Photo of Philip Broberg by Bruce McCurdy
It won’t come to this, but the Edmonton Oilers might have to dig in to their depth on defense before the end of the Stanley Cup final. The club is carrying extras (Cody Ceci, Phil Kemp, Cam Dineen and Ben Gleason) if push comes to shove. Cody Ceci is obviously next man up, and Phil Kemp after that based on practice and reading tea leaves. How should you rank the Condors, after Philip Broberg? Good question.
BAKERSFIELD CONDORS BLUE EV STRENGTH GOAL PCT
- Phil Kemp 64 games, 39-28 (58 pct)
- Philip Broberg 49 games, 40-32 (56 pct)
- Max Wanner 52 games 52-42 (55 pct)
- Ben Gleason 62 games, 54-46 (54 pct)
- Noel Hoefenmayer 47 games, 38-32 (54 pct)
- Condors overall 72 games, 165-145 (53 pct)
- Markus Niemelainen 35 games, 21-20 (51 pct)
- Cam Dineen 58 games 44-44 (50 pct)
The list is tracked by our good friend Eric Rodgers, who has been running these numbers since the Oklahoma City Barons days (that’s a long time and he’s a mensch). I did not include the AHL contract players in this group. The Oilers are running Kemp more often in main practice based on what I’ve seen, and the Rodgers numbers suggest that’s the best option. We can’t track qual comp in the AHL, but I’ve seen most of their games and would tell you that all of these men played against the AHL’s best at one time or another. Without specific information, something I hope the Oilers possess, my guess is the gap between No. 1 and No. 7 versus AHL elites is small. I’ll further suggest there is no “AHL elite” so we’re parsing in even discussing it. Kemp is the best option based on these numbers.
I would like to point out Max Wanner here. I believe he has the brightest future of anyone on this list save Broberg. We’ll see.
ABOUT GAME THREE
This isn’t a tremendously interesting time in the season for me. There’s plenty of “well they better understand how big this is!” conversations online but of course they know how big this is, they have brains and have been pursuing this goal for their entire lifetime. It drives these athletes to extremes.
If I say “I don’t think they care” it says more about me than the Edmonton Oilers. Every neuron firing on that entire roster right now is devoted to winning Game 3. Don’t be the “I don’t think they care” guy, it’s lazy and stupid.
Better questions are “how do the Oilers overcome the Panthers forecheck and get smoother exits?” or “the Panthers seem to be pressuring Evan Bouchard up top, what can the coaching staff do to make that go away?” or “what change in deployment will help most in Game 3?”
My answers are run Broberg on the second pair and fade the third pair; have both wingers move higher to give Bouchard passing options or have Bouchard make an area pass that will isolate the players who are pressuring him; Connor Brown to Leon Draisaitl’s line.
You owe it to yourself to ask better questions, even if you only do it in your brain parts. If you aren’t getting smarter, you’re losing ground on people who are actually engaged and asking interesting internal questions. Half ass your life and your life delivers what you ordered.
Finally for the poster who went rogue yesterday and challenged people to a duel on this site? You need to relax. Take some time to enjoy life. Go for a walk. Seriously. On a site that has aggressive posters up the ass, and passive aggressives by the score, your display yesterday was truly an outlier. I thought it was impossible to stand out so much that over a dozen people reported you. If I had a “wow” trophy you’d win it.
A busy day on the Lowdown, we start at noon and run with non-stop verbal on Sports 1440. Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal will join us to talk Oilers. We’ll talk about the NBA logo passing (Jerry West is gone), CFL and we’ll have your comments, too. 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. Question: Would you like to see an updated 2024 Lowetide draft list later this week?
One thing I am grateful for out of this deep playoff drive is a short offseason. Win or lose I’m going to be ready to go. Buy outs, draft…just get me to training camp.
Panthers motto. If you’re not cheating you’re not trying. Fair to say that the Stanley cup winners took advantage of the grey areas the last number of years to give themselves an advantage. Whether ltir convenient timing or incessant stick work that won’t get called 95% of time. Problem is Oilers are trying to win rather clean relatively. Whether that be not using Kane in ltir or not throwing the head back when touched anywhere near the face, or staying down on the ice longer than the hurt warrants. Oilers need both to play harder but also smarter, in terms of their willingness to stretch the grey areas and cheat a little. Not sure Knoblauch or Mcdavid have it in them to suggest or enact this approach though.
