The Edmonton Oilers kicked out the jams, murdered the schedule loss and skated through tired legs last night on the way to what might have been the biggest win of the NHL season. The team was strong from beginning to end, with only bouncing pucks and glaring errors allowing the Vegas Golden Knights to stay within striking distance. Even that became a distant bell when the visitors delivered an epic second period, absolutely putting the boots to the top team in the Pacific. What does it mean? Among other things, the top three teams in the Pacific are known. Their order of finish is not.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: How many more college players will the Oilers sign this spring?
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers at 2018 NHL Draft, making the final call
- DNB: How the Oilers’ playoff path looks rockier after loss to Golden Knights
- Lowetide: Should the Oilers re-sign trade deadline acquisition Nick Bjugstad?
- DNB: Why Edmonton Oilers and their star players believe Pride night is ‘important to celebrate’
- Lowetide: Evander Kane, Zach Hyman and the Oilers’ ideal Connor McDavid line
- DNB: Connor McDavid joins the 60-goal club
- Lowetide: Is the Oilers’ defence deep enough to win the Stanley Cup?
- DNB: What I got wrong: Jack Campbell hasn’t given Oilers a goaltending upgrade
- Lowetide: Stock up or down for every Oilers prospect in the system
- DNB: Oilers’ recent play gives 3 reasons to be optimistic about a long playoff run
- DNB: Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl shows he’s more than Connor McDavid’s sidekick
- Lowetide: What to expect from the Oilers’ 2023 NHL Draft after trading first-round pick
- DNB: Connor McDavid’s importance to the Oilers keeps showing no bounds
- 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
- 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 2-0-1)
- On the road to: ARI, VGK (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
- 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: 11-2-1, 23 points in 14 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: 43-23-9, 95 points in 75 games
This month has been memorable, the record is one thing but the heights reached by individual players is incredible. Did you see the passing the led to the Evander Kane goal? Or the power-play goals? It’s beautiful! It’s poetry! What a terrific game for Oilers fans.
GOALIE AND DEFENSEMEN
Stuart Skinner was easily the best goalie on the ice, and with better ice and more support would have posted a solid evening. The first goal against involved a skipping puck, and two of the greatest players in the game (97 and 93) unable to use their brilliant hand-eye coordination to corral the puck. You can argue Skinner could have made a better move, but Jonathan Marchessault is pretty good at the hockey. Second goal is William Karlsson, as Evan Bouchard can’t gather in the puck (not far from where the first GA started) and another breakaway. By the way, Ivan Barbashev, a name some of you were not impressed by as a deadline pickup, was helpful in both VGK goals.
The third goal against (Michael Amadio) saw rookie Philip Broberg turn the puck over on a most unfortunate and lucky stick from Phil Kessel. Perhaps Broberg makes another play with more experience, but that’s a goal I chalk up to bad luck, and once again the goalie is all alone with no help. Fourth goal, several veteran Oilers unable to suppress the puck’s progress, through the neutral zone and then into the crease. Mattias Ekholm and Brett Kulak defended but the goalmouth chance by Marchessault isn’t a shot the goalie stops often. So, in summary, I’ll give you that a goaltender could help his team with a stop on one of the three, but in fairness the Oilers skaters fought the ice and the ice won on a couple, and the Golden Knights won on a couple more. I’m still impressed with Skinner, who owns a .923 five-on-five save percentage for the season (No. 11 among starters) and 24 wins. An outstanding rookie season.
Darnell Nurse had a great game, scoring a big goal for the second game in a row and keeping the Roy and Stephenson lines at bay. He did play against the Eichel line (4:07), winning the shot battle (5-1) and HDSC competition (3-0). Mattias Ekholm had a high event game, the first GA began when he was hammering away at the puck along the boards. I don’t think you can call him out on the play, he did help get the puck out and the zaniness that occurred after it was due to the ice conditions. He was also out for the final goal and was in position to do something but couldn’t execute. It’s ridiculous to be critical of a man who has done so much since arrival, but things haven’t gone his way in a couple of games recently. Consider this the mildest criticism in human history. Saw the Eichel line for 5:34 at five-on-five, got clipped for two goals but I repeat there was a lot of detail in those GA.
Evan Bouchard couldn’t get the puck to cooperate on the VGK PK GF, but was exceptional at the other end. Three shots on goal, numerous impressive passes and for me he was a net positive by some margin. You have to live with the mistakes. Just do. Great weirdness: ALL of Edmonton’s power-play skaters played the exact same total time on the man advantage. I’m sure it’s happened, maybe many times, but 2:55 times five is funny in the summary. Cody Ceci is settling in now, I’m liking his game plenty. He doesn’t try to do too much with the puck when he’s on a sortie, some other Oilers blue could take a lesson from him on that issue.
Brett Kulak had a whale of a game (they used to say that, swear to God) and scored a helluva goal. His numbers, in just 12:40, shine like a diamond. He can scoot, and that’s a most effective tool against Vegas. Vincent Desharnais also had strong numbers, didn’t waste much energy after the whistle and played an effective coverage game. What a find for the Oilers. Philip Broberg had an uneven game, the Amadio goal began when his clearing pass was interrupted by a magical, moving Kessel stick, but the worst you can say about it is there was some danger based on Kessel’s positioning (if not tools). He was otherwise rock solid.
FORWARDS
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a fantastic game for the Oilers, going 1-4-5 on the night. He has now scored 35 goals and 61 assists, and one hopes he’ll reach the 50-point plateau (finally!) in the remaining games. All kidding aside, he is brilliant and ridiculous and the only reason he isn’t going to win a major award this season is the team he plays on houses McDavid and Draisaitl. What a pleasure to watch the Nuge deliver a career season so late. Magnificent!
Leon Draisaitl has found another world, another gear, another gear in the space-time contiuum and it’s spectacular. Ever since he put the net back on, 29 has been a man with clarity on the ice. Every movement is a crescendo, every goal a masterpiece. The pass to Evander Kane for his goal was epic, a 205 MPH freight train delivering a pass so precise it took my breath away. What in hell was that? Wow.
Connor McDavid passed the puck all night, it seemed he wanted the script to allow Evander Kane to join Leon Draisaitl in the 300-goal club before he entered. 97’s pass to Hyman was beautiful, partly because he waited so long and partly because of the touch on the pass. He is now at 60-83-143 after 75 games, and 156 points (Phil Esposito’s historic 1970-71 total) appears to be in each. Huzzah!
Evander Kane scored a goal and had 11 shots, rewarding Jay Woodcroft’s faith in him. The coach kept playing Kane a tone, and on the McDavid line, but a check down to the Draisiatl line proved key. Everyone knew he had to get going, but at points since his return Kane’s get up and go got up and went. Not on this night. Now 5-1-6 in his last 10 games.
