The Edmonton Oilers are building a nice run that began in late November, and hope to keep things going on the road. Currently 6-2-0 in the last eight games, Edmonton sits No. 3 in the division in winning percentage with the Los Angeles Kings fading. The Calgary Flames stumbled a little on the road, so there’s a chance for the Oilers to shoot the gap and land in third spot Pacific full stop, with some breathing room with a strong December. The game is afoot!
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Will Oilers pro scouts help identify quality at the deadline?
- Lowetide: Oilers scoring prospect Raphael Lavoie reaching a crossroads
- Lowetide: How Edmonton Oilers winger Jesse Puljujarvi is redefining his role
- DNB: The Oilers don’t need someone like Zack Kassian. They need more efforts like this
- Lowetide: Who’s Edmonton Oilers’ next impact recall and what do they bring?
- DNB: Stuart Skinner has been the Oilers’ saviour — and that’s not a good thing
- Lowetide: Analyzing Edmonton Oilers defensive pairings deployment
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2022
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers avert disaster with strong finish to November
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers look for rugged forward in a trade
- Lowetide: Oilers’ young players providing a spark after a slow start
- Lowetide: What could Oilers forward Dylan Holloway accomplish in AHL?
- DNB: Oilers’ win over Rangers shows how valuable secondary scoring can be
- DNB: Oilers GM Ken Holland Q&A: Can the team be improved? If so, how?
- Lowetide: Oilers’ Ryan Nugent-Hopkins into 2nd decade of being misunderstood
- DNB: Oilers have a long way to go as defensive problems persist
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers’ Jack Campbell will be better, but can he be a true No. 1?
- Lowetide: The Edmonton Oilers and early-season trades during road trips
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers’ lack of secondary scoring is a critical situation
- Lowetide: Oilers rookie Stuart Skinner is chasing history
- 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
WHAT TO EXPECT IN NOVEMBER
- On the road to: MIN (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- At home to: MTL, WAS, ARI, MIN (Expected 3-1-0) (Actual 3-1-0)
- On the road to: MIN, NAS (Expected (1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: STL, ANA (Expected 1-0-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: NAS, DAL (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: VAN (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: CAL, SEA (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: WPG (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- December expected result: 9-5-1, 19 points in 15 games
- December actual result: 3-2-0, six points in five games
- November results: 7-7-0, 14 points in 14 games
- October results: 6-3-0, 12 points in 9 games
- Oilers in 2022-23: 16-12-0, 32 points in 28 games
I have tonight as a loss, but the team has surprised me a little this month. I had the Capitals game as a win, and the Wild game as a loss, so maybe the club has figured out the Minnesota side. If the team wins tonight, Oilers fans should do the Goldy shuffle for old time’s sake.
OILERS ROSTER (total points, 5-on-5 GF-GA, 5-on-5 SP)
These are some wild numbers and depth chart changes. The No. 1 line has played together (five-on-five) 109 minutes and has an 11-4 (73 percent) goal differential. Connor McDavid is having a ‘Phil Esposito 1970-71’ season that has me reminiscing from sunrise to sunset. No one cares, but after 28 games that season, Esposito posted 23-29-52. McDavid is a little ahead of his pace.
The second line is led by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. In his best season, the Nuge had 69 points. In his first 28 games that year, RNH scored 7-18-25, so he’s miles beyond that pace. Kailer Yamamoto is starting to heat up, that was a nice goal the other night. Mattias Janmark adds a nice two-way conscience to the group, giving Nuge room to wheel. Through 28 minutes at five-on-five, this unit has a 3-1 edge in goals.
One of the truly unlikely lines to have scoring success is the Klim Kostin-Devin Shore-Derek Ryan trio. This is not an all-hands trio. It’s like a punk band delivering brilliance on La Villa Strangiato while playing a banjo. Crack all the jokes we want, through 51 minutes the Flex Pistols are 3-1 goals and saving each other’s NHL careers. It’s like The Great Escape but with pedal bikes for the McQueen scenes. Rock on, you crazy fellows!
The fourth line is more like Cat Ballou, doomed as a story and as art but everyone in it has a fantastic future. At least two of these men, possibly all three, should have NHL careers. Through 16 minutes, the trop is 8-4 shots.
