This is the 2005-06 Oilers team that defeated the Detroit Red Wings in the playoffs and went to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final. Comparing this team to the current Oilers is interesting because the strengths 18 years ago (top pairing, veteran goalie who arrived just in time, five feature forwards making under $1 million and possessing various but important skill sets) are not the strengths of the current team. We could go over it chapter and verse, but the final paragraph of the piece would include the line ‘yeah, but McDavid’ and that’s for sure.
THE ATHLETIC!
- Lowetide: Could this be the ultimate Edmonton Oilers season?
- DNB: Projecting the Oilers’ 2025-26 salary-cap situation with a Leon Draisaitl extension
- Lowetide: Ranking Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland’s 10 biggest moves
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers complete 2023-24 prospects update
- Lowetide: Why NHL’s goalie trade market a strange brew for Oilers
- Lowetide: Stuart Skinner, Ryan McLeod and the Oilers’ development system
- Lowetide: Oilers close NHL standings gap during a brilliant December run
- DNB: Connor McDavid marks 600th NHL game by coming to the rescue in pivotal Oilers win
- Lowetide: Evander Kane’s concerning season and what it means to the Oilers.
- Lowetide: How the Oilers measure up to ‘reasonable expectations’ after 31 games
- Lowetide: Did the Oilers solve Leon Draisaitl’s winger issues in New Jersey?
- Lowetide: What can Dylan Holloway bring the Oilers when he returns?
- DNB: Evan Bouchard is unlocking his potential on the Edmonton Oilers blue line
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers top 20 prospects ranking, winter 2023
WHAT TO EXPECT IN JANUARY
- At home to: PHI, OTT (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
- On the road to: CHI, DET, MTL (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- At home to: TOR, SEA (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: CAL (Expected 0-0-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: CBJ, CHI, NAS (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 7-3-1, 15 points in 11 games
- Actual January results: 3-0-0, 6 points in 3 games
- Oilers in 2023-24: 21-15-1, 43 points in 37 games
The Oilers have not performed at a pristine level over the last two games, and the win over the Chicago Blackhawks was damned dangerous. It was the kind of game that is often a harbinger of a downbeat game or series of games.
THE 2005-06 AND 2023-24 OILERS
The 2005-06 team averaged 3.04 GF and 2.95 GA per game. This year’s Oilers team is averaging 3.54 GF and 3.08 GA per game. Obviously those numbers are better under Kris Knoblauch. In Jay Woodcroft’s one full season at the helm of the Oilers, his club averaged 3.96 GF and 3.12 GA in 2022-23.
Knoblauch’s Oilers have averaged 4.00 GF and 2.63 GA. That’ll move the chains.
Dwayne Roloson had a .927 save percentage in the playoffs in the spring of 2006, but was injured in Game 1 of the final. Stuart Skinner delivered .833 save percentage in the spring, and was .875 in the series against Vegas. Laurent Brossoit was .841, Adin Hill was .934 and Jack Campbell .957. What a world. I still think that series came down to two periods (second period in the final two games).
Chris Pronger was an impact player in 2006 and the Oilers had a boatload of value contracts. Ales Hemsky was brilliant, but Shawn Horcoff and Raffi Torres also scored well at even strength and Horcoff took on the toughs doing it. Veterans like Mike Peca and Radek Dvorak were mighty men during that run. I loved that team, Craig MacTavish had them hammering at even strength all year long. What a beautiful spring.
This year’s team is opposite and I’d guess would win a series between the two. What the 2023-24 Oilers don’t have is a trip to the Stanley Cup final. As I wrote yesterday, it would be a season to remember should it come to pass.
COREY PERRY?
If you have to ask the question, you’re not paying attention. Since he arrived in Edmonton in spring 2019, Ken Holland has hired, acquired and signed dozens of famous hockey players. Mike Smith, Riley Sheahan, Anton Burdasov, James Neal, Mike Green, Tyson Barrie, Kyle Turris, Zach Hyman, Evander Kane, Duncan Keith, Cody Ceci, Brett Kulak, Derick Brassard, Mattias Janmark, Derek Ryan, Colton Sceviour, Devin Shore, Nick Bjugstad, Ryan Murray, Jason Demers, Jake Virtanen, Sam Gagner, Warren Foegele, Adam Erne, Jack Campbell, Connor Brown, Brandon Sutter and Drake Caggiula.
