Game 21 2023-24: Golden Knights at Oilers

by Lowetide

Jussi Jokinen was traded the following day, for Mike Cammalleri. Sometimes you can see things coming and I do think we’re on the verge of seeing a personnel shuffle on the Oilers. Maybe not tomorrow, but the break that is coming up after the Winnipeg Jets game could see action.

THE ATHLETIC

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 2-0-0)
  • On the road to: TBY, FLA, CAR, WAS (Expected 1-3-0) (Actual 1-3-0)
  • At home to: ANA, VEG (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
  • 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: 5-7-0, 10 points in 12 games
  • Oilers in 2023-24: 7-12-1, 15 points in 20 games

I predicted the Oilers would gather 15 points from the 14 November games, and if the team wins both of the final contests, the total will be 14. After all of the troubles this team has been through, that would smell like victory.

TRADE OPTIONS

I wrote about Philip Broberg as a trade option at The Athletic and I do think the changing of the guard in management puts him front and center as a possible trade piece. Dylan Holloway might suffer the same fate eventually, but his injury puts him in the file drawer for a deal. I see this club needing a strong backup goaltender, a veteran two-way winger and a veteran defenseman who can push Vincent Desharnais or replace an injured hand in a pinch. The coaching staff (as detailed in my article) doesn’t see Broberg as that solution. Here are the players/pieces I see in play for trade at this time:

  1. 2024 first-round pick: I don’t see the Oilers walking to the podium in the first round next summer.
  2. Philip Broberg: Management change turns sons into orphans. I don’t think they should but believe they will.
  3. Xavier Bourgault: He seems to be drawing interest. His play away from the puck is impressive.
  4. 2024 second-round pick: This pick probably goes at the deadline.
  5. Raphael Lavoie: He is NHL-ready. He can score goals and has improved his boots/will use his size to make room. I think a team would be wise to trade for him.
  6. Olivier Rodrigue: He’s kind of getting lost again but Rodrigue is putting together a strong resume. I think he may have an NHL career.

A busy show, Sports 1440 noon-2pm. We’ll be joined by Daniel Nugent-Bowman from The Athletic and talk about the upsurge for the Oilers this weekend. We’ll also have a visit from the Vegas side. You can reach me in the comments section, @Lowetide on twitter, or text us 1.833.401.1440 directly.

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Whaler Slamamoto

Title says game 25, really threw me off! Lol

Diablo

Really liked Skinners poise in the shootout. Squared up, stared down the shooter, kept his cool, held his edges, kept his body upright and didn’t go down early. Gave the shooters nothing.

For the first time since I’ve watched him in the NHL. he really looked like a starting goalie.

Munny 2.0

Let’s not forget Erne’s big hit on the Knights’ Gregor Clegane—Nicholas Hague.

Winning battles along the wall, crashing net front, scoring goals, big hits…

Maybe Kostin has already been replaced.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Need moar goals, first.

Munny 2.0

You mean needs more season to make a fair comparison, I’m syre…

Munny 2.0

My man Ekholm was just asked directly about Coffey as a coach and he gave a most complimentary answer. Not stock or cliched either. Sounded honest and sincere.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

“He wants us to make plays.”
x1000

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Bizarre views from Rob Brown currently on CHED. VGK don’t cross the line, they aren’t chippy, they are smart and not aggressive, etc…? And then this howitzer:

“ONE OF THE REASONS THEY WON THE CUP IS THAT THEY DONT TAKE DUMB PENALTIES.”

We just spent three hours revisiting the Alex Pietreangelo lumberjack hack and subsequent soft discipline. Dude: One of the reasons they won the Cup is that they don’t get called on their shit! C’mon, Rob. Brutal take.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

For the record I generally like Rob Brown and the insight from former players is always worthwhile. But they are players, they don’t call refs out publicly (even if their current job description sort of demand it from time to time.)

Munny 2.0

I don’t think they’re all that chippy either and agree with Brown that Florida is by far the chippiest team in the League, as Maurice teams usually are. I do think the Knights are assertive and play physical and will get penalized–they don’t play perfect hockey–but they’re not particularly chippy or dirty. We’ve seen far worse.

