical game that’s unbelievable. I don’t blame the coaches for that. If a player needs to be motivated in that situation well he doesn’t belong. Tomorrow’s game is going to speak volumes about this group. Lose and it’s time for a major overhaul to the core. This is there 3rd opportunity in the playoffs. Win and they live to fight another day. I’ve cheered for this team forever. Watched them in the Edmonton Gardens. So on to tomorrow and cheer like hell and hopefully not bitch to much
What is massive overhaul?
That’s the same kind of thinking that got the franchise into this mess. Keep the good players. Work around the edges and improve organically. Lots of talent bubbling under.
The players who have let the Oilers down the most are some of the prized off-season acquisitions, not drafted players.
What’s interesting about that Keith gap on the OT winner is that I think he was toast before Kempe even crossed the blue line.
When Kempe was in the neutral zone, Keith’s positioning was actually good, but he then made the tragic error of crossing over the wrong way (towards his right). Kempe was flying down the right wing (Keith’s left). Keith realizes his mistake when Kempe is at the blue line, but it’s too late.
At that moment, it was like that movie Final Destination.
If he’s closer to Kempe (side board) he can close him off and McDavid can continue skating back to retrieve the puck and/or check Kempe. If he’s further back, not ideal but he at least has time to pivot.
That was the old Linda Ronstadt, the “Blue By You”. And it was just painful to watch unfold in realtime.
Drai hasn’t been good 5v5 in along time. He’s now unwell. Use him to where he can help the best
I’d use the guys Holland paid.
Kane Connor Drai
Hyman Nuge Yama
Foegele McLeod Kassian
Archie Ryan JP
Kulak Ceci
Russell Barrie
Keith Bouch
Maybe Shore draws in. Brass doesn’t have the wheels for this and hasn’t shown he can use experience to help at this point. Maybe switch Kane and Hyman, I prefer that but it might be too much in such a game
They were fine games 2 and 3 at evens. My issue with loading up the first line to start is that if Drai is having issues with Danault/Kopitar, how is Nuge going to handle either of those two on the road?
I’d go:
Kane McDavid JP
Hyman Drai KY
Foegele Nuge Ryan
McLeod Kassian
Kulak Ceci
Keith Bouchard
Broberg Barrie
Russell
Should be a no-brainer, IMO, to scratch Archibald.
They should play Broberg. He can wheel and he’s big enough to get in the way to break up the cycle.
Load up McDrai if trailing.
Drai isn’t having match up issues
He’s unwell. He can’t do the job at C
I actually don’t think he has the skating to be a C full time. He is a lumbering heavy skater. He is fast straight ahead under a head of steam, but so is Lucic and most NHL players
He doesn’t have the stamina because of skating to play a full 60 +, game in and out and into playoffs, hard skating at C even when healthy
So he rests a bunch of the game and underwhelms 5v5 and comes on late. But that’s not what the team needs. Dominate the game, no more late heroic comebacks as a feature. I never liked when he said ‘it’s coming’. It should have already been there
Leo is a finisher. TCB. Let him do what he’s best at. Connor needs a STK finisher. Leo is better than Kane at that
If they survive I’d go Connor Drai / Nuge Kane moving forward
Nuge said he likes skating driving shooting wingers. Perfect
Leo is an elite skater. He’s a zone entry whiz. Is he struggling? Maybe a bit, but is that all him? Some have pointed out that Hyman isn’t moving the puck quick enough to Drai.
Leon has played top 3 minutes for a forward for the last three years.
His faceoff percentage has improved year on year.
He has played Centre most of his life.
He still scored last game while unwell.
Dont think it’s Leon’s issue
Peters comes in for Broberg but they are also sitting Kelb (rough game last night) and Philp comes in for a 12/6.
No game for Savoie.
The Oilers twitter says Savoie’s ELC starts this season, which would mean the first year is burnt automatically.
Capfriendly has it starting next season.
Why would they burn a year of his contract?
That was likely the “deal” in order to entice him to leave school this year and turn pro.
As an aside, presuming it is indeed an ELC that starts this season, he’s no longer eligible to play in the AHL – his ATO is gone and, for those on NHL contracts, you have to have been on the AHL roster on the trade deadline.
