Game 37 2022-23 Oilers at Kraken

In the most recent 10 games for each team, the Edmonton Oilers (5-3-2, 12 points) have gained significant ground on the Seattle Kraken (3-6-1, seven points). A win tonight and the road team will climb past the Kraken and Calgary Flames into third spot in the Pacific Division. These are important games for the Oilers. Expect a fun but tense 60 minutes (or more) in the city that gave us Jimi Hendrix.

THE ATHLETIC!

• New Lowetide: Bakersfield Condors’ 2022-23 season review to date
• Lowetide: Oilers’ Philip Broberg, Markus Niemelainen pursue final defence spot
• Lowetide: Oilers’ Darnell Nurse remains the top defenceman despite struggles
• Lowetide: Oilers organizational depth chart reveal elite centres, quality prospects
• DNB: How Oilers are different yet similar to last season through 35 games
• Lowetide: Oilers’ Evan Bouchard’s difficult season disguises elite talent
• New DNB: Why the Oilers should, but probably won’t, acquire Jakob Chychrun
• Lowetide: What’s wrong with the Edmonton Oilers?
• Lowetide: Can Oilers prospect Reid Schaefer make the NHL leap next season? 
• New DNB: Oilers throwing away points as defencemen continue to make crucial mistakes
• DNB: Why the Oilers need to make a trade to give Darnell Nurse more help on defence
• Lowetide: Ranking Oilers GM Ken Holland’s 5 best trades in Edmonton
• DNB: Oilers’ Klim Kostin much happier in Edmonton than he was with Blues
• Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2022
• Lowetide: Will Oilers pro scouts help identify quality at the deadline?
• Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers avert disaster with strong finish to November
• DNB: Oilers GM Ken Holland Q&A: Can the team be improved? If so, how?
• Jonathan Willis: Oilers’ Jack Campbell will be better, but can he be a true No. 1?
• Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers reasonable expectations for every player in 2022-23

WHAT TO EXPECT IN DECEMBER

• 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 1-1-0)
• At home to: STL, ANA (Expected 1-0-1) (Actual 0-1-1)
• On the road to: NAS, DAL (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 1-0-1)
• At home to: VAN (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
• On the road to: CAL, SEA (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
• 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: 6-5-2, 14 points in 13 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: 19-15-2, 40 points in 36 games

I have tonight and tomorrow night as victories for Edmonton. If that happens, the team will finish December 8-5-2, 18 points in 15 games. That’s spitting distance of my prediction after a solid start followed by a mid-month walkabout sponsored by chaos. It would be a great run to end the month, but there are many miles to go.

TALK OF THE TOWN

1. When do the reinforcements arrive? Evander Kane is out for a few more weeks, and may not be 100 percent for a time after return. I think it would be wise to assume he’ll be in form in time for the playoffs.
2. No, I mean trades. Ken Holland runs on time. Unless there’s a fantastic deal that falls in his lap, I expect a deadline rental ala Dmitri Kulikov.
3. What about Philip Broberg? He’s skating and that could mean soon, but the Oilers are winning with Markus Niemelainen so there’s no rush.
4. Is he any good? In the AHL, Broberg has played in 38 games, owns 6-21-27 boxcars (that’s good production) and an even-strength goal differential of 32-17 (65 percent). Those are excellent numbers in the AHL, he looks NHL-ready but injuries are poking a big hole in his season.
5. Then he gets to the NHL and is trash! That’s far from true. In the Broberg games coached by Woodcroft in the NHL, the young defender has low boxcars (1-2-3) in 26 games. 11-14 five-on-five goal differential. Injury is the big frustration, but the Broberg resume, when he’s in the lineup, is encouraging.
6. So Holland wants to see him play? Yes, exactly. Back when I started this blog, I used a lot of baseball references because they were familiar to me and acted as a kind of shorthand. So, I’d say ‘this young prospect needs 500 at-bats in the NHL’ which implies a full season. Broberg is at 34 NHL games now, and has some nice things.
7. Like what? He’s over 50 percent (all five-on-five) in Fenwick, Corsi, shots. He’s at 95 percent PDO. If this were a free-agent signing, let’s call him Art Carney, there would be a great deal of buzz about him. However, due to where he was drafted, and the names passed over by Edmonton, there’s a biased view of the player. Human nature. Also not germane to Broberg as a possible solution. Hopefully he stays healthy.
8. What’s going on with Jack Campbell? They’re changing his equipment and he’s going to come out of the bullpen for the next while. Campbell was signed by Ken Holland, who is patient. Patience is mostly good, but I saw Bob Sebra go 6-15 on a team that went 91-71 and lost the division by four games. Sometimes stubborn mule behaviour is disguised as patience. I don’t think Holland will allow Campbell to go 6-15. Either way, Jay Woodcroft is running with Stuart Skinner, that’s the wise play.
9. Who starts tonight? I’d start Skinner tonight and tomorrow night. Need both games, give yourself the best chance.
10. Is this a good season? I think the first 36 games have been difficult for fans because consistency has been elusive. Injuries and performances below expected levels (led by Campbell).
11. Is this a good season? It’s too soon to know. The Oilers remind me a little of the Chicago Blackhawks from my youth. As fans, we argue over Chico Maki playing on the big line, wonder why the team can’t find a stronger option behind the big three on defense (Pat Stapleton, Bill White and Keith Magnuson). The bigger issue is can Tony Esposito keep going? And the trump cards are Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull. Those two gave the ‘Hawks a big advantage and that has to be accounted for in projecting the second half of this season.
12. How many points will Connor McDavid score? He’ll go 76-76-152, tying Phil Esposito’s remarkable 1970-71 campaign. Unlike Esposito’s Bruins, the Oilers will win Stanley.
13. Yeah, right. Edmonton needs some help on defense, someone like Carson Soucy, Nick Jensen or Jake McCabe, and that will help in a big way.
14. What else? The backup goalie role has to be solved, Campbell or otherwise. I would like to see a RH center who can penalty kill added, and the rights-holder media keeps rambling on about truculence so expect Zack MacEwen or similar. My wish is for Trent Frederic or AJ Greer.
15. I see you wrote about Bakersfield, anyone who can help down there? The youngsters are coming along but need more time (and more playing time). I do think Vincent Desharnais might get a recall and see some action.

LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON

A busy show as we prepare for a new year, TSN1260 10-2 today. We’ll chat Oilers, World Juniors, Pele and maybe a Kraken or two. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon! Happy New Year!