Thrice during the current playoffs, the Edmonton Oilers have been down a game and under at least some pressure. In Game 4 against the Los Angeles Kings, the club won in overtime and sparked a three-game winning streak to end the series. Last night, in Vegas, the Oilers played a complete game in evening the series at 1-1. Heading back to Edmonton, things are looking good for this team. The gap in quality between the two road games suggests it took some time for the Oilers to adjust to the VGK style of play. Once again, Jay Woodcroft adjusted and Edmonton won the day. Reminder, this is going to be a long series.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Identifying a 2023 NHL Draft sleeper prospect for the Oilers
- New DNB: Oilers flash power-play strength, ‘identity’ in Vegas
- Lowetide: Oilers’ young players taking on bigger role in 2023 playoffs
- DNB: Why Oilers’ playoff fate depends on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins finding another gear
- DNB: Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl’s 4-goal outburst doesn’t mask Game 1 disappointment
- Lowetide: 6 keys to Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft’s playoff success
- DNB: Why Oilers’ Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl combo is the ultimate luxury: ‘It’s magic’
- Lowetide: Why the Oilers beat the Kings — and can beat the Golden Knights
- Lowetide: 6 biggest AHL Bakersfield Condors stories from 2022-23 season
- DNB: Oilers move on to Round 2 after Kailer Yamamoto’s goal rescues them from Stuart Skinner’s blooper
- Lowetide: What’s Oilers prospect Dylan Holloway’s future NHL role?
- Lowetide: Oilers’ forward-heavy pipeline suggests defence-driven 2023 NHL Draft
- Lowetide: Stock up or down for every Oilers prospect in the system
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2022
DEFENSE AND GOALTENDER
Darnell Nurse played a strong game, good in coverage, recovered well, closed gaps and answered the physical challenge when Vegas started running around. He was the only blue with a HDSC at five-on-five, it was a breakaway during a pretty wild (loose Vegas!) portion of the game. Cody Ceci took six hits and dished out one, the pairing had good numbers (61 percent expected goals). The two men played well but the support from the forwards is worthy of mention. That goes for all three pairings.
Mattias Ekholm had another good game, the GA was a great hand-eye and a turnover from 97 (no fault I could see from either D). Ekholm breaks up so many things in the neutral zone, I don’t recall an Oilers defenseman who was so effective there. Pronger, probably. Evan Bouchard is getting major attention now, hard to believe it was just a few months ago unrest among fans was in the air. His shot is a bleeding missile. He’s 3-11-14 through eight playoffs games. He was the last impact prospect of the McDavid cluster and he has arrived. The Ekholm-Bouchard five-on-five, considering the qual comp, is out of this world and the Corsi rel is mind boggling.
Brett Kulak was strong in this game, as he has been often in recent weeks. He got into a fight, played a rugged game, and was steady support for Vincent Desharnais. Together, in 6:37, they posted a 52 percent expected goal share. Desharnais had a takeaway, took and drew a penalty, played a bunch in the third period (5:03 of 11:06). I was pleased for him when he used his speed, long stick and effort to tip the puck away from Jack Eichel as he drove to the net. An NHL defender must make that play, and Desharnais did it expertly without taking a penalty. A nice recovery game, credit to the coaching staff for having faith in him.
Woodcroft ran Philip Broberg more than Desharnais in the third period (5:49 of 6:48) when the game was already decided. Broberg looked fine but is clearly the ‘spot duty’ defender at this time. It’s a long playoff spring, I expect he’ll see more than 6:22 a night (his current average) at five-on-five a few times.
Stuart Skinner had an excellent game, stopping seven of eight HDSC and all of the mid- and low-level shots. For the postseason, his .918 save percentage five-on-five is running a little ahead of reasonable expectations. His save on Chandler Stephenson’s breakaway 30 minutes in was the death rattle for Vegas.
FORWARDS
Leon Draisaitl has 13 goals in eight playoff games so far this year, and if Edmonton makes it to the third round, he will break the all-time scoring record (19, Jari Kurri and Reggie Leach). In fact, he might do it this round the way he’s going. He’s playing like a runaway train and there is no answer from the Golden Knights. In Vegas, everyone was Mikey Anderson and Leon was on a mission. This spring, the power and the glory belong to Draisaitl. He had an early look on the power play that might have been his best scoring opportunity, believe it or not. It’s raining high-danger chances for Leon.
Connor McDavid owned Shea Theodore (a fine NHL defender) several times during his epic shorthanded goal. It was one of the finest displays of skill and determination I’ve ever seen. It was one of several “pay you back with interest” plays made by Edmonton on a night when the Golden Knights were driven to distraction and responded with gutter hockey. Wow, that was a fantastic goal.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins posted a couple of power-play points and played well shorthanded, but the five-on-five issues continue. He didn’t have a shot on net, not a HDSC, and the Nuge’s touches at five-on-five are low, low, low. He was 1-5 shots, 0-2 HDSC. One reason he didn’t deliver much offensively last night was due to face-off locations. Last night, he had zero offensive, six neutral and three defensive zone faceoffs. He was effective (1-0 shots) in four minutes versus Jack Eichel’s line. He has drawn no penalties, has three HDSC’s, one assist in 112 minutes five-on-five this spring. In the first two games of the playoffs, he averaged 17:04 per game in five-on-five ice time. In the last three games, it’s down to 11:37 per game. Part of that is the large number of power plays last night and part is Woodcroft’s (correct) assessment that the Golden Knights were looking to exact pain on Edmonton’s best players. At five-on-five, Nuge is off his own established levels by a severe amount. He had a breakaway chance with 25 seconds left in the second, both Vegas skaters caught him despite (Whitecloud) being caught going the wrong way at the time of turnover.