Oh my goodness Holland will be interested in Corey Perry. What can Perry bring? Based on numbers alone, he appears to have some left. Considering RW is a roster weak spot, and Edmonton could sign Perry and audition him between now and the deadline, I’d expect he would be a signing priority.
What should you expect? Less than Evander Kane and more than Jake Virtanen. Perry scored 1.92 pts-60 with the Blackhawks at five-on-five, owned a goal share of 47 percent and an expected goal share of 45 percent. Some of his rel numbers are positive. On a team like Edmonton, with a strong center, I think Perry could have success.
It will depend on the cap hit, but if Perry signs for the minimum, and prefers the Oilers to other contenders, then we shall see him in the Alberta capital. If it comes to pass, expect to hear the name Mike Comrie mentioned often.
TONIGHT
Alex Lyon will start for Detroit, he owns a .920 save percentage. The Red Wings have six players over 2.00 pts-60 and several interesting wrinkles. Moritz Seider is worth the price of admission, Michael Rasmussen appears to be putting it all together and Jonatan Berggren is scoring enough to be considered a helper. Lucas Raymond, Patrick Kane and Dylan Larkin are rock solid to excellent, Robby Fabbri is fab when healthy. I think tonight will be a tough one for the visitors.
At noon today, Sports 1440. Huge NFL news as Bill Belichick is leaving the New England Patriots. We’ll talk about it today, and of course preview the Oilers game with Bagged Milk from Oilers Nation . You can reach me at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section or on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly.
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hmm. too bad there have been issues on this front :(.
Am glad to finally see the Oilers on another 8-9 game win streak; having predicted as soon as Coffey was involved, a triumphant march up the NHL standings that they are still yet to finish – that will be when they are in the top 5 of the NHL in points.
There’s no reason to argue why they can’t yet do it – since the season isn’t even half over.
The final and ultimate test is playoffs. Also reaching and winning in the Finals.
Success in the playoffs realistically are their only real shot at retaining the Big Two.
Coffey has come in and settled the D down as a unit. They haven’t looked this together since the real Stanley Cup run 18 years-ago. Who knew a head coach without a ego and a top 5 D man in history could turn this team from chicken shit to chicken salad so quickly.
Hamblin and Erne both played less than 5 minutes tonight – its time for Sam Gagner.
No doubt.
Not to mention Holloway… has he gotten into any action since that game was cancelled?
Nope, Condors have not played – they do tonight.
Just finished watching on PVR.
This game was a new kind of satisfying.
Glad to see the boys prevail tonight on a night when we lost two great chroniclers of the Oilers, Short and Brownlee – they would’ve loved tonight’s game.
Glad the Oilers won…that was a nice little pickmeup on a rough, cold day.
John Short whispered me to sleep for almost the entirety of my childhood and adolescence. Other than our esteemed host, he’s the most impactful reason I love AM radio like I inherited it.
I ran afoul of Robin Brownlee about a couple of decades ago, when he went after a poster named Tako, and disparaged bloggers en masse…and I held on to that grudge.
But he evolved, and became an excellent blogger; in my self-agrandization, I failed to credit him. I read every word, mind. He was an excellent writer, from day one. When he came back to radio of late, I enjoyed him a lot, because I’ve grown up…his quality was always there.
I’m genuinely sad, and have been all day. Today was a 1-2 punch…we lost a legendary voice, and we lost a contemporary…sail on, good, good men and good locals…rest well. You both enriched my world, and the Oilogisphere will miss your voices.
Brownlee was a client of mine back in a previous life. He was a good man. Went through a rough spot after The Journal let him go. And John Short was one admirable human being. I agree this was a rough day.
Kings with another loss but another point.
LA loses with 0.07 seconds left in OT to Florida. We’re now within 3 points of 3rd place.
PLD – 0 points
Bob saying Sens lost Forsberg tonight
Great game.
I love when McD goes super saiyan.
The Drai line should have had a couple.
Difference of a centimeter on many shots. So many tap-ins through the crease too quick.
Bouchard plays hockey like The Dude if he was a gifted offensive defenseman. He for sure buys milk in a housecoat and sunglasses.