Kind of odd (for both the player and team) to sign a deal that nullifies his ATO right now.
You’d think the player hopes to get into a game or two. And while he’s unlikely to actually play, presumably the team would also like to have him available for their playoff run, just in case injuries hit.
I agreed – Capfriendly has corrected their tweet and stating it starts this season.
What are the odds Foggy and JP are Oilers next year? 20%?
Foegele almost has to be traded, particularly given his usage. I’m still hopeful that JP is signed.
Foegele has a higher chance for cap purposes. JP has value as an RFA on what should be an inexpensive bridge contract. They would need to get something good back for him in a trade; I am skeptical about that one. So it’s more likely that JP returns than Foegele.
JP will go for a third round pick destination Carolina or New York…
That would be something, Holland holding out and not trading Puljujarvi for a 2nd when he was in Finland, then turning around after 2 seasons in the top 6 and trading him for a 3rd.
If JP is moved, it will be for real value – there is zero chance (in my opinion) that he’s moved for a marginal return.
zero percent for both barring some unbelievable miracle. They will be the Bear and Jones of 2022…
I actually think there’s a good chance. Evander Kane doesn’t currently have a deal in place with the Oilers next season, and if that doesn’t happen there’s a hell of a lot less pressure to move cap at the expense of wingers.
I think they will try everything under the sun to keep Kane
I think it depends on Kane.
If he wants the richest deal he can get he probably doesn’t return. I don’t think Holland will be the highest bidder (though agree he’ll make a serious play).
I’d be surprised if Puljujarvi is no an Oiler next season.
Broberg has been recalled……
I wonder if Rusty is banged up again or if they plan on going 11/7?
I do think its notable that Rusty hasn’t played in a number of games – he may be banged up (which happens to him alot these days).
Good chance he plays, but it could also be so they’re 100% sure to have 6D available for the game (in case of morning skate or warmup tweek, or someone feels under the weather, etc).
Woody did say they called him up for “insurance”…
Yeah I saw that after.
I wonder about any other lineup changes. Probably none, given that Brassard and Shore are the other options.
Savoie signed to his ELC starting next season.
I’ll presume the performance bonuses are fairly nominal.
Per Capfriendly, no such performance bonuses:
Carter Savoie #LetsGoOilers
3 year entry level starting in 2022-23
$925,000 cap hit
2022-23: $832.5k + $92.5k SB
2023-24: $832.5k + $92.5k SB
2024-25: $832.5k + $92.5k SB
No performance bonuses and $80k minor salary in all three seasons.
Finally, some good news!
With Broberg recalled, I wonder if he gets to celebrate with playing a game tonight…… they went 11/7 last game.
One hopes.
He’s not but, actually, now that he’s on an ELC (for this season), he’s no longer eligible to play in the AHL.
I’m still not 100% the ELC is for 2021/22…..
Can Nurse appeal and play tomorrow pending the appeal?
Either way, the team will have to play a game without him if they are going to win the series (he is unlikely to win the appeal based on past history of appeals). Might as well take his medicine and be ready for game 7, imo. It might even benefit him if he can rest his injury for a game.
Woodcroft had a deer in headlights game last night, first season as a head coach in the NHL, it can happen. I still think his overall impact on the team has been good enough to extend him no matter how this series ends and hope he learns from the experience. If it wasn’t for the team already losing two first rounds in a row I think that’s what would’ve happened, now I think he’s coaching for his Oiler career these next two games.
He was caught overthinking and overreacting to singular events last night instead of seeing the bigger picture which came off as full panic mode.
There’s this truth that “playoffs are a different kind of animal”, I disagree, it’s the same animal, just angrier. You still have to play whatever type of game that got you there. Just at a much higher pace and with far more intensity. Playoff hockey is still hockey. Don’t try to do too much, sure you need to tweak things since teams adapt when you face them multiple times but the key to success is getting as close to your team’s ideal game as possible every night not by changing your style into “playoff hockey” or play roulette with the lines.
He seems like a smart guy. I’m certain he’ll learn from this. Let’s just hope he can learn enough in 48 hours to get this team out of the hole they’ve dug themselves. This is clearly a group where emotions can run rampage in high pressure situations. They need a coach who can reel them in and get them back on track. You don’t accomplish that by desperately flinging forward lines on the wall hoping something sticks. Make changes when needed, and it was cetainly needed last night, just not all of them at once.
