It is so good to see these two proud franchises pushing for Stanley in 2023. It wasn’t so long ago (March 2015) that my pre-game ramble about these two teams involved the McDavid lottery. Here’s the intro, funny how time slips away.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers winger Kailer Yamamoto and the balance between value contract and injury risk
- New DNB: Why Mattias Ekholm is a big addition for an Oilers team that needs to win now
- New DNB: Oilers trading Jesse Puljujarvi was an unavoidable and necessary solution
- Lowetide: Oilers’ mediocre February shows importance of protecting the puck
- DNB: Connor McDavid records his first career 50-goal season
- DNB and Lowetide: Evaluating your Oilers trades for Erik Karlsson, Jakob Chychrun, Mattias Ekholm and more
- Lowetide: Oilers signing Vincent Desharnais, James Hamblin proving innovative, effective one year later
- DNB: Inside Brad Holland’s scouting process
- Lowetide: 5 Oilers prospects with the most value ahead of NHL trade deadline
- DNB: 15 Oilers targets ahead of the NHL trade deadline
- Lowetide: What’s going on with Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl?
- DNB: Oilers captain Connor McDavid surpasses 800 career points
- Lowetide: Revisiting Oilers’ choice of Philip Broberg at the 2019 NHL Draft
- Lowetide: Oilers have an emerging prospect in Noah Philp
- Lowetide: Oilers centre Ryan McLeod’s comparables and career trajectory
- DNB: The Ben Stelter Fund is a legacy his family, Connor McDavid and the Oilers will proudly carry
- Lowetide: Is Edmonton Oilers’ 7-11 alignment here to stay?
- Lowetide: The Oilers’ asset cost in an Erik Karlsson trade and why it’s worth it
- DNB: What I’m hearing about Oilers’ interest in trading for Sharks’ Erik Karlsson
- Lowetide: Will Oilers prospect Phil Kemp have an NHL career?
- Lowetide: Connor McDavid’s top Oilers linemates and what it could mean for trade plans
- DNB: Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland NHL trade deadline Q&A
- Lowetide: How the Oilers finally found the key to five-on-five outscoring
- DNB: With Kailer Yamamoto nearing a return, which Oilers could be salary-cap casualties?
- Lowetide: Oilers prospect Raphael Lavoie turns a corner, now NHL-ready
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers are about to start a major makeover at right wing
- Lowetide: Is Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft saving another season?
- DNB: Why Ryan Nugent-Hopkins matters more to the Oilers now than ever before
- Lowetide: 3 trades that could help the Oilers this season and beyond
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2022
WHAT TO EXPECT IN FEBRUARY
- At home to: TOR, WPG (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: WPG, BUF, BOS, TOR (Expected 2-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: OTT, DAL (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: SEA (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: SJS, ARI, VGK (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: ARI, VGK (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: LAK (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- March expected result: 9-6-0, 18 points in 15 games
- March actual result: 0-0-0
- February actual result: 4-3-4, 12 points in 11 games
- January actual result: 8-2-2, 18 points in 12 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: 32-21-8, 72 points in 61 games
If my prediction comes true, the Oilers will finish March (and pretty much the season) with 76 games complete and a record of 41-27-8, 90 points. It should be a short flight to the playoffs, and those last six April games might be for something special like the division championship. If this holds true, Oilers made the playoffs via a single month, January. The rest of the year has been matzah balls.
SAIL ON, FINLAND SELECT
There’s a song by the Beach Boys called “Sail on Sailor” that I’ve loved since hearing it as a teenager. Part of the lyric, which never made it to the record, goes “fill your sails with fortitude and ride her stormy waves; You’ve got to sail on, sail on, sailor” and I wish they’d kept it. Today, Edmonton sends a favourite son across the stormy waves, and worries all the tomorrows.
Jesse Puljujarvi is the latest, and perhaps the most famous example of a player-type who arrives in Edmonton and carves out a place in the soul of the city. He’s from Finland, but could be from down the block or a small town in Saskatchewan. He could have come from anywhere on the planet the produces honest, down-to-earth young men who are fun-loving and full of life. JP’s fame off the ice is and will be legendary, I’d guess the good people of Raleigh will fall in love with him around the time he makes quick work of a pile of barbecued ribs sometime this week.
