Connor McDavid is buenos dias, buenas tardes and buenas noches for the opposition, and the Los Angeles Kings have seen him at his very best. He’s 12-20-32 in 24 regular-season games against LAK, 4-10-14 in seven playoff games. This should be a fun game, both clubs are built to entertain and both teams have been in high-scoring affairs in recent days. Hold on!
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Why the Oilers need to trade for an established defenceman
- Lowetide: Five curious Oilers trends that may or may not regress
- Lowetide: What’s Xavier Bourgault’s NHL ETA? Does he get a look this season?
- DNB: Stuart Skinner’s 40 saves lift Oilers over Panthers
- Lowetide: What should the Edmonton Oilers expect from Klim Kostin?
- DNB: Oilers must learn how to cope without Evander Kane
- Lowetide: How close to balanced are the 2022-23 Edmonton Oilers?
- DNB: Oilers’ Evander Kane hospitalized after skate blade cuts his arm
- Lowetide: Oilers top prospect is unclear for the first time in a dozen years
- DNB: Why Oilers’ latest ‘pathetic’ performance from Jack Campbell is a growing issue
- Lowetide: Oilers rookie Stuart Skinner is chasing history
- 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
- DNB: The Oilers have a third line that’s settling in
- 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 2-2-0)
- 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: 3-4-0, 6 points in 7 games
- October results: 6-3-0, 12 points in 9 games
- Oilers in 2022-23: 9-7-0, 18 points in 16 games
A win tonight gets Edmonton to 10-7-0 and puts the team on a 96-point trajectory, that’s probably a playoff team. My article at The Athletic focuses on a defensive upgrade, it’s my believe that is the area to address and it should be done sooner than later. We’ll see.
TONIGHT’S LIKELY LINEUP
I like this lineup, the only adjustment that could make it better is moving Holloway to the No. 2 line. I understand the idea behind moving Foegele up after his fine performance in the last game, but for me the one guy on the roster would could emerge as a strong option is Holloway. We’ll see.
Kailer Yamamoto could be back Saturday, I imagine that means Hyman-Draisaitl-KY on the weekend. What’s interesting for Jay Woodcroft is the third and fourth line wingers. I think Janmark-Kostin is pretty damn good, while Holloway-Foegele is likely better. Those four men could flip and flip again in the days to come.
I think the rest of this month will dictate the way forward in Edmonton. The November schedule is a tough one, and things ease later in the year. Still, the Pacific is a five-horse race and there are only three guaranteed spots for the playoffs. Important for the team to run with the pack and that could mean a mid-season tweak. Before you say Ken Holland never does anything during the season to improve the roster, remember Evander Kane one year ago. Things have changed.
CALIFORNIA SUN
The Bakersfield Condors lost last night, but the game itself was the most encouraging of the year for Oilers fans. Almost every prospect did something of note:
- Philip Broberg scored twice, finally using that offensive ability after a few games of keeping it simple and minding the store.
- Tyler Tullio played LW and had his best game (alongside Brad Malone at center). Dogged everywhere, he’s fitting nicely into the pro game.
- Xavier Bourgault continues to impact play consistently although the offense has dried up a little recently.
- Raphael Lavoie almost scored in the first period and had moments later. Consistency is still an issue but less of one than a year ago.
- Carter Savoie picked up an assist and has more range as a player than one might have expected based on his scouting reports.
- Noah Philp is a bulldog. He could make it.
- James Hamblin picked up two assists, he is ready for his first recall.
- Olivier Rodrigue came in during the game and played well, stopping 19 of 20 and giving the Condors a chance. Now the owner of a .931 save percentage for the year.
I’m going to stay positive and look for the silver linings.
In a game where the Oil could only generate 1 goal, I really enjoyed watching Jesse Puljujarvi make the McDavid line so much better. So much playmaking. So many chances.
JP is a driver and the fancies prove it! I know he’s already been in the league for 5 years but what a bright future this kid has. The best days are ahead. Go JP!!!
From Kurt Leavin’s Cult of Hockey game grades:
Looks like Janmark has found a gem! Nice of her to get involved trying to help the Oilers out of a funk.
Wish Katz would ream out the NHL and their so called “refs” about games like this. If they want a league with no penalties, call no penalties and let the players ref themselves. You wanna goon it up? You get your face smashed in.
If they want to preach safety and show off exciting skilled hockey? Then call penalties as written in the damn rule book!
As the saying goes, You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
It’s up to the Oilers to defend themselves against the bullies of the league. Holland figured Kane up front and Nurse on the backend was enough. This is why they keep forcing Nemo into the line-up. We need a SOB that can play in the backend AV’s were smart to get Manson. With us losing Kharia, Archie and Kassian and replacing them with skilled players sounds fine and dandy in theory except the so called skilled players can’t score which makes them as useless as Tits on a Boar.
