The Edmonton Oilers have played four games since the trade deadline and things are looking much better on defense. Mattias Ekholm’s calm feet, mobility and passing ability has been a Godsend for the second pairing and that has rippled all down the line. How good are the numbers? Very good.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: How unique is Oilers’ Ryan Nugent-Hopkins career season?
- DNB: Connor McDavid’s importance to the Oilers keeps showing no bounds
- Lowetide: Oilers finally commit to Evan Bouchard. How much will it cost?
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers prospect Tyler Tullio is outplaying the high picks
- DNB: Why more vintage Kailer Yamamoto outings could solve Oilers’ right wing woes
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers spring signing season preview
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers winger Kailer Yamamoto and the balance between value contract and injury risk
- DNB: Why Mattias Ekholm is a big addition for an Oilers team that needs to win now
- Lowetide: Oilers’ mediocre February shows importance of protecting the puck
- DNB: Inside Brad Holland’s scouting process
- DNB: Oilers captain Connor McDavid surpasses 800 career points
- Lowetide: Revisiting Oilers’ choice of Philip Broberg at the 2019 NHL Draft
- DNB: The Ben Stelter Fund is a legacy his family, Connor McDavid and the Oilers will proudly carry
- Lowetide: Will Oilers prospect Phil Kemp have an NHL career?
- Lowetide: Oilers prospect Raphael Lavoie turns a corner, now NHL-ready
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2022
WHAT TO EXPECT IN FEBRUARY
- At home to: TOR, WPG (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
- On the road to: WPG, BUF, BOS, TOR (Expected 2-2-0) (Actual 1-1-0)
- 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: 3-1-0, 6 points in four games
- 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: 35-22-8, 78 points in 65 games
It’s so difficult to make up any ground in the Bettman NHL. In Edmonton’s last 10 games, the team’s record is 5-3-2 (12 points). The clubs they are chasing down had 14 points (Seattle, Vegas) or 15 points (Los Angeles).
THE BLUE IN THE LAST FOUR
Notice the time-on-ice numbers, and how much Mattias Ekholm has impacted the game. He may well be running luck in goal share but his ability to stand up at the blue line, retrieve the puck cleanly, and send it to daylight with tape-to-tape passes is absolute music! The other impact is on all of the other blue. When players who have been deployeed too much (Nurse has seen his ice time reduced by almost one minute in the discipline), or too high in the batting order (Kulak), finally land where they belong, more music! Absolute home run addition.
EVANDER KANE
Evander Kane was practicing on a line with Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman at Boston University yesterday. Looks like Mark Spector’s item a few days ago is true and it should be another big boost for the team.
Ken Holland took some heat online before the Ekholm and Nick Bjugstadt trades when he said Kane’s return would be like a trade deadline pickup. Not sure why he took the heat, general managers have been saying that for years, partly because it’s true.
One thing I’m looking forward to is seeing where Kane lands full time when all is set. Last season he played about 10 minutes a night with McDavid and the two men outscored opponents 30-17 (64 percent). This season has been injury-plagued for Kane, so the time together (147 minutes) and the results (4-9 goals, 31 percent) are not strong.
Meanwhile, McDavid-Hyman have outscored opponents 48-30 (62 percent) and that may be a pairing the coaching staff would like to keep. I suspect Kane will check down to Draisaitl, with Nuge moving up to the McDavid line, as the team will want two strong lines at the top of the order. It’ll all come out in the wash in the days to come.
CONDORS KIDS ARE FIRING ON ALL PISTONS
Oh doctor! They’re coming on strong now. I swear to GOD the post-Christmas results are almost always majestic for young players pushing for the NHL. Raphael Lavoie has now scored 20 goals (in 44 games) and his boxcars (20-14-34) rank him No. 2 in Bakersfield among forwards in points-per-game. His NHLE is now 31, and as you know anything north of 30 is ‘in the range’ for NHL recall (especially among prospects). He’s unlikely to see the NHL this season but next year is a good bet. Here are the numbers for Edmonton’s skill kids post-Christmas:
- Raphael Lavoie 29 games, 17-12-29 (1.00)
- Tyler Tullio 29 games, 9-9-18 (.62)
- Xavier Bourgault 29 games, 5-11-16 (.55)
- Carter Savoie 17 games, 5-1-6 (.35)
Bourgault is 3-7-10 in his last 10 and as you can see Lavoie is on fire. His goal last night was an NHL goal scored in the AHL. Lavoie was always going to be an all-or-nothing type prospect but his skill made him worth the risk. I had him as a first-round talent, and believe now, today, he will have an NHL career. I know this isn’t a “saw him good” blog and that’s not my approach, but lord in heaven I got the vapors when viewing the play.
FRIEDMAN
Elliotte Friedman has a new thoughts article up, I didn’t quote anything here but will tomorrow. This is in keeping with my 24-hour policy discussing work by others. You are welcome to chat about it in the comments section, but please click on the link and read the piece. Friedman spends his days and nights uncovering, the least we can do is click and read. Thanks!
