Game 16 2022-23: Oilers at Panthers

by Lowetide

Can you imagine this edition of the Oilers selling at the deadline? Of course not. This year there’s some November wobble and that may lead to some movement, but missing the playoffs is not an option. How long will Ken Holland wait to tweak? If this team is selling, there are going to be mammoth changes and that goes all the way to the top of management and coaching. What’s that old saying? Failure is not an option? Yes.

THE ATHLETIC!

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 1-2-0)
  • 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: 2-4-0, 4 points in 6 games
  • October results: 6-3-0, 12 points in 9 games
  • Oilers in 2022-23: 8-7-0, 16 points in 15 games

A win this afternoon by the Oilers would bring the team home at .500 on what was predicted to be a difficult four-game visit to the American south. Edmonton is on pace to finish with 87 points, and that won’t be enough for the postseason no matter the current standings.

POSSIBLE ROSTER

I much prefer the Kulak-Bouchard second pairing option, glad the coaching staff has (apparently) returned to the idea. Bouchard and Kulak are 6-6 goals and that’s the play here. The third pairing is a bit of a mess no matter who plays with Ryan Murray. The veteran is 0-5 with Bouchard and 3-2 with others.Markus Niemelainen and Tyson Barrie are 4-4 together, Murray-Barrie is 2-0. That’s the ticket. Nurse-Ceci, Kulak-Bouchard and then the two lefties play with Barrie against the depth opposition. Klim Kostin will be a player to watch in his Oilers debut.

CONDORS

The Oilers farm team is getting strong results from prospects in the system early in the year. Led by RH defenseman Mike Kesselring (six goals and seven points in 10 games), the ’22 and under’ group is enjoying a strong start to the year. Xavier Bourgault (3-3-6 in 10 games) is the player I notice most often, but Raphael Lavoie (2-1-3 in four games), Tyler Tullio (1-2-3 in nine games), Carter Savoie (2-0-2 in five games) and Olivier Rodrigue (.915 SP) all have a story to tell. Philip Broberg played last night, did some nice things and also showed signs of being in and out of the lineup during the early days of preseason and regular season.

200 NHL games

The line for a successful draft pick moves all over the place but 200 NHL games is usually regarded as a success. It’s almost three full seasons, it’s extremely rare for a fringe player (Martin Marincin) to hang around long enough to play that many games in the league. So, 200 games is a good line in the sand. Kailer Yamamoto is currently injured, and stuck at 199 games. It gives us a chance to look at the 2015-18 group of picks that were procured under the watch of Peter Chiarelli, Keith Gretzky and Bob Green. Keep in mind the 2010 draft has many more possible games in the universe compared to 2015.

  • 2010: Taylor Hall (775), Tyler Pitlick (331), Martin Marincin (227), Brandon Davidson (180)
  • 2011: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (734), Tobias Rieder (478), Oscar Klefbom (378)
  • 2012: Nail Yakupov (350), Erik Gustafsson (324), Jujhar Khaira (295)
  • 2013: Darnell Nurse (492), Anton Slepyshev (102)
  • 2014: Leon Draisaitl (573)
  • 2015: Connor McDavid (502), John Marino (203), Ethan Bear (195), Caleb Jones (155)
  • 2016: Jesse Puljujarvi (274), Tyler Benson (36), Markus Niemelainen (32)
  • 2017: Kailer Yamamoto (199), Stuart Skinner (20)
  • 2018: Evan Bouchard (117), Ryan McLeod (96)
  • 2019: Philip Broberg (23)

Seven years after the 2015 draft, four men have played a total of 1,055 games. It’s possible the 2015 draft will yield over 3,000 NHL games, making it just the fourth Oilers draft to deliver at that level (source). Edmonton has McDavid and trades that brought Warren Foegele and Shane Lachance from that draft, but the scouts had a strong weekend and the proof comes in the three blue drafted in the depths in 2015 who all should pass 200 games.

