This is the 2016-17 roster (forwards) that finally made the grade and won a playoff spot for the Oilers. It took exactly one forever, or 11 years depending on how you tell time.
Since then, the club has been pushing for tin, well silver, and the Stanley. I believe they are closer now than ever before. Tonight’s game, should it result in a win, would land the team two points shy (with a game in hand) of the Vancouver Canucks. The two teams play each other on the weekend, and it’s possible for this team to win the division.
I believe that matters and also believe just being in this spot represents a great deal to the organization. There are stops along the way to Stanley, and a division title (last one for Edmonton: 1987) would be a new plateau.
THE BLOG
We had another episode (two weeks deleted) last night and I apologize. I will call Blue Host and get it fixed again, but there’s every chance it will snap back before I get to contact them. Folks, I am thinking of moving to a new site, keeping this one for archive purposes and inviting you over to a more inviting experience. I don’t know when it happens, and for sure don’t know how, but that’s my thinking at this time. The old boat takes on water so often, and even small upgrades on the back end can send things flying. I know how much many of you love it, and promise never to delete it, but adding files and articles is just too much by plenty. I hope you understand.
MCDAVID RETURN
I would love to see the Oilers win the division. I would love to see McDavid post 100 assists. The most important thing is having No. 97 in the faceoff dot for Game 1 of the playoffs. Nothing else comes close to that one true thing.
KEY PERFORMERS
Ken Holland has a stack of players who will be called upon this postseason to perform as needed. I was looking at the wingers this week, wondering who will contribute handsomely among the group. Using stats from the deadline (March 8) through today, the forwards who are posting numbers may give us some idea about who could make headlines in the spring.
- Connor Brown 2.58
- Zach Hyman 2.07
- Adam Henrique 1.56
- Warren Foegele 1.47
- Corey Perry 1.02
- RNH 0.93
- Evander Kane 0.92
- Mattias Janmark 0.84
If you’re a Dylan Holloway fan and want to see him in the lineup, this list should give you some hope. There’s plenty of room for improvement although I do think the eight names here are the talent pool on the wings this playoff spring for Edmonton. Nice to see Connor Brown doing so well, and much is expected from Corey Perry and Evander Kane.
It’s Friday on the Lowdown, noon to 2pm Sports 1440. Steve Lansky from BigMouth Sports will tell us about the Jays opening weekend, and the Oilers playoff opportunities. Tyler Yaremchuk from Daily Faceoff will tell us how to get Dylan Holloway into the everyday lineup and I’ll pry out of him what the Buffalo Bills will do at the draft. Declan Krueger has Declanations and we’ll hammer the music until the weekend comes out to play. 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.
Broberg quite the OT winner – took the puck in his own zone, was shot out of a cannon like that MacKinnon goal the other night, it created a 2 on 1 but he just took the puck to the circles and ripped home the winner!
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S’up?
Summarizing!
Stefan procured an apple as Portland won handily the first game vs. Everett.
Stonehouse was denied soup as Ottawa dropped Game 1.
Stone practicing. Modern miracle
No Boosh in OT is actually the biggest deployment question. That said, he didn’t have a great game. Coach might’ve been sending a message.
Am I missing something? Jack keeps saying game tomorrow is for division but Oilers still 3 points behind. Pretty sure we would still be a point behind Nucks even if we win the game, non?
they’d be in control of their own destiny. The single point tonight was crucial
We would be a point behind, and tonight does not for sure decide the division. But if the Oilers win we’re only a point behind with a game in hand. So the path to the division title is there and very possible.
That’s some soft coverage by Henrique. Without 97 some of the OT options are lacking
Best news on this is shortly there will be no more bs gimmick time. Soon it will be how it is meant to be, play normal and do it until there is a winner.
I didn’t watch it all but from what I saw the Oilers played strong and were the better team. The Coyotes players knew their new owners were watching closely, and the news of relocation must have been on their minds. They played well too, kudos to them. Must be a tough situation.I don’t care how much money you make, that is tough on families.
I’m surprised the NHL even made this decision in season, seems crazy. But there is likely so much to do to relocate them they have to start now just to have a chance.
Beat Vancouver!
Demko practiced for real for the first time yesterday. Good chance we see him tomorrow night.
Sounds like hyman needs to spend some extra time in the blue paint. Maybe some Perry shenanigans. Help slow down his recovery.