There’s been a lot of focus on McDavid’s line and Jesse or No when the line that’s truly been an issue for a few weeks is Draisaitl’s. Getting McDrai together was a good move, Drai is struggling for whatever reason, getting him the McDavid boost got the team rolling. The big decision for tomorrow in terms of lines is whether to go nuclear right away or keep it in your back pocket but be prepared to use it early. Or maybe get them some early shifts to create momentum and then split them again. Long term I believe you need them on seperate lines but for a two game push playing them 25 minutes or so together might be the injection the team needs.
Line combinations are obviously secondary to the team being sharp and ready from first puck drop though. They are a better team if they just play to their level.
Nice one
This sudden change from becoming disciplined and skilled to expert scrumming face washers is so not their groove. Outside of Kane. Let him do it and don’t let home get jumped
Play your game, finish checks more consistently than they normally do (which they need to do anyways). That is all that is needed
Can they play well enough to not give up more than 2 goals?
I guess we’ll know the plan for the backend within a few hours. Condors play game 2 tonight and, unless the pull Broberg, it’ll be just Russell and six D tomorrow (which is somewhat expected).
I didn’t mention this last summer I don’t think because it wouldn’t be popular and would bring out everyone’s lizard brain, but I was worried about long contracts for Nuge and Hyman. Both good players, but more of the same vanilla, too similar in personality, not addressing what is missing on the roster
Who they needed was Danault. The verbal was he wanted a different role, but his comments this series say he relishes shutting down good players, and Holland could have learned that even if we couldn’t
Nuge is a town fav, but what does the team look like popping Drai into his comfort zone with Connor and Danault centering a second line?
Or dropping Drai down with Danault or Danault up with Connor to let him wheel at will?
A 5M contract that is 2 years shorter should have gone to him for me, if he’d come. But why wouldn’t he? A good GM could figure the rest out via FA or trade
Nuge for the amount of ice time he receives and special teams should be doing a whole lot more. Can you imagine how much better the Oilers would be and would have been if instead of Hall and Nuge, they had opted for Seguin and Landeskog? Food for thought.
The grass is always greener…… Landeskog, a full time winger that doesn’t play at all, like at all, on the PK…..
The last four seasons, Landeskog has averaged the following PK TOI/G:
17 seconds
5 seconds
3 seconds
4 seconds
A winger that doesn’t PK.
Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.
Landeskog has played significant minutes on the PK in past years but good teams often give those minutes to specialists while saving their star performers for more important aspects the game.
https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerreport.php?fromseason=20212022&thruseason=20212022&stype=2&sit=4v5&stdoi=oi&rate=n&v=p&playerid=8476455
In a re-draft, Landeskog would easily go #1.
For example.
In 2016/17 Landeskog spent 127 minutes on the PK but the team decided, wisely, his talents were much more important on the offensive side of the puck.
Following that decision his offensive numbers went from 33 points to 62 to 75 in the subsequents seasons.
What do people think of calling up Broberg and going 11/7?
I’m for it.
Season is on the line, give 97 and Draisaitl some extra shifts to empty the tank, 7D allows you to better manage the minutes.
They don’t need more chaos. Russell is what they need if he’s healthy. Protect the house and he does that, somehow
Hoping to get some small consolation tonight by having Calgary lose….
I’m trying to formulate my thoughts on this but is Woodys cerebral approach not conducive to playoff success somehow? He’s very academic in his approach and I’m all for it. He loves his quotes and quirky logical answers but does logic dissipate when you get punched in the mouth? Does he need a more…visceral side to him?
I think one of Woody’s quotes was posted in the Kings locker room.
Waxed a little to poetically after humiliating the Kings.
A few of us in here were guilty of that as well.
Outside of a handful of players and Manson they need a LOT more visceral
Connor is aggressive and over the top competitive, like Gretzky was. Was it Badger who said he was the most competitive person he had ever met?