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Munny 2.0

Yevseyev just got turned inside out giving up a short breakaway that his keeper bailed him out on

Munny 2.0

By the way if anyone is wondering what kind of adverts TNV Tatarstan has, so far in the first break going to intermission we’ve been shown a gambling ad (you cannot hide lol), credit card ad, car ad, music/dance extravaganza coming to the stage ad, bank ad, ad for the network’s comedy show… pretty much the same as here except no beer ad yet.

Munny 2.0

Ak Bars has a very nice very modern dressing room…

Hemskyish

Can we just lay off our players. Do you not think that Connor has any thoughts of who he plays with. He chose nuge because why wouldn’t you. However, he also would like to play with Jesse because he wants him to be good. That’s him

OriginalPouzar

Just a fantastic performance by the Condors to take down the “stacked” Reign 3-1 and win their 5th straight game.

Rodrigue was excellent as he stopped 26 of 27. The only goal that beat him was when Byefield got the puck right in front with no Condors within 7 feet in any direction – never seen someone so alone all in front.

Rodruigue’s second plus performance in a row.

Hemskyish

I know there is a couple guys that do this, but I like yours . Klim, was huge!! We don’t score

Ranford.85

I didn’t realize Byfield was back in the AHL.

Tarkus

Summarizing!

Lachance needs to stop, drop and roll because he is on fire right now. He followed up last night’s 2-goal effort with a similar effort tonight, giving him 8 on the season. For keying Youngstown’s third period rally, he was named 3rd star.

Petrov scored his 9th goal of the season, running his point streak to 13 games.

Brind’Amour picked up an assist and went a robust 14-of-22 (63.6%) on the dot in a Quinnipiac victory.

Schaefer, Chiasson, Wanner, Määttä, and Mazura were held off the scoresheet.

Münzenberger remained out of Vermont’s lineup.

OriginalPouzar

Malone with a great defensive play inside the defensive zone and then absolutely bulls/powers his way up ice for a breakaway – shoots wide but it comes hot off the backboards and he banks the rebound off the goalie in for the 3-1 lead in the 3rd.

The 18th Condor to score this season….

OriginalPouzar

I think Lavoie must have just lifted weights day after day after day when hurt/rehabbing because, damn, he’s STRONG out there – power moves.

Last edited 1 year ago by OriginalPouzar
OriginalPouzar

A good forecheck shift by the Condors, including the likes of Kesselring and McKegg and a Demers writer is tipped in my Engras for his first pro goal and the Condors take a 1-0 lead in the 2nd period despite the worst jerseys of all time.

OriginalPouzar

I guess that goal provided Engras with some confidence because, 10 seconds later, he take a pass at the top of the circles and a wicked snap shot shelf provides the Condors with a 2-0 lead.

€√¥£€^$

Awesome!

Munny 2.0

Schaefer, out PKing, stands up the zone entry at the blue line and turns the puck over. He sends a TBird in on a shorthanded break, but the attempt is stuffed. On the same shift his pressure contributes to another turnover and he dashes out to the NZ, but the stretch pass misses him. Would’ve been a clean breakaway.

Last edited 1 year ago by Munny 2.0
Munny 2.0

Schaefer with a partial breakaway, tries to go high stick side with a snap shot but can’t elevate and Peters makes the save.

Munny 2.0

Schaefer with another good PK shift just before the end of the 2nd. Tbirds outshot the Hitmen 15-2 in this period but can’t get one by the Calgary netminder. I believe Peters is rated one of the best goalies in the Dub this season and he looks it.

Munny 2.0

Not much to say about the NB-Barrie match as it wasn’t much of a hockey game. 7-2 Battalion featuring pretty ragged loose play.

Petrov played his usual north-south game, had four or five shot attempts, two shots, with one resulting in a lucky goal. didn’t get a lot of touches tonight though. He showed his usual strong awareness of what is happening on the ice, knowing when to be back on the backcheck, or out in the NZ looking for a break.

If I had any complaints about his game, it would be a sense of urgency in his first three steps (although it wasn’t really demanded tonight) and more physicality. He tends to play a bit of the McLeod/Nuge fly-by game and I’d like to see him engage more, being one of the bigger players on the ice.
\
I’ve flipped to the last two periods of the TBirds game. Calgary has a 1-0 lead, Schaefer has one shot. I’m not sure I will make it to the end of this one still conscious though.

