Game 50 2022-23: Blackhawks at Oilers

by Lowetide

The maturation of this generation of Edmonton Oilers continues tonight against the ghost of Stanley Cups past. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews arrive in the Alberta Capital after having taken a bite out of the Flames on Thursday night.

The Pacific Division standings are tight today, after two nights of bizarre results involving teams ahead of the Oilers. Specifically the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights are bleeding points as the All-Star break draws close. A win tonight would benefit the Oilers and give fans a glimmer of hope over the week between now and the resumption of the schedule.

THE ATHLETIC!

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 3-1-0)
  • At home to: SEA, TBAY (Expected 0-1-1) (Actual 2-0-0)
  • On the road to: VAN (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
  • At home to: CBJ, CHI (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 0-0-1)
  • January expected result: 7-3-2, 16 points in 12 games
  • January actual result: 7-2-2, 16 points in 11 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: 27-18-4, 58 points in 49 games

If the Oilers win tonight, and make the playoffs, the January run will have a lot to do with it. A win would mean 60 points in 50 games, a 98-point pace. That point total would be close to a guaranteed playoff berth.

The Oilers are in the good spot in the Pacific. LAK lead the division with 62 points in 51 games, a win tonight puts the Oilers two points back with a game in hand. Considering strength of schedule, goal differential and other factors, Edmonton should be able to catch them in February.

Seattle Kraken are the class of the group, leading the division in point percentage. Edmonton is three points back, Seattle with the game in hand. The Oilers can catch the Kraken, but they better pack a lunch because it’s going to take them all day.

Vegas is three points ahead of Edmonton, with the Oilers owning a game in hand. A win tonight means entering the All-Star break a single point behind Vegreville. The Calgary Flames are a point behind, the Oilers with the GIH. I like the situation Edmonton is in tonight, a win versus Chicago would be a terrific way to enter the break.

THE MATURATION

The Oilers turned the puck over a couple dozen times in the game against Columbus, that’s reckless and unacceptable. The best players on the team are going to have giveaways, that’s due to handling the puck so much. Without looking, I would estimate that 97, 29 and Zach Hyman lead the team in giveaways per-60 at five-on-five. Here’s the top 10:

  1. Leon Draisaitl 3.71
  2. Ryan McLeod 3.54
  3. Evander Kane 2.75
  4. Connor McDavid 2.44
  5. Devin Shore 2.02
  6. Dylan Holloway 1.84
  7. Mattias Janmark 1.67
  8. Warren Foegele 1.31
  9. Klim Kostin 1.23
  10. Kailer Yamamoto 1.12

Draisaitl is No. 4 in the NHL (David Pastrnak, Evgeni Malkin, Artemi Panarin) so that’s some great company, but you’d like to see that reduced if you are the coaching staff. At the other end of the scale, Jesse Puljujarvi is No. 19 in fewest giveaways (.86) and the Nuge No. 24 (.93). Devin Shore can’t have that number, not for what he brings. Dylan Holloway? He’s a rookie and the number isn’t terrible. Ryan McLeod needs to reduce his total too, but he gets more touches than the other youngsters, so I think that’s learning curve. Oh. Zach Hyman? A pristine .97-per-60.

POSSIBLE LINEUP

  • Holloway-McDavid-Hyman
  • Kane-Draisaitl-Ryan
  • Kostin-RNH-Janmark
  • Foegele-McLeod-Puljujarvi
  • Nurse-Ceci
  • Kulak-Barrie
  • Broberg-Bouchard
  • Jack Campbell (Stuart Skinner)

Huzzah! Dylan Holloway on a line with McDavid and Hyman. Eureka! Music! Overture, curtains, lights! The two men have been together just 38 minutes at five-on-five this season, 2-2 goals but 57 percent shot share and 63 percent expected-goals share. McDavid-Hyman have been money all year, I think that pairing with hold fast even when Evander Kane is rocking 100 percent. Here are 97’s totals with various linemates:

