Goodbye, Columbus

Stuart Skinner had another strong night in goal for the Edmonton Oilers, and led the effort that resulted in the team’s fourteenth win in a row. My favourite part of the game, and there were several, involved the absolute sellout at the end to make sure the CBJ scored just once. It’s a team game, and sometimes one part of the roster comes out flat. It was such a night for Edmonton’s blue. They played guilty, blocking shots and working on the double to recover from errant passes. Edmonton can’t play that game again and continue the streak. Did they get scared straight last night?

THE ATHLETIC!

• New Lowetide: Why Oilers forward Sam Gagner is having success in his role
• New DNB: Stuart Skinner’s superb play should give Oilers more trade deadline flexibility
• DNB: Why Oilers signing Corey Perry isn’t a surprise — even in these circumstances
• Lowetide: How the Oilers winning the Stanley Cup in 2024 could impact future
• Lowetide: The Edmonton Oilers’ 6 biggest 2023-24 first half surprises
• DNB: Oilers win 13th straight, most by Canadian team in NHL history
• Lowetide: 5 AHL Oilers prospects with the most value ahead of NHL trade deadline
• DNB: Edmonton Oilers midseason report cards
• Lowetide: Revisiting Oilers’ Dylan Holloway pick at the 2020 NHL Draft
• DNB: Oilers are back as a Western Conference power
• 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: Oilers close NHL standings gap during a brilliant December run
• Lowetide: What can Dylan Holloway bring the Oilers when he returns?
• 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 3-0-0)
• At home to: TOR, SEA (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
• On the road to: CAL (Expected 0-0-1) (Actual 1-0-0)
• At home to: CBJ, CHI, NAS (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
• Overall expected result: 7-3-1, 15 points in 11 games
• Actual January results: 9-0-0, 18 points in 9 games
• Oilers in 2023-24: 27-15-1, 55 points in 43 games

This run is starting to remind me of the Philadelphia Flyers after acquiring the rights to Bernie Parent from the Toronto Maple Leafs in May of 1973. They had been building for a couple of years under coach Fred Shero, but the Parent re-acquisition sealed it. ‘Parent moment’ events I can see: the acquisition of Mattias Ekholm, plus Kris Knoblauch, Paul Coffey and Mark Stuart. I think it’s a collective, though. I don’t think the Oilers had a Ryan McLeod or Warren Foegele in previous seasons, a set six on defense like this season, a goaltender like Skinner since Cam Talbot.

This team seems capable of overcoming difficulty during the second-period intermission. Helluva run, folks. Helluva run.

THE NUMBERS

If Stuart Skinner didn’t exist, they would have had to invent him. All the things written about Edmonton’s poor drafting, and Skinner rarely gets a mention. For the record, they liked him so much a trade up was necessary. I believe Bob Green was behind the push, doubt we’ll ever know for sure. The nature of humanity is to hammer the negative senseless and gloss over the positive. Stuart Skinner is genuine. In his most recent 20 games, he owns a .933 save percentage in all strengths (via Natural Stat Trick) and that’s second in the entire NHL. No one should ever ever overlook the importance of Skinner to this team.

I didn’t like the defense last night. Lots of good plays without the puck, brought on by poor plays with it. Everyone has a bad day, and the club has been exceptional defensively through this run. Cody Ceci was having a tough time but he was not alone. I loved the balls out, sell out play by the flat six on defense, though.

It’s time to have a chat about Warren Foegele and Ryan McLeod. These two men are delivering the goods offensively, and if they can help lift Dylan Holloway this roster could be humming by April. Here are the current five-on-five pts-60 totals for Edmonton’s regular forwards, and where each ranks across the NHL among league forwards. First line forwards are 1-96, second line 97-192 et cetera. There are 384 regular forwards in the NHL this season, the exact number who have played 250+ minutes. Rankings are overall, NA means the player hasn’t played 250 minutes.

• Connor McDavid 2.88 (No. 5) (first line)
• Warren Foegele 2.78 (No. 13) (first line)
• Sam Gagner 2.71 NA
• Zach Hyman 2.67 (No. 22) (first line)
• Leon Draisaitl 2.54 (No. 32) (first line)
• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 2.01 (No. 113) (second line)
• Ryan McLeod 1.95 (No. 125) (second line)
• Evander Kane 1.86 (No. 140) (second line)
• Dylan Holloway 1.06 NA
• Mattias Janmark 1.06 (No. 328) (fourth line)
• Derek Ryan 0.96 (No. 339) (fourth line)
• James Hamblin 0.75 NA
• Adam Erne 0.70 NA
• Connor Brown 0.59 (No. 376) (fourth line)
• Raphael Lavoie 0.00 NA

So, the Oilers have four (five with Gagner) first-line forwards in terms of production, plus three second-line players. That’s very good. What Dylan Holloway and Corey Perry might be able to do is slide in and produce enough for the Oilers to optimize depth minutes ala Sam Gagner. It is not an easy role, but will be important in the postseason when the top lines are being suppressed by brilliant two-way lines.

I like what is happening here. Ken Holland has been to hell and back with this Oilers team, same as the fans. He has made mistakes, many of them loud noises and memorable losses. However, credit where due. He kept his powder dry on players like Skinner and McLeod, he acquired Foegele (who is filling an important role), Ekholm, Hyman and Kane.

I think Holland deserves accolades for not making a panic move back in November. I think he has earned credit for making the coach switch. I expect he won’t get it from many places, and the criticism was warranted in many areas of procurement, but Holland’s team looks very, very good today.

Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal will join us today on the Lowdown, Sports 1440 noon to 2pm. We’ll chat Oilers, team building, Stuart Skinner and more. We’ll also discuss the news today out of London, Ontario pertaining to the 2018 Canadian World Junior team. Criminal charges for sexual assault are imminent. 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.