Puljujarvi as a human is pure. As a hockey player, he has enormous gifts but is still looking for his place in the game. I hope he finds it in Raleigh. I’m not an envious person, it’s a silly way to be, but do admit that being 24 and starting a new life in a new town was exciting. The entire world is out there, and I trust the good people of Raleigh will recognize a good heart when they see one.
Why do things fail? Lots of reasons, I expect. One thing we can say about Jesse today is that he never lost his humanity, his smile, his zeal, his passion.
I’m a Dad, and among the most difficult things in my life is watching my children try and fail. It is often supplanted by extreme pride in watching them succeed in something that had eluded them in the past. Perhaps this is the next chapter for Jesse Pulujujarvi. I think he’ll find that in life it’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do about it. I think he’ll be fine. God speed, Jesse Puljujarvi, you taught all of us about the power of being genuine and real in difficult times. Be well, young man.
THE TRADES
Mattias Ekholm is going to help the Edmonton Oilers win hockey games down the stretch and into the postseason. He is a big man, who plays an intelligent game that features good positioning, calm feet, size and strength. He isn’t a big open-ice hitter but does lean on players and can clear the net front. He has a fine shot from the point and can move the puck. I would play him with Evan Bouchard on the second pairing, or with Cody Ceci on the top pairing.
In the last three seasons at five-on-five, he has posted a 57 percent goal share, 51 percent expected goal share and averaged 17:07 per night. His rel numbers are rel rel good, and he should make Edmonton better right away, possibly as early as tonight. He is mobile, tough but not prone to taking penalties because of it and a very strong addition to the hockey club. He will help in suppression and I dare say mentor young Philip Broberg and others.
Patrik Puistola just turned 22, was wondering what to do, and the closer they got, the more those feelings grew (grungy guitar line here). I had him No. 50 in 2019’s draft, Philip Broberg No. 16 and Raphael Lavoie No. 26. Puistala has an NHL equivalency of 10-15-25 in 82 games based on a strong Liiga season. He owns a 25-36 even-strength goal share on a team that is well underwater and has a 10.1 shooting percentage. He needs to be signed.
The big get for Edmonton is the $3 million cap relief and that’s a win for Ken Holland. Puistola probably lands about No. 12 on my Oilers top 20 prospects list, but we’ll have to wait and see the next installment.
That brings me to assets out. I believe you know my opinion of Jesse Puljujarvi, so that doesn’t need repeating. I will say that if you’d given me a vote on destination, it would have been the Carolina Hurricanes. That team is made up of like minded players and JP should thrive there. Eric Tulsky is a smart man and will have valued him for some time. We can’t guarantee anything in life but Carolina showed faith in the player by using $3 million in cap at the deadline. I wish the Oilers were run this way, but can appreciate a team run with a combination of old fashioned scouting and a keen analytics eye to boot.
Reid Schaefer was my No. 4 prospect in the winter top-20, and I do think it’s worth mentioning the Oilers traded the player farthest away from the NHL among the team’s top five prospects. In keeping Dylan Holloway, Philip Broberg and Xavier Bourgault, Ken Holland did not deplete his 2023-24 roster options. That’s a positive. Schaefer currently looks like an excellent bet for NHL middle-six duties when he’s ready. I have no quarrel with dealing him as part of the Ekholm package.
If the season ended today, the Oilers first-round pick in the 2023 draft would land at No. 20 overall. Scott Wheeler’s 2023 ranking is just out at The Athletic and he has Quentin Musty of the Sudbury Wolves at that number. He has a 38.5 NHL equivalency and would be the top prospect in the system on my list this summer (Broberg and Holloway have now graduated as prospects). He would be a fantastic prospect for any team.
I have no quarrel with Edmonton surrendering this pick in the Eckholm deal. It’s go time.
Tyson Barrie is the pivotal name in the trade in my opinion. It shows a recognition of duplicate skills on the roster and puts to and end what has been an uneasy RH side on the defense. I do believe Brad Holland and analytics had an impact on these trades but there’s a river of logic and reason running through it. Barrie is more expensive than Bouchard, who is younger. Schaefer is the least NHL-ready of the prospects and the one whose skating is the most worrisome in the group near the top. Jesse Puljujarvi was the one forward who Edmonton could trade because his contract was expiring, but only if no money returned. I’m convinced the transition from Archie Henderson to Brad Holland helped the Oilers yesterday. I hope the Oilers hire the Puck IQ folks this summer, even if it means my favourite site on the Al Gore vanishes like the usual suspects.
