Since 1979, the Edmonton Oilers have procured some of the greatest players in the game’s history and deployed them in the great white north. The expectation for the McDavid-era Oilers is a Stanley (or more) and this season has promise. There are always moments along the way that offer both challenge and opportunity.
Tonight is a game for greatness to rise and shine. The series versus the VGK has never been in Edmonton’s control and tonight it could spiral out of control. Hurry game time, hurry opportunity and hurry midnight. Nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight. Got to kick at the darkness ’til it bleeds daylight.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: What’s the key to Oilers having more success at 5-on-5?
- New DNB: Oilers’ losses inevitably put a spotlight on Cody Ceci
- DNB: Why Oilers stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are better off apart vs. the Golden Knights
- Lowetide: The Edmonton Oilers’ 6 biggest playoff surprises so far
- 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
TONIGHT
We’ll see the best Edmonton has to offer tonight, this is a massive game for the home team. Win and it’s back to Vegas and a sprint to the finish. That’s the theme for today. Vegas has the edge (9-4) in five-on-five scoring through the three playoff games, but during the regular season Edmonton enjoyed a 12-10 advantage. Oilers have to tighten up.
During the regular season, Stuart Skinner owned a 2-0-1 record versus the VGK, with an .878 SP. Adin Hill was 0-0-1 with an .826 SP in the regular season. The goaltending should be a story tomorrow morning. I think we’ll see new lines tonight, although not as provocative as one might hope. Much of the alignment of the forwards will depend on the health of wingers Zach Hyman and Mattias Janmark.
I see the main pressure points for tonight’s game as the first 10 minutes (Edmonton will come storming out of the gate) and the final five minutes (someone will be behind, and one team could be desperate).
I could write 10,000 words on this page this morning, but the truth can be expressed in one sentence. Truly great players, the majestic ones, climb Everest and bury their flag. Sometimes it happens age 23 years, four months and 23 days (Wayne Gretzky). Sometimes it happens age 35 years, 5 months and 25 days (Lionel Messi). Whenever it comes for Connor McDavid, it will be right and just. Whenever it happens for Leon Draisaitl, it will be richtig und gerecht.
TAKING STOCK
The playoffs are a great way for teams to evaluate young talent. The veterans have a role and either meet expectations, lose ground or get injured. None of those things (for the veterans) change the role of individual players, although some events confirm roster shortcomings. Here’s a quick look at each position and what may come in summer.
- Goalies: Stuart Skinner is the established starter now, his .926 save percentage five-on-five during the regular season good enough for No. 11 among NHL teams. Jack Campbell gets a second year to show what he can do, but begins and probably ends the year as Edmonton’s backup. A quick note on Olivier Rodrigue. Don’t discount the possibility that Edmonton could run a homegrown tandem in 2024-25. It has happened twice in team history (Fuhr-Moog, Dubnyk-Deslauriers) and would be an economical solution to a vital position.
- Left Defense: Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse and Brett Kulak are a veteran crew and delivered strong outscoring at five-on-five during the regular season. Ekholm (31-10, 76 percent) was scintillating at five-on-five goal share, while Nurse (73-67, 52 percent) delivered quality and played huge mintues against elites. Brett Kulak (56-52, 52 percent) gave the team three veteran defenders who could contribute quality to a pairing. That leaves Philip Broberg as the odd man out (29-26, 53 percent) at this point. His playoff deployment by the coaching staff has been stingy and that may be a tell about where the club believes Broberg lands next season on the depth chart. At this point, one could argue Broberg may spend another season as a swing man (No. 7) with Edmonton.
- Right Defense: Cody Ceci has struggled in the regular season (55-58, 49 percent) under the weight of the top pairing, and has continued (5-7, 42 percent). Ceci’s contract is a reasonable one, but Edmonton will need that money to find a suitable replacement for him on the Nurse pairing. A Kulak-Ceci third pair would be championship quality, but Nurse needs a more substantial partner. There are few legit alternatives in free agency, so a trade (not Ken Holland’s preference) may be in the offing. Evan Bouchard (66-57, 54 percent) had his breakout year in 2022-23, and should be considered a strong member of this team’s top-four defense moving forward. Vincent Desharnais (20-12, 63 percent) saw the clock strike midnight in the playoffs, and his status for 2023-24 is best described as uncertain.