  • McDavid-Hyman: 467 mins, 36-22 goals, 62 pct
  • McDavid-Yamamoto: 111 mins, 5-4 goals, 56 pct
  • McDavid-Draisaitl: 334 mins, 21-19 goals, 53 pct
  • McDavid-Nuge: 153 mins, 10-9 goals, 53 pct
  • McDavid-Holloway: 38 mins, 2-2 goals, 50 pct
  • McDavid-Puljujarvi: 183 mins, 5-9 goals, 36 pct
  • McDavid-Kostin: 41 mins, 1-2 goals, 33 pct
  • McDavid-Kane: 105 mins, 2-6 goals, 25 pct
  • McDavid-Janmark: 41 mins, 0-1 goals
  • McDavid-McLeod: 16 mins, 0-1 goals
  • McDavid-Foegele: 34 mins, 0-2 goals
  • McDavid-Hamblin: 3 mins, 0-2 goals

I count several strong options for the captain, but after the deadline, when the Oilers run the centers three, Holloway might come in handy. I’d still run Hyman-97-Puljujarvi. JP has struggled with the captain this season, but since Hyman arrived the trio has played 311 minutes, are 15-10 goals and 63 percent expected goals.

WHEN TWO WORLDS COLLIDE

There are two things that are rolling around on the Al Gore that I want to touch on briefly today. Since it’s Tabernac Saturday, I think we can talk about difficult subjects.

I keep reading the Oilers need to go all-in, trade Philip Broberg, Dylan Holloway and everyone not in their prime. If Edmonton had several players NHL-ready, I can see it. However, how many men on their entry deals do you see filling significant roles next season? I count Broberg and Holloway. Maybe Xavier Bourgault makes the grade, or Raphael Lavoie signs a second contract for value and emerges, but this team isn’t flush with aces in the minors. I understand the idea of all-in, and Broberg isn’t Jakob Chychrun, but part of a team’s heart comes in those value deals. I can’t see a good reason to trade either man.

The other item surrounds some of the rumoured targets by Edmonton. Some big contracts are apparently under consideration, and I wonder if this is the beginning of a restructuring of the team’s foundation. Let’s take Erik Karlsson as an example. He has been mentioned in connection with Edmonton.

Karlsson’s cap hit is $11.5M and his contract runs four more full seasons. It’s a headache. However, if the Oilers are considering a deal, perhaps the San Jose Sharks are willing to take on some of the cap over the duration of the deal. Let’s say Edmonton gets this player for $7.5 million AAV, and give up Tyson Barrie ($4.5 million times two) and Jesse Puljujarvi in the trade. That’s $7.5 million, so it satisfies the dollars in, dollars out situation Ken Holland finds himself in.

Next season, the team would be even more top heavy. I’m beginning to wonder about the heart of the order in Edmonton. Have the Oilers spoken in general terms to Leon Draisaitl’s management group? Is there a strong sense of the direction forward? In all of these cases, including straight UFA’s like Bo Horvat, there’s a financial shoe that would seemingly have to drop in order for the trade to make sense. That brings us to this question: What is Ken Holland contemplating?

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DevilsLettuce

2 of the 3 highest scoring Canadians will not be involved in All star festivities. NHL trying to their best to take our resolve from us.

OriginalPouzar

Someone mentioned the D deployment and Vinny with some time on the right side. At 5 on 5 he played the following minutes:

2:49 – Nurse
2:37 – Barrie
2:07 – Kulak
2:04 – Bouchard

Interesting

Bulging Twine

Defence 5v5 +/-

Broberg +7

Barrie +5
Nurse +5

Desharnais +3
Niemo +2
Kulak +1
Ceci +1

Bouchard -4

Bulging Twine

PDO (Team pdo 1.004)

Bouchard .960
Kulak 1.007
Nurse 1.010
Ceci & Barrie 1.011
Broberg 1.012
Niemo 1.025
Desharnais 1.049

Last edited 1 year ago by Bulging Twine
Bulging Twine

FW 5v5 +/-

Hyman +14

Yamamoto +9

Nuge +6
Kostin +6

McDavid +4

Draisaitl +2
Ryan +2
Shore +2

Holloway 0
Janmark -1
McLeod -1
Foegele -1
Kane -1

Puljujarvi -10

Bulging Twine

PDO (Team pdo 1.004)

Puljujarvi .960
McLeod & Foegele .994
McDavid .996
Kane .997
Holloway .998
Draisaitl 1.001
Janmark 1.003
Ryan 1.011
Nuge 1.017
Hyman 1.018
Shore 1.027
Yamamoto 1.036
Kostin 1.039

Last edited 1 year ago by Bulging Twine
OriginalPouzar

The Hyman number is something else, in particular when you think about him being -7 (I think) in that game state last season. The McDavid and McDavid/Drai without Hyman numbers are also something.