The Oilers had a good, good, good, day.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
At 10 this morning, TSN1260. A complete breakdown of Oilers trades, TML-EDM game preview and more! 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!
Elliotte Friedman@FriedgeHNIC·31s
8x$11.25M for Pastrnak
What do you suppose it would take to get Wade Allison or Owen Tippett and Ivan Provorov from Flyers? Is that a potential deal that – if a way can be found – would be desired?
I am not looking at any analytics at all, just age, position and size….
Thoughts anyone?
Isn’t Provorov another lefty?
Why do the Oilers need a LHD? Also, it is nearly impossible for the Oilers to accommodate Provorov’s cap hit.
Good point – was just skimming rosters looking for an appropriate age/size guy.
RD is the need.
I’ll take Allison fo’ sho’
I’ve read that Allison might be relatively easy to get (injury, age, inconsistency), but not sure if a 4th would do it, or if you could get Allison + a 3rd rounder for Yamo.
I think Ryan and Yamo will be moved (size/salary) and Bjugstadt is a primary target. I think there could be up to 3 additions, a scoring RW, a bottom 6 forward and a vet depth defender.
I don’t see Tippett being available and Provorov would be costly and unnecessary.
Thanks!
With Washington selling, is Tom Wilson available? Does that seem like a Holland move?
Would love that type of player but he seems to be on the injury cusp.
Sounds like Bertuzzi to Boston for a 1st and a 4th (per Friedman).
There goes one of the potential forward targets.
I’m pretty strongly expecting Yamamoto to go on LTIR today or tomorrow.
No idea whether he’s got ill effects from the head shot or not, quite possibly he does.
Even if there are no ill effects though, it seems pretty likely Holland was on the cusp of dealing either he or Foegele to open space for other moves.
I don’t normally suggest this stuff, but both sides of this particular equation seem to be faced with a ‘trade or LTIR’ decision. I imagine neither side would prefer ‘trade’, and the other option has presented itself. So, I expect that’s what we’ll see (and of course it may actually be legitimate if this does come to pass).
And I’ll add, until we hear otherwise (and for the next 30 hours or less), I’m going let myself dream about what the Oilers can do with the slightly more than $4.5M in cap space that they now find themselves with.
With salary retention that should be able to buy a Dman AND a forward of some note.
I doubt Holland is on the cusp of dealing Foegele.
Lol. Well Seravalli (I think) mentioned both names as potentials to open cap.
Has anyone posted that McDavid has fully 2X the points of Matthews on the year? (118 to 59). Solid.
but, but… ‘defensive responsibility’, ‘best 2-way forward’
LOL
Wow, what a game. Looked like with the big move done, everyone
on the roster was feeling a lighter, and freer, because the juice was evident up and down the line-up.
McSupernova joins another elite club with a chance to move up one notch against the Oiler’s last remaining nemesis, the Jets. An absolutely gorgeous goal too. Liljegren is still looking for his jockstrap up in the rafters of Rexall.
I loved Ekholm’s comment on 97 in the post-game: ” It’s kind of nice to see he doesn’t just do it to you.” He of course saw the most McDavid minutes out of the Preds’ killer row of LD (and what does that say about Ek?). He also complimented the forwards back pressure and how easy they made gapping up.
Notice who was standing beside the net, threatening to bang one in the wide open net as Hyman locked into shooting and fired that second shot that scored? Ekholm. Went there after he fed Hyman. This is his first period as an Oiler and he already fits like a glove. He’s going to get some points here.
Drai with his best game in what feels like eons and not just those sick slick passes in the OZone but the defensive plays he made too. He was a force tonight.
McLeod. My god. That was a freeze-the-goalie, no-look backhand feed over to Kostin. McDavid shit. Draisaitl shit. Nuge shit. This is what you get when you practice and play with good players. Everyone learns from them, everyone’s game is raised.
