This is Remembrance Day. It is a day we remember those who fought for our way of life. Those who sacrificed willingly the life we hold so dear in order to allow each of us to pursue individual happiness unfettered and free. It’s the ultimate sacrifice, it gives me chills every year to think of young men and women who did not come home, who did not raise families, who did not enjoy the life destined for them. If you are a veteran, or serve the community in any capacity that allows us to live our lives in Canada, I thank you. Sincerely. You are the best of us.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Are the Oilers suddenly able to develop their own goalies?
- Lowetide: Do the Edmonton Oilers have enough value contracts this season?
- DNB: Edmonton Oilers’ crisis shifts to embarrassment after loss to the Sharks
- Lowetide: What if the Edmonton Oilers end up in the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery?
- Lowetide: 6 ways the Edmonton Oilers can improve in November
- Lowetide: Oilers already leaning on a push from the AHL. Who could be next?
- Lowetide: Can Connor McDavid come from behind to win another Art Ross Trophy?
- Lowetide: Will Edmonton Oilers redeem themselves after baffling October?
- Lowetide: Can the Edmonton Oilers make room for Raphael Lavoie?
- DNB: Oilers rewarded for their season’s most complete game in Heritage Classic win
- Lowetide: Oilers top prospect Xavier Bourgault is spiking in an important area
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers’ injuries already a major story in 2023-24
- Lowetide: Can the Oilers count on any short-term help from AHL Bakersfield?
- Lowetide: Can defenceman Noel Hoefenmayer help the Oilers?
- DNB: Connor McDavid’s injury only adds to gloom for Oilers
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers’ third line showing promise but not scoring yet
- DNB: Oilers, in early-season disarray, left searching for answers: ‘It’s just unacceptable’
WHAT TO EXPECT IN NOVEMBER
- At home to: DAL, NAS (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-2-0)
- On the road to: VAN, SJS, SEA (Expected 1-1-1) (Actual 0-2-0)
- At home to: NYI, SEA (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: TBY, FLA, CAR, WAS (Expected 1-3-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: ANA, VEG (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: WPG (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 7-6-1, 15 points in 14 games
- Actual November results: 0-4-0, 0 points in 4 games
- Oilers in 2023-24: 2-9-1, 5 points in 12 games
The Oilers are in Seattle to play the Kraken tonight, before returning home to the Islanders and then Seattle again. In media, you have levels of alert on possible events, and without saying anything at all media will be looking for any changes in behaviour. Did Jay Woodcroft handle practice? Were the lines and pairings the same?
It’s not a fun job following a struggling team, but it’s important work. Fans want to know what is going on. I saw an exhange yesterday between a reporter and player and you could see just how difficult it is for these men to watch their season bleed out. I encourage you to have empathy for players, coaches and reporters at this time. Each of them has a difficult job to do.
As for the team, I’m going to be watching the kids. If the Oilers rip off five wins in a row we can start talking about the playoff race again, but I don’t think that’s realistic at this time.
So, for me I’d like to see Dylan Holloway build on his game against the Sharks. I’d like to see Ryan McLeod get more time to establish himself in a feature role. I’d love to see those two players find some offensive success tonight. Sometimes a player can catch fire with the smallest spark.
The Bakersfield Condors play in Abbotsford tonight. That will be an interesting game to me. A player like Xavier Bourgault has a chance to build on his solid start, hope to see him post some crooked numbers this evening.
Hoooeee, Woody shutting down Spec again. Big long winded question. Woody’s response… “yes” turns away, anyone else?? lol
I look forward to seeing Woodcroft’s post game interview. But I still think he’s gone along with Manson and the GM needs replacing sooner rather than later.
Woody did not like Spec’s article calling for the coach’s firing.
Skinner made the saves tonight. I fell asleep on the couch for most of it. Nice to finally get a win. Looked like Seattle were coming hard in the third, I suspect they didn’t show up for the first two periods. But Oilers sure miss a guy like Klim Kostin. Great game for Dylan Holloway.
for the first game in forever they blocked the cross seam passes, for which it feels Skinner has gone 0/22 on the resulting shots.
zero shots on goal in 3rd means the boys didn’t care about more points just the win.
For the start of the 3rd, I had hope beyond hope that Woody would split up Connor & Leon, we all know he didn’t. Honestly, I don’t get it.
Oh well, got the win… almost forgot how good it feels. Islanders next – gotta keep it going (more hope…fingers crossed). Cheering for our dept of youth, liked Holloway’s game today; time to play far more physical.