The top two pairings seem set, at least until the deadline. Darnell Nurse-Cody Ceci is 15-15 goals, although 6-7 in 162 minutes with Connor McDavid (all of these defensive numbers are five-on-five). Brett Kulak-Tyson Barrie are 11-6 goals, and 6-2 in 62 minutes with McDavid. Interesting. Philip Broberg-Evan Bouchard are 2-4 goals in 87 minutes, 0-1 in 17 minutes with the captain.
Stuart Skinner is a real story and I don’t think people trust it, but ranks No. 3 in the NHL (12+ games) in even-strength save percentage (.935). Jack Campbell ranks No. 34 (of 37) with an .891. Using the five-on-five numbers (as above), and minimum 350 minutes, Skinner ranks No. 5 (.937) and Campbell No. 59 (of 60) with .886. Oilers goalies just can’t have a normal one. Not possible. I blame Tommy Salo.
EELI TOLVANEN IS ON WAIVERS
Back in 2017, I had a helluva time figuring out where to rank three young wingers. Eeli Tolvanen, Kailer Yamamoto and Klim Kostin all had things to recommend them, but I ranked them like this:
The Oilers chose Yamamoto, and the other two men landed at the bottom of the first round of the draft. These years later, Yamamoto and Kostin are Oilers and Tolvanen is on waivers. I bet you real money (not my money, but maybe someone I like’s money, like Bruce McCurdy) he gets claimed by a team not named the Oilers. Here are the totals for each player per 82 games and their total NHL games in brackets.
- Kailer Yamamoto 17-23-40 (202 NHL games)
- Eeli Tolvanen 15-16-31 (135 NHL games)
- Klim Kostin 10-11-21 (58 NHL games)
I expect a team that is near the bottom will grab him, but now wonder about Nashville’s decisions this season. Recently, I wrote about Philip Tomasino as a possible target, and now I’m genuinely wondering if he could be procured via trade. Holy hell teams do strange things.
SHAYNA GOLDMAN AND DOM LUSZCZYSZYN PLAYER CARDS
It has to be something very special for me to post a headline with Dom’s full name, because it’s a job getting it right. One should always write the correct spelling no matter the name. It’s a sign of respect. In Dom’s case, I’ve checked it five times and am still uncertain it’s correct.
Either way, Shayna and Dom are two of my favourite innovators and their ‘player card’ series is one of the more anticipated items in my life. This season’s cards for the Oilers are here. Fantastic information and a grading system that makes sense. There are six men delivering more than $2.5 million over their market value and you’ll never guess the names. Incredible work, innovative and logicial. Clarity is a valuable thing.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
A full four hours today, 10-2 on TSN 1260. We’ll talk World Cup semis, the Oilers, NFL weekend and more. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!
Nurse… Woof
Oilers show time and time again that they struggle to compete against grinding, physical teams. Oilers are soft skill. Need Kane back asap.
was going to post this. and we need another harder to play against winger as well as Kane. RW preferred
I rarely turn off games. Been quite awhile I can’t recall last one I was watching that I did that…baioed after 2nd.
In hindsight:
No downside
Oddly a little upside as I was thinking 3-1 final
For what its worth, Pat Verbeek was at the game tonight and had dinner with Holland beforehand (per Michael Russo).
that would be a good home for Puljujarvi
player like lundestrom make sense?
change of scenery for both, oilers gain some cap space
Out six weeks with finger injury. Lundestrom is still young and a Dman, I don’t think the Ducks have given up on him. After all, they acquired Juolevi as a project 😉
Not sure if we can get a live body out of ANA. Well, I mean that isn’t named Henrique or worse, Silfverberg. Comtois looks the most likely but he plays left wing. I think we’d be happy with a pick to tell you the truth. perhaps a conditional would work…
2024 5th round pick that upgrades to a 3rd round if the Ducks re-sign him. Something like that.
There was a lot of chatter about Klingberg and the Oilers this past off-season. I haven’t heard anything since though, and if the Ducks are willing to swallow half, that would be an easier deal than Karlsson. Shattenkirk is also there on an expiring contract but I don’t see how a dman gets involved at their end without this being a much wider deal. Which makes it extremely unlikely to happen that way.
I will say Puljujarvi for a conditional pick. That seems likeliest, if a deal even happens.
Technical point (of little consequence) – can no longer make trade conditions based on the player re-signing with the acquired team.
Good to know thanks.