But the best for last: Rocky Nugent-Hopkins. Stands up for his linemate and delivers. Who is this guy? What Jay is getting out of him no coach has ever got out of Nuge. Flybys per 60 are way down. He gives as good as he gets out there now. I wonder if this comes from watching McDavid transform in this way? See para above.
But any time a Leafs fan is shit-talking you and your team, remind them that one of their big tough Leaf defenseman, present day torch-carrier for Tim Horton and Bobby Baun, got a beatdown from Baby Nuge. Baby Nuge can beat up a Leaf, that’s how weakass yo team is.
Except I’m never calling him Baby Nuge again. He Man Nuge now. Rocky Topkins.
I don’t think Ekholm or his family will want to leave any time soon:
“Mark Spector 🇨🇦 🇺🇦
@SportsnetSpec
Mattias Ekholm’s wife is from northern Sweden.
She skis, loves the snow, and according to her husband, can’t wait to get to Edmonton with their kids to raise them in a proper winter climate.
Finding a hockey wife that loves EDM weather.
Perhaps Ken Holland’s finest hour.
9:41 PM · Mar 1, 2023”
https://twitter.com/SportsnetSpec/status/1631152730831216641?s=20
sheesh what a game!
1 HDCA! Look at the NST Heatmap! Nice
Loved Nuge standing up for Yamamoto
Loved Kostin cutting to the net
Loved McDavid with 2 great plays in his own crease
So PK1 was Ekholm – Desharnais
PK2 Nurse – Ceci
You were certainly correct on that, except you’d said they’d be PK2.
The bigger the Oilers get throughout their lineup, the more Yamo stands out as too small. Love his motor but he keeps getting clocked repeatedly. He’s got terrific skill as evidenced by the goal he scored, but I can see the desire to upgrade his spot in the lineup.
The Leafs looked small against the Oilers. Not sure how they’re going to survive the Lightning.
Think with yams, have to think opposite
if he looks smaller rel to team all the better
Yam plays a good solid game when he is active and making issues
he can not make a lick of difference as a bystander
This. I’m not sure how the relative size of a player to his own team matters all that much. Obv durability matters. I’ve always seen Yamamoto as navigating tough areas of the ice well but that all changed with the Landeskog blind side. He’s never been the same. It actually looks like he’s lost a step. I really feel for the kid if that’s what’s going on…
For Yamo to be successful he needs to play like he did last night going to the paint tough on the forecheck. When he plays perimeter hockey he’s beyond useless but becomes a negative asset to the line and team.
Vic, could you please have MacLellan call Holland and send Trevor Van Riemsdyk our way?
Hat tip to JP for the player idea.
EW 3-year numbers. Overall percentile / offense 5v5 percentile / defensive 5v5 percentile
74-52-74
6’3″ 191 pounds, Right handed.
expiring $950k cap hit contract.
Edit: –>
Plays PK1 for the Caps. 3rd pair at 5v5.
I’ve read that he is 6’2” from 2 different sources, so I am not sure what he is. Maybe, unlike Seaweed Man, they rounded up 😀
I’ve scoured the league for such a target and in the <$1 million UFA cap hits & TVR is #1 for me. I do like Mayfield better, but his team is still the mix and he is a bit over $1 million.
Other targets, in order of preference would be:
Kovacevic
Seeler
Holden
Braun
Can anyone explain to me how the Kings, who are in the mix for the division title, have a +0 goal differential when the teams just above and below are fielding big double digit pluses?
Heinous goaltending. They have been running two Jack Campbells all season.
Third worst team sv% (89.88) 5v5 and second worst PDO (981) in the league.
Sure, that’s why they have a 0 goal differential.
But goaltending doesn’t in any way explain how they’re 2nd in the division and 4th in the conference with a 0 goal differential.
It gets worse, because in real time they actually have a -5 goal differential that is inflated by a 6-1 shootout record. The shootout record partially explains how they could have such a heinous goal differential but still have a plus 14 Bettman win/loss record. They’ve won a lot of OT games and other one goal games and on the flip side have gotten blown out a number of games.
I know right?!
They’ve been in a lot of three point games.
Their record is a mirage – I can’t wait to beat them again in the playoffs.