Ryan McLeod was part of the Oilers most successful five-on-five line, with Warren Foegele and Derek Ryan. McLeod had three shots, one HDSC and skated miles. Foegele had one shot, one HDSC, drew a penalty and created havoc around Laurent Brossoit’s doorstep in an early sequence. Derek Ryan was money again, you could see how much the team missed him in Game 1. Ryan’s five-on-five postseason is quietly building to something special. His five-on-five expected GA-60 is 1.06. That leads all NHL forwards who have played 50+ minutes this spring. Extreme value in Derek Ryan. He had scoring chances, drew a penalty, suppressed sorties by interrupting passes and gave cover to his younger linemates. What a player.
Zach Hyman is back! All of the columns he fills in when things are going right were checked off last night. Three assists, five shots, four HDSC, two rebound attempts, three penalties drawn, it was a clinic by No. 18. He is at 1.9 pts-60 five-on-five, the best among top-six forwards not named Connor or Leon.
Evander Kane led the team in five-on-five icetime, he often does. He had five shots, one HDSC, took and drew two penalties and then took some misconducts in distracting the Golden Knights completely. Had 24 pims as homage to Glenn Anderson’s impressive pim total in a 1987 game versus the Winnipeg Jets. Kane is effective because he’s a bull and he’s highly skilled and he’s been through enough of these evenings to handle himself well. It’s an effective part of hockey. The key is having that player on your team. Edmonton spent decades without an Evander Kane.
Kailer Yamamoto had an assist, a shot on goal, and a ridiculous penalty called against him (two minutes for being mugged at the blue line). He’s playing better now, his 1-2-3 at five-on-five in the last three games is tied with Klim Kostin and Leon Draisaitl for No. 1 among Oilers forwards (Mattias Ekholm also three points in three games). He’s passing well, drawing penalties, turning over pucks again. Good to see. A healthy Yamamoto is an effective player.
Nick Bjugstad had his legs in this game and played well. Three shots on goal, hit people, back checked, took penalties. He also took vicious slashes from both defensemen on a chance in the high slot in what was surely one of the truly farcical moments this spring in playoff hockey. Bjugstad, like all of the other Oilers, stood up for himself and exacted a price from the Knights.
Klim Kostin blocked a shot that would have killed a lesser man, and played his physical style on a night when all who were called answered in a big way. He didn’t impact the game much with his skills, but we know he can do it and the Oilers coaching staff are using him more in recent games.
Bad Times at the El Royale
If you’ve seen the movie, you might ask yourself why on earth this title was chosen after such a positive game. My experience with that movie was profound, owing some to its genuine brilliance and some to the happy ending (if you’ve forgotten it ends happily, I will understand). It was filmed in Burnaby, BC, home of the Nuge. It features excruciating violence and a cast of dirt mean villains. It is a film that is most unkind to the viewer, with painful moments and cruel plot twists. I will confess to wanting to turn away from the screen multiple times, maybe a dozen.
The movie represents the Oilers since 2006 summer, and you, an Oilers fan, are Darlene Sweet.
The reason I’m mentioning it today is twofold: If you watched the game, and worried about the end result after Edmonton was up 4-0, then you need to let go the last 15 years.
Would you do me a favour? Would you drive or walk to your favourite place in the world? Would you do that for me? Would you then find a quiet place there, sit down, breathe in the beauty? Would you follow by taking a deep breath, envisioning all the pain and sorrow of these many years, the disappoinment, the broken ornaments, could you hold that in your mind’s eye? Hold it still? Could you do that for me?
Once you are there, once you have that image of pain and sadness in your mind’s eye, let it go. Feel those emotions leave your body, feel hope enter your heart. Notice the smile you own and enjoy the feeling. It’s been a terrible experience. You have earned the right to be happy and you cheer for a team that in no way resembles the bad way. I want this for you.
I hope you have a chance to read this piece today, it contains everything I believe about winning at the draft. Felix Unger Sörum qualifies as a possible draft steal for many reasons, and should be available to Edmonton even if Ken Holland trades down with the second-round selection.
Included in the article are quotes from two respected scouting services. I asked a third to provide information, but deadlines meant I was unable to include one of them. In fairness, I wanted to publish it here. My thanks to all who contributed, and here is Josh Tessler from Smaht Scouting with his take on the player:
- “When Felix Unger Sörum has the puck on his stick blade, you’ll see him leverage crossovers regardless of where the pressure is. His stride extension length is very short and that means that he has no choice but to use those crossovers to create the acceleration that he needs. But, Unger Sörum isn’t trying to be the primary puck mover through the neutral zone. In fact, a good chunk of his assists at 5v5 (in J20 play) have come via long range passes to open teammates that have netted space right next to the offensive blue line when Unger Sörum is leading the breakout. I’d also like to see Unger Sörum work on activating off of his crossovers. When deploying his edges, he isn’t leaning on them to retain speed and that can limit his escapability with the puck. It will also slow him down on the forecheck when reacting to quick changes in puck movement.”
My sincere thanks to Mr. Tessler and all three gentlemen who contributed to an article I’m proud to have written for The Athletic.
Good night, amigos. May tomorrow’s game and the Draft Lottery both meet your expectations. Buen Noches.