Nick Bjugstad had three shots, one HDSC, drew a penalty and looked big all over the ice. I wish he wasn’t 72, because I think it’s Desharnais sometimes and worry the defenseman is out of position. Think about the elderly, Mr. Bjugstad, and change your number to 98. Zach Hyman scored a goal and had another fine game, he is such a wonderful addition to this talented group of skill forwards. Kailer Yamamoto had one of his better games, and is 5-5-10 in his last 14 games. He also had two HDSC. Edmonton needs him to be this Yamamoto.
Warren Foegele had an assist, he looks dynamic with the puck and is strong going through the neutral zone. I’m not sure he can handle top-six minutes, but would be open to a 20-game audition in 2023-24. Derek Ryan worked hard, unfortunate to not score but he got flattened on one play and the puck was bouncing. Mattias Janmark took a penalty, but also delayed progress. Klim Kostin had a great look (again) and played well on the night. I would like to see him more.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
We’ll talk about the Oilers in the Pacific Division race, and about mlb opening day. Plus much more! 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!
This seems counterintuitive to me. If this was true, wouldn’t actual goals more closely match expected goals? Yet as we can see from this chart, they vary widely from goalie to goalie.
https://moneypuck.com/goalies.htm
Somehow good goalies on mediocre teams show well in GSAx and SV%, although not so much in GAA. Ingram, Saros, Hart, Vejmelka and Sorokin come to mind.
Five-on-five save percentage is the purest goalie stat in captivity. I know people don’t buy it, and I’m sure that one day I’ll adopt another stat once it’s established, but as a quick check of ‘how you doin’?’ the five-on-five SP is the boss.
For the year:
Skinner .923 (No. 12 among G’s with 1000+ mins)
Campbell .889 (No. 50 of 54 goalies)
I don’t think “the Oilers have a goalie problem” means what you think it means.
Holloway scored in garbage time last night to break a shutout.
Entered the zone on a 2 on 2, cut to the middle and snapped it from the top of the circles
The Wild winning against Colorado atm, queue up Chretien’s Coif to suddenly jump on the Minnesota bandwagon now.
🤣🤣🤣
ESPN is making a document on the Vancouver Stanley Cup riots. My apologies if this has already been posted.
I’m surprised they aren’t making a documentary on all the Canucks college player signings instead, considering how that news seems to be super interesting to people.
https://beta.ctvnews.ca/local/british-columbia/2023/3/25/1_6329113.amp.html
Can’t wait for the documentary on the riots CAUSED by the Canucks free agent signings! It is sure to happen.
I mean given the momentous impact of the signings it is inevitable.
I lived in the Lower Mainland during the 2011 riot — it’s amazing how accepted it is there that those involved “were not Canuck fans” despite the $200 Canuck jerseys so many of them were wearing.
Also, that a secret cabal of anarchists were the real culprits who just used the event as an excuse to start a riot. The lack of other riots notwithstanding.
Aside: Loved the ’94 team that made the finals vs the Rangers. They underperformed as a team until Pat Quinn pulled off an absurd trade with St.Louis near the deadline. Kirk MacLean. Trevor Lindon. Pavel Bure. An easy team to pull for, even as an Oilers fan. The 2011 team were a bunch of dirty, rotten dinguses who acted shocked and hurt that more people weren’t pulling for them. The Sedins being the exception.
I mean, the 2011 Bruins team wasn’t exactly clean either.
Allowed to hate the fans, but the 2011 Canucks should won that series IMO.
Erhroff, Roberto, Scheidner, Edler & Samuelsson were fine candidates on top of the Sedins.
Obviously, fuck Aaron Rome for what he did to Horton,
But then again, would the 06 Oilers / Sharks series been any different if Torres didn’t pop Michalek in the head…
Campbell had the tougher start the Coyotes are playing for Jobs in one of the toughest Arenas to play in. Campbell let’s in 4 and this blog wants to crucify him Skinner let’s in 4 on way less opportunities then Campbell faced yet he’s hailed as some kind of hero.
Arizona, the worst team, playing their 2nd night in a row was a tougher start than the Knights, the top team in the conference, one of the hottest teams in the league and rested playing against a team playing its 3rd in 4 with travel?
OK…..
Clearly Arizona wasn’t the ‘more difficult start’, but the Oilers did give up more and better chances to Arizona then they did to Vegas.
Vegas was as flat as a pancake they shit the bed Oilers had a easy night this happens in Hockey.
Any team can beat anyone on a given night especially when they’re playing for a job. I thought you already new that. Vegas showed zero emotion ask any Oiler what was the harder game yo play in they’ll all say the same answer the Coyotes game.
The expected goals against in the two games per NST were essentially the same: 3.25 vs. 3.5.
I’m quite certain the coaching staff deployed their tenders thinking they may need “better tending” to win last night’s game.
Neither tender was great nor was either tender completely awful.
Condors projected lineup does NOT include Noah Philp and I’m uncertain as to why.
Ryan McLeod IS eligible for LTIR and is NOT expected back until the last few games……
Philp has joined the injured list – per Holty
So could that open up the possibility of having Lavoie called up for a few games?
McLeod on LTIR doesn’t really help much – they’d still need to send Shore down.
Lavoie (and Philp) both have higher cap has than McLeod.
LTIR for McLeod would mean they could make a 1:1 Lavoie for Shore transaction though. Without the LTIR option Lavoie for Shore would require a corresponding 2nd move to even be possible.
And of course also Pickard 😂
IF the Oilers were to need to recall someone (without assigning Shore or other) by putting McLeod on LTIR, the list of cap hits that would fit (and are plausible recalls) are:
Malone, McKegg, Benson, Bailey, Niemalainen, Kemp, Demers, Dineen.
I’ve been following this debate in hockey analytics since 2008. Many of the initial blogs written about this topic are no longer searchable on google. Either Blogspots that disappeared or websites that were repurposed–Puck Prospectus, NHL numbers, Sportsblog networks etc.
Intuitively, I’ve always felt that coaching strategies and team effects should have a measurable impact on goalie SV%.
Certainly in short bursts we see Laurent Broissoit go from an .883 on the Oilers to a .925 on the jets…
All of the earlier analytical blogs on these subjects failed to find evidence to support these impacts. The debate died off in 2014 and I haven’t seen any analysis since then.
There was one called “the Jacque Lemaire Effect” in which the author tried to see if his coaching style impacted NHL SV%.
The late and brilliant Jlikens wrote this article. With a good comment quoted here from him:
Have you read anything recent supporting the impact of a team effect on goalie save percentage?