When we think of the Oilers historically, what do we think? I think of the skilled, wildly fast and violent 80’s teams. The over matched and out working 90’s guys gutting themselves to every humiliation by the filthy Stars. The overmatched and out working and violent MacT groups
This obsession with nice guy / good guy, quality people thing is garbage. Holland always mentions it. It’s not what the org identity is. The Wings weren’t that when they were good and winning cups
Look at the difference Kane made. Because he is fearless, plays heavy as he can do that, and gives his all. And he has skill
And he can skate. In today’s NHL it all starts there. Holland has been drafting skill with speed and often size. But, and it’s a big but, do any of these fine kids have the requisite desire to play a hard game, a checking game, and play the way that’s obviously needed to succeed in the NHL playoffs?
I’m not talking old time head hunting and pointless running people. But will they let other players assert their wills over their own, and when told, via play, to stay on the outside and mind their business, are they going to look down at their skates and say ‘ok’ and try to wash the kicked sand out of their eyes?
I think Woodcroft is an excellent coach and should be here long term, along with Manson. They’ve made some excellent changes.
The personnel decisions in last night’s game were really bizarre. I understand playing KY and JP less if you have a better alternative, but throwing Archibald out there is not it.
Why is Foegele playing so little? I mean a lot of it is just strange.
Foegele is stats eye candy. His numbers look good in speed, size and underlying. But he has limited puck ability and not a lot of hockey sense. He’s a poor man’s Hyman, who has somewhat better hands but…
I don’t mean to slam them, but we see what we see on the ice when it matters most
Foggy couldn’t even dump the puck into the Kings zone last night….
“Foegele is a poor man’s Hyman”
and his salary reflects it so what’s the problem?
Groundhog Day.
Same reason Kahun did not play last year in the playoffs very much. Despite some peoples protests.
Warren- 0-0-0
It’s classic Edmonton Oilers. Foegele with the Hurricanes was effective in his role. Like JP, has been yo yoed for the vast majority of the season and has killed his confidence. JP, between illnesses and injury after a fantastic start to the year, removed from the powerplay altogether and pegged like Foegele as a big problem. Their exits will verify the ignorance of this organization in terms of getting the most out of its players. Remember it’s all about keeping the big three happy no matter what.
How has Foegele been yo yo’d?
I assume Fabio means Foegle spent too much time in the top 6.
JP has been yo-yoed? How so?
He has been in the top 6 almost exclusively this season with about 65% his time with McDavid and the rest with Drai.
His most common linemates:
McDavid
Hyman
Drai
Kane
It’s time for Harnaryan to take the fall for this. He is now the voice of failure for me. I’m sorry, I don’t make the rules but we need Jack and Gene flown in stat.
Hahaha, my wife was saying the same thing! Everytime she hears him, she says “he only calls games the Oilers lose”. It’s so true!
The man is cursed. He was over celebrating on those jets goals and I’ll forever hate him for it!
I was saving this comment for after the exit,
First chance I’ve had to vent on here today.
It could be worse for you guys. You could be an Oiler fan in Halifax. Games 1 and 2 were 11pm and 1130pm starts and after the second we went straight to the airport to catch a 515am flight to LA. Adjusted to their times and saw games 3 and 4 only to come home for another 1130pm start. I’m half hoping for a loss because my (high school) kid and I can’t keep doing this.
The CBC double header concept needs to be round tabled. Sure an early game makes sense as a national audience might watch the Leafs at say, 6pm your time. But I can promise you, almost no one besides the local audience is watching a 1030pm Toronto start for Oilers or Flames. So if it’s only locals watching, just play it at local time.
Anyone with experience in TV able to explain? I’d guess the out of market ratings are close to zero for the late game.
On the plus side, Duncan Keith didn’t inconvenience you with a long overtime.
As someone with extensive broadcast experience I’ll have a lash.
Its always important to remember that there are millions of Leafs/Habs fans right across the country and broadcasters don’t want to dilute that audience in any way.
Edmonton is one of the smallest broadcast markets in Canada and expat fans in other areas like you aren’t numerous enough to influence the overall ratings in any appreciable way so it makes sense for broadcasters to ensure there is as little competition for eyeballs (and advertiser dollars) as possible.
By no means have I given up faith yet…but this series just seems to be destined to go to the Kings.
Regardless of what happens tomorrow….I expect this team to take a serious amount of flesh from their opponent. If you lose next game, I better see Danault bleeding from multiple orifices, I better see Kopitar bent over in seething pain, I better see bruises/cuts/scrapes all over Quick….I better see Brown considering retiring after the game due to injuries he cannot recover from.