Tarkus

Lachance scores twice in eleven seconds to pull Youngstown within one in period 3.

The first one came on the PP as his wraparound doesn’t go, but he buries his own rebound:

https://twitter.com/YtownPhantoms/status/1591618896058253316?cxt=HHwWiIDQ1YC9yJYsAAAA

The second on a hard wrister from the left circle that the goalie can’t handle:

https://twitter.com/YtownPhantoms/status/1591621358760460289?cxt=HHwWgoC8na3MyZYsAAAA

Last edited 1 year ago by Tarkus
leadfarmer

We only have two games next week and I’m hoping we don’t see Campbell play either one

fishman

Well Campbell played really well in Tampa and was awful against the Hurricanes. Not really sure who he is????

Tarkus

Sounds like a case of Jackyll and Hyde.

fishman

Good one!

Todd Macallan

Important Oiler happenings tonight, in order:

1) Learning that Kane, while having “sliced through an artery, tendon and nerve” most importantly was able to both feel AND move all fingers and his hand fully all throughout the aftermath of his injury.
.
.
.
.
2) Big win against a tough team that hadn’t yet lost at home in regulation this season.

Scungilli Slushy

Fantastic!

Bobcaygeon

I’ve come to the conclusion that Pulijujarvi is our new Todd Marchant.

This isn’t meant to be a bad thing, it’s actually a good thing.

It just means my expectations have switched for Pulijujarvi going forward.

Last edited 1 year ago by Bobcaygeon
Todd Macallan

You spelled McLeod wrong haha

Munny 2.0

Lol… Petrov scores on a bad angle backhand from the left wall, must’ve hit a skate or something. Yup, hit the skate of the Dman standing at the edge of the crease.

Tarkus

https://twitter.com/OHLBattalion/status/1591596193653882882?cxt=HHwWhIDUycaTvpYsAAAA

Points in 13 straight games now for the Petrovian One.

Thank you for the updates, good sir. Keep ’em coming!

Last edited 1 year ago by Tarkus
Munny 2.0

This could get ugly for the Colts. They are struggling to keep up. Can’t getting anything going when they do have the puck. It’s their third game in three nights.

Last edited 1 year ago by Munny 2.0
Todd Macallan

If anyone has read Project Hail Mary, the newest sci fi novel by the Martin’s Andy Weir (highly recommend) you would understand the reference when we henceforth refer to any line of Matvei’s as the Petrova Line

Munny 2.0

First period in Vermont ends so I will be switching to North Bay. I mean let’s face it, Maatta is such a distant bell the DEW line couldn’t find him.

That said, this is my third viewing of Maatta this season and that was by far the best period of hockey I’ve seen him play. three shots on net, two of which were HDSCs and one which created an HDSC. a penalty kill, some PP time and tremendous zone possession. Good arrows, Joel.

Munny 2.0

Five minutes into the game and I haven’t seen Munzenberger yet. I’m guessing he’s not dressed.

Maatta has had a couple of good shifts. Long shot on net on his first shift that generated a dangerous rebound and two good short shifts killing the Cats first penalty.

Tarkus

Münzenberger is out of the lineup again tonight.

Munny 2.0

Maatta just had another good shift, pinning UNH in their zone for the entire time. Maatta almost scored on a wraparound, but their line kept the pressure on through a line change allowing the next line to score on the UNH unit that had been caught out there at least two minutes.

Munny 2.0

Maatta rewarded with some powerplay time in the bumper position after another shift with another quality scoring chance. Maatta in the slot labelled a wrister for the top left corner but the goalie managed to tip it over the net with his glove.

teddyturnbuckle

What a great game by the Oilers! Foegele came to play tonight. I don’t expect him to stay on that line but good for him. Good team win. Skinner was amazing. Puljujarvi may not get us any goals but I’ve decided I want him on the ice in the last 2 mins with that long stick.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Havent been able to watch the entire road trip.