— Bunny Laraque was as a keen 5 or 6 year old that loved reading my Dads weekend Globe that had all the hockey team stats : that’s how I figured this out. Drydens back-up for a few years. Sv% deadly. Was ready to be a starter but stuck behind Dryden.
— Traded to leafs to be starter because they sucked and needed a goalie to help them improve. Man I was so happy for my Mom who loved the leafs. They were finally going to be good. Bunny was amazing. He was just blocked by Dryden
— Guess who then sucked? Bunny was out of league a few years later.
— It’s mostly the team and their system. The goalies that work are all good in good systems. I first observed this when I was 6.
George is a quant. I think he’s probably younger than you and I, so I’m not sure if he’s ever perused the old timey work on the subject, that’s why I shared the link. I also thought he might find the article to be interesting.
It’s a great link because we have a reference to prior analysis (link in the article no longer works) from a blog post by Vic Ferrari aka Tim Barnes (Director of Analytics for the Capitals) and a blog comment by Sunny Mehta (VP of Hockey Strategy & Intelligence for the Panthers)
By the late Jlinkins analysis, the largest potential impact the team effect could have is 0.006.
That’s the only number I’ve seen that quantifies the team effect. I am curious if anyone has done a more recent or thorough analysis?
If GeorgeXs has a different number, I am genuinely curious.
While trying to enjoy tonight’s Leafs vs Panthers game…
First, I have to turn off the local feed because it frankly makes me want to vomit.
Then, watching the Florida feed you suddenly understand the fawning adulation the Leafs players receive. No need to even win! Prancing around like Tits, as some have reported.
Leafs are disgusting.
I’m sort of watching the Toronto – Florida game too – “sort of” because it is so dull.
I know there have been games where the Oilers look listless but TML just look so pedestrian.
Did that insane flurry of trade deadline changes do anything significant?
Also pretty tepid power play – certainly no lack of soft call opportunities.
Dubas trying to be a smarty pants messed with the chemistry you can’t turnover a 1/3 of a team and expect them to locked and loaded 6 weeks later.
You had me at Tits.
— nice to see you post. Thanks for this!
— I’ve advocated for years that the goalie is just a proxy for team play all things being equal. Except it they are really bad (which Campbell had been) or great single game performances. Or be like Hasek
— Invariably the goalie that wins the cup is viewed as the “best”. Goalie performance analysis as anything other than strong relationship to team play is just noise used for narratives to explain what isn’t understood.
— Your figures from Jan onwards support this. Same Same.
I’ve always felt SV% is a reflection of goalie play and average goals against is more the team stat. Maybe I’m wrong, but a goalie playing well saves enough of the shots against to maintain the ratio more or less
Of course I also think that the Oilers break stats because of how many egregious errors they make and have for years. Top teams don’t constantly leave players alone or wide open in the Royal Road and give up cross seam passes, which does make the goalies job much harder
I didn’t love Campbell’s rebound control against Zona. That’s a sign of a goalie not anticipating the play well imo. He’s getting there in time for the puck to hit him but not that fraction of a second earlier that enables him to smother the shot or direct the rebound. He’s awfully quick to drop into his butterfly as well.
Rebound control (or how many of them end up on opponents sticks) is very much a team stat though.
Not to let Campbell off the hook entirely, but the rebound goals vs Arizona weren’t only on him either.
One thing that’s funny about humans is everyone tends to think that things were toughest for their generation.
You’re seeing a bit of this bias now in the discussions comparing goal scoring in different eras. I see a lot of folks convinced that it’s currently more difficult to score now than it ever was because the goalies are more skilled and have bigger AND lighter equipment. These are legit points, but what this ignores is all the advantages that current era players have. Carbon fibre sticks, skills tutoring from a very young age, and most importantly a much softer, less physical league to score in.
When Esposito scored 76 in a season, he did so in a league where the opposition could inflict serious damage on a player in the slot. Cross checking in the box was essentially legal, slashing was only called when it was especially egregious, and elbows found ear holes on a regular basis. Espo was essentially the Draisaitl of his era. A big man with soft hands and underrated mobility. He was a dominant player with the Summit Series as his apex. Connor should take great pride when/if he surpasses this hockey legend.
Bottom line, goal scoring in the NHL has always been hard and always will be. But the absolute elite of any given era could likely thrive in any other era. Skill finds a way.
Great points
I value scoring over peers as the best measure of a player’s dominance
Adjusting eras is fine, but I like it that given everything is the same for everyone, if a player is blowing his peers, the best players playing the game at the time out of the water, that says something definitive. Like Connor this season
IMO Gretz trained up to today’s levels, sticks skates the team not being owned by a cheapskate etc, no crazy hacking and violence, would score 200 points more times than he did. His game would fit perfectly now. Connor is amazing and already a top all time player, but no one has ever taken teams and defensive systems apart like Gretz did or used his teammates like that
That’s definitely a good and balanced approach.
You must be joking. I saw the not particularly later generation of the Canadian pioneers.
Everyone has their challenges
Please explain.
If you mean they were somehow made of more stuff, I would say many had almost no choice in the amount of work they did. Would we do different to avoid highly limited opportunities, and oppression? What do you mean?
Pioneers mostly didn’t start in Canada yes? I asked my grandfather once why anyone ever moved to the prairies. Not to mention the winter in make shift structures at first, imagine the mosquitoes at least in the Edmonton area
His answer- free land. Right
My Dad was born in 1912, and he got a homestead from the SK government when he was in his 20’s. I don’t know the year, only that he did.
Another thing that I think about comparing eras is that I feel that some take the approach that humans are becoming better or more advanced
People are bigger, but that is all nutrition. My own father, an educated man, expressed once that idea that people before were lesser than now. Hmmm. Maybe if you’re talking cave people
Einstein didn’t have a computer, he did ok. Galileo, you name it. I would argue we’re getting stupider and less capable with so many automated things, and comfortable wealthy training and lifestyles
I can say I have seen a generation so far removed from todays it would shiver your timbers.
These people were mean, and had very little time for children(me). Personally I couldn’t stand them lol
I remember some like that
Oh oh oh – I know this one! It’s Tik Tok!
That’s what I’m saying
I love how it once again shows how easy it is to build tribal relation.
A: “Would you like to be a part of this thing which is clearly better than those other ones, with those other people?”
B: “Oh my, i didnt think it was so obvious im special! I’m so glad at least we know this but maybe we should tell all those weakerthans. Sign me up!”
I think the majority of this is based on comparing the actual number of goals scored in different eras (it WAS easier to score in the 80’s – or at least more players were doing a lot more of it). I think a lot of the other stuff (goalie pads, training, etc) are more attempted explanations of why there was more scoring then than anything else.