Yup – 4 OT wins and 6 shoot out wins to go along with 8 OT losses. That’s almost 30% of their games going beyond 60 minutes. I
It’s a weird thing to see but less blowout wins and losses. The oilers have a talented scoring group but when you win 7-2 in games more often scoring in “garbage time” as they call it, but lose the 2-1 games when they happen, it really skews the look of the goals for/goals against.
Oilers tonight deliver the best game so far in the Season in a season I’ve been running ever since they also looked great whipping Seattle 7-2.
I wanted to post something about how tough some of the Oilers are like: Nurse, Kane, Kostin, Ekholm and several others now RNH
Fantastic win on so many levels.
Thank you and Welcome to the Oilers Mattias Ekholm.
Truth be told, they’ve looked quite excellent in 3 of their last 4 games (PIT, BOS, TML).\
Ekholm is a most welcome addition though.
Do you still live in Boston? I’m not sure why, but from your Gravatar, I always had the vibe that you live in the UK. Who are the people in your Gravatar?
Unless I’m seeing that wrong, it looks like Jack Palance.
Actually, it does bear a resemblance.
Wait until Kane is back in the lineup!
Sugar Ray Nugent is welcoming all combatants to take a stroll down jabroni drive.
Well done.
If we thought that the new top 4LD was going to cut Nurse’s minutes down, well, he played 25 minutes tonight. I think the Ekholm did help with the tougher minutes but Broberg was at 7 and a half and that’s where the overall minutes where cut.
I hope that’s not the every game strategy – as good as the group was tonight.
I think Woody is going to transition to 12-6 deployment.
11-7 was necessary to shelter 4-5 dmen.
With Ekholm, hopefully, Manson can build two pairs to eat tough minutes. 11-7 becomes less necessary.
11-7 also necessary until Kane is back because we only have 11 F available until then (IIRC).
Waiting for speeds to confirm.
Maybe Nurse gets fed less elite competition?
With the elite forwards we have in our top 6, I’d rather dress a 7th d-man than a 12th forward. That 12th is basically just keeping the bench warm, opening the gate, and keeping the backup goalie company.
Hopefully Yamamoto is alright after the hit to the head. If he’s not, I’ll feel as bad for him as for Barrie having to move on.
If Yamamoto is out for a bit though, it would sure make it easier for Ken Holland to make adds over the next 36 hrs. Just saying.
Now that you’ve broached that subject, and I feel bad for Yamamoto too…
Who could the Oilers add with the $3.5m if Yamamoto is on LTIR?
Gudas keeps getting mentioned. He has a $2.5 m cap hit. Looking at the minutes below, the Oilers really like Vinny though.
They have to add a RD.
Even if it’s only for depth they NEED more than just Desharnais there.
Braun, TVR and possibly Mayfield are low AAV options. Stetcher too I guess. Gudas and lots of others if some more money opens up and they chose to spend it there.
Adding up front would be pretty important too though, if it turns out Yamamoto actually is injured.
Mayfield, by far (now that Zub has been locked up long term). But Lou is adding, not selling…
100%, hence the possibly.
I don’t know why and I haven’t watched or noticed him this year, but Stetcher is a player I always seem to see him good when we play against him.
His EH numbers are putrid this year though 2-1-14 … $1.250 m cap
Gudas would be great if the cap can work and he isn’t too expensive.
I was surprised Schenn only went for a third. I would have probably paid that, but Evolving Hockey would have disagreed with me (9-58-5), playing 3rd pairing minutes.
It will never happen, but I’d be thrilled to see Bear playing on our third pair. He has a $1.8m cap.
Braun would be injury cover, but I’m not sure much more.
TVR looks like an amazing target. $950 k cap. EW: 85-84-56.
Yeah, there’s lots of options of all different qualities and price points. It’s so hard to try to evaluate players by numbers. None of the attempts are yet very satisfying IMO. I feel like Braun would be close to equal to TVR even though I know the numbers would laugh at me.
And I’m still kind of intrigued by Klingberg even though the numbers say he’s no good any more. He’s been a really high end player in the past, and he’s only 30.
Let’s look at the TOI for the D.