- Center: Connor McDavid (75-62, 55 percent five-on-five during the regular season) tripped the light fantastic in all areas during 2022-23 and more should be expected next season. Leon Draisaitl (74-70, 51 percent) was fire in the regular season and then doubled down in the playoffs. Whatever the gap between the two in terms of contribution to wins, the glimmer twins are an essential package for Edmonton. Ryan McLeod (27-26, 51 percent) grew as a player during the season and has centered a strong No. 3 line in the postseason. Edmonton’s center position is the strongest position in the league, and McLeod is a bona fide contributor. Nick Bjugstad (10-6, 63 percent) was impressive in the regular season after the trade deadline, but has faded in the postseason. I doubt he will be signed. Edmonton needs a RH center and Noah Philp’s impressive debut season with the Bakersfield Condors puts him in a strong position to claim the No. 4 spot in preseason.
- Left Wing: Evander Kane (26-32, 45 percent) had a difficult season but he brings plenty to the table. He must recover his scoring touch for the contract to be justified. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins just had his career season (63-50, 56 percent) so expecting 100 points again is an impossible dream. That said, if he stays on the wing, he should be able to contribute to an outscoring line. Warren Foegele (35-29, 55 percent) established himself as a fine third-line winger this season and is following up with a strong playoff run. He may not bring enough offense to stay, but has more utility and size than others in a similar situation. Dylan Holloway (17-17, 50 percent) showed well enough to earn full-time employment in 2023-24 and it’s reasonable to expect he will play a utility role involving all four lines. Raphael Lavoie is NHL-ready and there isn’t much room on left wing, it’s one of the uncertainties of this summer’s team. Also included in the chaos will be Mattias Janmark’s possible return. He has added an important veteran presence to the group. Carter Savoie didn’t get enough accomplished this winter, but he’s a talent and worth mentioning here as a possible contributor in 2023-24.
- Right Wing: Zach Hyman (79-65, 55 percent) had a terrific season and contributed to outscoring by keeping the puck miles from danger. His status as a top-six winger is as secure as anyone on the roster. Kailer Yamamoto (40-30, 57 percent) saw his boxcars dive but his scoring rates and outscoring at five-on-five stayed in the range of normal. The big issue for KY is his scoring at five-on-five (1.53 pts-60) doesn’t justify a top-six role and the cap hit ($3.1 million) is too rich for too little return. He is vulnerable to trade this summer. Klim Kostin (28-18, 61 percent) will be on this team and has a chance to move up the depth chart. All of his arrows are pointing in a good direction: Size, skill, speed, cat hit, truculence. I can see him playing on the second, third or fourth lines next year. Derek Ryan is UFA but an important part of the team, I expect he’ll get an offer but he will have value on the open market this summer. Xavier Bourgault and Tyler Tullio are worthy of mention, and could see NHL action later in 2023-24.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
At 10 this morning, and over four hours, we’ll set the stage for a huge game in Rogers. Guests will include Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal, Chris Johnston (TSN Insider) and Tom Gazzola as we set up a greatly anticipated game. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!
Pietrangelo should be suspended for an intentional act to injure, He would be charged with battery in a court of law. He used a weapon. This is outside the norm of consent
Shades of Bertuzzi and Steve Moore.
Also of note, that game was awesome.
We also got to find out Urkel is an Oiler fan, and a pretty knowledgeable one at that.
Should not be instigator. Purely based on action: Nurse comes into the corner coasting, pokes at the puck but continues through toward Hague whose with Foegle. Before Nurse extends to engage Hague, Hague throws a one-armer into Nurse which doesn’t mean he wants to fight at that point necessarily but it takes him completely away from Foegle, at which point they drop the gloves rather simultaneously. Should not have been the call on the ice and should not result in a suspension.
Pietrangelo’s slash was vicious and obviously an attempt to injure and should be multiple games. It may not shake out that way however if they use the Makar play as a yardstick as McCann actually was injured and they gave Makar 1 game based largely off that.
With Friedman almost instantaneously encouraging the NHL to take both for a game I wouldn’t doubt it. I worry about that because Nurse was a beast in Game 4 and the Oilers roll when he’s like that. Not chasing people, in position facing the play, hard clearing in front, battling in the corners. Nothing stupid with the puck. That game was the nine million dollar doctor. More Please! (Especially in Game 5 I hope.)