Agree with you about Esposito though, and the Draisaitl comp seems very fitting (from what I’ve read and the clips I’ve seen). That 76-76-152 season was a remarkable achievement.
I believe Bobby Orr was in on 46 of Esposito’s 152 points that season. It is an impressive total (Paul Coffey was in on 46 of Wayne Gretzky’s 212 points in 1981-82, as an example) but Esposito was exceptional in his time with the Bruins. Boston traded him at the exact right time.
Yeah, that is remarkable. I guess the Esposito comp for Draisaitl also fits because Phil wasn’t even the best player on his team.
Is it being too much of a homer to think that having the second most wins in the NHL in the game-state that the entire playoffs is played in (5 on 5 s/t penalties) is hugely meaningful?
Not at all. It’s going to come down to team D. Reg season scoring doesn’t translate. The Panthers went out first round after their crazy scoring season. GA is the whole deal, track meets only go so far when the time comes that the opponent is also very good. And of course health
Glory Oilers had to get there
You didn’t watch the Oilers in the playoffs last year, did you.
Colorado signs the NCAA scoring leader.
https://coloradohockeynow.com/2023/03/29/avalanche-sign-top-goal-scorer-in-ncaa-jason-polin/
Bust. You heard it here first.
He turns 24 this summer, already close to past his offensive prime.
He wasn’t even the leading scorer on his team – his team was led in scoring by a kid 3.5 years younger than him…..
One goal behind. drum roll please.
josh archibald
If you can get a Josh Archibald who is at almost 300 NHL games played without expending a draft pick, you’re doing things right as opposed to drafting Tyler Benson high in the second round.
you mean like the oilers did in 2019? y’know when they got archibald without expending a draft pick
Yep, lots of ways to add talent but Archibald was significantly older when acquired while this young man may still have some griwth in his game.
Good point, that’s why for several decades the nucks didn’t draft anyone.
But at least they didnt use the 7th pick to draft Virtanen. That would’ve been crazy.
Nevermind the Benson but you are exactly right and for any team. If you can get 300 nhl games for nothing then take it and run. There will be many busts no matter what.
I must have missed your update on the Oilers Carl Berglund signing.
I am certain you must have made as big a deal about the as you are making about this.
I was checking the Western Conference standings because normally all I want to know about is the Wildcard race.
Vegas 8-2-0
LA Kings 7-1-2
Minnesota 7-1-2
OILERS 8-1-1
Colorado 9-1-0
Oilers are in tight with a 5 way sprint to the end of the regular season with 4 other teams. It’s not only trying to get the division sorted out, but also to make sure as few teams as possible have more points in case meet up in playoffs.
It’s like a new kind of race after the Wildcard race.
If you think the Oilers need to try to climb up a couple of notches from the current standings press: Thumbs Up
If you think at this stage of the season, watching how good this team plays it’s akin to Hawaiian surfing press: Thumbs Down
The Canadian government has created an issue that may impede the Canadian teams from signing or re-signing free agents.
Anyone who buys a house in Canada now faces a 25% tax on property purchases unless they have filed primary Canadian income tax returns for 3 of the last 5 years.
Player agents are apparently telling clients to avoid Canadian teams because of this.
Someone like Mattias Ekholm would be affected by this since any property purchase would be subject to thus tax.
Is that just in Ontario? Do yo have a link for that?
Apparently the radio report I was listening to was not entirely accurate.
Ontario has a 25% tax an BC is at 20% but it seems there is actually a ban on purchases in many metro areas.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/gms-wonder-if-foreign-players-could-be-exempt-from-canadian-house-purchasing-law/
This is federal and has to do with the foreign ownership of property.
It is a problem for athletes and Ekholm has expressed disappointment that he currently has issues buying a house in Edmonton.
Of course, he is signed for 3 more years, not a free agent – feel bad for he and his family though.
Practically, for the Oilers, the core is locked up long term and they won’t be looking to add high end players externally in the near term.
I expect exceptions for situations like pro athletes with contracts to be agreed upon.
Renting would be an option.
I’m 17 years old and my family are all dead and left me enough money to buy a house.
Mattias spoke about this when he was on After Hours. However, it looks to me like this situation has been rectified as per this article on Sportsnet.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/law-restricting-foreign-property-buyers-amended-opening-door-for-non-canadian-nhlers/
https://twitter.com/hockeyagent1/status/1641085351631486978?s=61&t=WWzo5XOO0SDsOISFpfGKMg
Worthless Amendment… while the US and other foreigners can once again buy in Canada, politicians conveniently forgot to mention that there is still 25% provincial tax on purchase price. I would never suggest any of my clients playing or wanting to play in Canada pay 25% over the asking price.
Might be a big issue for your Canucks (is that your team of the week?) or Toronto and Ottawa but don’t really see how it affects the alberta teams?
Kuzmenko must be pissed considering that Vancouver housing market.
Ekholm responded to this issue on After Hours when Oake brought it up.
The legislation is well intended. Foreign investment and money laundering are both contributing to the housing affordability crisis. But as per usual, there are numerous loopholes that the bad actors will use to get around this.
The reality of this crisis is those Canadians with real estate holdings don’t want to lose a big chunk of their market value/equity so the have nots can enter the market at a lower price. That is what a market correction would do. At this point in history, the haves own the voting majority over the have nots. It’s a tough situation for first-time buyers particularly in places like Van and the GTA.
Honestly the lengths you go to dis the Oilers is astounding.
Great to see that dressing room photo of Connor, Leon, Nuge, Zach, and Evander all celebrating Kane’s 300th goal.
A team that likes each other will have each other’s backs. This is starting to look like a team ready to win, not just the battle, but the whole damn war.
They are developing a swagger that is backed up by the best powerplay in history. Even better than the dynasty, on paper.
Definitely easier to score when you don’t have to worry about getting crosschecked in the spine or chops.
Theres no more “on the fence” with who I want to play in round 1, or rather, who I want to avoid. It’s LA all day every day. This kind of makes these LA games “win/wins”.
If we win we remain in the hunt for the top seed and perhaps Nashville and home ice throughout. A nice prize.
But if we lose both we’ve vaulted LA ahead of Vegas and we’re still clear of Seattle so matchup with Vegas probably on the road. Not a terrible consolation.
I tend to think that these last games are important in sending messages to our opponents. Win or lose, I think it will be very important to be pushing for 60 mins/game and being aggressive. For example, the beat-down last night against the Knights may serve a psychological purposes if these 2 teams meet in the playoffs. The reverse (were we to suffer a similar drubbing) could also apply.
They need to put in a consistently excellent effort every night from here on in – no nights “off” for the rest of the season, including the post-season.
