Today the Oilers have a chance to win the 16th game in a row. How good is that? The NHL ruined its own record book by changing rules constantly, but for me this is a sigificant achievement. I think the Philadelphia Flyers 35-game unbeaten streak (25-0-10) remains the king, but this team is doing something special.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Why Oilers defenceman Vincent Desharnais’ next contract could be bigger than expected
- New DNB: Oilers winning streak lives, but improvement is needed: ‘We got a lot more in our group’
- Lowetide: Why Oilers forward Sam Gagner is having success in his role
- 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
- 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 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 2-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 7-3-1, 15 points in 11 games
- Actual January results: 10-0-0, 20 points in 10 games
- Oilers in 2023-24: 28-15-1, 57 points in 44 games
The month of January has been a wonder. I don’t know if it indicates a Stanley, or even a deep run. We can say this is a team with balance, an extreme level at the high end, functional at the low end, and coachable with the right coaching staff behind them. We are long past the bounce, Kris Knoblauch is having an historic debut.
COREY PERRY NIGHT IN CANADA
I am aware that this is an afternoon game, but the lead story for HNIC is Corey Perry wearing No. 90 in an Oilers uniform. I remain nonplussed by his signing by Edmonton, and wonder if he’ll skate out wearing a different uniform than the rest of the team. Maybe all black with a skull and crossbones logo.
I like the line he’ll play on to start (Dylan Holloway, Ryan McLeod) because both linemates are speed merchants. I think the line might need a finisher, but the way McLeod is going (.95 goals and 1.9 pts-60 five-on-five) maybe the trio will click as populated.
THE CONDORS
Raphael Lavoie was the scoring star last night for Bakersfield. The big man scored twice after having been quiet for much of the second half of this month. Lane Pederson also scored twice and Seth Griffith continues a terrific run for the Condors. Among the prospects, Matvey Petrov picked up an assist and Xavier Bourgault had three shots on goal. Bakersfield plays Abbotsford again tonight.
MATTIAS EKHOLM
Former Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm will play a big role for the Oilers tonight. In 63 regular season games for Edmonton, his goal share is 69-37, 65 percent.
They are nearing transcendence now. The powerplay has woken up. The late 3rd goals and/or lockdown are the Killer Instinct we’ve all long been waiting for. There is no way on god’s green and blue earth Connor McDavid and Leon finish with these point trends. They’ve awoken the last two games.
KK is perfect against the West. We have a lot of games left against the West. The Nucks are the only team who’s lost less games than we have.
I wouldn’t rule out a run at top spot in the league quite yet.
What a ride.
Edmonton .656
Vegas .640
Kings. Check.
Knights. Check.
Dys. Hold my beer.
Canucks.724
For the 1000th time we have to ask a 60 year old man to grow up. 😛
.
Vegas will be adding at the deadline,
Jack Eichel
William Karlsson
William Carrier
Shea Theodore
Ben Hutton
Focus on the moment, not on what we can’t control or predict. Expect the Oilers to add at the deadline as well.
He only focuses on the moment where the Oilers are bad, which is hilariously why he’s so quiet as of late. He’s like this Harry Potter meme:
“What’s wrong with HH, professor?”
“The Oilers keep winning, Harry”
I have typed & deleted more replies to you than anyone else I’ve encountered on the internet.
Real piece of work you are.
Skinner is two wins away from tying the longest ever goalie winning streak. If he beats Vegas after the break he is very very close to setting an all time record. In his Sophomore season. GO STU!!!
Lavoie hasn’t played in a while and, while I’m not sure, it might not have been since the 1st period fight – didn’t serve the penalty, not on the bench.
Blue Jackets capitalize on late second period powerplay and go up 4-1 on the Canucks.
There IS a Gord!
Yeah… nucks tied it up. Going to OT…
Boeser has a hat trick.
boooo…
Bourgault takes a big hit and Kemp jumps in for the 3rd very spirited fight of the game.
Summarizing!
Day posted another W, stopping 31 of 34 in an OT victory.
Lachance potted a PP goal.
Münzenberger, Määttä, Mazura, Stonehouse and Copponi were held soupless.
Oilers 5pts out of 2nd in Pacific… with 5G in hand.
Inconceivable!
VGK have played 5 more game than the Oilers, both have the same # of wins – 29.
Those clowns just have 6 loser points to our 1.