Funny that I posted my fever dream prediction at the start of the Playoffs to be wins over LA, Vegas, Kraken and someone not named Boston. Now the Bruins are out, the Avs are out, the Leafs are on the ropes (although I really wanted to punt them in the FInal), Dallas is behind and Carolina finds themselves recently spanked but in a series. It may yet happen the way I wished for! Why dream in B&W.
Decade of darkness doesn’t feel so awful watching the leafs multigenerational darkness.
The Leafs are on the back nine sliding towards The Century of Darkness.
WE get through Vegas (increasingly likely by my lights) and we could end up facing the Kraken and one of Jerseyb or Florida – all teams we should be able to light up. WE could see some very historic numbers in playoff scoring when all is said and done….
Although to my surprise and further research New Jersey beat us both times this year (November 21 and November 3).Could be interesting.But we scored 28 goals in 6 games vs Florida and Seattle, only losing once.
Wow. Love the out of town scoreboard tonight. FIrst, the Leafs. Now Seattle up 4-0 on a 4 goal second period that is barely half over… If the road to the Cup goes through Vegas and Seattle, we are looking GOOD!
Wow. 6-2 Seattle late in the 3rd. Go Kraken! To correct, it was a 5 goal second period.
Final 7-2 Seattle. Holy Hannah!
Oettinger’s looking beatable again tonight.
This why people need to remember to be kind to Skinner. Young men are going to have off nights.
💯
Treliving and 90% of Hockey followers thought he not only won the Tkachuk trade but he fleeced the Florida G.M. Who new Huberdough and Weeger were Cancer on the team when it came down to brass taxes.
Well obviously the Florida Coaches, Scouts, and Management knew. Kinda makes sense now why the trade “appeared” so lopsided. They wanted to sell high for a legit superstar and difference maker in Tkachuk.
I can’t believe I actually said that about turtlechuk and meant it. <shudders>
Not sure I would completely agree with that assessment. Huberdeau had a career season in his last with Florida and Weegar was a huge part of their defence core.
Florida was a hot mess for 80% of the season this year and only really switched it on pretty late in the season.
Brass taxes?
Brass taxes. Autocorrect error I hope.
Heiskanen just took a deflected shot to the jaw.
Eberle kept playing like Heiskanen was a pylon.
Eberle still has those soft mitts in front of the net.
And just like that, all of Toronto are clenching their teeth. FLorida leas the series 3-0 . With the talent the MakeBeLeafs have amassed, this is a very sad day for their fans.Imagine… the Decade of Darkness x 5.
A sweep would make things even more sweeter
Toronto has not won a cup since 1967. If they lose this round they will have missed the playoffs ebtirely 25 times since then (last missed in 2016 a stretch of 10 misses in 11 seasons, their only appearance being a strike shortened 2013 where they were dispatched in the first round , Their Decade of Darkness?). They will have been booted in the first round 19 times since then (last in 2022), out in the second tound 11 times (last in 2004 and possibly this year?) and out in the third round 5 times (last in 2002). No Cup appearances since winning in 67.
OUCH.Even allowing for the Ballard years, that is PAINFUL.
They are where we were in the Hall Eberle Nuge times
When the Habs beat the Leafs a few years back on their way to the finals, I commented about my impression of the interviews when the series was over
Matthews ball cap pulled way down and a mess. Nylander with model hair. Marner covering for Matthews IIRC
Cut to Gallagher. Contusions and fresh wounds all over his face. Scruffy and beaten up looking
Cut back, Leafs guys with faces looking like fresh out of a skin care magazine
Their core still wants to be slick and awesome. Superstars. Ours did too, until Connor wouldn’t have it anymore. I don’t see a lot of drive that way from any of the Leafs top players, except maybe O Reilly
Summarizing!
As mentioned by intrepid reporter Munny 2.0, Peterborough has forced Game 7 tomorrow night with an OT win. Petrov scored a beaut in the losing effort.
Oh Toronto, not sure why I take so much pleasure from your failing. But here we are.
Watching them play only solidifies what every Oilers fan knows to be true… please stop the absurd comparisons between Connor and Austin. Matthews has a deadly shot, no doubt, but the man has a zero creative bone in his body, and plays a super soft game. Tonight’s game he was almost invisible. Pretty sure he’s done in TO if success continues to elude.
Every year I wonder if Toronto has a stacked team, or I only think they are stacked because we always hear about how great they are and all of the great players they jave, or there’s something about the Leafs that turns players into pumpkins at midnight.
Toronto sure isnt showing any dynamic offense. The Panthers check pretty well but Leafs cant get shots to the net, lots of missed passes. And that series is no where near as physical as Oilers Kings or Oilers Knights.
Their D is mediocre. McCabe was their big addition.
Ekholm > McCabe
(I know that didn’t need to be said)
Leafs fans say the Oilers are a two-man team, but the Leafs are a zero-man team.
Petes send the series back to North Bay for game 7.
Maybe when Chiarelli traded for Reinhart, he thought he was getting Sam for some reason. That would explain a lot.
Griffin Reinhart was so damn good in junior, that’s why the Oilers coveted him. Didn’t scouting him in Bridgeport Sound, he difficulties in skating weren’t an issue in junior. I watched him lots, he was really good there.
I watched a lot of Griffin in junior. He was truly dominant – Pronger like. Having not followed him at all in Bridgeport I had some hope that he could develop into a useful top 4D. With that said, I would have ran to the podium when Barzal was available.
That’s an exact match for how I read that night.