As to the question of who they match up against best, I don’t think it matters. To be a Stanley Cup champ you need to be able to beat anyone who challenges you. Don’t worry about who we’ll face in the 1st round. Let them worry about facing you!
Oilers Turn around.
Since January 10th, the Oilers have gone 22-5-6 for a Points% of .758, the best in the NHL. 1st in xGF% (expected goals for Percentage) with 57.52, 1st in High Danger Corsi For % with 58.56.
What a great way to go into the playoffs!
If they had solid goaltending this year, they would probably be approaching the Bruins type of season.
A great run. Unfortunately goalering alone wouldn’t fix the GA issue
Soupy playing well would put them in the normal range but not top end
In that time frame, the Oilers are 11th in the NHL in expected GA/60 but 19th in actual GA/60.
The goalering has hurt them – according to the numbers.
Absolutely. But league average goaltending which has dipped according to Yost in the last months, would still leave them with an average GA. Not tops
Not a bad thing. But being hard to score against goes a long way when it counts
According to the stats it seems to be mostly a goalie thing. The Oilers have been giving up the 3rd fewest HD Corsis Against. They have the 3rd best expected goals against behind LAK and DAL (yikes, hope we don’t face them).
The have the 3rd worst difference between Goals Against vs Expected Goals Against after Buffalo and Columbus with 16.46 more goals against than expected. Boston, on the other hand, has 29.64 fewer goals against than expected.That’s a 46 goals against difference!
In reality, Edmonton is defensively awesome. They’re not giving up many quality shots at all. When there is a goal scored, we, as fans, find a culprit, so it can seem like the D sucks because the play stops and we blame someone or multiple players. And when the goalies aren’t playing well we are blaming often. It skews the perception.
Hopefully, Skinner and/or Campbell find that 16 to 28 game hot streak.
Yes I hope for a hot goalie too
Stats aggregate so don’t show single events. I think the Oilers have at least a couple of complete defensive lapses most games. More than I see other top teams doing, which relates to SV%. The goalies also let in soft goals regularly
So we see unusual results like 2nd in Reg wins but more losses than other good teams. Good defensive metrics but very high GA for a top team, but not a really low SV%
The Oilers break stats
You don’t hear that every day! I was just looking at their 5v5 stats in relation to the NYI, who have a reputation of running a very solid defensive system.
However, the stats show the Islanders give up significantly more xGA/60 (2.76 v 2.55), SCA/60 (29.65 v 26.61) and HDCA/60 (12.82 v 10.75). And yet they allow far fewer GA/60 (2.16 v 2.72).
Similar story with Boston. They have slightly better xGA/60 (2.41 v 2.55) but slightly worse SCA/60 (27.64 v 26.61) and HDCA/60 (11.12 v 10.75). And yet their GA/60 is significantly lower (1.73 v 2.72).
The Oilers are an above average defensive team (and those full season numbers don’t include Ekholm’s full impact!) with below average goaltending.
For reference, Edmonton ranks 11th for xGA/60, 6th for SCA/60 and 2nd for HDCA/60 in the entire league, when looking at full season 5v5 numbers.
But 23rd for GA/60.
I sure hope we see Leon winding up then barrelling down the wing like a unstoppable locomotive for the next decade.
in Oilers silks, it must be stressed. #carefulwishing
The ice was brutal last night. Starting at Rogers could tip the balance in our favour no matter who we play. This Oilers team is rounding into form at the right time. Stanley may be coming home. 👍
355pts Oilers Top 3 scorers
267pts Next best Tampa
433pts Top 4
327pts Next Best TML
326pts Tampa
Connor McDavid’s goals alone would be leading 5 teams in G+A lol.
Watching a team immediately hate themselves for being momentarily stupid, then immediately score in anger is a hell of a lot of fun.
A couple of things (then 2 more)
1) McDavid challenging for the historic 1970-71 Phil Esposito 156pts is epic. Phil was “other-worldly” that season.
2) Evan Bouchard has me excited about the future. A future where he plays top minitues with Darnell Nurse freeing up Ekholm to mentor Broberg.
3) There is one poster on this site who continuously reminds us of how improved the LA Kings are over last year. I would posit that the Oilers are even more improved than the Kings. McDavid, Leon, Nuge, and Hyman all have career years, all playing at levels that surpass last season; The addition of Ekholm that has effectively re-slotted our entire Defensive corps, wherein they are all slotted appropriately; This team has gotten bigger and nastier; The emergence of Stuart Skinner to the point where sportsbooks have him ranked as second in likelihood to win the Calder; A greatly improved bottom six compared to last year, with size and skill and where every man seems to know his role and be willing to play that role to a T. Team chemistry, these guys are playing for each other and there is no divisiveness. And finally, Leadership, The leadership unit is playing like a group that will not be denied…… oh yeah….and for extra measure…THE Best Powerplay in NHL History.
4) Will we have to outscore our goaltending and our rookie mistakes come playoff time? Almost certainly. But we are built to do exactly that
In Phil’s epic “156” point season he actually only had 152 points.
“only” lol
3) It’s an interesting question.
Last season the Oilers finished with 104 points and Dom’s model has them finishing with an identical number this season. Meanwhile the Kings finished with 99 points and Dom has them at 105 this season.
The addition of Gavrikov also allowed the Kings to balance their pairings but where they are really seeing a payoff is with the addition of Korpisalo in goal with a .931 save percentage although the sample size is only 6 games.
When it comes to winning in the playoff’s, Dom says the team with the best players at the top of the lineup are more likely to win, even if the other team is deeper. Oilers are pretty good there. https://theathletic.com/4333303/2023/03/22/nhl-stanley-cup-playoffs-star-power-depth/
Did you actually read his list?
He has Calgary and Colorado ahead of Edmonton.
I did, know who he did not have ahead, the Kings. Which is what the discussion was about.
Also, Avs are earlier on the list, but the number is the same, 7 stars. So, did you read the list?
He included Evan Bouchard but not Bo Byram…likely due to injury.
As for the Kings, he omitted Adrian Kempe who has 36G 58P +22
while including Zach Hyman with 32G 78P +9 on a higher scoring team.
And what does Korpisalo’s previous 6 seasons tell you?
Korpisalo’s overall NHL save % (career) is.904. He’s clearly on a heater, and good for him.
That he played in Columbus.
In my estimation if a goalie beats you in a series you weren’t playing smart enough
1 game yes. 7 games no
I would also add that the Oilers were dealing with some pretty significant injuries incurred during that series last year (Drai, Nurse), while acknowledging that the Kings were missing Doughty. I think overall our side suffered the greater handicap though.
The Kings were also missing Viktor Arvidsson and second pair D Sean Walker for the entire playoffs.
did you read the article?