Bulging Twine

Hyman, Nurse and McDavid with +3 nights 5v5

Bulging Twine

Derek Ryan with 5 5v5 HDCF and has a very healthy 5.17per 60

28th best rate amongst fw’s who have played as much as him or more

Bulging Twine

With his 2 5v5 pts McLeod goes to .02 behind RNH in 5v5 pts/60 (he now has 1.8 – which is 7th amongst FW’s)

Last edited 1 year ago by Bulging Twine
Bulging Twine

With his 3 5v5 points Hyman moves into a tie with McDavid for the Oilers lead at 35 5v5 pts

Last edited 1 year ago by Bulging Twine
kgo

Awesome after hours interviews by our boys…but Scott Oake is such a twerp…starts the interview with the kiss acronym, keep it simple stupid, I would be pissed if someone started my interview that way…then proceeds to interrupt Vinny 3 times, slides in a comment about how emotional his family is because Vinny keeps talking about the happy tears…comments on his salary being minuscule, not getting a scholarship until year 3…and then he digs up the dirt on Campbell using a quote to call him pathetic. Fuck Scott Oake and his pear shaped frame.

kgo

Remember when pisani scored 14g in the playoffs and we built him a statue? Kane and human both scored 11? Last summer and we barely flinched

maudite

A round and a near cup short insanity high water mark.

kgo

It wasn’t long ago we would all be thrilled to have a 90 point player, 70 point guy, and two more in the 60s at season’s end….here we’re are with 30+ games remaining…

Reja

If Skinner is too ill for the all-star game they should send the Berlin-wall in his place. aka John Scott.

prefonmich

Hard to believe how much has changed in the past 8 games. Swagger leading to wins leading from outside playoffs now looking like we’ll in the fight for tops in Pacific. How quickly things can turn in this league.

Munny 2.0

Berlin going in originated with McDavid.

Reja

Captain Jack will get you high tonight
and take you to your special island.
Captain Jack will get you by tonight
just a little push and you’ll be smilin’
Oh yeah.

prefonmich

Vinny with a quote Bison King needs to learn “you gotta be a prick” love it!!

dangilitis

I don’t think that’s the problem this year. He could have scored a hatty tonight if he had the hand-eye or finishing touch or whatever you want to call it

prefonmich

I think it is confidence, unlike Kostin who gets the puck and is looking 👀 king to take it to the net or shoot, PJ is looking to pass immediately when he gets the puck. He is not looking to score, just looking to not do the wrong thing. Not a way to succeed in this league and it’s so sad to see. I hope he can land somewhere he fits better and they can rebuild his confidence.

Reja

Wow! What a grateful fella great story. I don’t think he’s going anywhere.

geowal

While I’m sure it wasn’t the motivation for putting Berlin in, Woodcroft with a master class in making old man Sutter looks like a prick in contrast with his handling of J. Pelletier.
Treat people like people.

Last edited 1 year ago by geowal
Diablo

Bet Patty Kane and Toews were paying attention too … that kind of gesture can be meaningful when it comes to getting players to waive their NMCs at the deadline.

Real happy for Berlin … the blocker save is somethings he’s going to remember forever.

geowal

Also maybe paying attention: college free agents who wonder what sort of team they’d be joining. Maybe a stretch, but it’s all good PR

Munny 2.0

Which team would go through a wall for their coach?

geowal

Maybe not the one whose coach says “they have better players”

Reja

I wouldn’t want to do any Native wrestling against those legs.

JimmyV1965

Does anyone know why there are only eight games from now until the all-star break? I don’t recall anything like this before. And is there a readon Carolina plays in three of those eight games?

jp

Yeah noticed that too. It is very odd.

Gerta Rauss

A few years ago the PA negotiated a mid season, week long break for all 31 (at the time) teams, but the resulting schedule was clunky and unworkable – the take away from that year(s) was “we have to fix this”

This is just a guess, but I believe the schedule we are now seeing is the ‘fix’ 

I think some teams are off starting tonight/this weekend, and other teams will get a few days break after the All Star weekend. The NHL wrapped the week long break around the All Star weekend.

I’m far too lazy (and 4 beers in – Sleeman’s Honey Brown Lager) to verify this by looking at the schedule 

Last edited 1 year ago by Gerta Rauss
flea

Teams get off weeks as far as I know. I think the NHL has bunched them for a lot of teams next week. However maybe a few teams had to play to make the scheduling work.