FYI:
https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2020/07/examining-some-major-cba-changes.html
Isac lundestrom is a LW who can take faceoffs
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=192083
no little about the player but from just contract/position
both semi underperforming for draft position
oilers could use the utility, 2nd year to try the player out
anaheim gets the big name, draft pedigree
2×1.8 looks attractive for the oilers
Geez, yeah I read that line wrong. Doesn’t much matter, I don’t think ANA is interested in trading youth.
fair
I guess I would hope the oilers still are (to a degree)
looks attractive from oilers standpoint
We need to shoot more. I saw many opportunities to get the puck to the net, that were seemingly ignored. Too much skating around with the puck, not going to the net or shooting at the net. SHOOT!
Also players going to the net to receive a pass to shoof
Often the puck carrier had no one to set up, nobody in scoring position (skating in not just standing there) so back around or to the point
No players coming in back side either especially when Drai is in his office
Flush it.
Tomorrow is a great opportunity to rebound.
Not only are the Preds missing half their starting D, Mike McCarron has enrolled in the assistance program. That’s a large slab of beef missing. Should be soft enough for the Oil now…
Sorry, still bitter.
McDavid should have sat that one out.
I take it back. Skinner deserved that point.
Two powerplays in the 3rd. Two odd man breaks. Not got our butts whupped all over the ice, no finsh.
Jay much more hospitable than us. Thought the players competed hard, with a weak spot of 6-7 minutes in the second, and a mistake that lead to a 5 on 5 goal. We couldn’t bury our chances and we had enough looks to tie it up but didn’t get one.
I saw a team on the perimeter playing tentatively that didn’t get any adrenaline flowing when being attacked in the scoring areas
They don’t mind being scored on, really. They should freakin hate it, every time
Coach look at the shot clock and tell me again how the team was competitive.
K…we’re done with Minny this year now right?
I hate that their skill line has 5′ old man Zuc, 5′ 4″ Kaprizov and waiver-wire junk Sam Steel….and they walk around in our end like their 6′ 7″ all-stars. It’s so sad.
I bet Minny sucks against heavy hitting teams. The exact opposite of our team.
You watch the same game?
There was 1 soft team, but it wasn’t Minny.
Sure did. We make Minny look tough…thats how soft we are.
Kaprizov is 5-10″ 208. Not exactly a waterbug. Zuc is a fire hydrant too. Six of the remaining 10 forwards are six foot two or bigger.
The Wild are well-known for playing hard hockey.
Wild played a very hard, physical brand of hockey tonight. Their commitment to taking the body right to the end of the 3rd period playing three in four, was impressive. We had no answer for it and were unwilling to dig deeper. I hope they learned something from this.
And maybe the Oilers could find a guy like that at the trade deadline. 😉
Skinner yet another bright light tonight. And a quality start wasted.
Nashville is missing half their D including McDonagh, is also on a B2B, so should be easier than the opponent they played tonight… as long as Soupy can hold the fort.
Being tired shouldn’t mean not in the game. You can’t have strong seasons and a high winning percentage if every breeze knocks you off your perch
Being elite means you are the guys that don’t allow adversity to derail you
As Tipp said it’s not like the ‘70’ s riding buses and staying Motel Hell
5 stars, chefs, masseuses and charters these days
This was a type of game where you miss Kane. We’re just way to soft for the Minnesota’s of the league. This game was very frustrating to watch as we got outmanned time after time.
There’s something to be said for that, but they still have to show up when he’s not in the line-up. Needed way more push back but for whatever reason they didn’t seem to have it to call on tonight.
Team should be well rested for tomorrow.
We didn’t deserve a point. Can’t show up for 15 minutes a game and expect to be in it.
Ridiculous…why can we never learn this?
That was 1 of those games you were going to lose no matter what
Blech
Well ya, with an effort like that.
That was a very disappointing effort.
Left point out there tonight.
Coasted a game
A gift
Let Nuge take the draw!
51 sec PP. So you’re saying there’s chance?
nope!
Didn’t really deserve it. And besides, unlike the Flames, we abhor loser points.
We should of seen this type of play all game, not just the final 10.,.I though we worked this out of our system?
We win against them last time by working hard and together.
Guess we forgot…
McDavids refusal to shoot is costing opportunities…
Getting looks but nobody wants to shoot the damn puck.
Come on guys
Stuff like this seems to happen in games they’re fated to lose
Nah this wasn’t fate.
Piss poor effort.
I get not everyone can bring it every game.
But top to bottom a piss poor effort
Too many Fancy Dans.