How did the panthers get Reinhart for peanuts the Sabre G.M should of been fired for that trade.
Devon Levi is a strong goalie prospect and the first-round pick scored 22 goals age 18 in the AHL.
*24 goals
Sam doesn’t get hurt doesn’t put himself in a position to get hurt. Sam hustles every shift is a excellent face-off man on the right side and plays the game the right way. Sam Reinhart will quietly score over 400 Goals before he’s put out to pasture. He’s no Leon Draisaitl but I would take Mr.Reinhart on my team any day of the week. The winning Goal was a skilled and fast set play the Leaf Netminder is still looking for his jockstrap.
Sam is also a UFA after next season.
Leaf fans are absolutely insufferable and you can bet they’ll be back at the beginning of next season talking their usual shit.
They just never learn.
Toronto is at heart an Old Money town, awash in all the entitlement that suggests….
The Laughs being down 3-0 is amusing, especially after how many fans and media acted like they’d won the Stanley Cup after being Lightning (something they only did because Vasilevsky was absolutely atrocious for the majority of the series).
Part of me wants the Leafs to lose in 7. Another part of me wants them to get swept just for the sheer entertainment of the reaction to a sweep in the media’s weeping and despair.
The Leaves getting through round 1 was their Stanley Cup.
TML continue to be winless beyond the first round since 2004.
The Leafs are finished. Calling it now.
Leafs have fallen. All that’s left is to rake up the pile.
In the autumn, the leaves fall. In the spring, its the Leafs….
I’m taking Duclair.
After getting down 2-0, the Battalion have clawed back and Petrov scores to make it 3-2. (The Petes have tied it as I’m typing this.)
Presently waiting for overtime to start.
I seem to recall a postulate on the interwebs that if the escrow debt is not retired we would increase the CAp to 83.5 this year and 90 likely the year after. If it is retired and clear sailing is ahead, the numbers are 87.5 next year and 90 the year after. Pray for more HRR!
According the Bettman in a FP article in mid March as well as previous articles, they were projecting in mid Decmber that the remaining Escrow debrt for the year would be 150 million. In mid March they were estimating 100M, an improvement by a third. Bettmen at the time said it was not outside ther realm of possibility to retire it this year or come close, but it would require exceeding their projections at that time by a bit.
I think there is a huge appetite by both sides to get rid of this albatross. If it is close I think they come to an arrangement to make both parties happy and resume normal Cap increases for next year.
I expect there have been strong discussions behind the scenes to build a framework and it is being kept quiet by both sides so not to detract from the playoffs. I think a very good chance we see a Cap of 87.5 for next year when all is said and done.
Bettman said he was willing to raise this off season if escrow wasn’t paid off but the Nhlpa would have to negotiate the escrow. Nhlpa has said they want the cap raise but won’t negotiate on the escrow. Only way cap goes up more than a million is if we pay off that balance.
I think there is a middle ground where the escrow increase beyond the currently agreed 10% is if the increase is only a ONE TIME amount, reverting to previously agreed levls therafter. In exchange, the NHLPA gets something they want, like Olympic participation, Canada Cup, Worlds, etc.There is a deal to be had beyond the currently perceived posturing…I think it will be close enough something gets done.. perhaps a small increase in escrow for next season to ensure the debt is paid off with a small decrease in escrow for the remainder of the CBA to balance the player’s concerns?
For example, in March they were projecting a remaining shortfall of 100m or less. Let us say for argument’s sake that they manage to reduce that by a little more than one third to 64M when all is said and done, that is 2m per team in salary dollars. They are already on record as saying the Cap without the shortfall would likely rise to 87.5 M , an increase of 5m per team from current levels. That means if these are the figures the owners are using that an increase in the cap by 3M per team, or a level of 85.5 should be neutral to the owners in paying off the cap. The extra 2M forgone from the 87.5 would retire the shortfall with no increase in escroiw. rates by the end of next season. There is room to move and both sides know it. Right now they are just defining the terms on which each side will bargain.
Increasing escrow means every player with an existing contract takes a pay cut. Increasing escrow benefits players without contracts over players with contracts.
Increasing escrow benefits incompetent GM’s.
The OIlers are in better cap shape than most other contending teams, so increasing escrow hurts the Oilers.
Increasing escrow makes it more difficult for the OIlers to sign depth veterans on cheap deals.
There is a very strong sentiment form major players on both sides to vanquish the albatross. The smaller the difference at the end of the palyoffs, the easier this negotiation will be. Try a modest increase in escrow this year for a corresponding decrease the year after. That could be saleable.
I, for one, would love to see the comparable figures during the escrow era of amount witheld as escrow each year vs the amount returned from escrow to the players, if any. How close are the projected revenues that have been setting the cap after all? I think the system needs some other delimiters to cap increases when there is no return on escrow to the players in a given year. Also a set escalator if the owners end up having to pay escrow at the end of the year. Both with rational limits. Neither side wants to have to contriburte appreciably to escrow, but players have also been keen on using the escalator clause when it has not been fully warranted by revenue projections, then they want to not pay excropw on that? A little disingenuous, I think. And the Owners are no better. Build more sanity into the system and the clowns on both sides won’t be running the circus. Let cooler heads prevail.
I don’t think that will affect only the Oilers, a low tide grounds all ships…. Depth veterans will face the same conundrum with any team who wants to sign them. It si the lower part of the roster always gets the squeeze.
The owners aren’t going to write off anything. They will get their money.