Munny 2.0

Wonder if between periods, Jay used the carrot of getting Berlin on the ice to get his team to stay focused for the third.

geowal

Was thinking that too. Maybe just whispered it to Connor and a couple others. Wasn’t clear when in the game but Campbell said he was asked if it was okay with him.

Todd Macallan

“It’s hard to not be romantic about baseball (hockey)” – Billy Beane, Moneyball.

Munny 2.0

Rob Brown commenting on how big it was for Kane to pop the goose egg before the break. Big goal for him.

And what a player to get going too.

DevilsLettuce

Kenny is making sure to shake Patty Kane’s hand before he leaves the building.

Reja

Now this is your Daddy’s Oilers team tonight.

jp

Dallas +15
Seattle +14
Winnipeg +12
Vegas +11
Minnesota +10
Edmonton +10
Los Angeles +10
Colorado +9
—-
Calgary +7
Nashville +6
Everyone else a minus.

jp

Well that is a fine way to head into the break.

Seattle, Minnesota and Colorado won, but Vegas took an OTL, and the Kings and Jets lost outright.

Ground was gained.

Tarkus

Oilers once had the Bulin Wall. Now they have the Berlin Wall.

Leads the league with 0.00 GAA and a SV% of 1.000. 😀

dangilitis

And he will likely retire with the best all time GAA and SV% (min 1 minute played)

Elgin R

HHOF

Munny 2.0

Tabernac, my eyes.

Kurri17

Proud of the Oilers! The anti-Babcock.

Reja

Babcock is a prick he benched Mike Modano for his 1500th game after he flew in his family for the celebration. Modano ended his Career with 1499 games. That has to be one of the nastiest coaching moves all-time in fact it’s number 1 in my books.

jp

They seem to be playing some RD on the left side tonight. Barrie-Bouch there, but I think Barrie was out on the left side earlier with someone as well.

Edit: or just looking for the hat trick probably.

Last edited 1 year ago by jp
BornInAGretzkyJersey

Vinny Ridge.

DevilsLettuce

Players coach

jp

You can see Berlin’s smile through his mask 🙂 Amazing.

KnightRain

Ya, baby!!! You get a BOOM!!!! What a great move for the kid!

Kurri17

Woah, Berlin going in net!

Munny 2.0

Here he comes!!!

jp

OMG, they are giving Belin a spin! Wow.

Edit: thought they said he was in. Looks like he probably will go though.

Last edited 1 year ago by jp
Gerta Rauss

LoL…awesome

KnightRain

Bad pass attempt by Hollywood led to that goal…

Decidedly Skeptical Fan

If you are going to make a bad mistake, a 7-2 lead is the time to do it.

Kurri17

Ugh…Holloway with a terrible rookie giveaway leading right to a goal.

Diablo

He’ll learn to take care of the puck better in time. Rookies gonna rook.

jp

That wasn’t good, but he’s been sooo much better. When’s the last time you saw a bad one from him?

OriginalPouzar

Shortly after taking the 5-3 lead, the Condors give up two quick ones on successive shots but hold the 5-4 lead for most of the 3rd and finish it off.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Holloway looking like a rookie tonight.

Munny 2.0

holloway’s giveaway on that one

prefonmich

The back pass at the blueline by a great choice.. hustled back but didn’t quite get there. Ala Drai earlier in the game. But without the offensive prowess to make up for it

BornInAGretzkyJersey

NBC resorting to giving the prospect report to keep their audience engaged, extolling the Vermont win in the NCAA.

Munny 2.0

I bailed and went to SN.

Reja

If they had Goal Judges like the old days you wouldn’t have these awkward horn Goals. The horn Goal in the Womens Canada U.S.A final wrecked the whole tournament.

Last edited 1 year ago by Reja
prefonmich

Clouder with the best hockey smile!

LMHF#1

This is what happens when they attack with speed.

Opposition doesn’t matter. They could easily have 10 already.

DevilsLettuce

Sure hope Caleb’s mother is enjoying tonight’s game.

OriginalPouzar

Holloway should get an assist there and that’s 0.5 P/G over the last 12 for him….

KnightRain

BOOM!!! McLeods hard work pays off!!!

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Best play of the night by Popeye’s oldest, and still comes up short.

Wonder what they’re saying in Chicagoland about that contract?

Last edited 1 year ago by BornInAGretzkyJersey