The Flames’ highest-ranked forward is 56th in projected GSVA while their highest-ranked defender is 15th. They may have a lot of top-of-the-lineup talent, but not much in the way of actually elite talent.
who cares how many vs quality of those you have
you have also omitted Kane who has been out for half the season
I keep reading about Korpisalo only being bad because he was on Columbus but he’s underperformed every single other goaltender employed – at least in the last three years before this season.
In those three seasons, Korposalo was – 25+ goals (vis-a-vis) expected in 90 games and Merzlikins, for example, for over +25 in 120 games – FIFTY GOALS BETTER
The “Korpisalo was bad because he was on a bad team” is only the “current” narrative”. When he regresses to his career mean the “narrative” (and associated narrator) will move on to some other obscure reason for why the Oilers are terrible.
Don’t look now, but last night RNH passed 93 points for the season. Why does that matter? 93 is the total that Taylor Hall rang up during his Hart trophy season. RNH now holds the single-season scoring title among the Steve Austins.
We’ve got something better than HOPE: we’ve got HOPkins!!
Thank you for digging that up. RNH will spend his entire career as an Oiler and lift the cup multiple times.
When RNH hits 50P x 2, will the resident troll DSF give him his due?
My gut says goal posts will be moved!
Of course he wont. We will only hear about some lame ass rookie on the Kings that hopes to someday be RNH.
How would that manage to grow the candyman level prestige value?
I honestly gain an odd respect as he doesn’t even have to comment people comment for him. While I fail to see why one might desire such an impression, I can’t deny its working.
-Laugh at the outrageous ones
-Engage or don’t in the interesting ones
-never try to summon hairsyman unless you want hairsyman
– most important never bet with hairsyman
It’s well past point a dent could get put in accountability debt. He knows it, most everyone knows it. It’s working percect without any need to fear accountability as is.
I can’t stand either of the Flames or Jets and ” beating them in the playoffs” has no cachet! I would much rather they just both tank and miss the playoffs. Much more satisfaction watching those franchises and by association Button and the much disliked “Cassie” writhe in agony and make excuses….
Man I hate those teams! And now that I am on a roll – I totally dislike Button the dufus and Cassie and her insipid colour commentary lauding the flames all over the place. Don’t even get me started on Hrudey! Grrrrrr.
Hrudey is just so misunderstood…wasn’t he the one who called RNH a third line centre?…he is an embarrassment and I try to watch any other feed when possible…fuck the rhinestone prairie chickens!
You forgot about big mouth bully Brian Burke. He backed down pretty quickly when Lowe stood up to his nonsense.
Bouchard is not quite the skater or puck handler that Barrie is. That said, his passing and shot selection makes him a better fit for this power play. A poorly chosen or executed shot is often a giveaway, and 2 seems a lot cannier with getting pucks through, or passing off if it’s not there.
Wild to think the best power play in history has improved, but here we are!
I really wish we had signed Bouchard before Ekholm arrived and Barrie departed.
Even a pylon could get 30 points on our power play, and Bouchard is a lot better than that. Hence, Bouchard’s agent knows that his upcoming 50-70-point seasons will vindicate driving a hard bargain this summer.
Pump and dump then … if Bouchard’s agent isn’t willing to sign for reasonable dollars with term. The NHL has never had so many offensively talented, defensively challenged RHD before.
Right, as we’ve seen in the past, it’s very easy to find those puck-moving RHD. Moving on from Jeff Petry didn’t hurt us at all!
The one thing, besides the shot, that I notice about Bouchard back there is how often he keeps the puck in vs Barrie. It’s just an “eye test” thing for me but if sure feels that he has more success keeping the play in the zone and the longer the Oilers are in the offensive zone for their PP the better – heck they only really need, what, 6 or 7 seconds 😉
I think that may be some recency bias as Barrie was absolutely elite at keeping the puck in.
Bouch has made some really nice keeps recently, I do agree.
I don’t see Barrie as good as Bouch in any way than PP experience
Bouch’s non PP passing is elite Barrie’s wasn’t the same level
I don’t disagree but my post was speaking solely about keeping pucks in at the point on the PP…..
Sorry OP I responded to Tikk
Been away for a bit but procrastinating on real work so I thought I should toss out my two cents.
Can we continue to run 11-7?
They just seem more focused when they run the game that way. The d-minutes can be shared so as to not overtax our big guns and 97 and 29 mix and match so well with whomever Woodcroft sees as going that they are constantly a threat coming out of the fog at the opposition.
How does an opponent line-match when the lines are in constant flux?
I get that it’s unconventional and there is a comfort in rolling out 4 set lines but man does this team (especially 97 and 29) know how to exploit chaos and that’s what 11-7 gives.
I was thinking about this in the shower this morning … specifically whether anyone has been tracking their W-L record when they run 11-7 vs 12-6? My totally biased and unscientific gut feeling is that their record is better when playing 11-7.
Our own LT looked into it in February for a piece with the Athletic and found this:
The Edmonton Oilers have used the 7-11 deployment 36 times under coach Jay Woodcroft since his arrival in February 2022.
The team’s record is 25-7-4, and that’s miles better than the record when going in the traditional 6-12 configuration (31-21-4).
Someone smarter than me can probably update those stats since LT’s piece but I think the general consensus is that it’s been a net positive – so much so you wonder why anyone would deviate from it.
I think it’s a big motivator for the bottom 5 when it’s 11 & 7. They know they’re going to get some ice time with 97 and/or 29, and if they’re playing well they’re going to get more.
I also think it provided some insurance in the playoffs to run 11-7.
For instance, if a defenseman blocks a shot and needs to go to the dressing for some work, you have the extra defenseman to fill in the minutes that you wouldn’t otherwise have had in the 12-6 configuration. What if another defenseman takes a penalty during the the time that the first defenseman is unavailable… well you still have 5 defenseman on your bench rather than 4 defenseman to kill off the penalty.
If you lose your forth line centre, who’s only playing at most 8-9 minutes a night, you might need to spot McDavid or Draisaitl out there for an extra shift or two.
That forth line forward just doesn’t contribute as much as the 7th defenseman does. That said, you probably need to have a couple of superstar centres on your roster to eat up the extra minutes like we do, for 11-7 to be advantageous.
THIS⬆💯
The issue is that if you want a high tempo game for 60 in the playoffs the forwards will get tired
Every coach shortens the bench in the playoffs. Might as well game plan for it by running 11-7.
Give Nuge the Selke. Time for the media to build a campaign. I want this more than Skinner for the Calder.
Only one as deserving this year is Hischier and he lags Nuge offensively. Bergeron and Kopitar don’t have the points. Cros might not make the playoffs, ROR had a crap year…
Give the Golden Nugget the damn trophy already. Pay the man hees money. That’s man as in Man Nuge.