I might be alone.
But I would rather lose than win without integrity (such as diving)…
Winning vancouver 2011 style (if they had) has no pride.
I may be alone here, but if the oilers turned into soccer players THAT wpuld actually have me quit watching them. Its probably my biggest hate…
Now, i do agree with you though on “stretching the rules” with interference, stick work, etc… pick plays etc are part of adapting. Doing 1 tap to disrupt the hands instend of can-opener is adapting. I suppose one can argue the same on embelishment… but its different to me (maybe thats hypocritical but my stance).
I’d rather win. The Oilers didn’t make the rules, but it’s the game being played.
What percentage of the time do teams win in the playoffs when they loss a top 4 d early in the game?
Where is everyone, like seriously?
How many posters are currently in the penalty box?
It seems that a certain fan of the Vancouver Canucks might be in the sin bin.
I take a night off and missed a duel…
A little sad I missed that level of fireworks to be honest.
Awesome gif!
Dont have too much to say right now. Too much time in between games.
im intrigued with the McLeod-Drai-Holloway line. Theres a lot of speed there and they should be responsible defensively. Can they get out of their own end and gain the zone with control though? That’s the million dollar question.
One would hope we see Drai in Beast Mode after he called himself out after last game.
Leon should have cleaner air now that the league knows he’s not a punching bag anymore. It time for the kid Hollaway to step up he needs to start crashing and banging John Tonelli style that goes for McLeod and Foegele. This game 3 is do are die whatever it takes.
Friedman thinks Deharnais plays but Bob speculated on Ceci – I will generally lean towards Bob (although that doesn’t really line up with today’s practice).
Panthers had travel delays and are scheduled to land after 8 tonight now.
they’ll be fine but it’s not a bad thing…..
Guessing Nurse plays and Kane sits tomorrow.
Friedman speculated exactly that on Oilers Now.
I think I am going to duel a bottle of Springbank 15 tomorrow night to celebrate the awesome run.
While I do not think the Oilers will win, I am proud the team. They came back from the dead to make the finals. I remember in November I was predicting a blow up of the team once they missed the playoffs. I was wayyyy off.
I feel the same way. After 2-9-1, everything almost feels like a bonus. It’s been an enjoyable run. And hey, there’s a chance that it’s not over yet.
On the other hand, I hope the Oilers still feel that it’s “Cup or bust.”
Also hammer Barkov hard. You knock him out the swimming because much much easier and he’s a player that gets fairly frequently banged up
The Leon hit was as clean as the hits Bennett and Tkachuk have been laying out. Leon caught Barkov on the railway tracks it was still a 2-1 game. This phantom call decided our fate the Refs grouped together and came up with a BS 2 minute roughing call because they couldn’t get him on anything else. Where is our media to call them on it. Why was this a penalty and Bennett charging and head hunting Broberg just part of the game.
There were many dirty hits by the Panthers that were not called and should have been but that does not make what Leon did clean – his penalty was deserved (and could have been more) – doesn’t mean other stuff shouldn’t have been called but Leon’s call was legit.
Leon cashed in his ‘get out of jail free card’ that was owed to him from the DOPS for the slash by Pietrangelo.
Leon caught him with the perfect hit no elbow nothing but net. How exactly is this roughing? Hockey is a contact sport and Mr.Slash got a taste of it. I hope coach K.K gives Carrick the green light to turn up your Bennett.
Holy – wild stuff here if you actually believe what you wrote.
He left his feet. He made primary contact with the head and it was with his elbow/forearm.
Definitely a penalty, but I didn’t see any chance of suspension because this was a rare head-on collision.
I think Draisaitl hit Barkov’s right shoulder slightly *before* connecting with Barkov’s jaw (16 on his right shoulder moves before Barkov’s head moves). In any case, there’s no doubt Draisaitl hit Barkov on both right and left sides, which should mean head was not principal point of contact. To my eyes anyway.