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
A busy day on TSN1260, 10-2. We’ll preview a huge Oilers game in Boston, talk about the Jays, Aaron Rodgers possibly heading to Gotham and more! 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Kick out the jams!
Per DNB: the last time the Bruins lost at home when leading after 2 periods (prior to last night) was Nov. 11th 2021.
Nov. 11th 2021 was the last time (prior to last night) that the Oilers played in Boston. 🙂
https://theathletic.com/4294407/2023/03/10/edmonton-oilers-stuart-skinner-boston-bruins/
almost like it wasn’t posted four posts earlier lol…
😛
Ha! Errr… I knew that, I just thought it bore repeating.
It is a very cool stat though!
Unbelievable stat. I’d be curious to know who was the last team other than the Oilers and how long ago that was.
Edit: and you need to give us some kind of game report there, good sir.
Don’t have time now, maybe tonight. I don’t think i have much to add tbh. I didn’t let myself believe the Oilers would pull it off until they did!
Too bad, but go have a great day, JP. Not many fans of other teams can walk around Boston after playing them with the power to gloat over a victory.
As far as adding, it doesn’t have to be about gameplay. No one but you can write about the experience of being there…
Chuck Fletcher fired in Philly this morning. Daniel Briere takes over.
Fucking Ryan, send him to wherever Marc Andre Bergeron is nowadays
Is there news I don’t know about? McDavid played afterwards, but will he be sitting out?
No idea, but still, boneheaded move and could have been disaster. He was looking right at him.
That’s a relief. MacT’s comments from 2006 still rings in my head and gives me nightmares.
“Goalie’s hurt”
It is still a trigger.
Yep, didn’t think anyone could take Steve Smiths place of infamy away
Full credit to the team for that win. Bad goals against, in Boston – best team in league, none of the big scorers scored the goals and Skinner didn’t allow another goal when he could have been quite deflated…..fantastic win.
The Bruins had not lost in regulation at home when leading after two periods since November 11, 2021.
**********************************When they lost to the Oilers.*****************
The defense finally scores. I can’t believe JP was there for such an historic occasion, lol. Hopefully the floodgates open for the D. That pretty goal had to give Boosh a little confidence.
I really like Ryan shooting the puck back in the net after the Highlander goal. That made me very happy to see. Such a Marchand thing to do, great to see someone in your face him in his own barn. Shore, man, what a play. In the town once dominated by a Bruin named Shore too.
The Edmonton Oilers led by Connor McDavid will play Saturday night on Hockey Night in Canada in front of their first live Toronto crowd since before the pandemic response. Let that sink in.
And I want to say that last game was when 97 undressed Rielly but I can’t be sure. That was just before, wasn’t it? Sure gonna be juicy.
I say give the net to Cack Jampbell Saturday in a place where he’s played well against his ex team.
Maybe he can shake his alter ego . . .
You’re an amazing bass player & I love your band but please
NO NO
Campbell is dead and he’s never coming back. That’s what I hear anyway.
Seriously though, that’s a tough one. Skinner does need some rest down the stretch, but I’m not sure what I’d do if I were coach.
I will say that the unlikely Oilers W and the Predators unlikely L (Coyotes) opened up some extra breathing room and separation between the Oilers and 9th place.
Oilers now 11 points up on the Predators, (but Predators have 4 games in hand) and 9 points up on Calgary (Calgary with 1 game in hand).
https://bostonhockeynow.com/2023/03/09/talking-points-passive-boston-bruins-fall-short-against-edmonton/
There’s at least one unbiased Nurse fan out there
Also among the stats – this was just their 3rd home loss in regulation
Huge win for this club tonight – now let’s do it again in Toronto on Saturday
——————–
A quote from the above article:
I thought they outworked us, they outplayed us and outcoached us. I thought we were a non-competitive offensive team tonight.”
–Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery on Edmonton beating the B’s in a rare passive performance on home ice
Oilers didn’t play their best game. So the lost to a team that could have played a lot better too. Hilarious when coaches can’t give the winning team credit.
From the Athletic:
I think he knows what happened….
It’s likely some long-term head games, but when the Jack Adams fave says he was outcoached, we gotta give Woodcroft some credit. He had the Oilers matched up well and the lesser lights outshone the Bruins’
Minor nit pick
I thought there was one forward that was lost amongst the heavy, tight checking, hockey.
Kept falling to the ice even
Leon definitely needs to grow, such a tiny German man l.
That ice was garbage tinight
The winning goal by Nurse was huge for many reasons,,,,,this team needs to get more shots on net like that.
Playoffs are, for the most part, ugly, heavy hockey.
Just get the puck to the net. Shit happens.
Great win!
Eat shit, Brad 😉
4-2 through the march of the Bruins is incredible, irrespective of the game this Saturday.
Another tough week after against Ottawa, Seattle and Dallas, then it’s essentially games against cellar teams mixed with critical divisional match-ups, where they may be able to control their own destiny. Maybe. All this talk about the Western Conference sucking, but the Pacific division is the only one in the league to boast 4 80-pt teams (or .600 P%)
Not a game I wanted Oilers to win more than tonight.
