Game 45 2022-23: Oilers at Golden Knights

The Edmonton Oilers had another strong game in California on Friday night against the San Jose Sharks. The impact players were scoring, the role players were scoring and the youth scored too. Defensively, the blue was rugged and unforgiving, with Jack Campbell delivering a strong game with at least one brilliant save when Edmonton was in a pickle. It’s on to Vegas, and a win would mean a successful road trip.

THE ATHLETIC!

• Lowetide: Oilers should consider obscure options as reinforcements
• Lowetide: Oilers winger Warren Foegele has been odd man out, so what’s next?
• DNB: Oilers must act at the trade deadline
• Lowetide: Oilers midseason review of 2022-23 reasonable expectations
• Lowetide: Should Oilers GM Ken Holland trade the 2023 first-round pick?
• Lowetide: Making the call on young Oilers in need of a contract this summer
• Lowetide: Oilers’ Klim Kostin’s sudden impact, injury and immediate future
• Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers’ December sleep walk a touch of deja vu
• 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
• 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
• New DNB: Oilers throwing away points as defencemen continue to make crucial mistakes
• 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?

WHAT TO EXPECT IN JANUARY

• At home to: SEA, NYI, COL (Expected 1-1-1) (Actual 1-1-1)
• On the road to: LAK, ANA, SJS, VEG (Expected 3-1-0) (Actual 2-1-0)
• At home to: SEA, TBAY (Expected 0-1-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
• On the road to: VAN (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• At home to: CBJ, CHI (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• January expected result: 7-3-2, 16 points in 12 games
• January actual result: 3-2-1, 7 points in 6 games
• December results: 7-6-2, 16 points in 15 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: 23-17-3, 49 points in 43 games

The game against the LAK looms large now. The Bettman NHL means three-point games are vital for teams who make the playoffs. Edmonton would do well to get a result tonight, win or OT loss. Going home 2-2-0 wouldn’t move the needle on the postseason, the Oilers need a point or more tonight.

Good work has been done, but the standings (Edmonton owns the final wildcard spot, on both points and winning percentage). A win tonight and a Calgary loss (to Dallas) would be ideal for playoff hopes.

SUMMARY

• Jack Campbell continues to improve his numbers. Since December 15, his five-on-five save percentage is .918 (Stuart Skinner is .925 in the same timeframe). Campbell’s overall save percentage (.883) ranks No. 47 of 52 NHL goalies who have played 750+ minutes. Miles to go.

• Darnell Nurse played a tough, physical game and owned a 58 percent expected goal share five-on-five. Faced the Meier-Hertl-Eyssimont line most often, surrendering just one HDSC chance. Credited with zero hits, which is ridiculous. He played well.
• Cody Ceci had two shots, a takeaway and a couple of blocked shots on the night. Played just 10:58 at five-on-five overall, all three RH played just over 15 minutes on the night. Has depth arrived in Edmonton?
• Brett Kulak led all Oilers defensemen in TOi (20:12), and had four shots on goal, GV, TK and a blocked shot. A 64 percent shot share, 2-1 goals, high event (4-5) HDSC and used his foot speed wisely. Inconsistent this year, I liked his game.
• Tyson Barrie had an assist, three shots, two hits, 67 percent shot share five-on-five, 1-0 goals, but 0-3 HDSC. Struggled against the Hertl line.
• Philip Broberg had two shots, one blocked shot, played on both the PK and PP. He closed gaps and had great positoning. 8-6 shots, 2-0 goals 5-1 HDSC on his watch. Music! The amount of time people ran with “he’s a wasted pick” while some of us suggested waiting to see should be enough for everyone to be cautious on young defensemen, but it won’t happen. Broberg is having a nice run, doesn’t mean he won’t regress, but for now he’s winning a job in the NHL and it’s fresh blacktop and the highway’s free. He had one promising sortie that was whistled down because a fight was breaking out behind the play. He is 7-3 goals at five-on-five since December 15. He could be Holland’s No. 2 LH defense deadline addition. Wouldn’t it be awful if Broberg emerged and the naysayers had to adjust? People, wait for prospects to tell you who they are, not Arvid on twitter with some clever words and a job that lets him tweet 60 times an hour.
• Evan Bouchard is 15-9 goals at five-on-five since December 15, regression for him is like that truck in Duel and Dennis Weaver is the rest of the NHL. More music! Three shots, GV, TK, his passing and shooting instincts are returning to normal ala “Year of Hell” Star Trek Voyageur. It’s good to see him recover.
• Vincent Desharnais has delivered and then some, to the point where the defense looks positively organized with the big man taking 17 shifts a night. He picked up his first NHL assist, blocked a shot, played a physical game and was 8-4 shots, 1-1 goals and 5-3 HDSC. I don’t know how the hell they’re going to get him out of the lineup.