Also, we now have a true #1 goaltender that was drafted & developed.
He is real & spectacular!
I would suggest hell has frozen over but the Oil are literally on 🔥🔥🔥
6 points up on the two wild card spots with 1 and 3 games in hand. My goodness.
I said the other day, its hard to imagine the first round not being Oilers/Knights.
If the Nucks hold on to lose tonight, the Oilers will be 10 points back with 4 games in hand……I would say insurmountable if I didn’t watch them close gaps and leave teams in the mirror over the last two months.
totally achievable to catch. Van still has 3 games against Vegas, 1 against us, 3 against WPG, 2 BOS, 2 COL, 3 LA.
We are actually in second in the Pacific by points percentage… this is some ride!
I suspect we will catch the Canucks by season’s end as well. I think they will get an eye opener when we play them the last time this regular seasonm with our improved defensive play.
ABB gets that back with a nice PPG, on timer from the circles – not cross-seam though and Rodrigue was over but it beat him high – it was a bomb!
Lane Pederson trailing the rush, the centering pass goes off a skate and right to him in the high slot and its 1-0 Condors 6 minutes in.
and another fight, five minutes in, Lavoie and Podkholzin with another hell of a fight – two big guys, both landing.
Ty Tulio with a hell of a fight with a much larger opponent – both guys jut throwing haymakers!
Detroit leading the Knights 5-2 late in the third.
Bring this home, Wings. Up 4-2 with 5 to play…
Watching the Jets and..
Remember when the Kings traded
Vilardi (26gp this season and 20 points) at a $3.4 million cap hit
Iaffalo (46gp and 17 points) at a $4 million cap hit
Kupari (unremarkable this season) at a $1 million cap hit
And a 2nd round pick
For
PLD (46gp and 20 points) at $8.5 million x 8?
— worst time ever for a prolonged break…
For us fans for sure. The players have earned their time off. Going into the ASB with good vibes throughout the lineup.
I thought Hyman was more deserving of the honour this year than Leon, but no one deserves a long break more than Zach.
Watching the Jets game…sweet Jesus those Jets unis are fire. I dare say, in my top 3 all time. I’ve always loved the Edmonton Mercury’s design, and this year’s third is wonderful…but these Jets shuts are the perfect retro.
Totally agree – absolutely beautiful kit they’re sporting tonight.
Shame it didn’t have the old logo.
I have to admit, I think 16 was overwhelming. I howled feraly, my cats are afraid. My children are mostly on board. My better half is excited for how excited I am. Rarified air my friends. As LT said, and I’m paraphrasing because I lack his eloquence, we are living through a moment that none of us will ever experience again. And if you’ll allow, I’ll expound…the odds of any of us, or our kids…this is something that is once in a generation. We are living in history, right here, right now. It’s wild.
Glad I have a place to come and type out my excitement.
What a day. Just marvelous. What a day.
Stuart Skinner is delivering world-class goaltending over this streak. Since December 1st he is second only to Hellebucyk with a .936 over 17 games. Table below filtered to 1000 minutes. Skinner’s HDSV% is the best in the NHL over this period. Woodcroft and Knoblauch have received polar opposite goaltending this season.
Takeaway is wrong. I’d guess polar opposite goaltending is likely due to the coaching change and systems improvement, and not a goaltender with polarity
100%. Collectively everyone is defending to a different level and style. Desharnais is a prime example where he is now a completely calming presence out there. Rarely does he not seperate the man from the puck in the corners. Once possession is obtained, these guys aren’t panicking like they use to. If there is a science to how to win board battles at both ends of the ice, it feels like everyone took after hours tutoring classes from Hyman and Ekholm.
I think you’re on the mark. If you were watching the jets v lafs there are more of their players making more high risk / low value passes than we see with our guys. That has to be 29 and 97 and 14 and others saying and showing there’s a much more intelligent way to play. And that’s been said and shown for a few years now.I think this matters
If you look elsewhere on this thread you will see that i also mention the defence, which is improved.
Polar-opposite goaltending doesn’t preclude improvement in systems play.
There are only facts here – no take away. If we can’t agree that SV% is generally indicative of goaltending performance (I of course acknowledge team influence) then there’s no point in having a conversation with you.
