Riders on the Storm

The Edmonton Oilers won a wild game against the San Jose Sharks at Rogers Place Monday night. It’s a game that will be remembered for the goals that didn’t count, the ones that did, and two blue who scored on great shots to tie and win it for the home team in overtime. My goodness, what an entertaining game.

THE ATHLETIC!

• Lowetide: Stock up or down for every Oilers prospect in the system
• Lowetide: Oilers prospect Matvey Petrov and his possible impact in 2023-24
• DNB: Oilers’ recent play gives 3 reasons to be optimistic about a long playoff run
• Lowetide: Is Oilers defenceman Brett Kulak the odd man out this summer?
• Lowetide: Is Oilers AGM Brad Holland having an impact on trade success?
• DNB: Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl shows he’s more than Connor McDavid’s sidekick
• Lowetide: Are the Oilers carrying too much youth to win the Stanley Cup?
• DNB and Dom: Why Connor McDavid should be the unanimous Hart Trophy winner — again
• Lowetide: What to expect from the Oilers’ 2023 NHL Draft after trading first-round pick
• DNB: Blunders hurt Oilers in loss to Maple Leafs
• Lowetide: Making the call on the Edmonton Oilers’ 2023 RFAs
• DNB: The Oilers and Stuart Skinner can use their comeback over the Bruins as a springboard
• DNB: For new Oilers Mattias Ekholm and Nick Bjugstad, family matters most after a trade
• 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
• 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
• Lowetide: Oilers prospect Raphael Lavoie turns a corner, now NHL-ready
• Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2022

WHAT TO EXPECT IN MARCH

• 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 2-2-0)
• At home to: OTT, DAL (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
• On the road to: SEA (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
• At home to: SJS, ARI, VGK (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
• 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: 8-2-0, 16 points in 10 games
• February results: 4-3-4, 12 points in 11 games
• January results: 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: 40-23-8, 88 points in 71 games

Edmonton is on pace to finish with 102 points, and now own a five-point edge over the Seattle Kraken (who have two games in hand). The Oilers are four points behind Vegas and the Kings, with both teams on the schedule in the days ahead. It’s going to be a blast watching these four teams decide the order of finish. Big win for Edmonton, who are 20-7-6 since January 1. That’s a great run.

GOALIE AND DEFENSE

Jack Campbell had a night of highs and lows, making big stops but also failing to make important stops. The first goal against involved a kevlar rebound that looked like Nolan Ryan fastball as it passed Evan Bouchard. The second goal was on the defensemen (Brett Kulak and Philip Broberg), both biting on the pass recipient and letting Steven Lorentz to skate in on goal unmolested. Campbell made the first stop, credit there, and credit too for Lorentz, who knocked in the rebound on a tough play. The first Karlsson goal was made easier when Cody Ceci abandoned the middle of the ice to support Nurse. That reminded me of the worst of the swarm. Not good. Fourth goal was a great shot and late checker (Janmark).

You’d like Campbell to stop two of those (especially the first one, that rebound was cherry) but three involved some imperfect defensive work so plenty to work on. Campbell winning is a positive for the team, he had to have been rusty. He didn’t look comfortable most of the night. He also let in a few disallowed goals, and on the night I would say the Oilers made a rueful decision in starting him. Campbell had a stronger third and overtime, suspect he has two starts left. Incredibly, he owns an 18-9-4 record in spite of the .882 SP.

Evan Bouchard led defensemen in overall minutes (26:01). He had an assist, two shots and two HDSC. How his shot in overtime (and the rebound shot) didn’t go in remains a mystery worthy of Agatha Christie. Mattias Ekholm scored twice, including the huge goal to tie it late on a Bobby Hull slapshot. No wonder goalies hated him. The Ekholm acquisition may go down as one of the greatest deadline deals in team history. Ekholm-Bouchard were 3-1 goals and 75 percent expected goals at five-on-five (15 minutes).

Darnell Nurse had some tough moments but saved the day with an outstanding breakaway goal that combined speed and a terrific release. Helluva goal. Cody Ceci had some wobble but also came up with a couple of good plays on the night (saved a goal and a sure loss in the third period). He remains the inconsistent member of the pairing, both players benefiting from the new top pair’s good work. In 15:06 at five-on-five, Nurse-Ceci went 0-1 goals and 62 percent expected goals.

Brett Kulak-Philip Broberg were 1-1 goals and 49 percent expected goals on the night, playing 11:16 together. Broberg took four hits, a couple to make a play, but he’ll need to protect himself better as time rolls along. Kulak played well and wasn’t noticeable (a good thing) beyond the roller derby play that preceded the Lorentz goal. It would have been his read to stay with the eventual goal scorer.

FORWARDS

Connor McDavid played half the game and was exceptional. He had a breakaway early in the third period, didn’t score. At that point I fel the Oilers were about to sacrifice the game to the hockey Gods, but his assist on the second Ekholm goal helped seize the day. Wonderful evening of hockey, even if the puck wouldn’t cooperate on that breakaway.

Leon Draisaitl was also productive on the night, often with 97. He damn near scored a couple of times on the power play, and his gorgeous passes could have netted double the assists on a night when things were humming. Draisaitl has had an uneven season even though his boxcars are 44-62-106 in 69 games. He is one of the very best Oilers I’ve ever seen.

Zach Hyman has scored 30 goals and had about half again disallowed this season. I thought last night’s call was weak, to be honest. Looked like a goal to me. Kailer Yamamoto had another good night, he has put together a productive run and is 8-3-11 in 21 games since January 1. He’s 10-10-20 in 47 now, that’s 17 goals and assists in 82 games. He’s having a Crisco season, it all comes back except one tablespoon. Had an assist on the winner.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins made wily plays all over, steathily intercepting passes so smoothly even a veteran observer might have missed them. Positioning is strong on this one. Had an assist on the winner, hit the post, was tacked by James Reimer at the one yard line on a fantastic open field tackle. Future Dad is on pace for 99 points.

Evander Kane was not effective in the game, and Woodcroft dropped him down a line or two as the game rolled along. At five-on-five, he was 0-3 goals, 1-4 HDSC and had three giveaways, two penalties and was more passenger than driver. A disappointing game from a fine player. Warren Foegele continues to impress, his pass on the Bjugstad goal showed real skill and vision, it’s not the first time recently we’ve seen it. A delightful run (8-8-16 in his last 26 games) for a player who has covered the trade and contract bet after looking a little bit in trouble two months ago. Nick Bjugstad has now scored three goals in eight games and displayed impressive coverage ability. I’d sign him if I were Ken Holland and the money was right.

Mattias Janmark was a second late on the fourth Sharks goal, made a nice play on the Bjugstad goal to earn an assist.

Derek Ryan had one shot, drew a penalty, but the line (Devin Shore, Klim Kostin) was outscored 1-0 in 4:19, 0-2 HDSC and just 15 percent expected goals. Both Ryan and Shore were 2-1 in faceoffs, Kostin had two giveaways.