GO OILERS!!!
They got the saves they needed from the goalie. Overall, they did a better job of backchecking and keeping Seattle from getting some dangerous shots, but in the 3rd, Skinner was needed and came up with some nice stops.
A win. Seems like forever since we’ve had one.
Good game Skinner, you and the team needed that.
So…goaltending. Am I right?
4 goal periods actually. 18 SA doesn’t hurt either.
and some hard working goals… and hard working in our zone
That about sums it all up hard work, something there hasn’t been enough of so far this season and of course no glaring mistakes so the goaltender held the fort like he needs to do.
Knowing what time the game starts, and taking care of business in the first period was the story of this game. Much easier to play the game from ahead than behind. They need to bring this every night.
Yes. + . Oil protected the house.
Even though the score and shots weren’t that close. Skinner played a really strong game tonight with a few massive saves- one early on and a few key ones with momentum swinging Seattle’s way.
The save off Larsson at 4-1 and the Kraken pressing was huge
Skinner was great
Imagine – out Goalie the competition and a win.
Ask the Canucks how that works
Whew…
Nice win
Now let’s do it another 45 times
Hopefully this was Holloway’s coming out party – goal, fight, 3 penalties, he was all over the ice
29 has to grow up. Look at the scoreboard. Does not matter that you have 0 points this game
Did he say he was mad he did not get any points?
For the life of me, I cannot figure out how a team with designs on playing a fast game chooses Vinny Desharnais to play above Broberg?? Can anyone enlighten me on what I might be missing given I haven’t watched more than 2 games this year? He is so slow to move the puck that often it ends up directly in the other team’s hands coming back to our zone by the time he makes a decision to move it. Likeable guy to be sure. Big, yes. But not playing to our strengths, imo.
Egregious mistakes by Bro
He made exactly one of those.
One that stands out in memory. I’m guessing Woody thinks there are a few more on the lesser end of the scale.
For the record, I prefer Bro over Vinny
Would lesser negate the ability to use the team “egregious”?
Of course, there are a higher quantity of “lesser mistakes” but he’s not alone there and certainty Vinny makes his fair share.
Has some to do with the overall D makeup. D are mostly soft so Vinny offsets that a bit although his nastiness hasn’t been as frequent as last season. Kenny needs to fleece someone for a real top 4 D to make Vinny and Bro 7D
The team struggles with confidence. Broberg struggled, made some mistakes, was penalized by the coach which shot his confidence. He was mostly invisible, quiet, but his numbers were ok and he’ll be back.
Desharnais is older, big personality, big guy. Opposition hates his elbows and smothering coverage. Long stick, active, plays his role well. Passing not his strength but he is helping right now as he brings something that is lacking.
Fair enough but why does our team have such a confidence issue? Something doesn’t compute. For me, I feel like the coach trusts a few top guys, sometimes blindly, despite egregious errors of their own. Young players don’t get any rope, and very limited ice time. You cannot win without 4 lines that contribute, and young guys coming up. 21 minutes for McDavid and Drai tonight and they were not great. Plus we were up 4-0 early. Why not spread the ice time out a little and build the confidence of the team.
Ebs and burakosvky out and that’s it hey. Kraken aren’t a playoff team. Played over their heads last season
Geez Ryan seems to take a beating every game.
Time to send Lavoie back to the Condors – I mean, if the coach can’t find even four minutes for him when the team has been up 3 or 4 goals since the first period, what are we doing here?
might as well just send him for some popcorn
Instead of worrying about an emergency recall why not celebrate Holloway’s coming out party?
There is nobody on the team currently on an emergency recall.
Feel free to post about aspects of the game you choose and I will feel free to do the same
Personally, I’m sure I understand why both McDavid and Drai needed to play over 20 minutes each and Lavoie 4 minutes on the last game of a road trip where the team had a 3 or 4 goal lead for the last 43 minutes.
Keep Lavoie and send the coach to the AHL.
29 late on one timers all year resulting in short side misses. Getting it outfront all the time.
Wow McDrai is off tonight.
Ref stares right at Dunn feeding Holloway multiple crosschecks. Game management at its finest.
That hit by Dunn was 10 times more dangerous than Holloways, then he crosschecks him 3 times….
Dunn deserved more than just a major there. game management got in the way of proper reffing
Why hasn’t anyone rearranged Vince Dunn’s face yet?
