Game 1 2023-24: Oilers at Canucks

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

The train is leaving the station for the ninth time. All aboard the McDavid-Draisaitl express, next stop glory! I think this regular season is going to feature some wild arguments in the comments section. Why? The regular season for this Edmonton Oilers team has a great chance of being a success. What comes after is the real thing.

THE ATHLETIC!

• New Lowetide: Why the Oilers’ opening-night roster is short two foundational pieces
• DNB: Why Raphael Lavoie didn’t make the Oilers and other roster questions ahead of regular-season opener
• Lowetide: Oilers’ Brady Stonehouse signing an important indicator for the future
• Lowetide: Why the Oilers’ veteran-laden AHL team offers better depth
• DNB: Jack Campbell has earned the right to start opening night for the Oilers
• Lowetide: Why Mattias Ekholm’s injury situation is a worry for the Oilers
• Lowetide: With Oilers rookies in short supply, expect more from sophomores
• DNB: Five intriguing Edmonton Oilers developments from the preseason
• Lowetide: Do the Edmonton Oilers have a blockbuster trade in their future?
• DNB: Oilers release Brandon Sutter from tryout offer
• Lowetide: Oilers reaching critical pressure point with prospect Raphael Lavoie
• DNB: A third Edmonton Oilers tenure, no matter the odds, is Sam Gagner’s goal
• Lowetide: Should the Edmonton Oilers alter how Connor McDavid is deployed?
• DNB: Oilers, Flames unveil Heritage Classic jerseys: How do we rate them?
• DNB: Vincent Desharnais Q&A

WHAT TO EXPECT IN OCTOBER

• On the road to: VAN (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• At home to: VAN (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• On the road to: NAS, PHIL (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• At home to: WPG (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• On the road to: MIN (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• At home to: NYR, CAL (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• Overall expected result: 6-2-0, 12 points in 8 games
• Actual October results: 0-0-0, 0 points in 0 game
• Oilers in 2023-24: 0-0-0, 0 points in 0 game

I think it’s possible the Oilers run hotter than 6-2-0 but there are some things (more in a moment). The top end talent is going to (once again) float all the boats in Christendom. I think 6-2-0 is right, if it’s 5-3-0 no one should be torn asunder.

OBSERVATIONS

During preseason the McDavid line (with Evander Kane and Connor Brown) was fire. In 30 minutes together five-on-five, they were 4-0 goals and 73 percent expected goals. I think Connor Brown is exactly what this line needs, but also think Connor Brown is what the Draisaitl line needs. His line (with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman) is just 1-1 goals in 30 minutes with a 48 percent expected goal share. Leon often sits under 50 percent in the possession metrics, but one goal is low for his line. I think we might see a shuffle.

Pairings are likely to be all over hell’s half acre. Darnell Nurse and Evan Bouchard played a ton together at five-on-five in the preseason (76 minutes), finished 3-4 goals and 48 percent expected goals. Philip Broberg with Cody Ceci spent 27 minutes together, 1-0 goals and 65 percent expected goals five-on-five. Suspect they run:

• Kane-McDavid-Brown
• Nuge-Draisaitl-Hyman
• Holloway-McLeod-Foegele
• Janmark, Ryan
• Nurse-Bouchard
• Broberg-Ceci
• Kulak-Desharnais
• Ekholm
• Campbell (Skinner)

My feeling is we’ll see all kinds of combinations tonight with Ekholm the key. Campbell should be the starter on merit, but running Skinner on the road and giving Campbell the home start also works.

MEMORIES

I remember it like yesterday. Saturdays in fall and winter. Sometimes we would spend the day raking leaves, placing them in barrels, and burning them. It remains one of my favourite aromas although you rarely encounter it now. Back in Maidstone, or more accurately the old McLaren school 17 miles north of Maidstone, my brother and I would fashion a rink on the driveway. Ski-doo boots, warm jacket, mittens, sticks and a rubber bouncy puck or ball. The nets were two saw horses we stole from Dad, the goalie at each end two 10-gallon buckets. You had little room high, and could drill the pick through the buckets but had to be my brother (four years older and stronger by a country mile) to do it. I remember breathing in the cool fall air, watching the sun go down and the outside light come on, and waiting for Mom to call supper.

Years went by, my brother placed his stick in the shed and left for women, cars, demon liquor and the world that awaited him. Alone, I kept up the game, one sawhorse now, I could be the Bruins all the time. Not the same. I remember missing him terribly those years between his growing up and mine. He’d bring A&W root beer home in a big jug and we’d talk about his adventures (man, he liked women). Eventually, I too put my stick in the shed and made my way into the world, finding my place in the sun.

I think about that plot of land often. You drive to the Allan Store 17 miles north, turn left and we’re right by the first road crossing two miles down the road. Dad and Mom, my brother and me haven’t been on that spot for 50 years, but those nets and those dreams remain with me. They are stronger when the hockey season arrives.

I think I’ll drive to Maidstone someday soon.

A fun show on Sports 1440 today, noon-2pm. We’ll be joined by my friend Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal. He’ll give us his expert preview on the season’s lid lifter and I plan to dig into that giant memory bank for Oilers openers in years gone by. Harman Dayal from The Athletic will join us to talk about the Canucks offseason and expectations for the season to come. You can reach me in the comments section, @Lowetide on twitter, or text us 1.833.401.1440 directly.