By reading this blog I couldn’t believe the negativity.

Just went 2-2 on a very difficult roadtrip that presented some serious and unexpected challenges WHILE the goalie was shitting bricks.

If youre worried about rhis team right now* you’ll bever have a fun day in your life.

*Haooy to takj again in February.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

** Happy to talk again in February.

Drunk. Sorry.

Reja

This is our window to win the cup, your damn right the fans are hard on the team.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

My point is that 2-2 on a very difficult roadtrip that presented some serious and unexpected challenges WHILE the goalie was shitting bricks is a contending team.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

82-0?? In this economy?!

Scungilli Slushy

The issue is for many that they are playing poorly as a team

The dynamic duo drag them along and win them games, sometimes

But the goal is the cup now, not moral victories

They have regressed from the Woody half of last season, before any injuries

It is not ok, if winning the cup matters. They should be building on what they did, not regressing for no good reason

Campbell has had issues, but the team has been hanging the goalies out to dry. That is the issue. Bottom part of the league in team D aka goals against

We have seen this repeatedly, we know what happens

meanashell11

So they did better than LT’s prediction and people are mad???

Scungilli Slushy

The record is irrelevant

Remember last season and the smoking hot start? Many were ‘complaining’ then

Because they overall were playing poorly, like now

And the ‘shit play zombie hoard’ always finds you hiding in the rickety barn breathing too loudly

fishman

Yea allowing 40+ shots night after night does not seem like a winning recipe. This win goes to Skinner for holding the fort in the woeful first period. We could easily have been down by two or three goals. Yes a 2-2 record on a tough road trip seems respectful but for Skinner could easily have been 1-3.

Reja

When’s the last game we played a full 60 minutes, it’s a flash here a flash there. On this road trip Campbell and Skinner won us 2 games. Did Campbell and Skinner lose the other 2 games or not?

Last edited 1 year ago by Reja
Bulging Twine

In addition to the artery, a tendon and a nerve were cut

Scungilli Slushy

Speedy recovery

Hopefully the nerve doesn’t cause to much issue. They don’t heal like the other things

Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

RNH is having his best season ever. Pretty fun to watch.

Ranford.85

He’s aging like a fine wine.

Their contracts are $250k apart but I love comparing him and Coleman in Cgy. Night and day, though Nuge’s runs until he’s 36, Coleman 35.

Victoria Oil

He’s having an excellent season. On pace for 49 points.

OriginalPouzar

and he’s rang a few posts – his shot seems to have the zip back on it, quick release zip, that he showed earlier in his career.

MushedPeas

+ 1

Revolved

Janmark is not going back to Bakersfield

Reja

He plays the right way.

Ice Sage

Give him 5 games… 😉

OriginalPouzar

There is a reason he’s played over 400 NHL games and is only 29 – he’s a legit NHL player and, truth be told, while his cap hit was a reason he was in the AHL, it really is a value contract – just an example of some weird roster transactions these days given how tight the cap is all over the league.

Reja

Start of a 5 game winning streak, kick back and enjoy the Jets curb stomping the Flames with the boo birds coming out.

Ice Sage

wanna see a theo fleury jersey on the ice

dangilitis

I would throw that jersey independent of the Flames’ performance

Tarkus

With him in it.

dangilitis

Sorry if it’s been said but I watched the replay of the Barrie PP goal and at least Nuge should get an assist, he clearly directed the puck to Barrie.

Also what is with the back and forth shot totals? I wonder if Fla shots per game differs when home and away…

dangilitis

40.5 per home game and 35.8 per road game

fishman

Was thinking the same thing. Shots were constantly bouncing around.

W

I’d keep Foegele on that line til Kane gets back unless he becomes Jesse level useless.

OriginalPouzar

I think that’s a big aggressive. While I think Foegele can fill in there for a short stretch here and there, I think we all know that he’s not a top 6 winger and, if he’s playing in that spot for 3-4 months, well, its probably not feasible.

With that said, its his job for now and, when his “mojo” declines, it will be up to someone else to step up for a stretch of games, be it Yamamoto or whoever (not a TON of realistic choices).