Where’s JFJ when you need him?
Janmark a garbage neutral zone pass ruined three good shifts of momentum.
Come on buckle down guys
Nurse is not a natural at offense. Should have gone to the slot for a Drai pass (there was nothing else) and Drai rotate to the point to cover
“You get paid 9 million and don’t do shit”
he does have a point there
17 shots in 50+ minutes isn’t gonna get it done
12 shots in the final 2 periods. Not going to win very often that way.
This is a hard reversion to they crappy uneventful play a few weeks ago.
Nobody wants to man up and make a play.
Drai and Bouch little pansy passes back and forth and poof all the momentum gone with narry a puck directed at the net.
Someone needs to be selfish and drive the nets
So much of the Oilers Ozone involves getting the puck to the point instead of getting it to the net.
playing with a little more verve now
oilers typically eventually play to win the game
just typically comes too late but that oomph typically appears eventually
3 on 1…McDavid passes to Nurse. Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Leon pointed to Nurse. McDavid usually makes a better pass.
Who cares. He’s leading the league in goals. Shoot the puck!
So your issue was him passing, not passing to Nurse….?
Nurse will be bashed ad nauseam all over for not burying that but, really, that was a tough tough pass
It’s was in his feet.
Just a bad execution from everyone all around.
McDavid should have shot
Clear path to the net, on his off-wing, he needs to be selfish there down a goal. The probabilities lie with him.
Man that was a great opportunity missed there. Nurse didn’t have an option for Leon I don’t think but could have sent it to 97 or ripped it. Not a great shot on a 10-bell opportunity.
McDavid on his off-wing. I would’ve kept.
3 on 1. Blah.
Leon motioned to Connor to pass it to Nurse. I find if you expect anything offensively from Nurse you’ll be disappointed.
So sick of seeing guys cycle the puck in our zone untouched…
really patient defense against the cycle by the Oilers but the clock is against them
If women aren’t in love with Holloway’s hips as he makes moves to the net…
Sick no look backhander from 97
Start of the third – more of the same.
Thankfully, it just takes one break or one bounce or capitalizing one one mistake or one PP or one great play by a star ….. to tie this game.
I don’t see anyone earning one. Gonna need an own goal or lucky bounce.
Montreal wins the shootout after not scoring on a 4 minute 4-3 pp in OT. Whew!
That sure looked like a more typical Wild – Oilers period.
I like Bob’s
suggestion ofcomment about moving Yams up, and his reasoning was dead-on.What’s the short version? (I skip the intermissions.)
Flip Yams and Hyman–it happened for a shift at the ed of the period.
Hyman can help drive possession on the second line. Yams has quicker hands more suited to feeding 29 and 97.
Oh nice, I said that at the start of the season. I’d really like to see that when Kane is healthy. Kane – Nuge – Hyman would be a killer second line. Hyman and Kane both get pucks to the net and dominate there.
Holland needs to add a fair bit of “balls out” to this group
Kostin looks so good bcs he doesn’t play tentatively
Like how Guerin told Gregor he added The Reaver to add some jump (and size) to the group
Feels like they either think too much or seemingly not at all
Kane is a huge chunk of swagger missing.
True
I don’t see it as swagger. For me it’s more about personality, assertiveness. More Hymans with better offensive sense
Some players are aggressive and push. Some natively want to sit back, watch, and react
They get burnt constantly. On their heels too much. I think the slow starts are because of this
Any word when Mcleod is back for us?
Many Oilers forwards are without a shot tonight.
Just heard Lindholm missing all game with an upper-body injury tonight.
May the injury winds keep blowing to the south…and stay there.
Tanev out too
Delicious
Elevate!
Drink!
After Two:
2-1 Minnesota (1-0 Wild in the second)
20-15 Minnesota shots (14-6 Wild in the second)
24-19 Minnesota Corsi five-on-five (14-10 Wild in the second)
==
Wild should be up by two goals. Can Edmonton take advantage? McDavid at 15:28, Leon just shy of 15.
Played like crap for the majority of that period but only down one. Thank you, Stu. Soiled as always.
We can get back in this but gotta up the friggin intensity! This lackadaisical attitude has got to go..,
These guys are playing like they have a 3 goal lead and are saving energy for tomorrow
Well we got out-ground and out-worked that period. Going to have to dig deep and find another level for the 3rd. Can’t rely on the powerplay. Lucky to be only down 1, need to take advantage of that.