• Connor McDavid’s birthday looked like every other day, 2-1-3, five shots, TK, five HDSC, drew two penalties. As impressive as those numbers are, his 18:18 total icetime is the strongest indication this team is maturing. A hat-trick on his birthday to match Gretzky would have been cool and added to the lore of this player, but winning in Vegas is a big damned deal. Impressive by player, coach and team.
• Leon Draisaitl took a head hit, something to monitor tonight. On the evening, he was 1-2-3 with five shots, two HDSC, three takeaways. He played a very physical game as always, important for the organization to make sure he’s healthy come playoff time. The big man is needed for the Avalanche series.
• Zach Hyman had an assist, two shots, two HDSC, TK, two blocked shots, his laundry list is always long and impressive. One of the Oilers four horsemen, waiting for Kane to make it five, and I wonder if Hyman is the key man to decide the sixth forward on the skill lines. He can play either wing, gives the team many options. Don’t discount the idea of three outscoring lines, Nuge’s emergence opens up options.
• Warren Foegele had an assist, a shot, three takeaways, couple of hits and a blocked shot. His assist was the kind of speed-broken play-loose puck-instinct pass that Foegele does well. His offense comes from chaos.
• Ryan McLeod scored a goal after about 20 chances over the last week or so, good for him. Three shots, one HDSC, a couple of giveaways and the young man skated miles. People get on him about his offense, but McLeod will score enough to stay in the NHL for a decade. His 4-3 goals at five-on-five in the last 10 games is a key to his success. If he can live around 50 percent goal share, while playing away from the elite teammates, McLeod can help this team win.
• Jesse Puljujarvi scored a goal, three in his last 12 (that’s 20.5 in a full season) and of course they were all at five-on-five. I think the team that acquires him should do what the Penguins did with Justin Schultz. Give him a little time to adjust to the new city, then slowly build back his confidence. JP’s future in Edmonton has dark skies, but the sliver of daylight is his new town. His current performances are going to get him traded, and that’s alright with me. Godspeed, young man.
• Klim Kostin goes to the net with his stick on the ice, making him a disciple of the Patrick Maroon “how to make millions by doing the obvious” and the big Russian is golden in this city today. Scored a goal, HDSC, drew a penalty, TK. I think he’s emerging, like Kane and Hyman, as a winger who helps move the needle. Ken Holland should get credit for this trade, it’s turned out brilliantly so far.
• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is having a career year at 29. He’s always been a favourite and I am loving this season for the hyphenated pivot. 1-2-3, drew a penalty, GV, TK, what a marvelous uptick mid-career for a guy who has done everything asked for over a decade.
• Mattias Janmark continues to be productive, driving detractors to distraction. An assist, four shots on goal, three HDSC and a takeaway. This line is giving the team a chance in every game.
• Dylan Holloway gets no breaks from the refs. The guy was manhandled, thrown in a box and shipped to Guam by an opponent, and his two-handed slash had to be called but what about the other guy? Holy hell that’s a bad look for the referees. He had an assist, shot, and three penalties. He’ll need to cut back on the penalties, players do get benched (Dave Hunter was an early famous example) for it.
• Derek Ryan had a quiet night after starting the game on the No. 1 line. He’s a useful veteran.

Tonight is huge. A win, combined with a loss by the Flames, could mean that January is in fact that hot streak we’ve all been discussing. The emergence of young blue since December 15 has to be considered a major factor, and young Vincent Desharnais has made a difference. The farm system has been golden since the organization added “development” to the solid drafting.

THE CONDORS

Bakersfield lost a heartbreaker in overtime last night, but battled back late to get a point. All three of the rookies who are 20 scored goals, and Raphael Lavoie had a solid night. Lavoie is 5-3-8 in his last nine, good signs from the big winger. Also had a fight where he appeared to release all frustrations on some poor guy. Certain the management would have noticed the scoring and the aggression.