I want heart shown. Period.
You want blood. I want more than a handful of shots for in the first period, and perhaps holding the Kings to a dozen less than normal.
This team has managed to go backwards since Mr. Holland has taken the reins. Certainly, Peter Chiarelli sewered this team before he got here, but I think it’s fair to judge Kenny on his own merits at this point in his tenure. While I’m not saying everything he has done has been negative (i.e. getting JP to stay, signing Kane, Woody hiring, etc. are plusses), the majority of his bets are failing (-see reliance on past their prime vets, overpaying, too much term, failing to get a solid goalie, failing to build a tougher D corps., poor negotiator, etc.).
Here is the bottom line – the furthest the Oilers have advanced since drafting McDavid has been one first round win in 2017. That is not acceptable. Then consider we also have Draisatl. UGH.
Since then, they have been going backwards and seem to have regressed from a potential Championship team in the making (several pundits picked the Oilers to make a strong run after 2017) to a playoff bubble team, just happy to make the playoffs. What a pathetically low standard this team has fallen to! In the end, no amount of xGF or corsi or 5v5 improvement makes me feel better over these numbers: first round losses coming up on 3 years in a row, all to teams lower in the standing in Blackhawks, Jets and soon to be Kings (unless they FLIP THE SCRIPT for once).
I miss the Oilers of the late 90s, lacked high end skill but had tons of heart and played tough. Guys like Smytty, Bucky, Weight, Guerin, Cujo, etc., may not have had the top end talent, but they were pretty damn good and actually got out of the first round a couple times.
Holland has made the playoffs three years in a row. That hasn’t happened for a long time. Yes. Losing in the playoffs suck. But making the playoffs every year is an improvement.
I am unhappy with what Woodcroff did last night, but I am still basically onboard with him and Manson as the coach and assistant going forward.
We’ve tried Trotz’s types in McLellan, Hitchcock, and Tippett. I’d rather go with the next generation.
Woody got punched in the face. I am interesting and willing to see how he responds this season and next.
I didn’t say that I prefer Trotz, so not sure why you mention him. In fact, I clearly stated Woodcroft was a positive arrow in Holland’s favor. I am a Woodcroft supporter at this point. I agree that yesterday was a big blow to Woody’s record so far, but he will hopefully learn from it.
Sure, I acknowledge the Oilers have reached the step of being a pretty good regular season team, but when you have watched over 20+ years of failing to subpar performance, it gets tiresome to see the bar remain so low. Further, when you have two incredible players as we are lucky enough to have, you hope that a contender can actually be built around them. We are on year 7 of McDavid and haven’t gotten past the first round.
This is actually a reply to Godot.
Kane fell into our lap, yes he was the one to secure him but in a normal year a free agent like this does not appear, it was a fluke signing. My guess, without Kane, this team would of not made the playoffs. Then Ken’s record is lost to Chicago in a play in, swept by the Jets, miss playoffs. Reasonable?
I can’t disagree more that Holland shouldn’t get credit for the Kane signing – I’ve expressed the reasons numerous times over the last month or so. Will do so again is W reads this response and requests but I give full credit to Holland for that signing.
It was a fluke that Kane was available, without him the Oil miss the playoffs.
Is making the playoffs with 2 of the best players in the NHL a tough task?
In the Pacific?
No
It was until Holland arrived.
Well, you are going to be a happy Oiler fan because I don’t think the California teams will be good for a few years here.
You really need to take a deeper dive into the LAK rebuild before claiming they won’t be a factor for a few years.
Win or lose this series, they have already arrived ahead of schedule and that was with Blake being somewhat cautious going into the trade deadline….he wanted to see what this group could do.
In the offseason, he will have more than $20 million in cap space as well as an incredible prospect pool to deal from.
Watching them, it’s obvious they need an elite finisher at forward as well as a bonafide #1LD and they have the cap space and prospect capital to get both.
Absolutely not
The Oilers make it look hard like this series
Next year, they will have their hands full making the playoffs.
Agree that Woodcroft is the coach moving forward.