The only one talking about suspension for Leon and Carrick is yourself. Same with the Forgele incidental contact acting job. Why is that? How about Ekbald choking out Bouchard watch the replay it’s nastier then the love tap Carrick gave after almost losing his head. How about Bennett taking out Bouchard knees or Bennett head hunting Broberg. The list goes on Florida and Maurice are bullies it’s going to take every player standing up to these thugs.
I never once said that Leon should be suspended – not once.
I think Carrick’s play was super dirty and, well, the league determined in the dirtiest of all the plays in the game.
I have said multiple times there were many dirty plays by the opposition that should have been called but that has nothing to do with what I’m discussing – I’m responding to a, seemingly clear, bias opinion on Leon’s play (or Carrick’s play).
You still have time to write a letter to your pen pal Jim Peplinski and try to get Carrick suspended after taking a cheap shot high hit.
This series reminds me of the Winnipeg series when Maurice was the coach. They won’t call them all. David Staples has been presenting evidence of this for the last day on X.
Yeah, it has gone unfortunately as I had predicted from that standpoint.
Oilers need to get a little more flamboyant with the slashes. I’ve never seen a team slash so much as the Panthers. It’s like playing a hockey video game and turning off penalties
Don’t forget the whipping back of the head when facing away from the ref. Seen that a couple of times this series…
Maybe some fake blood capsules they can bite down on when they get slashed…
Oilers need to start dropping their sticks and yelling out in pain. They need to get in the fight.
I agree with this only to the extent of keeping it equal.
But the reality of it is, as much as we mock soccer for the ridiculous dives and flopping on calls, the reason they do it is because it works and often gives their team an advantage… as long as this horseshit refereeing goes and they continually not call embellishments or v even it up, it will only get worse. Honestly, I can’t and won’t fault any team that uses the how the rules are called to their advantage, that’s 100% on the league to clean up, not the players.
Panthers currently stranded in Florida due to flash flooding. They were scheduled to depart 11am MT but still on the ground…. Sounds like they won’t be arriving now until the wee hours of tomorrow morning.
I read about this weather scenario 2 days ago, so the Panthers must have known there could be a possibility of something like this, yet they chose to delay flying north for an additional day… Dummkopfs!!
Anyone know what would happen in the very unlikely event of them not arriving by game time? I assume a default wouldn’t be in the cards….?
https://dailyhive.com/edmonton/panthers-stuck-florida-weather-oilers
Find the hotel they’ve booked and serenade them with a good old-fashioned shivaree overnight.
We need an inside job… Someone on the hotel staff pulls the fire alarm around 4am…
FWIW, Maurice views hotel disruptions as good luck:
https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-bruins/2024/05/18/panthes-paul-maurice-bruins-fire-alarm-game-6-quotes/
Ok reverse psychology. Let’s be so over-accommodating that he thinks something is fishy, but he can’t identify it, and it throws him.
Apparently that was the standard operating procedure in Central American countries when the Canadian Men’s Soccer Team played there in days of old. Players also reported being hit with bags of urine as they entered the playing field. I don’t think we need to go THAT far!
UPDATE: Flight has apparently departed, approx 230pm MT as per Emily Kaplan’s twitter. Damn… Was hoping for a longer delay!
The league doesn’t really “default” any games but would have had to delay or re-schedule the game. They do have a provision for if a game can’t be completed which is to play it all over again at the end of the series if necessary https://www.cbc.ca/archives/1988-stanley-cup-finals-power-outage-1.5579029#:~:text=Hours%20earlier%2C%20the%20Boston%20Bruins,play%20had%20to%20be%20halted.
Yeah, didn’t think so but a guy can dream…
Debate is too strong a word. If Nurse can play he should play but…that Should be within limits.
Kane, I think it was worth the risk to keep rolling him out at 90%, 80%, 70% because his replacement Perry was not going to be effective. But now we’ve crossed that threshold and Kane is so limited it’s time for him to sit.
The thing with Nurse is that if he is out we’ve got two things;
Kulak/Desh
Broberg/Ceci
vs
75% Nurse/Desh
Kulak/90% Broberg
So at 90% Nurse should play even if it means Broberg plays his wrong side.
But what about at 60%?
When asked for lineup updates and what the loss of Nurse might mean, coach says they haven’t contemplated him not playing.
Haven’t decided if Kane is playing game 3.
asked if Nurse would be limited, coach said, with the treatment he got during game 2 and the time off and the additional treatment, he’ll be ready to go.