Brilliant were both Captain and Coach after the game. Captain for putting the NHL on notice, and Coach for laying out the clear evidence both for (AP) and against (DN) suspensions.
On you NHL. No clue but I wouldn’t bet on favourable.
I think it should be Piet – 2 games, nurse – 1 game.
I think it will be Piet – 1 game, nurse – 1 game.
Pretty silly by nurse, all he needed to do was engage with Hague before dropping the gloves.
Initial suspension thoughts:
1 game for Nurse, the instigator rule is very clear and Nurse went after Hague after the stuff that had happened a few minutes earlier in the Oilers end.
3 games for Pietrangelo. Was not a hockey play, happened away from the play and he made a targeted attack, by skating towards Leon to do so. It was clearly an overhead 2-handed attempt to injure. No place in the game for that nonsense.
Anything less will confirm for me that the NHL does not care about it’s star players, it’s rules or protecting it’s players. I think 3 games is low, but since Leon was hit in the head, they will justify a low number (it should be 10 games, IMO), since he wasn’t injured or his head targeted/contacted. Which is crap, it should be about the action and the intent.
https://cms.nhl.bamgrid.com/images/assets/binary/326142322/binary-file/file.pdf
“Fines and Suspensions – Instigator in Final Five Minutes of Regulation Time (or Anytime in Overtime) – A player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at anytime in overtime (see 46.12), shall be suspended for one game, pending a review of the incident. When the one-game suspension is imposed, the Coach shall be fined $10,000 – a fine that will double for each subsequent incident. The suspension shall be served unless, upon review of the incident, the Director of Hockey Operations, at his discretion, deems the incident is not related to the score, previous incidents in the game or prior games, retaliatory in nature, “message sending”, etc. The length of suspension will double for each subsequent offense. This suspension shall be served in addition to any other automatic suspensions a player may incur for an accumulation of three or more instigator penalties.
No team appeals will be permitted either verbally or in writing regarding the assessment of this automatic suspension as all incidents are reviewed by the Director of Hockey Operations as outlined above”
So not sure if the team can appeal the instigator penalty. It may all hinge on what the relevance of the incident was deemed to be. In which case, the language of this statement would not favour Nurse, given the previous incidents in this game. It’s clearly a bullshit rule
Nice clean 2 handed overhead slash on Drai according to Craig Button on TSN, Pietrangelo didn’t even make contact with Leon’s head! Or else he’d be outta there according to this national hockey expert. Even making a joke about whether Pietrangelo will have to pay tax on his upcoming fine.
Clown shoe league run by and covered by clowns. Unless someone goes to the hospital = who cares should be the new league motto.
I wonder if they make clown skates? 🤪🤪
Watch the fight and use the rules that define an instigator as a player who, by their demeanour or physical or verbal actions, is responsible for starting or causing a fight based on any one or more of the following criteria:
1.Throwing or attempting to throw the first punch, thus forcing their opponent to defend themselves by engaging in an otherwise undesired fight.
Not applicable – Hague throws the first 9 punches
2.Verbal invitation, instigation or threat, thus forcing their opponent to defend themselves by engaging in an otherwise undesired fight.
None seen – Nurse and Hague don’t look at each other until the gloves are off
3. First player to remove gloves and throw a punch without their opponent’s compliance.
Both looked pretty compliant, gloves off pretty much at the same time (but Hague’s glove hits the ice first) and Hague throws first 9 punches
4.Distance traveled to an altercation or travel to an altercation for the purpose of starting a fight
Nurse is a dman who went into the corner – applicable
5.Attempting to throw, throwing or continuing to throw punches at an opponent who has physically or verbally expressed an unwillingness to fight.
Not applicable
6.Attempting to throw, throwing or continuing to throw punches at an opponent who is in a defenseless position.
Not applicable
7. Aggressive attitude or posture towards an opponent, forcing their opponent to defend themselves by engaging in an undesired fight.
Not applicable – Nurse never looks at him until the gloves are off
8.Retaliation for a legal or illegal action, thus forcing their opponent to defend themselves by engaging in an otherwise undesired fight.