Agreed. No one is saying they will write off ANYTHING. They are seeking to renegotiate the repayment terms to allow for a quicker return to business as usual for all concerned.
Methinks both sides want this, and both sides are positioning themselves accordingly and willing to use the other side’s desire for normalcy as a point of leverage to make other gains.There is a sweet spot where both sides are , if not happy, at least equally discomfited… but not enough to make the deal unpalatable. You don’t always like the taste of your medicine, but it is not bad enough to make you forgo it’s advantage in making things better…
I’ve always liked the jerseys of the panthers. Bennett is going to crush someone and then a Goal by Tkachuk just to turn the knife a bit more for the Flamers.
I had the same thought when I watched a bit of the second period — the classic-looking red and their logo make for some very solid jerseys.
WOW. What is in the water in New Jersy? First they get thumped TWICE , 5-1 and 6-1, but then undress the Canes 8-4? Crazy series so far. I was ready to punch the Canes ticket to the Eastern Final after game 2, not so quick now!
A playoff series does not begin until someone loses a game at home.
Oooh I like that. Very pithy saying.
As Woody said last night (and like has been said for over 100 years in the NHL) the total score in an individual game doesn’t matter just the W or the L. This is in contrast to what the CCCP team wanted the world to believe about the Canada/Soviet Summit Series, where they, to this day, still tout that they won the tournament based on total goals for and against.
The CCCP would not pull their Goalie if they were down by a Goal in the final minute. The head Coach Viktor Tikhonov found it bizarre that the North American teams would do this. From what I remember I don’t think the Czech’s, Finland or Sweden pulled their Goalie either.
Neither the Olympics nor the World Championships had a gold medal game or a playoff till 1992 and 1990 respectively. Prior to that, the team with the best record in the finals round robin was given the gold medal and GF and GA was a key tie breaker if needed. International teams rarely played winner take all games.
Great game by the Oilers yesterday. And great write-up again LT.
To quibble a bit I saw Nuge’s game a little differently than did you LT. This last game he had way more jump in his step, quick to pucks and quick to defend and challenging defenders more. It was a step up from the last LA game, which was a step up from the previous few. I suspect some bug was in the room for a few days, felling Hyman, Nuge, Ryan, maybe more. That combined with a new checking line of Nuge, Hyman and Bj-stad and we have a 5×5 mystery solved.
The Bouch goal doesn’t happen if Nuge doesn’t keep it in and then dish to Bouch.
Back to the LA series. It looked to me like Flattop had his PK forcing Bouch over to the Nuge side. A couple of times Bouch got forced to make a 5 foot pass to Nuge who was already covered – forcing the puck outside the line. Good coaching.
Yesterday’s win was such a blow to Vegas. As everyone else is saying the ‘sending a message’ only reinforced the message that the Oil have big humans.
Based on nothing but my own watching and they way the clouds form at puckdrop, I’m convinced Nuge has been dealing with a wrist/arm/shoulder injury of some kind that looked a bit better last game. He’s been noticeably not shooting on the PP or being passed to for a shot and the odd one he had against LA was of the muffin variety. RNH was sniping his share of laser wristers during the season and just hasn’t been pulling the trigger. He also seemed to take more draws last game than he has in the previous few so hopefully that’s a good sign….or I’m just imagining things!
I suspect it’s his left shoulder, I noticed a solid shoulder to shoulder collision in Game 1 or 2 against LAK that made him wince.
I love his stops and starts, but worry about his five-on-five touches. Edmonton needs him, and tomorrow night is another opportunity. For all the worrying and outshooting, hes 2-2 goals solo centre in these playoffs five-on-five.
I think Holland has got the team to the point we felt he needed to so Connor and Leon didn’t have “incomplete/not good enough’ team as a reason to not stay
Props for that Kenny. Even if I still get after you once in a while
Meier, Hughes and the other Highlander for 3-0 after 1
Next time the Oilers have a big lead and the opposition thinks it’s time to get their pound of flesh, Woody should roll out a 5 man unit of Nurse, Desharnais, Kostin, Kane, and Bjugstad. That would stifle the urge in a hurry. I’d love a photo of that fearsome fivesome at puck drop!
Woody, did exactly that in game 5 against LA when they started running around late
Yes what a fivesome when Klim is the smallest.
Im very impressed with Kulak. He plays a very effective game
Seems to step it up in the playoffs in a noticeable way.
I railed on Yamo for a week then he shuts me up with the game winner. I railed on Kane and Hyman for being a passengers in the first 3 games then Hyman scores the winner in game 4 along with Kane getting physical which we dearly needed. I railed on Skinner needing to step up and make timely saves and to start looking like a Goalie that can win a Cup. Well he shut me up yesterday all I have left is Nurse who by my eye needs to clear the front of the net with more authority and he needs to score. Darnell has had like 20 good chances since the Playoffs began 10 of those chances have been high scoring. It’s time to hit the twine and you might as well get in a good old fashioned scrap to show Vegas who exactly is running the Show.
LT, as always, you have a way with words that put the word ‘perspective’ into a new light.
I’m grateful for them and your daily blog. It’s good guidance in life.
——
Vegas was schooled yesterday and it got chippy and nasty. Although the oil can play that game (and sometimes have to), my concern is the effects it’ll have in future games a la Nuge for example.
Attrition is part of the playoffs but I’d hate to see us lose games because our best were knocked out.
Nuge can handle himself.
Just ask Justin Holl.
Just realized that Draisaitl has more goals (13) than Matthews has points (11) in the playoffs so far.