The damage the Knights did tonight was by going down easy. That’s a whole different thing.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Perhaps chippy isn’t the right descriptor but I see a sneaky team. They know when to give that little extra hold or make a pick.

Munny 2.0

Agreed, but all teams make sneaky plays, part of gamesmanship. Oilers are on the chippier side of that sneak. Little hacks. McDavid’s trip was actually a sneaky play that got called, largely because the Vegas player exaggerated it.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Yeah lots of dives and exaggerations too. Gamesmanship, whatever.

Entitlement valued at $500 million.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

VGK make bets on high leverage plays.

TBY make a lot of bets.

Both are what I’d call dirty teams.

They DGAF.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Stones pre-season freakout for getting checked sums them up. DGAF but snowflakes, when the shoe is on the other foot.

813.52Ran

I agree with Rob Brown. That penalty by Pietreangelo in the playoffs was not a “dumb penalty.” It was smart, calculated and paid dividends for Vegas. They ARE smart. I saw as much chippiness from the Oilers as Vegas last night. And finally, not getting called “on their shit” is not on them. It’s on the league and the refs.

Bizarre that you would think Brown’s statement was bizarre.

Scungilli Slushy

For me this is the best few games the Oilers have played since Connor came

The difference being I haven’t seen as many concerted plays to the front of the net with a recipient actually there in good position, or as many cross seam plays under control. These are what create the best chances and make it hard to jam up the net defensively

Add the tighter defensive positioning. Which may go away as we know

Apparently what KK looks for according to B Curlock. Glad it’s already happening. Also the quicker tempo moving the puck out and using centre ice to move the puck up. Much less trying to move up the boards

It seems the guys like playing this style. Suits them, more aggressive and fast, and still under control

Scungilli Slushy

Maybe this is another turning point where the Oilers can beat the opponent and the league (refs)

Bling

97 had one of those games where he was a threat whenever he touched the puck. Wow.

Bling

Great game. A few unlucky breaks that led to the blown lead in the third.

Evander Kane is a menace.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Really liked what I saw from this Erne fella (other than the late screen!) and if he plays like this every night and its an upgrade from Shore. Physical, simple plays. 4th line looks good.

Scungilli Slushy

Pheww!

Hockey is funny. Playing so well, and McLeod doesn’t clear the puck, Foegele can’t, and I’m like oh no. McLeod the skates away from the tying scorer

Their sticks were a lot better this game. As in knock downs, clears and puck control . Got a little sloppy in the third and it bit them. Also lost their legs a bit. Hopefully the coaches can get it a step further in all regards

rich tm

Agreed. Their sticks are getting in lanes much better and they’re more compact defending in their zone. McLeod missed getting the puck out, then wandered on the tying goal so he needs to get better. But overall, they’re showing improvement in their d-zone structure.

Dee Dee

And folks wonder why Coaches and Management like the old guys.

Scungilli Slushy

They haven’t been the most reliable either

OriginalPouzar

The NHL trying to get the Sphere for free for the NHL draft.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

The Late-Bettman Era NHL (god i hope) is depraved.

Admiral Ackbar

Imagine a world where NHL refereeing actually had accountability. The media clearly ignores it. That McDavid stick held with 3 min to go was pretty blatant. Michaels and Debrusk didn’t dare dwell on it. Guaranteed Sportsnet has made that prohibited speech.

Surely these missed calls can be objectively measured. No?

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Bruce McCurdy will rip into them on his podcast no doubt!

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Update. Something to the effect of: “called twice for tick and three times for tack.” Bruce never disappoints.

hags9k

That team should be happy just to exist Gary. They don’t need every call.

MushedPeas

Hahahaha 👆🏻

Munny 2.0

A weak five minutes to end regulation but other than that a strong game from the Oilers. Got to battle to the final whistle against the Knights. They will learn from this, and yet still managed to bank the two points.