At 5v5
Nurse – 19:07
Ekholm – 17:04
Ceci – 15:46
Bouchard – 14:18
Vinny – 11:40
Kulak – 11:16
Bro – 7:22
PK:
Vinny – 3:04
Ekholm – 2:28
Nurse – 2:16
Ceci – 1:39
Bro / Bouch / Kulak – 0
PP
Bouchard – 4:28
Nurse 3:25
Kulak – 0:58
Ekholm – 30
Broberg – 13
Ceci / Vinny – 0
Total
Nurse – 24:55
Ekholm – 20:49
Ceci – 17:55
Bouchard – 19:04
Vinny – 14:54
Bro – 7:36
Kulak – 12:16
Think you missed Bouchard’s PP time (4:28).
But yeah, they sure as hell don’t need 4 LD with Nurse and Ekholm in the lineup.
I suspect someone plays off-side next year. But for the playoff run I’m expecting a 3RD added with Broberg-Desharnais waiting in the wings as depth (Niemalainen in that group as well).
Yeah, I fixed that. thanks. Certainly looks like Broberg was just along for the ride tonight.
Jo-Anne is looking down on your Oilers tonight LT and she is very pleased.
Evan Bouchard – fantastic game.
He was ripping the puck around with authority – bullets up the ice and right on sticks.
With confidence and authority!
THAT Evan Bouchard is the player that has legit top 5 scoring d-man potential.
THAT d-men is who we saw developing last season.
Is he back for good – and getting better?
One game but he was a different player tonight.
Confidence comes from knowing big E is covering his back.
I was less than impressed with Bouch tonight – thought the PP1 looked less organized when breaking into the offensive zone with Bouch on the ice, than with Barrie. He failed to hold the zone a number of times, standing still too often and not moving his feet. He was slow with his passes and got caught pinching in deep a few times.
He played better at 5v5 partnered up with Ekholm though.
He needs to keep his feet moving and make faster decisions with the puck. He still processes the game too slowly.
I saw this tonight as well. I felt he did have a lot of confidence, but his reaction time is much too slow, still. I think this might get better with time as the game slows down for him. The PP will likely take a hit for a while, which does matter, but matters less in the playoffs. Let’s hope that the increased ice time leads to progression. The D overall looked solid tonight. We will miss having a super offensive threat on the blueline that can skate, reacts quickly, and has great hockey sense. Will miss Barrie, but the new look D just feels more balanced overall.
Desharnais has now played 17 NHL games. He has finished even or plus in all but one of them (the BOS game the other night).
“ If this holds true, Oilers made the playoffs via a single month, January. The rest of the year has been matzah balls.”
Wait, what’s wrong with matzah balls?
If Holland, can make one more trade what’s our biggest need
[+] Right wing
[-] Right D
Daily Faceoff still has Vinny D as our 2LW.
Depends on if either of the RW or RD can also play G.
Domi please.
Domi is an empty calories scoring forward, with some of the worst defensive metrics in the league. Hard no.
Where does this idea come from?
I’ve heard it a bunch of times but why? I can’t see anything in the numbers that would suggest any of this is true.
He’s routinely in range of 2.0 P/60 at 5v5. The worst season of his entire career he was 1.57 P/60.
His on ice numbers are thoroughly team average. Sometimes better, sometimes worse, but I don’t see where ‘worst defensive metrics’ could possibly come from.
Can anyone at least shed light on what ‘smart’ person is spreading this info? It seems like baseless narrative to me, but I’d love to know if there’s something I’m missing.
Colorado just scored another ‘mini dump in’ goal like Makar last playoffs. I’m thinking it’s coached. loophole for offside, smart to exploit it.
Very enjoyable game
Loved the Nuge beatdown
Kind of like seeing your kid brother batter the local bully.
Suddenly Nurse starts laying on the lumber and going forward – both thanks to the changes to the team.
Ekholm instantly makes Nurse the 2nd best defenceman on the Oilers. Nurse is going to start playing fantastic hockey, now that he has another player to admire on defence.
Nurse had 2-3 great rushes into the O zone
figure it was more not energy, but dependency to reserve energy that helped
Nuge can handle himself. Holl is a big guy at 6’3, thought only 197. Seemed like a decisive victory for the feisty Nuge.
That was a shoulder right on the chin. Yamamoto looked okay on the bench but still had to leave for concussion protocol. With that, he didn’t play another shift, but there probably wasn’t time anyway. Hope he is okay.