He plays that BS stick-high cheap shot game all the time.
First it a run with hope to injure. Then cross checks, then continue the fight when down. Yeah, he needs a thump. Won’t be long before Holloway is the one taking a few fights.
What a hammer by Holloway. He’s been everywhere. Hardest skating, checking, hitting player on the ice.
Dun wants to take a run at the kid, of course they do, he’s been a major shit disturber.
Nurse should step in here and I think he will
Kane’s your man. He breaks faces.
Somebody needs to go back after Dunn once he’s out of the box. Late, head hunting hit on Holloway
Dunn should have got an extra two there.
3 free cross checks and a late hit. Classic game management nhl officials
Good spirit Dylan , oilers need more of that
Dunn should be ejected for that
Not ejected, but yeah.
Can’t rain punches on a player defenseless on the ice. Nearly always an ejection.
I’m glad they keep playing Holloway even though he has taken 3 penalities
Kind of like Holloway playing with a burr in his saddle.
that was from the kick not holloway
That’s not a penalty
Louie needs to stop talking he’s wrong that wasn’t a penalty my goodness
If I’m the Oilers in the second intermission I’m saying no more goals guys just get Skinner the shutout.
Good idea ????
Avs lose 8-2 to Blues
Even Goal Differential this season..
Byram with his second dash 3 in four games.
Weakest forward depth among playoffs teams IMO. Starting to show now.
Think the refs knew they made a mistake on the first call
Hyman with a nice stick to prevent Yam fry close in front
Yea seems like a much better commitment to playing D tonight.
Been missing that most games
Like seriously, Woody is not playing the 4th line?
I know its an offensive zone draw but you just cycled through three lines and then went back to the 1st line?
Play. Your. Bench.
Yah I don’t get it. Kraken are not a threat tonight. Mix the kids in here and there
Very strange. Once in a while he throws a bone
Just curious. Any opinions on who might be the best D on the Condors? (besides Broberg) I thought Gleason looked pretty decent in the preseason.
Gleason has been good – he’s been healthy scratched tonight due to too many veterans.
Vinny with three giveaways on that shift…
Ok woody, Cracken are shite tonight. Time to mix in the young fellas a bit more here. Lavoie with 3 shifts so far
Woody’s trying to save his job. He’s not going to hold nothing back. The forth line will get their garbage time minutes in the third.
I get that but this is the worst lineup they’ve faced all year by far. Eventually you’re going to need some of these bottom 6 guys. There’s a way to mix them in.
D ice time looks ok. Forwards are off
Almost 30 minutes gone and Kraken only have 6 shots??? Got to like that.
holloway robbed
Thank Gord the dam has burst. As this is only the second game I have watched, I am very surprised at the level of non-factor that Mcdavid and Drai are at right now. It is definitely worrying..
When the Spell is broken Broken by Richard Thompson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dk2G0yCvR8
Just 40 solid minutes, please.
Woodcroft’s burn on Spector was posted, but did folks watch the rest of the presser today? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaq2cE5tRDo)
That was some good coaching IMO, and maybe added a little swagger to the group today.
(I really liked ‘Cheer up Gene’ to start things off, might just be me).
Just watched it. Given the context, that was an extremely impressive presser. He didn’t look like a beaten man. I also like what he’s doing (or not doing?) with his hair. Keep the coach!
Thought it was a very mature presser for a guy early in his career on the hottest seat in the league.
I truly hope they keep Woody
I like Yamo, I just hope he doesn’t score on us.
Hyman is a fantastic hockey player.
Terrific person too.
This was the kind of period that the Oilers should be capable of always with the talent they have.
Always seems like they need to have their backs to the wall to play this way though.
4 goals and no points for McDavid or Draisaitl – not sure if I love or hate that….
And they’re the leading Fwd’s for TOI. Go figure.
Any idea why they are back on the same line again?
Love.
Larsson with a tough period. Many also in photos
Not a pretty goal among the 4 and I’m here for it.
Not to take credit for the plethora of goals but… the only other game I’ve been able to watch is the Heritage Classic. Just saying..
I approve of that period!
Thank Gord. I don’t think I could have handled another 2 goal game from this squad… Fill the nets, boys. Send a message that we are back. No coasting – cry havok and let loose the dogs of hockey…
I come back from the Bombers game to this? A Winnipeg Oilers fan can only dream.
That was a beauty win by my Bombers!
As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way
-Frank Costanza
Happy for Dylan