Hague looks more than willing
I think Nurse got the penalty solely because of distance travelled (and game management). Hague was a more than willing participant, dropped his gloves first (barely) and clearly threw the first 9 punches. It’s a joke if he’s suspended but it would not surprise me.
Was also reading that game misconducts in last 10 mins of a game are automatic suspensions. But I only have Hockey Canada/USA references for that.
That would automatically give Pietrangelo the suspension
I just got back from the game — my first time attending a Oiler play-off game in my 47 years — and it was an absolute blast.
But the absolute garbage play of the Knights at the end of the game — the slash on Leon in particular — is infuriating. If the NHL values protecting their stars from non-hockey plays clearly intending to injure they’ll suspend Pietrangelo for the next game and fine the Vegas coach for condoning it.
This seems unlikely.
And colour me shocked that our lump of organic material of a colour commentator minimized it. DeBrusk has no business in such a high-profile role — he’s an uncurious tool incapable of adding anything of value to the broadcast.
I love Woody’s interviews. As the son of two lawyers, I feel I can say he answered the question about the Pietrangelo slash exactly like a good lawyer would. It was so good and tactful I laughed out loud.
Only in this shit towne bush league joke of a sport would anyone equate Pietrangelo slash to Nurse “instigator” penalty.
One is premeditated intent to injure one of the best players in the world, the other is reacting to that villainy.
The league is a big fat joke.
Anything involving a suspension to Nurse is laughable but somehow getting anybody to “both sides” this to equal out the suspensions is a big fucking great argument for dropping the bomb.
Why should I waste anymore time or money on foolishness?
Yeah. And if each of these actions gets equal punishment it will be one of the most ‘because Oilers’ moments in history. And that’s saying something. Ridiculous.
Nurse instigator automatic game with review. Spirit of the rule is to stop brawls. Nurse and Hague were going at it for two games. Probably rescinded. But it’s the NHL so probably who knows
Woody on Petro:
only thing I’ll say is that is not a hockey play and people other than me are responsible to look at it.
Woody on Nurse:
Vegas 14 dropped gloves first and got in the first 8 punches.
So yeah Big opp for NHL to disgrace itself.
If nurse gets 1, Pietrangelo should get 2
Instigator can be reaction coming to defense of teammate
Or it can be message sending.
The reason to review final 5 min instigator is to deter the latter
Normally Nurse’s auto would be dropped on review
But NHL could use this to ease the pain on Vegas if they suspend Petro. That would be straight up series management
Rob Brown thinks they rescind Nurse because he allows Hague to drop and throw first and only punches in response.
Normally Brown is right. But Friedman says he’s hearing from some who wonder if this gives the NHL the easy way out of suspending both.
Yeah.Same train
The ridiculous part of these calls is if the refs don’t call an instigator on Nurse, nobody in the world aside from the most diehard VGK fans ever even mention a word about it. You make the call and everyone is talking about it and not favourably either. Refs in this league do themselves absolutely zero freakin’ favours.
NHL has an opportunity here to look both tough and fair, and I think they seize the opportunity and suspend both players for one game.
Which in my opinion favours the Knights as they have Hutton they can insert, an older, safer player than Broberg. They won’t have two rookies on the backend. We get a little of this back in that they’re losing a rightie.
We lost Nurse last year for a do-or-die game 6, and survived, and we have a Viking warrior instead of the fading Scottish prince, but I would prefer the League decides not to impact the series and suspend neither.
And by suspending Nurse I mean I think they won’t rescind
An intent to injure stick swing and a fight late in a game are in no way equal. Not even close.
What does that have to do with my point?
Playing Kulak more would help cover some of Nurse’s minutes, and Kulak/Broberg > Hutton, no? Also, Pietrangelo > Nurse
Two plays to review.
NHL faced with another test history would indicate it is ill equipped to handle.
Relax, the NHL is hanging up the dart board as we speak.
Refs again trying to make it about themselves. Nurse shouldn’t have put himself into that position. But calling an instigator there is obviously trying to impact the next game. They dropped the gloves simultaneously and Hague threw the first punch
Nurse absolutely did the right thing. Hague was after Foegele.
technically it was more third-man-in than instigating. Except no one was fighting till Hague threw down.