€√¥£€^$

He is on a roll, so it’s a great spot for him at this time, for sure!

Victoria Oil

Thank god for Barrie’s shot mentality. 🙂

meanashell11

At least he doesn’t just bank it off the plexi!🤣

Durag

Skinner needs to be the starter until Campbell takes the job from him.

innercitysmytty

Full stop

Pretendergast

Agreed, expect ebs and flows throughout the year. Jack will figure it out. Skinner is still a rookie technically. Would still rather have both than what we had last year.

MushedPeas

Agreed

Pretendergast

Stuey with a vintage Vasilevsky-esque performance. Held us in until we got going then some great stuff late.

Foegele GWG hopefully rolling into a heater.

Great stuff! Eat it Chucky

KnightRain

Pretty much exactly the kinda game I wanted to see, minus most of the first. lol
Welcome to the starters net, Stu. Make yourself at home, bro!!!

Reja

Biggest win of the year Skinner is the man!

Gerta Rauss

A bit of turbulence for this team right now but a 2-2 road trip should calm the waters

LMHF#1

It’s better than 1-3 but still not good enough.

That Washington game was a joke.

OriginalPouzar

Can’t agree – That’s a tough trip with 4 games in less than 6 days (given early start today) and some tough travel in there – Its a 2.5 hour flight from WSH to Tampa Bay and they pulled off that win against a top team. Today was the Panthers’ first regulation loss at home of the season and first in a long time.

The Caps game was NOT great but, at 5 on 5, I could argue the Oilers were the better team.

cowboy bill

That’s Foegele with the GWG .

rich tm

He played a really good game.

Tarkus

6-1 when scoring first.

fishman

Well that’s a much needed win and two points. Get home and regroup. On a positive note the PK looking much better.

Boil-in-the-Oil

We dont play again until Wednesday, time to rest and more importantly, get into some serious practice time… realign, refresh.

cowboy bill

I love it when the Nuge scores.

WhenConnorSmiles

Me too. Thanks Captain, my Captain

jtblack

Ok thank Goodness !!

KnightRain

BOOM!!’ Nuge with the gravy!!!

Pretendergast

called it lol

Gerta Rauss

NUGE!!!!

That should be from Jesse and McDavid

fishman

The nail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

fishman

Geez Kulak took Bennet’s skate to the side of his head after the goal. Scary.

Last edited 1 year ago by fishman
jtblack

Pulujarvi elite hockey sense on that play

go to Bennett …. stop .. cover nobody.

-1

cowboy bill

LOL 😆

cowboy bill

Well Jesse did do more than usual this afternoon.

jtblack

No lead is safe with this team …

KnightRain

Man…Puljujarvi can’t let his man go, there…put Barrie in no man’s land..,

LMHF#1

Barrie read the play completely incorrectly. He can’t do that.

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

Huh? So he’s supposed to bail to a winger who’s already covered and leave a wide open shot in the slot?

Thats JP man, he totally bailed off a guy he had covered

KnightRain

Watching the replay, I think so too…he hesitated then did nothing…he’s a vet…take the man to the net, trust the forwards to get the high guy.

LMHF#1

Yep – being the defenceman who gets caught up high when a forward cuts low and scores is an awful feeling regardless of what was communicated before. Pulling up like that has to be done on a high percentage play that creates a turnover. Otherwise he needs to keep backing in.

OriginalPouzar

All I know is that Matt Kassian puts that one on Jesse, not Barrie.

I’ll listen to Overtime tomorrow at the gym and hopefully Rob Brown gives his analysis.

cowboy bill

He managed to score a couple goals. I forgive him .

LMHF#1

Barrie giving one back after the two goal day.

Tells his forward to take the rusher and then stops up after that.

No. Just no.

fishman

Dang not over yet….

cowboy bill

Little bit of a let down there .

Durag

Oh my goodness Foggy. What a sequence by him and Drai

BornInAGretzkyJersey

I’m McLovin it!

Tarkus

Warren is the Foegele point of the offense!