I think it is too easy to give coaches and management credit for ‘progress’ while having two elite talents hitting prime and a number one D finally
Is it Holland? Or is it the players dragging a poorly made roster up? Like Connor dragging them into the gam least night?
We accept a standard that is far too low IMO. Do we realize how rare it is to have generational players? Does Holland? He’s never had one. Generational is not HOF
Do we and he realize how few teams have had one since the late 70’s early 80’s? The Oilers and Pens have been REALLY lucky. What other teams have had 2, and a stellar side kick like Malkin and Drai?
The previous Oilers and the Pens didn’t blow it
I retract, Holland had Lidstrom
This goes to Gully as well. Good PP offensive coach, or any monkey can do well with Connor and Leon? And where the heck are some strategies in the O zone other than if they let you into the scoring areas great, otherwise out to the point and go back to the corners?
The amount of times they set up a screen or a play low high to a player in a position to actually get a good shot off are random. It’s inconsistent and often times lucky. It needs to be purposeful
Or how about that low pad shot to Matthews Marner made? That is coached strategy, when things are so tight there is no open ice. You have to create it
They repeat the same things over and over and over.
Your timeline is off. Chiarelli was our GM for two more years after the 2017 playoff run. It was his teams that then finished 6th and then 7th in the Pacific.
Holland came in and the team jumped instantly to 2nd in the Pacific, then 2nd in the North, and then 2nd in the Pacific again.
Hi David, Yes, I’m aware of when Chiarelli was actually fired. What I lay on Holland is only what was done since 2019 – namely, first round exits to teams that finished below the Oilers in the standings – i.e. Hawks, Jets, possibly the Kings (hopefully not).
The lack of goaltending being one of the biggest issues you’ve mentioned though overvaluing experience (vets on the rapid decline), professional scouting in general, and poor cap stewardship are all lingering issues.
Many of Hollands bets have been unspectacular: Keith, Smith, and Foegele, while others have been below replacement value (Brassard).
I wonder if that’s marketing or if Holland really actually believed that there was some magic knowledge that aged vets could impart to “teach the kids how to win” because they’ve been there before. It seemed that they genuinely thought that this was really the missing ingredient in the elixir.
Ken, I’ll teach you how to win. Go out and get a goalie that doesn’t let two soft goals in per night during the playoffs, and preferable one that’s under 32. 🙂
Hey, Weight and Guerin and Cujo were top end players facing and eliminating teams they were extreme underdogs against.
I think I saw it best on Twitter.
Fans: “Can you win a playoff series?”
Flash to a picture of the guys from Pawn Stars,
“Best I can do is not get swept!”
That was gut punch like I’ve never had before, and I was here for the Miracle on Manchester in 82 (cue me tying an onion to my belt).
Last year I raged on after loss 3, but I think I’ve tempered my expectations about this team. Sure it would have been nice to have seen a vastly improved team, and they are a better team than they were last year, but there is still much work to go. The holes are still there, but I’m cautiously optimistic seeing the top end is a gift and beyond what other teams have.
I was surprised at player deployment last night, particularly when JP didn’t get a shift in the 3rd, and probably wouldn’t have seen ice unless the game went into triple OT, ala Klima-ville.
The Nurse suspension is deserved as no player should do that, but, and here’s the but, the NHL player safety department is very inconsistent to say the least. Spurgeon gets a 5K fine and Nurse gets one game? Clearly I do not understand.
The optimistic part of me says there have been a lot more highs in this season than in season’s past, so maybe improvement is happening.
I used to always tell my players don’t worry about falling in your effort to improve, because if you’re heading in the right direction, if you fall forward, you will at least be another 6 feet towards your goal.
Go Oilers Go.
Fabulous Coach
I’m caustically optimistic
Oh, the Oilers are 100% going to win tomorrow, just because
Such a weird year for the Oilers. I believe the outcomes were fairly obvious right from the starts of the games. One could just “see it”, are they on, or are they off. Sure some games got interesting towards the end of the game and they had a few comebacks but not many…
In retrospect, I wish I had written down a “W” or a “L” after watching the first 5 minutes of the game to determine if I could ACTUALLY predict the outcome from the first 5 minutes of play. I think I would have had a reasonably predictive model…
Six stars for this article LT. Just outstanding.