You can avoid that by giving Nurse 2 for unsportsmanlike conduct, since he’s coming into the scrum to try to get Hague to take a penalty.
Those referees thoroughly lost control of that game. It’s a tired old tactic of the team getting pumped to try to get under the skin of the winning team. How do you deal with it? Penalize them early and often for chippy bullshit. Instead, they let it boil over.
Game management… except when you actually need to. Bush league.
Refs need to manage play. Not the game, not the series, not nuthin else.
What peterangelo did was no different than what Makar did. Both way after the play and both intent to injure
McDavid trying to keep his cool.
~ Fine for Petro
Suspension for Nurse
3rd for Calgary ~
This is a very ‘Because Oilers’ course of action, unfortunately.
If Nurse is suspended next game they have to suspend peitrangelo for the slash
What did nurse do?
edit: oh, the instigator. I don’t know. Wasn’t that a mutually agreed upon tussle ?
Instigator penalty in the last 5 minutes
They should have zero to do with one another.
That they are is a deep flaw in this league.
Did Nurse just get himself suspended? Instigator in the last five minutes seems to be an automatic suspension.
Upon review the league could rescind it
Freidge says the Nurse instigator penalty at the end in the last 5 min of the third is an automatic 1 game suspension. It can be reviewed though.
Review usually looking for the kind of message sending that losing players pull
That looks more like a reaction and he went after a big man more than willing to fight
So Nurse is looking at an automatic one game suspension for his instigator penalty according to Friedman…..pending a review
Does Nurse get a suspension for the instigator or just a fine? It will get reviewed by DOPS.
Since it happened in the last 5 minutes of a game it gets automatically reviewed by player safety. Could be a suspension. Shouldn’t be, but could be.
It’d totally be like the NHL to suspend Nurse for 1 game and just fine Pietro.
Ok, Stauffer saying no suspension on the postgame, then he just quoted Elliott Friedman who says it’s an automatic one game that can be overturned on review.
Would be just ridiculous if they suspend Nurse for fighting guy who was asking to fight all game.
If he does they better suspend The Slasher as well.
Going to be lots of ice bags in the room tonight! That was a very, very physical game tonight. Don’t see that much anymore. Entertaining!
I laughed when Nurse started blowing kisses to Whitecloud as they were escorted from the fray. Love that cocky sonofagun.
Great game by Skinner. He’d be my 1st star, though lots of company tonight.
Kinda disappointed we didn’t win 5-1
I have spoken.
Quality game. Even at 2.
Doesn’t look like anyone (Oilers at least) got hurt.
Hope Leon is ok there. I hope that just got pad…
looked he mouthed “don’t even hurt” to the VGK bench as he was skating off.
If there was any way to reasonably do it, I’d be dressing the human heat seeking missile, move him up to forward and give him 1 job.
Markus – destroy.
Vegas a lot prouder team than last year’s second round opponents.
ha.
What a great throwback style game. I’d guess that Piet gets fined but not suspended for that play. That is blatant intent to injure on one of the games stars though. If the NHL values their star players – that should be a 1 game suspension.
At least 1game but this is the NHL so who knows.
What a bunch of cheap hacks
I called it. They would goon it up.
Clowns.
I don’t know if it’s to their advantage though. The oilers can hang with them in that game all night.
Someone needs to punch back with Hill, who is taking cowardly liberties
Don’t see too many fights like that anymore
Doctor in the House? 🙂
what a fight. Great uppercut by Nurse
Don’t get hurt Darnell
Nurse bloodied him
Atta boy Nurse!!
Nurse goes after a 6/6″ guy and hangs in with him
I never forget that time dropped em w Looch.
And cut him.
Is this not the best series in the NHL right now?
Pure physical aggressive high scoring hockey.
Oilers with the FAFO crew on the ice – and here we go
That’s a real bitch move by Pietrangelo
Debrusk is absolutely terrible
he’s the worst now.
Why are you acting like he said it was okay? He offered his perspective on why Pietrangelo would do that, he didn’t say that made it okay.
He minimized it. That wasn’t his take. He knows exactly what that crap was. He’d have beaten the living shit out of someone for that.
Fair enough
I thought he was going to break his brain during those mental gymnastics…so disappointing.
Can you break something that small?