Matthews has 11 points in 8 games? Maybe time to target someone else.
I think it’s a shot at the people that pass Drai over as the second best player in league
Or many nights the best as Connor said
I don’t dislike Matthews – he is an incredible player. I have long felt that Draisaitl is the better player and doesn’t get enough credit though.
I also have zero doubt that if Matthews had the same goals and assists as Draisaitl, there would be an endless parade of articles about how Matthews is better than McDavid, totally skipping over any comparison to Draisaitl.
I would have also compared Draisaitl’s points to MacKinnon’s but didn’t see the point since Colorado has been eliminated already.
I hit him up on Twit about who his haberdasher is. I want some of those sweet tighty whiteys
He doesn’t get back so I no longer have time
Those tighties arent’t so whitey anymore after tonight though…..
If Evander Kane wasn’t a hockey player, he would be a pirate or a Bond villain or both.
In round 1, he made a statement physical play by (gently) riding Doughty into the glass face first when Drew tried to interfere with him in neutral ice. The look of triumph on Doughty’s face decaying into fear was meme-worthy, priceless, and hilarious.
In round 2, he fed Kolesar body shots, stapled Pietrangelo to the boards, and chirped/cackled at every Vegas player and/or fan that so much as dared to look his way.
This man is a menace! And it’s delightful!
I am hoping that Kane tutors Kostin in how this is done. A good agitator is a must have in the play offs.
I loved the hugging chirps on Carrier. There may be a new huggy bear to laugh at.
What Our 2 Gods are going is something special, obviously.
But, just love the way our whole team sticks up for each other.
Kulak standing up.
Kane and Kostin coming to Bjugstads aid.
Love the team chemistry right now.
Will let RNH’s simply incredible 5 on 5 numbers be for now.
I suspect next game will be a LOT tighter….even strength play will be a factor here at some point.
Takeaways from last night:
Don’t mess with Kane.
Don’t mess with Kostin.
Don’t mess with Nurse.
Don’t mess with Kulak.
Don’t fuck with the Oilers period.
They can beat you on the powerplay or they can beat you in the alley.
Ah, the Good Old Days!
They didn’t even get a chance to try Vinny, Ek, or The Nugenator!
The Nugenator, I likey.
I like it like last night where they beat them BOTH ways.Then I don’t have to choose.
Unless Bouch does a team friendly 8 year (which I prefer), the only thing they can do (and where my bet goes) is a 3 year bridge to when Ekholm is off the books. And hope like heck the cap goes up enough to keep Connor and Bouch in their contract years.
And maybe even Kane and Ekholm if they are still viable and want to stay more than go for cash
I hate sacrificing depth but I would part with any and all of Yams Foegs Kulak to sign Bouch eight years to something in the realm of reasonable. To me locking down this key piece at term at value is a prerequisite to keeping the good times rolling after the current McDrai contracts. I believe it can be done without sacrificing the current window (i.e. Oil go back to finding value depth, which tho hard is a lot easier than finding another Bouchard in 3 years or fitting his prime FA salary under the cap).
I ran scenarios through CF. Neal, overages and bonuses accounted for. 8 roster guys to sign and Lavoie who seems on his way up. The least damage I could do depends completely on whether the bottom 6 vets want to stick around, or go looking for bigger pay. I would not be surprised if they want to stay. It’s a special group – what could possibly be better if you like hockey first?
Bjug is the real wild card that has been mentioned as gone bcs of money. CF says he has career earnings of 28.7M US, he’s got his bank. Even D Ryan has made 14M US, he’s not a guy who has banked AHL money even with his late career start
Bjug has lost a lot of hockey to injury, this season’s 59 games the most since 19-20. His last biggest numbers were 49pts in 17-18. I don’t see a much bigger payday for him given everything and that the next is his 31 YO season. I say he stays
Holland will need ELC/RFA contracts, and the guys who aren’t established fully to be reasonable, like McLeod. I think they will be. Cap at 83.5M, 23 on the roster. No LTIR so cap can accrue. $482,500 in cap space to start. 2 rookie forwards, 1 semi rookie, none are really young
To be able to do this, Yama and Foegele have to be dealt. I like them both, but the cap exists and I think by season end the youth can do what they did. Even if they can’t those changes can’t tank the team’s season in themselves, there would be much bigger issues afoot
Kostin 1.25M (shooter and pugilist bump), McLeod 1.1M, Lavoie .950, Philp .950, Shore .850, Bjug 1M, Ryan 1M, Janmark 1M. You see I’ve paid all the established vets the same
The goalies are signed, except Bouch the D are too and I kept the same. As for Bouch, I bridged him at 4M for 3 years (Ekholm coming off the books). Now if the cap goes up 4M as it might, Holland could see if he can go long on Bouch
I see the line up as
Nuge CMD Kane
Holloway Drai Hyman
Janmark McLeod Lavoie
Kostin Bjug Ryan
Shore Philp
Nurse Ceci
Ek Bouch
Kulak Des/Bro
I’m loving 3 RS C. It’s been forever. Maybe a young D can push Ceci down the chart as it goes along
Looking at this there are only 4 or 5 guys who aren’t really the type to fight etc. Not that they should, just that if team toughness helps, that’s a tough team. Also big (only Nuge and Ryan aren’t) and fast overall
This is close to what I am thinking as well.
Couple of small quibbles.
Don’t think Bjugstad will sign for 1 million. A 17 goal RS center is probably worth twice that on the open market.
I think you have to pay Ryan at least as much as this year.