Desharnais can be brought up, before his injury he may well have made the team. But what KH really needs is a couple of $league minimum$ Kassians to rotate through the 4th line.
The Kings were clutching, grabbing, hooking, tripping and cross-checking our guys all night without any concern for penalties. The refs gave the Oilers an abbreviated power play, then negated it with a soft call on McDavid. Edler should’ve been thrown out of the game.
Louie was right when he said earlier in the telecast that the refs don’t give the Oilers the same number of chances on the power play that other teams get because they think in their warped view that it gives the Oiler’s an ‘unfair’ advantage.
The King’s also had horseshoes up where the sun don’t shine tonight – they made as many or more blocks than than the goalie made saves. For most of the game, the Oilers controlled the play, but the Kings buried 2 of their 4-5 decent looks in the game.
Frustrating to watch, because you know our boys deserved better tonight. But overall the team played a far better defensive structure than we’ve seen in a while. But we have some guys who are really snake bit right now.
I really liked what I saw from Kostin and Janmark tonight – no idea if these guys have the hands to finish at the net but I’d like to see both of those guys move up the lineup for the next game to see if it lights a spark. Holloway needs to go back down to the AHL … he’s having no impact out there right now. He’ll get decent ice in the Bake with both Kostin and Janmark up in the show … Benson can take his place on the 4th line. Jesse … I just don’t know anymore … he does good things on the ice but he’s Magnus Paajarvi in the offensive zone. Travis Moore has 15 points on the season for less than 1.7 million. Jesse’s playing his way into not being tendered a qualifying offer next season.
Bright spot tonight was that Skinner looks outstanding out there, and the defence seems to play better in front of him.
Went .500 at home in October
Now, we have lost 3 of the last 4 at home in November.
Nobody is panicking ….just pointing out areas of concern
Woodcroft has to get this group playing better, when he took over from Tippett the 5-on-5 play improved drastically same with the goals against/team defence/save % for the goalies. Honeymoon phase is over, the NHL is a results league this team should not be 1 game over .500
Woody is enjoying a particularly long honeymoon period in here…
Playoff success gives HCs a lot of rope.
Crap game. Not much chance on either goal so no fault on Stu.
Thought the D were ok. They didn’t give up a tonne. A few dangerous chances against but mostly good.
The forwards were stymied by the kings blocking shots and being physical. They had no answer and couldn’t break inside for chances.
Drai had maybe the worst game I’ve seen him play since his first year cup off coffee…so bad…
The kings are dirty bastards but they accomplished their game plan. Played physical and got us off our game. Collapsed to the front and blocked shots like their lives depended on it.
I was happy that they stood up and played physical but undisciplined penalties are always a bad thing but worse when we know our PK isn’t doing great…
On the plus side, Janmark is better than I thought. I think he was our best player tonight. Kostin looks like he wants more than a bottom six role. Big, fast, physical and showed good hand. He was patient with the puck and made good plays the last two games. I think he gets elevated.
The cross checking call on McDavid was completely bogus … and the fact that it happened after the refs wouldn’t let Nurse have a clean go at Edler after he stuck his knee out on McDavid is particularly galling.
On the bright side the PK didn’t get scored on (officially)!
When players new to the system like Kostin and Janmark are standing out for systems play that’s a red flag that there isn’t much of a system being played in Edmonton.
Back to McDavid and Drai,,.hey.
Home ice has to mean something….
Thought Janmark and Kostin were better than our big guns.
I wonder if Doughty and Arvidsson would have…. Nah.
It’s interesting how Campbell has 6 wins and Skinner only has 3 . How does that work?
campbell was getting unsustainable goal support
Moore with the hat trick and first star
Hyman, Arvidsson second and third star
Hyman tried to take the ice but there was a King blocking him
Frustrating loss. The Kings got sticks and skates on too many shot and pass attempts. The Janmark-Kostin duo was a pleasant surprise.
Need a hat trick? Play the oilers apparently. Third hat trick against them in 14 games. Woof.
Need to get your obscure backup goalie a win…..start against us.
Truth be told, although he has struggled so Quick has earned more starts, Cal Petersen is supposed to be the starter – he’s signed to a 3 year $15MM contract.
The point holds but he’s not really an “obscure back-up” – and I have PTSD from him stealing games from the Condors for 2 years.
Great game by the Kings. Wish the Oilers could play a 3rd period like that with a lead. Great checking. We’d rather honour the 80s and play high flyin hockey and miss the playoffs.
