The Edmonton Oilers have a small window of opportunity right now. A two-game winning streak could turn into three with a victory over the Seattle Kraken. It is followed by a tough road trip where all hands need to be on deck. Dylan Holloway is probably headed for LTIR, and the organization would be wise to send Mattias Janmark there, too. What could that mean? At least two recalls. I will suggest the priority should be Philip Broberg.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers forward Dylan Holloway’s injury highlights concern over offensive potential
- Lowetide: What Oilers management must reckon with in roster construction
- DNB: Edmonton Oilers’ transition of power happening in real-time and the stakes couldn’t be higher
- 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 1-2-0)
- At home to: NYI, SEA (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- 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: 2-4-0, 4 points in 6 games
- Oilers in 2023-24: 4-9-1, 9 points in 14 games
This remains a mess, but if the Oilers can win five of the last eight (tall order), then walking away from November with 14 points (7-7-0) should be considered a victory. A win tonight, against Washington and one of the southern teams is vital.
PHILIP BROBERG
The Oilers have a unique opportunity to reset the roster today. By LTIRing both Holloway and Janmark, the team could run this lineup tonight and on the road:
This is 22 men, with $88,000 left on the cap. I chose Philip Broberg and Raphael Lavoie, because for me they make the most sense. I chose Xavier Bourgault to show the team can recall anyone but Jack Campbell and have enough room. I believe Broberg will fit Kris Knoblauch’s style (race to the puck, get the puck out under control) more efficiently than Vincent Desharnais.
The Bakersfield Condors were poor in Canada over the last week, owing much of that to the stunning performance of veteran goaltender Jack Campbell. He needs some time on a beach, and I’m not saying that to be funny. The veteran goaltender is not close to good enough, and we know he will be down on himself. If I’m Jeff Jackson, I book passage on a cruise where they play backgammon, shuffleboard and remember the 1940’s. The man needs a respite.
For me, Philip Broberg is the key recall. I also believe Raphael Lavoie should continue his NHL audition. After that, I don’t know. Lane Pederson is hurt, Seth Griffith is eroding at even strength. Maybe Brad Malone or Greg McKegg get the call. Adam Erne played well in Calgary last night.
The Wednesday edition of the Lowdown hits the airwaves at noon today. Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal will be the feature guest, and we’ll have a look at the Jack Campbell situation. You can reach me in the comments section, @Lowetide on twitter, or text us 1.833.401.1440 directly.
Two things can be true at the same time.
1) the Oilers are a Cup contender.
2) the Brass took an enormous risk firing the coach, hiring a new guy and adding the Owners senior advisor, to the coaching staff.
This is a Cup contending caliber team, more so now that Soup is gone, that hasn’t changed and is why everyone should be relatively optimistic. Big choices made this past week though and with this franchise it’s perfectly normal to be nervous.
Tonight they managed to outscore their mistakes. Tanev should have had a hat trick by the 8 min mark of the 2nd. Even with the frantic comeback that 3rd wasn’t pretty. Damn near even and that followed up a fugly 2nd. Haven’t had the same jam since Woody got fired. But it’s early, a little wobble should be expected, road-trip could/should help transition the new coaches in. We shall see.
A lot of people have been (quite rightly) critical of Holland for the Nurse and Campbell contracts, but to be fair we should also mention the good work Holland has done to build a team around McDrai:
Nice tactics by KK starting D in OT. I hope he keeps coaching as he sees it
If he can sort them out defensively to a normal level of play they remain a hard out. And find another goaler, or get real lucky with Cpt Pickard
Just when I thought I was out . . . they pull me back in.
Go watch gourde’s ot shift leading up to the game winner….#37
Listened to the 3rd period on the radio/driving. I must say, I think that’s a preferred way to enjoy to game.
omgosh that Vinny backhand…….. Yikes!!
bouchard needs to study some Drew Doughty or hang with him in the off season.
My wife told my 3 year old the Vinny backhand made “Daddy make a sound like a little girl.”
So Hyman with a hat trick, Drai with a 4 pointer and tonight Kane with a hatty (big offensive contribution by the maligned Bouch). You can’t say the leaders haven’t been leading lately! I have no idea what to make of this team. I guess the upcoming road trip should reveal more???