Too bad it wasn’t 10-2
Missed the game…what happened to McDavid? More importantly is he okay..did he have any shift(s) afterwards?
He was out for the 5on6 after having his knee tweaked by Ryan in friendly fire. He maybe hesitated on an aggressive play but still made the right play do I might be reading I to it. He looked ok but I wouldn’t be surprised if he missed a game
Yes, and he almost scored into an empty net, like multiple others on that line
2 great games in regular season.
This has to be the SCF match up now doesn’t it?
Massive win. Solid game for the Oilers.
Skinner had a rather tough start, but man he was very good after settling. Great work by Woody & co. on the offside coach’s review that erased the 3rd goal. Welcome back Evander, your shoulders (and hands) were sorely missed. Love it when McLeod scores, we get to see that toothy smile. Why can’t we hit empty nets… what’s up with that?
We have a goalie thats stopping pucks, a defense that is punishing, and forwards that pursue and aggressively go to the net. What a difference. This is fun.
If you’d have told me before the game that Skinner would give up two horrible goals in the first, that McDavid would be held pointless and Leon would only eke out one secondary assist and that we’d win the game I likely would have laughed in your face.
I love it!
So many good arrows in this game, Skinner playing strong despite the first period, Defense finally scoring some goals and the bottom two lines holding their own and more. Big big win for the confidence and winning psychology going forward.
Best new handle in this chat. Wow!
Woody mentions “one technical tweak made to get the forecheck going” in the intermission.
Was at the game. That was cool!
Awesome!!!
That is awesome you, are the good luck charm now
Quit your job and travel
I wish!
dont touch the lineup for saturday
Poor Kostin
I hope Connor is Ok I thought the season was over.
My heart stopped. That’s the bad knee too, no? I hope he was holding it hoping it was a great penalty call. I’m sure he’s used to semi-blindsided shots.
Jason Gregor
@JasonGregor
·
42s
Bruins were 30-0-3 when scoring first.
They were 28-0-1 when leading after 1st.
They were 35-0-2 when leading after 2nd.
Oilers score twice in third and win 3-2 in regulation.
Bouchard 1st goal in 44 games.
McLeod 1st in 13.
Nurse 1st in 29.
Huge win for Edmonton.
Yuge!
#DepthScoring
So they are the first team to beat them in regulation after those godly records.
nice!
two goals from the defence after no goals since 2022 (not including Barrie)
And I never doubted them for a second. *wipes sweat from brow*
Oilers are finally the team to break a team’s extended winning streak! Streak stops at 10.
good job boys!
Well I didn’t see that coming. Bruins get away with too many. NHL offitiating is a joke.
Epic epic win. To fight back from that start is amazing – against the Bruins!! And all the while battling the refs as well. The amount of interference and obstruction by the Bruins was mind boggling.
I now have a personal issue with JM
Hurts my ears
Big team win.
I’m glad they didn’t pull Skinner after the 1st (or 2nd) goal.
That would have been quite disparate treatment, considering they let Campbell play through all the goals in Winnipeg.
Massive W. Lets freaking GOOO
That was nerve wracking!!!!
Boston should have played the game without a goalie. Could have had a shutout
Beautiful
Sets up everything to come
Winning that game with a C+ effort from your top line is fairly impressive.
Amazing game.
Great last two periods by Skinner.
Bugle wins
Lads need to get used to it!
Good thing we didn’t pull Skinner.
About 3 blatant penalties on Boston after we go up 3-2 that go uncalled. They’re a good team but why officials they need to give more of an advantage to good teams is beyond me.
Oilers had at least that many as well. Held a bruins stick blade in front of the net, and a few smothering holds on players that didn’t have the puck. Guess the Refs balanced it out.
8-2 powerplays for Boston over 6 periods is even to you?
Bruins can interfere with impunity in last 3 minutes. Wasn’t aware of that rule.
That was so dumb by Ryan
Go put 2 in boys
JM is so bad
Not liked in our house. Watch with the volume waaay down
Yeah, not a fan of our broadcast team. JM will only stop yelling long enough to tell some story about some fighter in the minor leagues, and DeBrusk only understands skating in straight lines and hitting whatever moves — any commentary more complex than that is simply beyond him. Or at least, holds no interest for him.
I would love the broadcast team that teaches me something about strategy or tactics — to have the ability to identify and explain when the Oilers change their penalty kill for example. But that simply doesn’t happen.
I don’t mind JM Stafford on the air waves. JM seems chiller now when he gets kicked off the TV broadcast.
i love jack michaels. he brings so much energy to the game.
I hate when they sit back…ugh…
Exactly, that’s when we get into the most trouble.
PleasebeOKConnor, pleasebeOKConnor, pleasebeOKConnor……
He looks OK
Darnell is having a good game. I’m glad he is rewarded with a goal.
YMMV and gets a monster one
Nice to see one of those knuckle pucks go in for us for a change.
Shut if down boys!!!!!
Ladies and gentlemen…..Darnell Nurse.
Nurse has a shot mentality.
Whoa, a lead.
Put the 4th line back on.