I think McLeod gets more than Kostin. He did the team a solid last year and plays significantly more minutes.
Your basic premise is correct. The Oilers can’t afford to go long on Bouchard without gutting the team. I also like the 3 year bridge because both Eckholm and Kane contracts will be expiring.
Bridging Bouch is going to cost a lot of money later because the cap will be jumping and he’s going to get points. It’s a tough spot for the Oilers as those points are being inflated a lot on this team. No way he’s doing it like that on a team that can pay him
A bridge likely means he’s got to move because of Nurse’s deal. Eventually Nurse won’t be high paid, but it will take longer than that time frame to come down relatively
To me the only way he stays past the bridge is long now. Connor and Leon are taking up the big cap jump. It’s not like he won’t make a lot of money, depends what he’s more interested in
As for Bjug, two contracts in a row say the GMs don’t see him as more than a 1M player. One outlier season is going to double his contract or more? 31 YO season? Massive injury history? Maybe. I was getting at maybe he’d rather go for Cups and take less as he’s already made a lot of money
To me any player that goes from meh to Oilers now, won the jackpot. As in Bjug. Ekholm said this. Maybe I’m being too hopeful, but perhaps the rubicon has been crossed and the Oilers don’t just get the mercenaries, but guys that want to win and prefer that to an extra million on their large accounts
It isn’t uncommon, I don’t mean a 4 or 6 M player doing 1.5. Unless they’re Bergeron
One possibility is we accrue enough league wide HRR in the playoffs to retire the escrow debrt NOW (which Bettmen has said is a possibility) or any small remaining balance is renegotiated with the NHLPA to end the Cap freeze. It has been opined that if either happens the cap could rise to 87.5 for NEXT season.
As per contract length, IIRC 1 yr gets us to an expanded Cap if it is not lifted this year. 2 years has him hitting his next deal at the same time as Leon, 3 yr gets him to next deal at the same time as McD. 4 yr gets him to FA. Ouch. Perhaps a one year if the escrow is not retired this year, floowed by something longer term? Could be sellable to his agent as will be a bigger piggy bank by an appreciable amount next offseason.
Good points. I hope Holland isn’t trying to do favours anymore. Fair yes, but the team first. For everyone involved
A one year would be my preferred bridge
Me too. Bigger sample size, more data to project expected future development as a player as well. Another year with Ekholm mentoring does not hurt either. I don’t want two big ticket players coming due in the same offseason, that can get real messy. And taking him right to FA is a no go.If anyone can sell his agent on the wisdom of a one year, it’s Ken. No salesman like an old vacuum cleaner salesman!:)
Keep in mind when looking at ‘career earnings’ … players take home about 300k for every million on their contract after agency fees, taxes and escrow are taken into account. For most, that’s what they will have to live on when their playing days are over.
LT commented on it yesterday. That was as dominant a game as your gonna see, except Stu getting a shut out
It will be interesting to see how they respond. Yes The Vegans are a good team full of vets, but man that was some kind of butt whooping. That was being completely owned, in your own barn. For your goons (of which they employ a few) to try to do something, and get completely punked. Even their fans got punked. That’s some mental hurdle to jump, even if they come back harder. Seeds are sown
I can’t wait for Monday
Me too. Great game on tap AND the Draft Lottery (this time only as a bemused observer)…
Great blurb on Evander Kane LT. I know this player is not always a fancies darling but his ‘intangibles’ do have a demonstrable impact on the game and this team. Functional toughness. It’s a thing. Every Oiler is an inch taller with Kaner on the ice.
Kane’s ‘intangibles’ are actually ‘intangibles’. He is a force to be reckoned with, and a top end hockey player, not a cheap shot artist thug with some skill and wavering heart, like some are who get tagged with bringing that
He’s a functional menace. He is an old school Oiler
Yeah, he has some possession issues, but my goodness these last two playoff springs he has been a feature player. I’m going to wait until next year to do it, but have been thinking of looking at all players like him in Oilers history (power forward-physical presence with skill) and see where he stands. Edmonton has had some great ones but not in recent history.
To win the Cup the minimum number of games the Oil must play is now at 10 more games
At his current clip the number of games until Leon scores his jersey number with 29 goals is 10 more games.
Coincidence?
I believe the minimum number of remaining games for the Oil is 11.
Hah. So the Leon King has at least one extra game to reach a 29 hand.
While Draisatl has the early lead you can’t entirely write off Colborne who will be very motivated to start next season
Hahaha!
Lol. Thanks for that.
AH, good one.
Joe Colborne career NHL Stats GP 295, G 42, A 72 for 114 Pts.
Leon Draisatl career NHL Stats GP 638, G 306, A 438 for 774 Pts.
Both point totals end in a “4.” See? They are comparables.
Colborne better get on that exercise bike something fierce this summer though. He’s got ground to make up.
Colborne’s career stats look like an average season for Draisaitl.
Players are taught (and slowly learn) to not get too low after losses and too high after wins. We, as fans, know no restrictions, but it’s still a good adage for fanning, and for life in general, as difficult as that can be sometimes, because life can truly be a struggle and filled with tragedy.
We have won one game. We won it well and handily, exerting control over the opponent and we should enjoy that feeling. But it’s one game in a series that needs four of them, and as far as series go, we’ve only just come past the quarter pole in this horse race.
Vegas will have a response. That’s a team of proud vets over there and they will dig deeper for the next contest. We have some young players on the Oiler squad. And we have a team known to rest on its laurels at times. We can beat ourselves and typically when we lose, that’s the actual story. So anything can still happen. Oilers still need to see this through.