Team all situations SV%
Under Woodcroft SV% 86.36 (32nd)
Under Knoblauch SV% 91.77 (2nd)
Team all situations GSAx
Under Woodcroft xGA 38 – GA 51 = -13 GSAx
Under Knoblauch xGA 87 – GA 78 = 15 GSAx
BTW, the systems play is not that different. Knoblauch returned to the defensive system that Woodcroft used last season. There are some differences in the break-out. But were not talking a night and day difference in systems play. Game management is better and decision making is improved. The execution is improved and all of the players are healthy. You can attribute this improved execution to coaching. But it’s not a night and day difference in systems – especially compared to last season under Woodcroft.
I guess don’t assume that everyone has been here for weeks,, months, years, and it’s misleading to say one coach received.polar.opposite goaltending.
Massive changes in their offensive zone structure are also obvious – the high cycle which seems conducive to better forward support for the d-men by default – and that’s just to my untrained eye.
Not to mention legit in-game adjustments, and I’m not talking about lines and match-ups but in their offensive zone game, in their breakout structure, etc.
I think the current coach is doing alot more.
Gimme goals and posts
Don’t you let this team get hot
I have all the time
Zach is doing what wingers playing with the Duo are supposed to do
Good on him
Holloway assigned to Bakersfield (per Gregor) – he’ll keep playing during the break. I’m sure they discussed it with him first.
Good idea to get some games in. His confidence is sky high after his last stint in the AHL.
Put some bubble wrap on him….
Has a team ever had 3 8-game winning streaks in a season?
What about 3 8-game winning streaks in 27 games…..?
Lol. Changing a 16 for a couple of 8’s?
This winning is almost making me uncomfortable. I don’t know what to do in the absence of sports-fandom-induced anxiety….
Woot!
Sorry pvr
Vegas game is going to be explosive! 🙂
Bring. It. On. We owe them something big for last year’s playoffs.
Biggest test of the year. 11 day break, game in Vegas, not unlikely one of Theodore or Karlsson will be back, and they would want nothing more than to be the ones to break the streak.
NST updated already
Point% since Nov 13
Oilers .813
Jets .766
Avs .708
Canucks .697
The Oilers are 9th in the league, including the Horrostart
GF%/PDO
Jets 65.09 / 1.039
Oilers 59.23 / 1.014
Canucks 58.87 / 1.039
Bruins 58.04 / 1.035
Kraken 56.59 / 1.19
Avs 56.25 / 1.20
#2 GF%, lowest PDO – I like it. They are now 5th in the league in GF% including the Horrostart
Holy moly. That PDO is incredible for a team thats won what is it now 26 of 29 with16 on the trot? Your PDO is naturally going to be inflated, that’s how the stat works. That ours is as low it is tells an incredible story. I think for maybe the first time in well over a decade I can comfortably say its our defense (team and dmen) that are winning these games.
Over a 32 game sample generally an elevated PDO is preferable. In samples over about 20 games PDO is the second strongest predictor of end of season GF%, second only to the sample’s GF%.
The Oilers have a lower PDO over this stretch due to poor finishing (SH% side). Their 5v5 xGF is 84 while their GF is 77. That’s 7 GF below expected. On the against side, they are 10 goals below expected with 63 GA and 53 xGA.
Also, tied for 3rd league wide in GA with only Jets far lower, 1 behind the Canucks, including the dark days
Been a long time coming
Good defence during Knoblauch with 2.06 5v5 xGA60 (third).
Corey Perry. I despised him as a Duck.Was it Perry that purposefully stomped on one of our players in the crease and broke their hand or something similar in that infamous playoff series? However, he showed very well with Hollywood and McLeod. Welcome home, you filthy tip rat of a human.
The Worm has turned.
This team is not even playing their best. Good enough, and even getting some defensive breaks. Doesn’t matter.
This team is good. Very good.
Scoring, defence, goalie, grit. It’s what we have been waiting for. Fantastic team.
These long all star breaks are agonizing. With a record win streak on the line and the divisional rival up next, this is going to be more agony than usual. Hopefully we get ecstasy at the other end of the tunnel.
I think the team could use a bit of rest time and some dedicated training. Feel like the last few games the crispness has come out of their passing and teams are doing well to clog Edmonton’s passing lanes. Think this pit stop comes at a perfect time – mentally prepare for a very important 4 point swing game against a divisional rival without the pressure of “keeping the streak alive”.