The Far South ain’t what it once was.
Carolina is playing like the Oilers. Great one minute, what the hell was that? the next.
Tampa having defensive issues and perhaps just maybe some confidence ones. Ugly numbers for a few stars the last few games.
Florida is playing the best of the bunch but gambling. Come back from a few multi goal deficits, blew a few multi goal leads. They’re the Canucks but bigger.
Washington is very short handed but on a roll.
This isn’t the gauntlet it once was. Oilers will need to play hard but there are winnable hockey games up for grabs.
Good gord what a bunch of fine performances. McD looking closer to his old self. Kane a beast. Leon with an unreal 1-time pass to assist of the GTG. Bouchard with 2 exquisite plays on the last 2 Gs. Skinner with some huge timely saves.
Are we good again?
It’s a trap!
Oilers ice 11/7 and if Bouchard is having a bad game on D, put him on the wing. 12/6, problem solved!
He played some wing in juniors!
“At the end of losing streaks you win games you shouldn’t.”
#seemlegit
Has noone mentioned Darnell Nurse with saving the empty net goal with a great stick after McDavid with another terrible neutral zone giveaway?
That play netted the Oilers two points.
I think they mentioned it on the broadcast a dozen times, so there’s that. Hard to miss.
Sam Gagner was Jackson’s first client and his dad Jackson’s long time business partner.
Lol,
Sounds like he might stay awhile
Lol great name Foege…
So is Sam Gagne the new Will Acton, the coach’s son?
Do my eyes deceive me? I would rather have Gaetan Hass than Gagner at this point
Skinner up to .881 on the year
1.78 Gsax tonight
Hope our dept-of-youth players paid attention to Evander’s game tonight, cuz he set one hell of an example for grit, hard work, and net-front presence. High rewards will be the result with that kind of performance throughout the lineup.
GO OILERS!
I’ve had zero complaints w Kane’s season thus far. For a guy questioned above all else for his character, he’s been showing – what’s that LORT line? – his quality.
That Bouchard fake slap shot, tremendous edge work, and laser pass through a veritable sea of sticks was sexy as hell.
Let’s get a GoFundMe going for some Xanax for the Bouchard haters, this man is the goods damn it!
Bouch has his flaws
But, he is without doubt in the skill range of Drai. I won’t say Connor
You don’t give that away
two edges, cuts both ways, yada yada.
But what you said about skill range.
Or can you?
Also, should note that his partner was the main culpable player on the 3GA.
I am admittedly quitting on this team quicker than I should be. First year as shared season ticket holder, so serves me right 😉
Team learning to win without McDavid at full strength, if they actually manage to turn this season around, may be an silver lining.
Still can’t figure out McDavid. Saw some flashes of speed and brilliance, but some very timid shifts as well where he was slow to get back. I don’t think I’ve seen him aggressively forecheck or steal pucks like he used to effortlessly do. Hope he can work through this injury and some positive signs tonight
Agreed, whatever is ailing him is affecting all aspects of his game in terms of mobility, acceleration, stick-handling, passing. Might be a core/hip issue. Typically he would never avoid an opportunity to challenge any number of defenders and also take advantage of slow boots in the corners with his juke and spin. I don’t think he has done that once this year.
He’s not blowing past defensemen down the right wing and cutting to the front of the net on his edges the way he did all last season. The sudden jarring changes of direction on the left wing side are also AWOL. He’s not right – a core injury is a good thought.
Lovin this 4 line team. Great game Oilers. Seattle owned the second period but I didn’t think the Oilers gifted any goals. Kane, Bouchard and Skinner were the best players. McDavid still struggling a bit but he doesn’t look hurt.
At this rate I may actually look at the standings soon!
Big road trip coming up – the SW used to be slaughterers row
Gonna give the PK flowers for their work tonight.
The thing with Kane is, he’s a menace.
menos grande
BLEACH REFERENCE!!!
(I’m a sucker for good anime)
👌🏻
Bouchard was terrific in the 3rd and OT.
Got some ref luck as well – that should have been five on Erne and, if it was, the comeback almost assuredly does not happen.
That’s never been called 5 in the history of the league.
An elbow to the head on a late hit – I have to disagree.
Shoulder.