Yeah, I was surprised to see Nuge win that fight decisively.
Nuge was giving up 3 inches of height and 13 lbs.
I don’t know, but that looked really nasty bad, direct hit to Yamo’s head… I will be shocked if that wasn’t concussive. Hope not, but… who’s due for the next callup?
No penalty was called, will the league review it?
The NHL, unfortunately, is a garage league.
They didn’t do anything about the Carter hit on Makar.
That is insane. I didn’t realize a suspension didn’t occur on the Makar hit.
I thought Holl’s hit was a little blind too but not as bad as that Carter one. Even the announcers are convinced it’s a dirty hit.
I was shocked. One day this league will decide to protect it’s stars.
I hate Makar sort of in the same way I hated Sergei Zubov… as in if they changed their sweater to copper and blue, they’d instantly be one of my favorite players.
I’ll never forget Zubov wearing that damn thick gold chain around his neck walking the line on the power play terrorizing me.
Still, the league should protect their stars. It’s an embarrassment.
>Button believes trade for Gavrikov, Korpisalo vaults Kings to top of Pacific Division>Chychrun is better in every way’: Button believes Oilers missed with Ekholm acquisition
Always good to see Craig still seething over the Oil, throw in TSN hiding tonights Oilers/Leafs game off the front page of their website and tonights game was top tier entertainment indeed!
So far “Button” looks like a fool.
as opposed to Button not looking like one lol
I like to believe Pat Maroon sends Button unsolicited pictures of his cup rings.
Oiler coaches should play this tape to the players before every game as a motivation to beat their opponencts especially the when playing the Kings. After beating them for the division title, sthe team should ,collectively, show the middle finger to Mr. Button for his take claiming Jacob is better than EK, both offensively and defensively. 🙂
Button: Oilers should add Klingberg who has been a great playoff performer for the Dallas Stars the last few years.
He has not! At least last year anyways. He was really really bad.
It feels like Geno is on a permanent mission to get Connor to humble brag about his individual accomplishments and #97 never NEVER takes the bait.
Team first. It’s a beautiful thing. If I ever have the pleasure to meet Brian McDavid, I will shake that man’s hand on a parenting job well done.
…telling 7 year old Connor that all he has to do to be guaranteed a shot in the NHL is to put a hole in the wall.
Glory.
I like how 97 is calling Ekholm ‘Ek’ already. Using his nickname on day one.
Agreed.
I was thinking of posting before the game that Hyman had been somewhat quiet for a while and he needed to get going tonight, but I forgot. Sure looked like a typical Hyman game (except with McDavid causing the no goal call). Plenty of chances, and a couple of points.
I want the leafs to beat calgry…but man is beating them sweet.
There was a brief moment in one of the last power plays that tells you everything about Ekholm as a player. Edm forward bobbles the puck high up the line and it floats off the boards and travels towards the blue line. Tor player has the step on the Edm forward as he peels off to attack the puck. Ekholm, who had just come off the blue to play the puck back in sees the Tor player and rather than pushing to keep the play in, doubles back immediately and goes to play the zone defense on the Tor player potentially having a breakaway.
Was a nothing play and didn’t result in anything. But I’ve watched Barrie dive at those 50/50 pucks and find himself caught on the wall on the outside of the play. Just an interesting observation on the different mindsets of how Ekholm thinks about the game.
decision to protect is better than indecision to make a decision 100% of the time
A lot of positives tonight. The new guy was great. McDs 5th 2 goal game in a row. Nuge takes on Holl and wins. 3rd line goal. Skinner solid. Bouchard and Nurse seemed calmer.
Beating TO handedly is a real treat. Matthews who?
Rough seeing Yamo get hammered like that. I thought he was looking more like his old self tonight.
Matthews was proper invisible tonight. At this point I don’t think he’s even the best player on his team.
He never was. It’s always been Marner.
Toronto won a lot of board battles earlier but I liked the fact that the Oilers had their men marked tonight in front of Skinner. Coverage was really good.
agreed on early part, fancy stats be damned.
Tor came out on fire to make a point and it was snuffed
grats to the home crowd
What a game. PP goal against aside, I had zero stress in the third. Skinner didn’t have much stress, either.