If they give it to Tavares, I will lose my shit.
While it would be really cool to see Nuge win it, his on-ice defensive impacts don’t appear strong enough when compared to the biggest competitors for this season. Personally, Hischier should have it locked down with Kopitar placing as the clear 2nd.
Of course, Bergeron could also take it home one last time as a bit of a legacy win.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Joe Pavelski get some votes.
22G 68P +35
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see “random player not on the Oilers” get some votes.”
You chose Pavelski exactly why? A name out of a hat of your “current favs”? Because he plays for one of your “current fav teams”?
Here’s a list of players in order of “takeaways”. Some of the names you may recognize (#4, #5) also have tallied A “few” points as well – why I believe more than 68. Why not one of these names for your “not surprised comment?
Marner
Hagel
Malkin
McDavid
Draisaitl
Couture
Thomas
Nylander
Domi
Matthews
Paul
Scheifele
Gourde
Backlund
Nuge has played mainly wing this season and its been close to 20 years since a non-renter won it. I could see Matty or Spec voting for him in their top 5, maybe another WC strangler vote, but its not going to happen.
I do agree that its not unreasonable to mention his name in the convo though….
Nurse is up to 10 goals and over 40 points. He has points in 6 straight and 14 of 19 games with 3 SH points and ONE PP point (credit: McCurdy). As per his norm, he is top 10 in d-man production at 5 on 5.
His plus/minus leads the team (and his 5 on 5 goal share doesn’t shine as bright).
Yup, there are McDavid minutes but there are also all the tough minutes defending elites – and winning.
If only he was a first pairing defenceman!
He’s not just a “top pairing” d-man, he’s a 1D, at least in my opinion.
Nope, he’s not among the elite, he’s likely a bottom tier 1D but find me 32 better d-men than him…….
The “McDavid minutes” argument has always been a weak one- even when used strictly to diminish his offensive totals. What’s the cut-off for factoring in elite player impacts? Do we diminish Makar (Mack w/ 54 pts), Hedman (Points w/ 53 pts), Ekblad (Tkachuk w/ 53 pts), Hughes (Pettersson w/ 53 pts), or McAvoy’s (Pastrnak w/ 52 pts) offensive contributions because they play with similarly elite producers at 5-on-5? Not that I often see. *(For referece, McDavid has 55 pts @ 5-on-5 this year)
How about diminishing McAvoy’s absurd defensive skills simply because he regularly plays with elite defensive help like Bergeron and Marchand? Or the same with Ekblad & Barkov or Doughty and Kopitar during their peak years? Not that I’ve seen.
Sure, McDavid is an absurd, generational talent that makes magic happen with disgusting frequency. However, that skill doesn’t translate to uniquely absurd 5-on-5 numbers- either raw offensive totals or goal shares. Many people need to stop letting their awe with McDavid skew them into treating Nurse with a different standard than they do other Dmen.
I hope he’s saving it for the Playoffs but he needs to be more physical in the corners as well in front of the net.
I haven’t updated Nurse’s stats history in a while. In 6 seasons, since the Start of the 17-18 season he is 8th in Even strength Points, and EV Goals, 5th in shots, 9th in Hits, 8th in Blocked Shots. This year alone he is 7th in EVP, 12th in shots, 14th in blocked shots.
Sorry LT, Espo’s historic total was 152 points. It’s engraved on my childhood memory like some kind of virtual hockey card. Maybe it was the 76+76 that threw you off?
We all, however, want McDavid to hit 156, one more than Yzerman’s best, because he would be only one of three players in history to clear 155.
Because we want Connor mentioned in the same conversations as Wayne and Mario. The GOAT convo…
Bah. He played 78 games that year and I doubled it. Thanks for the catch.
That play by Leon, that started at his own goal line, on the Evander Kane goal was a highlight of the year and that overall PP performance last night, those 3 PPs, may have been the best night’s PP work I’ve ever seen.
Agree on Drai’s work on the Kane goal. It just brought me out of my chair…what a play.
Beautifully written. Personally, I would change “top team in the division” to “first place team in the division”. I’m not positive the Oilers are not the “top team” despite not being in first place in the division.
I would go further and say best in Conference. 😉
4th in the Pacific will be WC! and likely face COL/DAL/MIN in opening round, likely to be Seattle. Good luck with that.
1st in the Pacific will likely get WC2, so one of Calgary, Nashville or Winnipeg.
Lordy I want 1st in the Pacific this year! Oilers against one of those three ( based on Winnipeg’s struggles, and Nashville’s brutal remaiing schedule I expect it will be the Flames in WC2). That would be Edm/Cal and LA/Vegas opening round. So another exciting BOA victory followed by facing LA or Vegas in second round after they take a pound of fexh from each other. Lovely.
I am agog at the possibility, totally agog.
I would like LA-Calgary … let the Flames goon up it with LA for (hopefully 7 games), and then have the Oilers send them packing in the 2nd round for a 2nd straight year.
I’m sure it’s happened, maybe many times, but 2:55 times five is funny in the summary.
Conditions are probably when a PowerPlay goes 100%, with the powerplay unit not changing once during their time on the ice. Possibly many times, but likely pretty rare.
Yep, the whole rest of the team got 0:00. Powerplay scored 3 goals in 2:55.
I was very pleased when Woodcroft stuck with the unit, & Bouchard in particular, after the shorty. Got that one back in 24 seconds, with Bouch playing a role in the scoring play.
Sticking with Bouch after the “gaffe” or he got unlucky (depending on how you see it) was massive.
The PP is on a heater, wasn’t it 2 for 2 against Zona making it 5 straight?
LT…is that in between a ton and a metric tonne? Either way, I’m sure it’s a butt load, which is actually only half a tun.
He set the tone.
Or did he “set the tonne”?
🎶You take the good, you take the bad, you take ’em both and there you have the Facts of Bouch (the Facts of Bouch). There’s a time you gotta grow and show you’re older now you know about the Facts of Bouch (the Facts of Bouch).
When the player doesn’t seem to be living up to your dreams, suddenly you’re finding out the Facts of Bouch are all about you (youuuu). 🎶
Bouch has some things in common with Paul Coffey, who also made more than his share of defensive gaffes. But in my version of MacT’s Equation (“it’s what you make minus what you leave”), Coffey would always come out around +50 at season’s end. The minuses, a cost of doing business, and as LT says, you learn to live with it.
When they scored the shorty, my mind went right to Toby Reider scoring 2 shorties on a couple of blue line misadventures by J. Schultz. Had there been a 2nd shorty , he may as well started his move from the city. Lol.