He had a little of the old nonchalance in his game tonight, but it didn’t cost us.
“The Bouch Abides”
Haha- this is in my head from this day forward
Bouch is the guy who isn’t afraid of heights, to a creepy dangerous level. Will nonchalantly tow the blue line so casually it’s like he is doing it on purpose just to see you squirm and not only does he know it but somehow applies that same level of discomfort to all other parts of the ice.
This is brilliant
This is correct. Nice call.
We got goalied again!
Oh no wait, we didn’t.
Crazy game.
The first two periods answered the question of if the Oilers were coming off their structure and going to continue a bit of sloppy and lose play.
The answer is: NO – they were great through two, a dominant performance and pretty much lock-down (the odd mistake).
The 3rd was a bit all over the place – don’t know what to think except we all know that Alex Lyon was the only reason the Oilers needed a few extra minutes to get the 2nd point.
Pickard’s wins have all come against D-teams (Devils x 2, Ducks, Detroit).
D-lightful!
Starting him vs Dallas?
Make it so!
Oilers were full value for this win. 9 in a row. Look out LA and Vegas, here we come!
Well, that was some process cheese. 😉
Forwards kept a man high and backtracked though the two periods I saw. Did a better job of getting the puck to the front of the net as the game went on. Still too may cutesy passes, but a marked improvement overall.
No matter how you slice it, that’s what happens when they stick to their Kraft.
Makes you want to melt.
It’s not what you do, it’s how you fondue it.
I guess they’re not taking that one back.
Darnell freaking Nurse – where did that shot come from? Who cares, hella game!!!!
Been a while since Doc was Dr. Muffin.
Darnell Nurse!!!!! Woot!!
McDavid and Draisaitl coming off after ~1 minute is a new and good thing.
Agreed.
Hard to save the puck, with your stick Lyon the ice…
BOOM!!’ Nurse with the finish top cheddar!!!
THE DOCTOR IS WIN!
Nine in a row, as deserved as the last one was undeserved
Nurse you beautiful bastard!
DARNELLLLLLLL NUUURRRRRRRRSSE
Oh we deserved that one!!!!!!! Nurse with the dagger!
point streak lives, let’s make it 9
It shall be done!
OILERS WIN!!!
in ooooooovertiiiiime!!!
Yep!
Wow Wings getting the breaks tonight.
Wings have no business being in this game.
Finish them!!!
Done and done!
“Letting them play” is probably the worst turn of phrase used by any play by play team. Drives me nuts.
“No question.”
“Shooter’s mentality.”
“Of late.”
“Can opener.” (Used incorrectly, every time, to boot.)
“In the battle.”
And I could go on and on with Louie’s cliches.
Of which I’ve heard exactly zero, on the DET feed.
Yea I am starting to find Jack and Louie kind of tedious to listen to. Same cliches every game.
It was Michaels this time but yeah — according to our intrepid broadcast team, tackling the best player in the game is just fine.
Not used tonight, but “I guess I’m old school” is another awful term. Basically means they have no intention of learning anything new or change how they think about the game in any way. AKA the Marc Spector Theorem.
I’ve found streaming the games from other outlets to be liberating.
If you’ve got the capacity, give it a try.
I may have screamed
Damn it’s waved off. Kane has actually had a real good game
Oh wow. What a finish so far.
Hand pass, no goal
no mind about the crosscheck that meant Ryan couldn’t make stick contact… sigh
Connor McDaid will never draw a penalty again
Woof that was ugly
That happened because Nurse froze.
Oh farts!
Indeed.
Not sure what Ceci was doing there, he got pushed behind the net somehow
Fraaaaaack….
Absolutely relentless pressure finally pays off
There goes Rhymin’ Hyman!
Nuge, you saucy sorcerer!
YEEEEAAAAHHHH!!!!
Zack F’n Hyman!!!
BOOM!!! Hyman finally buries one!!!
I’m still waiting for it to be called back…
Some sustained pressure sees Hyman drill it home from the nosebleeds.
Well that’s a very unfortunate bs whistle for nothing.
The Hyman Train rolls on!!
Wow. McD slaying the Lyon!
My feed is about 60 seconds slower than everyone else’s.
Wow. Connor McDavid. A++
Was that on a delayed penalty?
Yes it was