The mood today is so low and rightfully so that I predict a disciplined and skilled performance tomorrow, 3-1 Oilers.
Such has been this season.
Nurse’s head butt on Danault was unacceptable and a dangerous play. He deserves that suspension.
Hey OP, Ryan, et al:
Encouraging early results with magnesium/zinc, protein powder, and BioSteel.
Played beer league Monday and my skating was way better. Still some residual soreness, but I’d say it’s at least 75 percent better. Going to workout today, let’s see how it goes!
For sure some of this may be placebo, but I’m also sleeping better and *feeling* better.
Good stuff!!!!
I’m terrible at them, but today’s post could use some Stan Weir.
If not today then tomorrow.
Stauffer and Spector are frauds and those worshipping at their altars morons.
Absolutely nothing to say about Keith, nothing to say about poor veteran performances.
I’ve said it before: the MSM sucks. Moreover, these two in particular are cowards for going after guys who actually make a positive difference out there.
Btw, verdict on Keith is now in. Guy brought in for the playoffs has performed worse than Jones or Bear ever did. He simply cannot defend a speedy rush or break a cycle. Big woof. Cap hit? Double woof.
Keith cost this team a playoff game and was brutal in game 4 as well.
I said he was done in the summer. Wasn’t wrong, just early.
Stauff brings on guests so he can click on his computer and surf the web. When the guest stops talking Bob reads ads or stats. You can skip the first and last 3 minutes of every segment.
He was quite bad last night, no question.
But calling a player who played top 4 minutes all season while leading the Dcorps in goal differential ‘done’ seems a tad dramatic to me.
Huge issues with coaching and deployment, as LT said.
JP and KY are the best RWs on the team. Play them!
No Oilers young player, in my recollection, has ever had a playoff game as porous as Duncan Keith’s. The coaching staff incorrectly assigned that pairings’ failures to Bouchard, who is an excellent D man.
Why is this team overthinking things?
When Nurse was out, Kulak was elevated and the results were excellent. On that basis, Keith is clearly your third best D on the left side.
Play your best players, and those who are not, do not play them.
I’ll add if your best players are not at their best, it is far better to use the guys that are healthy more and in bigger roles
Riding guys playing poorly or not well enough and hoping for another miracle play doesn’t work, apparently
The chances of a guy stepping up are far greater than a sick and or hurt guy defying the odds
Not if those better players not at their best are still better than the rest.
True but the results are on the table aren’t they?
Are they?
you make too much sense stop:)
And just to prove the world is trolling me, the adverts popping up here today are for the Flames 50/50.
Le sigh…
NHL Player Safety
@NHLPlayerSafety
Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse has been suspended for one game for Head-butting Los Angeles’ Phillip Danault.
Yup. They lost that game in a really bad way.
Translate: “I know you’re all down. You know those wounds? Here’s some salt.” Yay decency.
Nurse deserved the suspension. I think he’s frustrated that he can’t play like he wants to. He’s definitely injured.
Whelp, at least we won more playoff games this year than we did in the previous two. Nice while it lasted.
Roll the draft blogs, LT!
Throwing some draft stuff in the middle of the GDT would be bold, that’s for sure.
Can’t say the cross-check didn’t deserve the fine but how about the cross check to Barrie’s neck in game 2 (as one example of multiple acts just as egregious).
How about the Anderson DDT on Nuge. It was clear as mud what he was trying to do.
Politically incorrect…$5k was worth it.
Durzi will mind his own business. It was not his scrum to join.
Kudos to Zac Hyman for
creating havoc in the crease and tying up Kings defenders on the Kassian goal
tying up multiple Kings on the draw allowing McDavid to grab a lose puck and score a PPG
again creating some havoc right in front of Quick and typing up the Dman on Drai’s PPG.
and of course taking a friendly fire shot earlier in the game and brushing it off like it was nothing. Hopefully he can get his skate on for next game.
If only he could look up with the puck on his stick.
Ya, only if he was a perfect hockey player.
This series:
Smith .930
Quick .887
Last night
Smith .884
Quick .857
Smith has had the better save percentage in 3 of the 5 games.
Smith ain’t the problem. This coming from a guy who thinks Holland should be fired for failing to address goaltending.
Smith had the better save percentage last night, and he did make some massive saves but, when comparing the goalies, think about the goals that went in.