What a difference a defensive pillar makes, eh?
Liked that My Cousin Vinny was on the ice with EKS with just over a minute in the game. Coaches recognized that he was killing it tonight.
Different team tonight. No panic. No cheating. No quarter given.
Am I a fool for dreaming?
One scotch a game might become a thing…don’t tell my wife…
If somehow you could turn Kulak into Gudas – that would balance out the defense very nicely and would be a real miserable group to play against.
Kyle Dubas was a genius 3 hours ago. Now it’s back to burying himself in his AI-enhanced big data excel spreadsheets. Kenny, looks at Kyle. Says, “have you ever seen one of these”, and toss him the NHL Guide and Record Book.
lol
I do love an old man winning against new smart guy technology narrative
some people get lost in noise, you can watch hockey while deaf
Oilers undefeated without Jesse Puljujarvi.
OMFG.
HD chances tonight 16-2 Oilers (14-1 at 5v5).
Sorry if that was already posted, but gheez.
Oilers undefeated with Mattias Ekholm.
I pressed Thumbs Up and the count went from 6 straight up to 9. This is from Ekholm running the Oilers defence.
And he seems like a likeable dude to boot. Bonus!
Leafs looked frustrated. Oilers snuffed the Leafs. Looks like the maple leafs need to make some more moves.
Rest assured, Dubas will remain frantic.
After acquiring O’Reilly, TO fandom was suggesting they had the best 123 C punch in the league.
Note to The Center of The Universe. That group lives in Oil Country.
McDavid and Draisaitl down the middle with Brad Malone and Derek Ryan would probably be more formidable than any other teams 4 best centers. Leon is at the top of small group of centers vying for 2nd place. McDavid is in a league of his own by a wide margin.
I know b2b fri-sat
its not unheard of
Id play skinner in both and give JC the game against the sabres
maybe with the retention of being blown out friday but for real
Jets are sneaky one of the better teams in the west let skinner take both and take a meaningless EC game
I still think Draisaitl’s better than Matthews.
And I don’t think it’s even close tbh.
I still think Draisaitl the second best player in the league
Because he is.
Yessir
Right now, he is by exactly 3:2 point spread.
He has been throughout their careers.
I like Mathews a ton and in the future who knows? But the numbers aren’t close one has 90 points, the other 60.
I think the legitimate debate is Drai and Mackinnon. Matthews is top 5 but not in the 2nd best debate imo.
What a nice game.
Quality vs. Boston as well despite the result.
Keep that up boys, very nice.
To think that I will be cheering for the leafs tomorrow night.
“Tonight on Sportsnet’s 3 Part Special, the Quest for Matthews 30th goal to make him ONLY the 17th person to do so this year. Incredible, isn’t it?”
lmao
Hunter1909 Season in a Season Update: 2 minutes left to play in the game
Calling tonight a W with Techno Viking(Ekholm).
14 7 6 that’s an improved record from last time.
Does Techno Viking settle the Oilers defence down more than anyone thought he would?
If Yes: press Thumbs Up
If No: press Thumbs Down
Wow, that should have been a call on Ceci too. Haha
On the replay it sure looked like Bunting put his stick under Cecil’s arm and that Ceci didn’t do anything to make that happen.
Thought the replay showed Ceci did put his arm down once that stick found its way there. But whatever, the Oilers had earned more than one favourable call by that point (if it was in fact a favourable non-call).
What a treat to listen to a PBP guy who doesn’t sound like he’s announcing at a monster truck rally.
This. This. This.
And doesn’t say Pawwwck or Boo…..shard.
I will not hear a word of slander against Jack Michaels he is an absolute gift and one of the best in the business.
…of calling wrestling matches…but that’s not the sport we’re watching.
He is exciting and funny. That might not be for you. But he is good at his job. Shame you cant get into it.
We had Rod Phillips man…Michaels can’t come close.
Wrong style. Wrong market. Wrong everything. We should have a classic game-caller…not someone who tries to be the show.
I like Jack
he brings energy for a team who rarely and now sometimes does
I’m just happy Jumbo Joe has nothing to add.
Jack just needs to cut down on his story telling.(quite a bit)
Great pass! Thought for sure Hyman was gonna go backhand.,,