Coming into this game the Kings have been terrible defensively and Petersen has been a sieve. I’m guessing a little extra motivation for the Kings after getting knocked out by the oilers last year. As other say below though, some intensity and defensive zone commitment by the oilers would be nice every once in awhile. Changes to Coaches, personnel, GMs, same story for years.
Yep. Doesn’t matter what it looks like.
They don’t have the personnel to play like the kings just did though
I would say that the Oilers played locked down hockey, just as much as the Kings for 45 minutes. Unfortunately, the Kings did it for 60 minutes.
Doesn’t happen often but McDrai have been a big drag tonight not a spark.
Those four minutes in penalties were bigly tonigh.
Drai just wasn’t good.
Onto the next one!
Draisaitl has to start using his teammates better and stop trying to do too much on his own . That had to be one of his worst games .
This year’s Oilers keep finding ways to lose.
Even 97 isn’t enjoying it anymore.
When the playoffs are a distant bell next month, what happens???
Step off the ledge Bud… they’ll be fine
When advising people on a ledge to step off the ledge, it is important to specific which direction they should step.
Drai’s worst game in years. Nuge was invisible.
Not sure I heard Nuge’s name even called tonight
Man, Drai has been useless tonight…
Is he hurt? Sick? He’s off…by a lot…
Not good games for Mcdrai
Embarrassing offensive effort from the Oilers.
Creating that many blocked shots for an opponent is always a product of laziness and boneheaded decisions.
Brutal.
When was the last time we scored with the goalie pulled?
Why can’t the Oilers match their opponents intensity and d-zone commitment?
Why can’t the Oilers check and play defence like these teams do to them?
^this
Man, that game was frustrating
Definitely. So frustrating. Was like watching the Bowman Canadiens. Trap city and collapse to low slot and get in the way of every attempt to penetrate.
Plenty of uncalled interference helping them out too, but have to be able to play in a playoff-style called game.
Oilers looked equally frustrated too.
I fucking hate those scumbag Kings!
don’t recall seeing 97 wire a slapper coming across the blue line before
and then Jack goes there lol…
Corsi is 54-36 btw at 5v5
Means nothing if they can’t get anything to the net.
And yet HD chances were tied 10-10
Holy gord Nurse, just let him walk out…
Nurse just let’s him go? That can’t be the system…
We can only hope he’s still recovering from his flexor because he’s playing like crap this season
Either the Kings are in their head or TMac is owning ManWood. Not a good look for them tonight
I’m betting the former
The team they beat last year in the playoffs are in their head?
Let’s recap – shitty start again, pushed around, other team dictating play, 21 shots in 55 minutes… Put mcdrai out and pray is the plan
They are a shade of the team that went down the stretch last spring
McDrai have been the problem today not the solution.
Stupid McDavid penalties and sloppy game from Draisaitl.
Gotta get more shots
Yes, that’s all true. But why? Starting to look like a coaching / culture thing… again
Lot’s of “pressure” but not generating many HDSCs.
Kings with a tight bubble and lots of wacking to prevent clear looks
Love how Durzi knew it was a penalty when he buried Hyman.
Looked to the ref. Unfortunately, everyone but the ref called it a penalty…
Time to see if Kostin can’t be a Maroon. Can’t be worse offensively than JP
Good call
If this is the Oilers they are going no where this year.
Creating very few actual good scoring chances
Drai again forcing plays and doing squat in the heart of the game. Late game heroics aren’t the thing at this point of team development. As he continually says and never accomplishes on the ice
Take that shot, McLeod!!!
Dunno how Skinner kept that one out
Kulak got turnstiled there. Bouchard recovered for him but they were bailed out by Skinner.
Holloway needs a better center than Shore.
He’s got to earn a better center than Shore.
Wasn’t icing waved off? He was on the C line when he dumped and the linesman didn’t have his hand in the air..
and then Holloway not called for icing from the exact same spot
Please Mr Kostin keep your ducks in a row
I like a big fast guy that actually finishes checks and has sone kinda hands
Couple of shifts for Nuge after getting sat for a bit.
Janmark! Nice to see you, buddy!
Kostin pounds Doughboy behind the net. Nice!
Put Kostin with McDavid & Nuge .
Woody getting out coached tonight
Looks like an execution issue to me.
I feel a goal coming on! We’re taking it to em!
Good shift by the Hyman-Draisaitl line. Quality scoring chance.
If 97 is falling for no reason, you know the ice is shit
Back out again. thank you, Jay.
blocked shots are 22 to 4.
I love having a US play by play guy in the heart of hockey
Governor, really?