Oilers look ordinary without McDavid
Did they look ordinary last game?
Did they lose to a non playoff team tonight ?
Did the Canucks WITH their best player lose to the same non-playoff team on Wednesday?
Did we all get the memo on rhetorical questions?
Is there a better answer than “well-played?”
Thumbs up, mom.
You make it seem as if the Oilers are the first playoff team to lose to the Coyotes and have never won a game without McDavid before or something.
Henrique in Ot ???????
Who the heck puts out Henrique 3v3
The Ducks. Before trading him. Why the Oilers would do it? No clue.
Henri and Hyman in OT – good players but slow boots
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Ah, crap.
We just didn’t have it nearly all night…
Not a good look.
Boneheads…
Pickard!!!! Getting the job done!!!
Pickard full value in OT so far
Wanna see McLeod and Hollywood in OT.
Woulda been a better choice than Henrique.. as evidenced by the goal against!
I don’t think “evidence” means what you think it means
That was great! Ekholm fakes the slap dump in and 3 oilers bite and go offside. I laughed out loud.
Come on, Kane. No look passes can never happen in the D zone…like never ever…
Bouch is such a perplexing player. Such high IQ/touch in the ozone and stone hands/endless giveaways in the d zone.
Fascinating.
This is the player. Take the bad with the good
Oil Nursed to a tie game
Key traffic from Kane, which is what you need to beat Veggie
Bourgault sauces a pas to open space on a 2 on 2 – Savoie shoots the gap, catches up and buries the 2-0.
Finally righted the ship.
Time to take over the game in the third.
Nuge gets to so many great spots. If he gets his sights adjusted he’s gonna be dynamite in the playoffs,
well we finally took the shot lead.
85 feet behind the play, but sure, let’s call tripping.
From the reffing, Bettman clearly needs to sell a franchise for max dollars
Loved that Kulak erase of the coyote. He’s getting Playoffs ready.
Ryan took about three interference penalties on that OZone sortie
Kane line elevated their game on that shift. Kaner was hitting everything. Now for the team to follow!
Hmmm. No mojo today so far. Not much rhyming. Playing down to the comp. I would’ve thought there’d be a bit more from a team with a shot at a div title. Lots of gliding and not much body checking. Stetcher is very slow. Arizona looks very fast. Logan Cooley looking great.
Louie is on board with many here – Ceci is partly or fully responsible for every goal.
Slow backchecking..,again…
Odd man break and it’s in the net.
Zona on the other hand seems to have no issues with working hard and backtracking tonight
Gagner finds Kemp sneaking down from the point – perfect cross ice pass and Kemp buries it for the early 1-0 lead.
I ran into Kemp’s dad on the train the other day.
Right D should get a 2nd assist on that – I think it was Stecher.
BOOM!!! Henry!! Hard working shift!!!
Henrique from the office next to Hyman’s
There you go.
Shat the bed in that period. Lotta late backcheckers and stick waving…
Crappy rebounds from Picks didn’t help but he’s made some really good saves to keep us in this.
I’m switching to scotch…
I imagine the coach is going to have a word with his players between periods.
I had no idea they could call a penalty for delay on a deflected puck. Didn’t look like Boosh knew either. and you’d think the high stick would immediately make the play dead, but apparently not.
When it is deflected on a play involving a high stick the Oilers also have to give Calgary a 3rd.
Looks like option 2….
Picks makes up for his crappy early rebounds.
This game could 3-0 if not for Pickard.
I get you don’t want players to relieve pressure by shooting the puck out of play.
But that is definitely not it
Another huuuuge save
Bourgualt back in the Condors lineup tonight – playing right wing with Malone and Erne. He missed close to 20 games.
Nuge is pretty low energy tonight
Sorry, but I’m not a fan of the “puck over glass” penalty.
Remember hockey in the 90’s? Aside from Cujo and Marchant that one game, it mostly sucked. Shooting the puck over the glass was a free way to get a rest and reset in play. Now sometimes we do get penalties for a “whoopsie” but you could say the same for an errant high stick. Players being paid a million+ should be able to control where they put the puck.
Edit: to be clear, this was a bs call. More speaking in general here.
Kane should have buried earlier and Nuge needs to bury there – great pass by Bouch.
Ok, on review, bit of a tough pass by he can do a better job handling it.
Yep. Gonna be a slog until we can get one. I think the good gate open after that…