Respectfully disagree, Bellemare was stunned but not really hurt, which seems to be part of the criteria. Call on ice was earned, as was the benching.
I’ve often spoked of how good World Rugby is at officiating, apart from the debacle that was this years final, and this play is a perfect of example of where Rugby gets it right. They take zero tolerance on headshots, the responsibility is on the tackler. However they have a flowchart that asks the question “is there mitigation” such as a change of direction or change of centre of mass. In this case Bellemare clearly pulls up to avoid the hit when Erne is already engaged to make the hit (he made no strides). If Bellemare continues skating as he was than it is a shoulder sholder hit and this discussion never happens. 2mins for head contact is an acceptable result.
— I stay clear of Game Day Blog : but man the crowd in here is absolutely nuts loco crazy visceral hot takey. I suppose all fans are. It just cracked me up scrolling though this and the inferences made on random series of events that comprise hockey shifts.
Best news of all that Kane is back playing like a boss!
I’m gonna give Principal Skinner some love too – thought he was solid tonight despite the three goals against.
Ya he made some big saves throughout the first and second that we’ve been missing to keep us in it.
Another above .900 save percentage night
Evan Bouchard a massive positive piece of that comeback win (and, lets be clear, Mattias Ekholm was primarily culpable on the 3rd goal against).
He’s such a smart player. Need to be patient re: his defensive game. It will come.
Missed the entire game except came in and when turned it on Oilers were down 3-2 there were something like 50 odd seconds left. Then boom bang and Oilers go 2-0-0 under the new regime.
No need to thank me, lol
No longer 2nd least points in the league!
Love him or hate him, Bouchard is now slinging a point per game.
Are you gonna pay $10 million for 8 years.
I wouldn’t. Not unless he shows marked improvement in the dzone. For an extended period of time.
If he’s just gonna be a PP and overtime specialist you might as well trade a 5th for someone like Cale Addison and pay him 1.5 million.
Having said that, the play he made on the 1st Kane goal was pretty special. Not many NHL dmen can make that play.
He’s far from a PP specialist – noted two points at 5 on 5 today and he would have been plus at 5 on 5 it wasn’t for his partner on the last goal again.
Love him and hate him! Great job with the comeback tonight
Interesting OT deployment – Drai, Ekholm and Bouch to start… yet it worked in that Kraken didn’t really penetrate, got tired and then a fresh 97 and 93 softened them up for the KO.
Also, finally saw some McD speed and shimmy in that third and OT – not breaking thru or sniping like the last few years but he seems better.
Regression to the meat tastes good.
More players involved in OT. It takes a team.
Does Bouchard still sit next game?
For most 5v5 shifts yes
What an OT shift by Hyman!
Winning ugly is still winning!
Well, Nobby, you got to be lucky to be good and so far… so good.
Good old fashioned hard work to win in oveerr timmmeee !!!
Bouchard fantastic in that OT.
Just have to severely limit his 5v5 min
He was dominating. Contained the zone like a beast.
Thank the good luhrd for Evander Kane being back to himself.
He’s been quite good since the ice time related comment
I wasn’t playing well. I wasn’t playing much. I gotta go out and fight somebody.
20 minutes ago in real time, Jackson had made the most egregious move since the Reinhart trade and, now, this team is BACK.
THAT was fun!
Well I’ll be damned.
Natural hat trick for Evander Kane to pull this one from the fire. Wow.
One thing I’ll say is that was a more mature OT then we’ve seen in forever.
Can’t claim this was a good game overall though, IMO (but I’ll take it!).
Deployment was impressive.
Ek and Bouch with Drai to start, Bouch with Hyman and Kane to finish.
Some interesting deviations from the norm already.
Remember when Oilers would play Seattle’s role tonight that being honorable loss etc.
BOOM!!! Kaner Hatty for the win!!! JekylBouch was amazing!!! lol
Who says Bouchard can’t outscore his mistakes? 🙂
If Coffey can just get Bouchard to be better in his own zone, this team will be unstoppable.
That’s the spirit!
KANE!
Huge win!
Kane is able!
Love it!
Kane Trick!!!!
We’re going streaking!
Hatty Time!
man that’s a huge 2 points
It wasn’t pretty, far from it, but it’s 2 points on the board