Probably the most one-sidedly reffed game since the game against LA in the first week of Jan last year, but unlike that time this time around the Oil didn’t lose their cool, kept level heads through OT and the shootout and earned an extra point for their hard work.

dangilitis

The stripes didn’t want this to end in regulation. 3 missed penalty calls in the sequence leading up to the tying goal. Bush league, Tim Peel style stuff

hags9k

It’s called like arcade racing.

Genjutsu

I you ever meet a NHL ref it your right, as an Oilers fan, to kick him in the nuts.

Gerta Rauss

Lots to like with some room for improvement

Another 2 in the bank

woooooooooooooot!

fishman

Big 2 points but not liking giving up the lead in the third. NHL officiating is an embarrassment. Keep the roll going!

OriginalPouzar

Do the Oilers get an extra point for beating the officials in addition to the Knights?

I’m not really even worried about “blowing the lead” as the Oilers were fantastic in the 3rd and it was fully official induced!

GB&Q

Still things to improve on, but i’ll take that effort all day. #PLBB

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Edmonton deserved that game and this league is bogus and I have a theory that VGK are the worst thing to happen to the game since the before the lockout.

Ice Sage

Shame about the point given up, but this outcome and the overall dominance are good things.

cowboy bill

Oilers deserved that one. Great game.
Almost spoiled by the officials. Way to stick to it guys.

jp

Beyond any demons, that 2nd point is really important for the Oilers climb back to respectability.

Quality game despite the scare at the end.

pixel-bender

The hockey Gods smile upon us.

Dee Dee

After laying a turd on us.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Typical McDavid deke makes a goal look easy, and some suave, subtle dekes/stick tip feints by RNH on his goal.

KnightRain

I was waiting for the refs to call a penalty…I dunno how but I figured they would find a way…

Crazy Pedestrian

LMAO 🤣

Munny 2.0

SUCK IT EICHEL
SUCK IT MARCHESSAULT
SUCK IT KNIGGITS!!!

tsunami

and suck it refs !

Admiral Ackbar

Really attacking Thompson’s glove, eh?

KnightRain

BOOM!!! Nuge lazer!!!

Admiral Ackbar

McAutomatic!

SKOilerFan

97 roof job.
Ha marshmelo missed by a ft

KnightRain

BOOM!!! Cold blooded

BornInAGretzkyJersey

That’s OK boys, corral your efforts for the shootout.

KnightRain

Holy man. I was in the air. Actually hurt to stop my scream when Bouch missed…

Elgin R

Got some complaints here at home for my language on that one 😂🏒

prefonmich

Bouch buuuuuum.

Munny 2.0

Ohhhhhhh myyyyy gaaawwwwdd Boosh

Crazy Pedestrian

We need a WikiLeaks-like event to happen with the NHL reffing. Now that gambling is in play, any exposure of game tampering would result in some serious crimes/consequences for the higher ups.

Prairie_Sentinel

Just look at how they do recruitment these days…..

MushedPeas

Really and for real. I cherish the day. Even though they’ve been caught out 59 times already.

fishman

Yuck. Shoot out.

SKOilerFan

Missed can opener on McLeod and cross check on nuge

fishman

OT makes me dizzy…..

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Are we seeing the pampered VGK getting everything handed to them in real time? Shocking. I hate this franchise.

pixel-bender

Officiating is a massive part of this period — it’s the primary reason why Vegas was able to tie it despite having limited shots and chances. Our play by team ignores this fact.

Why?

Partly because of the old timey belief not to talk about it. And partly because they glorify unskilled, “hard” play, and honestly because it’s too complicated of a concept for them.

MushedPeas

Skinner’s been fine.
I just want 2006 Roli.

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

Would have liked Stu to snag the 3rd. That wasn’t a dangerous shot and his team didn’t allow anything.

One a game for him right now. Needs to iron that out.

cowboy bill

Opportunities handed the VGK by the refs.

fishman

OK lets get the extra point!

Admiral Ackbar

How was that not holding McDavid’s stick..?

flea

gAmE mAnaGemEnT.

If you bet on hockey you are a fool.