Smith let in 2-3 that should not have gone in.
None of the Oiler goals were stinkers by Quick.
Which 2-3 goals are you referring to? Let’s hear the specifics.
First everyone complained the Oiler goalies weren’t outplaying the opposition. Then when they do people complain it’s not by enough or that they weren’t perfect.
I believe Smith was outplayed last night by Quick.
The first Kempe goal was awful, the AA goal was “meh” at best as was the Danault goal. Sure, it was “tipped” but, come on, it was almost tipped right on him and it was definitely saveable.
Smith’s save percentage vs Quick’s says otherwise does it not?
What did you want on the AA goal? Are we sure expectations are realistic?
A lazy shitty pass up the middle is easily picked off, puck carrier skates in uncontested and passes to a wide open King side of the net. Smith plays it as a bang-bang shot, which it almost always is. He’s there if it was, but it’s not because there is zero pressure on AA. There is no Oiler anywhere near giving AA all the the time in the world. It let’s just simply blame the goalie for what. For not knowing there was zero Oiler pressure on AA? For not standing perfect ground and waiting and waiting and waiting? Come on. Good to know that we blame goalies for redirected PP goals. Let’s apply that same standard when it’s the Oilers scoring.
Lets talk about Quick. That was some world class swimming on the Kassian corner. Where was Quick, halfway to the corner on his belly? How is McDavid’s villa any different than AA’s? Both were alone in front of the net. At least there was pressure on McDavid.
clearly the same standards aren’t being applied. Kings’ goals are weak while Oiler goals are works of art.
A better save percentage doesn’t necessarily equate to a better performance – you know better than that.
The AA wasn’t awful, it was “meh” as I stated. Pushing over to the shooter as opposed to lunging and flopping on the stomach seems like something many goalies would do.
Quick didn’t let in anything near as egregious as the Kempe goal (1st) or as saveable as the Danault goal.
http://www.shiftchart.com/
1:30
Watch that ot again and tell me you can’t see the point they should have linechanged.
None of those players should have been on the ice after how hard a scramble they had to get puck out of dzone.
Acting like regular season ot in playoffs. That was the nail.
Win as a team lose as individuals or select group of special.
I remember the 2014 Sochi olympics and Babcock had them changing like every 30 seconds, wasn’t fancy but boy they were like the Borg in that tournament ( talent helped too 🙂 ).
That team allowed 3 goals in the entire tournament. Borg tactical drones, for sure.
You’d think that message would have gotten through by now
Too high a tolerance for being embarrassed I guess
Make a play and don’t get beat. I don’t think there was a single Oiler in overtime who made one play and who didn’t get beat.
On the goal: Kane fails to make a play, McDavid gets beat, Keith gets beat, Smith gets beat, and Kulak fails to make a play.
That gives the overtime against Colorado a run for worst team-wide execution I’ve seen from the Oil this year.
You missed “Hyman fails to make a play”. The two fresh guys failing to get the puck deep to facilitate the line change & then watching the disaster unfold from up the ice was a big factor.
Great cover of title song
https://youtu.be/QepeWgOcJDg
Tomorrow may be the last time 29 and 97 are teammates.
I hope not.
Pokes head into crowded theatre:
“FIRE!!”
dear lord sweet baby Jesus no, We do not have the right GM to make any decision like that.
Well, the ‘right’ GM would not make that decision.
I want Holland gone yesterday, but one thing he doesn’t pretend to be is the smartest guy in the room. And these are the only GMs who make moves like that.
Stats are a regular season thing
Playoffs demands old timey, what have you done for me lately?
xGF doesn’t matter a lick, it’s GF-GA
Team sports where teams contest space are territorial. You must win that battle to win consistently. Winning that starts with winning one on one battles
This a something the Oilers haven’t been able to to in a long time. When they could they lacked enough skill
It takes a certain mindset to win battles and refuse to let anyone get a leg up on you. As in beating you to a scoring area. To want to engage physically. To want to win so bad you will play the system as it’s the only way to win as a team against good teams
Keith was that. It’s over for him, I hope he realizes it. Holland needs to figure the other guys out and fix what he has made. And for the love of hockey, Kulak is not what they need on D, nor is Barrie. So many nice guys