I feel ya, but I’m not sure how a nine day break helps the passing get crisper or the coach making structural changes to the play. But I’m sure the players–especially those a little dinged up–will love the time off.
Especially since, for most of it, they won’t even be permitted to have any sort of team event.
I think, technically, the team starts their 5-day CBA mandated bye week and then its the league shutdown for the ASG – won’t be able to have anything resembling a meeting or a practice.
Ah shit I completely forgot that the CBA mandates the break in the weekend. Well, hopefully Skinner gets some rest. I do think the break comes at an opportune time in the context of the streak. Would be easy for the team to start focusing on the streak or get superstitious about winning – as players are wont to do. Bit of a greater, refocus on the greater goal, beat Vegas because we want home ice.
I’ll take your point about players getting out of rhythm though, Munny. At least the good news is Vegas has the same break.
Vegas has it too
Not sure how many of them are playing in the fancy boring game
Big shout out to the Principle! He has been a tower of strength in net since the awful start. Can’t think of too many tenders playing better than him. He certainly he looks like that strong starter we have been longing for a number of years!
His consistency is amazing.
We mentioned his consistency (at a lower level of performance last year). He won the games the team won in front of him. He lost the games the team lost in front of him.
That is the first competence test of a good goaltender. Don’t lose games you team wins on the ice in front of you. (Basically, the backup goaltender test.) One can have a long career in the NHL if a goaltender can do this.
A lot of people huffed and puffed about how he wasn’t stealing games, but he was actually demonstrating something more important.
Another Power Win in the bank. Couldn’t watch but the TSN shot charts had us at roughly 11 shots in the key, the sabre tooth kittens at 11. Oilers’ were closer to the net, nice job when getting outshot
Losing the turnover battle is a stat line they need to improve, puck management is king
Great win, thanks Stu!
Boogity boogity!
Humita humita
Giggity giggity giggity goo
AND 23 SKIDOO TOO
Crowd might be day drunk
This team just swept January – wild.
This coach is 14-0 against the West.
January madness.
Oilers make the Sweet 16.
Sweet 16
I like the sound of 16 wins – let’s do that again in the post season, eh?
Especially if it’s a winning streak of 16!!
Who cares if the Oil win 16 ❤️
I wonder if hockey games would have more exciting play if games were scored out of 3 points. But rather than do it the way the womens’ league does it, award 1 pt per period a team wins. Basically have three 1-point, 20-minute games.
3 points for a regulation win. 2 points for an OT or shootout win. 1 point for a OT or SO loss.
I think I like that less than just getting rid of the Bettman point altogether.
Will make everything wildly out of synch with prior eras.
Nice shift Ryan
And just like that, Draisaitl hits the over!
Although it would have been nice to put the game away early, a tight game at the end is always more fun.
Hyman with the nail! #16 baby!!!
Hyman in the rough.
30
Dirty Thirty for Rhymin Hyman!!!!
Play La Bamba baby!
Skinner was outstanding tonight.
Connor Brown will never score again.
As written on a stone tablet!
Jack and Louie have quirks. We only notice them because we are always listening.
But they really are excellent. I’m glad we have them. Including the quilt Bob Stauffer and Gene P.
Out of curiosity, when was the last time you listened to another broadcast team (excluding CBC)?
I make a point of listening to the away feed and rarely, once in a blue moon rare, find a team that leaves me wanting for the home crew.
this really flabbergasts me. It is, of course, a matter of opinion and thus there is no right answer but I absolutely adore Louie and Jack. I like that Michaels came from radio so he calls the play constantly and communicates the game’s velocity with vocal dynamics. For me, he really captures the energy of hockey. I also find Louie’s goofiness funny (but can completely appreciate that others may not). I listen to other broadcast crews and except for the greats like Gord Miller & Doc I find most oscillate between tedious to gratingly biased. I love St Louis’ team and honestly, Kraken have a great team too – really enjoy the 3 person dynamic
Jack and Louie often go off on random tangents, I call it story time. Can’t stand it.
Jack has his WWE style calls, not a fan.
Louie constantly falls back on old cliches and tropes because he has no original insight, drives me nuts.
They’re not terrible. I prefer them to Singh, although he’s a low bar to clear.
I suppose I enjoy the away broadcasts for a few reasons.
Sorry, Michaels is nails on a chalkboard.
The two pathetic season starts has seen DeBrusk regress.
Oilers have been determined in getting out-fought this period