Game 14 2022-23: Oilers at Lightning

The gales of November came slashing for the Edmonton Oilers last night, as the team’s penalty kill threatens to drown the good ship and crew like a hurricane west wind. At points last night it appeared the PK units were hoping to get the goal scored against them early, so they could get back to five-on-five. Bold move if it works, but for the listing Oildrop, a 5-4 loss was the final score. I’d say the penalty kill can go to hell, but it’s already there.

THE ATHLETIC!

• Lowetide: Oilers top prospect is unclear for the first time in a dozen years
• Lowetide: Oilers prospects crowding AHL roster, ice time at a premium
• DNB: Why Oilers’ latest ‘pathetic’ performance from Jack Campbell is a growing issue
• Lowetide: Oilers rookie Stuart Skinner is chasing history
• DNB: Devils stun Oilers in Edmonton: How 7 seconds changed the game
• DNB: Ryan Smyth on Oilers memories, keepsakes and the current team: Q&A
• Lowetide: Making room for Dylan Holloway
• Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers start October slow but finish month strong
• Lowetide: Oilers prospect Tyler Tullio adjusting quickly to AHL
• DNB: Oilers’ Skinner, an Edmonton native, closes door on Flames
• DNB: The Oilers have a third line that’s settling in
• Lowetide: Early season trade unlikely for the Oilers
• DNB: How the Oilers can manage Connor McDavid and star players’ workloads
• Jonathan Willis: Jakob Chychrun would look good on the Oilers, but is there a deal to be had?
• Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers reasonable expectations for every player in 2022-23
• Lowetide: Oilers top-20 prospects, summer 2022

WHAT TO EXPECT IN NOVEMBER

• At home to: NAS, NJD, DAL (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 1-2-0)
• On the road to: WAS, TBY, CAR, FLA (Expected 1-2-1) (Actual 0-1-0)
• At home to: LAK, VEG (Expected 1-0-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
• On the road to: NJD, NYI, NYR (Expected (1-1-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
• At home to: FLA (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• On the road to: CHI (Expected (1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• November expected result: 7-4-3, 17 points in 14 games
• Actual November results: 1-3-0, 2 points in 4 games
• October results: 6-3-0, 12 points in 9 games
• Oilers in 2022-23: 7-6-0, 14 points in 13 games

The truth of it is I had last night as the road win, so now we’re all going to watch and see if the Oilers can steal a win from a tough bunch of teams who play in the American south. Lightning are 6-3-1 in their last 10 and has one home loss this year, Edmonton has made things tough on themselves and it could get worse. Does three losses in a row grow to four? Five? The team needs a goalie to steal a game, a depth forward to score twice, and for God sakes could the PK kill a penalty for once? It’s a long list.

SUMMARY

• Stuart Skinner had a great night at five-on-five, stopping 22 of 23 (.957). The penalty kill is so bad it’s becoming the lead story of the season. I don’t think the goalies are solely responsible for this issue, but it’s their problem. Need a fix, soon.

• Darnell Nurse had an assist, a couple of nice passes, battled the Ovechkin line to a draw at five-on-five over 10 minutes (the most among Edmonton’s blue). He was saloon doors on the PK.
• Cody Ceci took a costly penalty late in the game, a tough one because the officials were calling everything and the play wasn’t in a dangerous sequence. He had two shots on goal and a hit. Part of the poor PK.
• Ryan Murray took a penalty, had a hit and a blocked shot.
• Tyson Barrie had an assist, a shot, a HDSC and a giveaway. He’s playing well and looked good with Kulak, my guess is that’s second pair in Tampa Bay tonight.
• Brett Kulak was one of the culprits on the Foegele turnover and first goal of the game, but not the only one. Neither of the blue thought to hang around just in case. That’s a boner. Two shots, two giveaways and three blocked shots on the evening.
• Evan Bouchard got owned by Alex Ovechkin so badly if 8 had scored I would have considered it superior to the Malkin v. Klefbom show stopper a few years ago. One shot, one takeaway and he took a penalty. When Foegele turned over the puck on the 1-0, Bouchard should have been in the same area code. He is struggling and some are turning on him, not this corner of the Al Gore. He’s true blue brilliance and he’s going to play a hella long time.

• Evander Kane is hurt, and that’s having an impact on his effectiveness. He had an assist, a shot, three hits, but is not the power forward we saw last season or early this one. It might be an idea to rest him for a game.
• Leon Draisaitl scored a nifty goal, plus and assist. Four shots, three HDSC, three shot blocks and 58 percent in the faceoff circle. His post-game comments (DNB has them on his twitter) sums up this three game sequence and places 29 in the Mark Messier role. McCurdy has mentioned the connection before.
• Zach Hyman’s deft pass to Draisaitl was so effective. Two assists, one shot, two PIMS, TK. His determination to get to the puck and into the zone on the first Nuge goal was exceptional. He’s such a brilliant winger.
• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored twice, four shots, three HDSC, GV-TK. He is on pace for a 40-goal season.
• Connor McDavid’s goal was supreme. He also had an assist, five shots, four HDSC, drew a penalty, two giveaways. His line had great underlying numbers, hope we see it again.
• Jesse Puljujarvi had three shots, one HDSC, three hits and took some punishment too. He passed the puck well, not everything clicked but I’d like to see him with 97 again tonight.
• Warren Foegele’s mistake on the first goal can’t happen.
• Ryan McLeod had one shot, one HDSC, took and drew a penalty and skated miles. He and Derek Ryan advanced against the same defenseman on the PK early in the second, leaving a gap the Capitals exploited on the 2-0 goal.
• Derek Ryan had a shot and a takeway, I think most of the depth forwards could learn a thing or two from him about playing it safe.
• Devin Shore had a shot and a blocked shot, and a reasonable look down low with the puck on his stick.
• Dylan Holloway had one shot and was 2-0 faceoffs. I think he should move up the depth chart.
• Kailer Yamamoto took a penalty and had a disappointing night.

LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON

If it’s Tuesday, we’ll spend much of the time (10-2 TSN1260) talking Oilers. That includes Daniel Nugent-Bowman from The Athletic at 12:20 and hearing from you in regard to the Oilers losing streak and what it means. Bruce Arthur, Glen Suitor and Matthew Sciianitti on Canada Soccer. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!