So enjoy the win, but keep in the back of your minds… we ain’t won shit yet and plenty of hard work lies ahead.
Life/events are never as bad as they seem and never as good as they seem. Good message to stay moderated.
And then there’s those moments that are better than we knew at the time…
I believe there is a word that LT uses often on this blog that well encapsulates this.
Balance
For those who have not seen it, a picture of Kane blowing a kiss to that lady giving him the double bird
https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/13a9on6/evander_kane_blows_kiss_at_vegas_fan/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
That’s awesome, thanks. I think she’s dyslexic. She really meant to give him the double “You’re #1 in my books!”
She gave him the Jagr #1
I said it last night: Holland needs to sign Bouchard long-term this summer. Bridging is going to end poorly. Bouchard’s counting numbers are going to explode after a full season on PP1.
What a delightful player to watch. I might be way off-base, but his skating style and the way he walks the line remind me of a young Duncan Keith.
What AAV are you expecting on this long term deal?
It has to be a bridge. The OIlers have no cap room. The Oilers are built to contend now. Cap will go up in the future. Holland would have to gut the roster to pay him now.
Ekholm, Ceci, Kane, Campbell…lots of cap space should free up in a couple to three years.
I guess. I am just worried about trying to resign Bouchard, McDavid, and Drai within a two year span.
Don’t underestimate that there are a number of players who may delay another year to see how much the cap is going to increase. Can see a bridge for Bouchard or, Kenny may have no choice but to grind him a bit on a 1 year (like he just did for McLeod) in order to fit all the pieces.
I’m worried about winning two cups in the next three years.
Bridging Bouchard also gives one time to find out how much defense he brings. One has to be extremely careful paying for offense only D, regardless of how good their offense is.
I was one of those open to getting Karlsson at the deadline. I also appreciated one poster’s comments (I forgot who) about bridging the gap against the Makar factor if we ever played Colorado in the playoffs. But the way Bouchard is playing and elevating his play in real time, we have our Karlsson or Makar for years to come. Sure, Bouchard doesn’t skate the way they do, but he’s his own person and contributes to our team success all the same.
When I saw the Sportsnet stat that his 8 playoff game point streak is the franchise record ahead of Coffey who had 6 games twice, it blows my mind. Way to go, Evan. Good job to Barrie too after getting dealt for telling Bouchard that he believed in him to run the PP. And stick taps to Ekholm, of course, for steadying Bouchard and freeing him.
It is easy to forget after seeing his grizzed visage and imposing frame, that Bouch is still a kid. To me, the key was in finding him the right partners and mentors as he developed. Keith, Barrie and Ekholm. I could see in so many small ways with each of them that Bouch was soaking it all up lke a sponge oer the past two years. Give him a few years and he might be the one mentoring the next wave. Viva le Bouch!
Took my kids to the Churchill Square viewing party last night and it was a lot of fun. Not that busy, definitely family friendly. There was a ton of police there but I think a lot of them just wanted to watch the game! Go Oilers Go!
On another note, I finally got an athletic sub (only $2 a month!) and enjoying the articles when I have time to reach. Great article on Unger Sorem!
Overall a good write up but a couple of nitpicks.
McDavid did not give the puck away on the goal against. Kostin chipped it up the boards where Stone grabbed it coming in at the blue line. McDavid was 15 ft from the boards and beside Kostin, not on the wall and if Kostin could have chipped it away from the Boards like Leon would have, McDavid’s off to the races. McDavid tracked with Stone who lobbed a Hail Mary pass across the slot batted out of the air by Barbashev. No giveaway or takeaway was recorded by the NHL scorekeepers.
And Nuge was not caught from behind by both defenders on his late rush, only one of them. Whitecloud was beside him at both the blue line and center line, but almost a full step behind him as they crossed Vegas’s blue line. Karlsson, a pretty fast skater, was able to gain a bit more than half step on Nuge from blue line to blue line to be more or less even with him and disrupt the shot.
Oh, there are other nitpicks lol. The opening line for eg, is incorrect…
McDavid deflected Stone’s pass, which is why it was 3.9 feet off the ice when Barbashev whacked it in.
I think normally that McDavid got a piece of the pass, deflecting it is a good thing and the end result is just bad luck (Barbashev’s hand eye coordination taking advantage of a luck bounce). Not sure if your statement meant you thought McDavid was any more or less culpable for the goal.
Hopefully it rains in Alberta
https://twitter.com/BushelsPerAcre/status/1654723406112387072
When’s the last game where we had such a discrepancy of 6 to 3 on PP chances? We are still -4 so far in 8 playoff games with the 2 best players in the league. I would venture to guess Malkin and Crosby or MacKinnon and Makar teams were always on the plus side when it came to Powerplay opportunities.
Derek Ryan did so many little things well last night. Huge brain, makes up for what he lacks in size and he sent the puck in the right direction over and over. When Woodcroft talks about tightening things up on the defensive side of the game, Ryan delivers.
Why we never settled on The Chancellor as a nickname for him, I’ll never know.
It’s a good name but we do not use The Deutschland Dangeler enough anymore
SO many good nicknames for him. But he is rapidly transcending the need for one, and is reaching the territory where all we need s his first name, Like Wayne, Mario, LeBron… you Mention Leon and everyone knows who it is, unequivocably.
Well, some old boxing fans and Curb your Enthusiasm afficionados may have yet to be won over.