But then again, Schultzy has 2 more cups and more than a few boatloads of money more than me so…. 🙂
Bouchard is not even half the offensive player Coffey was. So the gap between what he creates versus what he gives up is much more narrow.
Brett “Messier” Kulak
Great win. 2nd period probably the best of the season. Does anyone think Skinner may be a bit worn out? A couple of those goals were weak. He has looked a bit off in his last 3-4 games for sure. A couple of those goals he should have had last night.
PP is lethal right now.
Nuge is awesome. Nice to see him playing so great this year and what a great contract for that production.
Kane has looked good the last 2 games now.
Huge game on Thur. They tried to push us around last game. We did not have Kane or Eklund. Can’t wait.
Oops Ekholm. That spell checked,,,,,, scary
…or Desharnais. He made his debut the next game.
Since then: 22-5-6
Scott Oake called him Eklund when the After Hours interview was concluding too…
Which goal looked weak to you?
Cause I didn’t see any as weak as goals 1 and 3 for Arizona the night before.
I don’t think anyone wants to play Edmonton in the first round.
Ryan Nugent-Sakic – geeze Louise where has that shot been the last 10 years….
Baby Nuge just got his man-strength.
Aged like fine wine…No, no, trust me. You’ll prefer the 10-year Nuge.
At #6 in scoring, I think that we can definitely declare Nuge has turned out to be the best 3rd-line centre in the league.
Fermenting in sick bay under the care of Oilers shoulder specialists.
Oil must know more about shoulders than most sport franchises.
It seems like teams are either willing to play firewagon hockey with the Oilers or they force them to, probably the latter. Not sure it’ll continue in the playoffs, but high scoring games are a lot more fun to watch once you get used to the idea that the other team is going to have a real difficult time shutting off the valve. Very interested to see coach Fuzzhead and the King’s strategy in their two remaining matchups.
Pretty sure they will whack and hack.
Indeed. I expect goonery
If the 9-6 game and historic offensive runs from 29 and 97 last season are any indication, nobody can really slow down the high scoring even with the playoffs. The team that beat them had just as/more potent an offence, that’s when D responsibility and a save matters most. Everyone else is just Oilers 06 against the Wings. Hold on tight and make the best of your few opportunities.
Teams open up against us when they’re at home. For a entertainment factor I would rather see us on the road.
Oilers record since Pronger arrived – I mean Ekholm 🙂
11-2-1
Ok then. What a difference he has made to, well, Everything.
Ekholm is such a smart player. Watched him in Nashville for 10 years and he does it all. Under Hynes, his offensive instincts were shut down but that’s re-emerging now. More importantly, he is so good at puck retrieval, separating attackers from pucks and zone exits.
Seems like a tonne of Swede dmen get pigeon-holed in the ‘shutdown’ role, possibly because of the SHL making these players seem like shutdown types, possibly because they’re so damn good at it nobody else can so they give up the offensive part for the good of the team. Look at Lars chipping in more in Seattle.
That is unless you are an elite offensive player like Karl or Dahlin. I’d say those are pedigree outliers but ymmv.
Apologies if I’ve missed others make this comparison but I’ve been thinking since he joined the team that the Oilers defenseman he reminds me most of is Pronger. Pronger-lite, of course, but I can’t remember a defenseman this complete and solid since Pronger. Kind of like a non elite Pronger, if that makes sense.
So should we start calling him MFE?
Well that was fun!!
if Leon’s turning point was putting the net back on, mine was the LT lecture to enjoy this team for what it is. And since the lecture they are damn near unbeatable. WOW!
Gonna be a fun ride down the stretch. Games remaining:
ANA – 2
S.J. – 2
L.A. – 2
COL – 1
Hope Leon hits 50 Goals. McD 150 Points. RNH 100 Points. again, WOW!
I think those totals are all well in hand. I’m shooting the moon and hoping for some wildness:
McDavid – 66 goals and 156 points – highest goal total of any active player and most points by anyone not wearing 99 or 66
Drai – beat Kucherov’s 128 and be the 2nd best cap era scorer
Nuge – make it 1,2,3 Oilers in league scoring
Similar to my dream, I am hoping for combined 150 goals and 360 points for McD, Drai and Nuge. Top three scorers AVERAGING 50 goals/120 points apiece. That would be historic by my eye and would make me smile like a Cheshire Cat.
They already have a combined 355 points so that shouldn’t be too hard in 7 games. Might be pushing a combined 400 when all is said and done.
Agreed. But it looked more distant two weeks ago when I had formulated that goal. Maybe reset to 150 goals/ 375 pts is in order. That’s an average of 50 goals/75 assists each…
Old eyes indeed, the way this team skates, sometimes I think 71 is 97, 37 is 29, 27 is 21, 21 is 97.
Last night seemed like a night at the opera… Nuge the main soprano with a 5 point game!
I think when Ekholm has these off nights he plays with more bite/nastiness in his game… more please! I keep thinking its Shore out of position though. At least I’ve finally moved on from thinking Keith is on the ice still, but need work on the Desharnais vs. Bjugstad jerseys.
I swear the smirk McDavid gave after that glorious PP goal said “just as I drew it up on the bar napkin fellas”. Speaking of told you so’s, anyone catch the subtle LT one above…
I caught it! And smiled quietly to myself…
What is the record for team Goals For in the post lockout era?
Oilers are now at 298, and with 30 more in their final 7 games they would finish the 82-game schedule at 328, or a perfect 4.00 per game.
That would be a remarkable accomplishment for a team in this century.
Florida scored 337 last season. 4.11 GF/GP. No other team has made it to 4.
It’s going to take hanging an 8 or 9 on the the Sharks or Ducks but we can get there!
Remember when no team in the history of the NHL has scored 400 goals in a season…….. except the Oilers, who did it 5 times?
My favourite record/stat (except where Gretzky has more assists than anyone else has points…… and then he has the most goals).
Re barbashev:
If touting our own horns is one the menu for day
Dadanov 15 gp 3 g 8 A 11 pts +2
Cheap secondary scoring likely surpasses whole season totals in post deadline schedule.
Right kimd of low cost bet.
(Just teasing as I was low on barbashev based primarily on assumed asset cost being reported)
Low acquisition cost but not low cost given $5MM cap hit, right?
“Ever since he put the net back on”
just another LT classic to put a smile on one’s dial.
I am so happy for Nuge. He’s going to hit 50 points twice this season!
Oilers win and L.A. loses, so: *chortle*.
Note to Reja;
please note the words of our author regarding Skinner. Put your hook away and now is the time to man up and admit he is the better goaltender.
I’m in the no salting wounds required camp – unless often offering hostility/trickery/sore-“winnery” on regular basis
There’s no winning on the internet but many try!