That sounds foolish not to have contemplated having any player on the roster unavailable to play.
Suspect that’s a bit too literal of a reading. I take it as push-back to the suggestion Nurse would not play.
I think there are fairly obvious intended interpretations of the quote that are more apt that the strict and literal meaning, no?
So, Nurse is ready to go. He & Desi will be the third pair and that’s ok.
Seeing limited ice time.
I don’t agree with the sentiment that replacement players at the bottom of the roster are the key to solving the Panthers puzzle. A lot of our comments are along the lines of: Get Broberg in the top 4. Change the pairings. Holloway is key and should be on the roster.
These are all small fry changes that don’t really move the needle. I recognize it makes us feel better to think a small tweak will unlock victory, but it’s not realistic. McDavid and Drai marking and backchecking? Now that is something that can make a big difference and we have seen it do so in these playoffs. It’s not so much which players at the point when we have a roster of this much talent, it’s how the players play.
So the big problem in this series for the Oilers isn’t roster. They have a good roster. A championship roster. Their problem is they are up against one of the best coaches to work behind the bench in the NHL. Maurice is working with a roster that isn’t all that remarkable compared to the Oilers. If anything, he has a lot of middling talent that has found a resurgence on Miami Beach. Toss away players from other teams and a solid backend with a star goalie.
A lot of his players have had discipline problems. A lot have a history of problems controlling their tempers and taking bad penalties. He has all these imperfect players working together to stifle the Oilers. Tkachuk not taking stupid penalties by trying to stir the pot. Tkachuk (who is not known for his defensive prowess or speed) gutting himself to race back and backcheck McDavid just enough to deny a scoring opportunity without taking a penalty. Bennett calm and focused without taking dumb penalties. Every player back in their own end – on time – and blanketing the Oilers talented superstars. That’s coaching. That’s a guy that can get all of this players from all walks of life pulling on the rope at the same time with the same goal.
The Oilers are going to need a lot of luck to beat this Maurice-coached team. The goals are not going to come in the traditional tic-tac-toe manner like they did all season. It’s going to have to be point shots with big bodies screening in front ready to stand firm with their sticks on the ice to shovel in rebounds while being cross checked and knocked over. Tic-tac-toe is covered and Maurice has the Panthers trained to not make a single mistake.
Maurice is a brilliant coach and was available to be hired at the time of the Woodcroft hiring. That would have made a difference in this series and likely would have had us beating Vegas and winning last year too. The coaching plays an outsized role in the NHL and doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves.
I really enjoy your level-headed takes on the situation.
The way Miami got Bouchard off his game, that’s what the Oilers need to do to Tkachuk and Bennett.
I don’t think you can count Knoblauch and his Oiler team out of this just yet. No doubt adjustments are key. But who is to say that this Maurice-coached team hasn’t been lucky to be leading this series 2-0.
I think you’re giving Maurice too much credit.
Like the Winnipeg series, he has an uncanny nose for what the officials will let go in terms of defensive fouls.
He does do a great job of coaching sneaky dirty tactics like the impeccable technique of Slasha Barrkov. They have an aggressive forecheck and penalty kill. Great buy in from their players too.
How Tkachuk kept up with McDavid on that play even with the hooking is a mystery.
Yet, the Oilers outplayed the Panthers in game one. We lost due to poor shot selection and goalie Bob. Also two brain cramps from Nurse. They shut the game down in the third with the trap.
Game 2 was a mess with losing Nurse and Foegele.The poor forward support in the d zone was self-inflicted.
The Oilers need to watch tape of Slasha Barkov, then run 30 minutes of hack and slash drills against the black aces, in practice.
This is how I see it. I have commented many times I don’t like the Oilers 5v5 attack. I always get rebuttals about how much they score or individuals points or league leading stats
But what we are seeing happens every playoffs 5v5, many times reg season, and the PP often struggles when it counts. Not to mention that PPs historically start to taper off after game 2 in the finals
Connor and Leon push and things get obvious, they look for each other too much when together or try to do it themselves. Sometimes that works, but I don’t like the big picture. Against Dallas and Panthers 5v5 Connor has 6 pts Leon 2pts Zach 4 pts Nuge 2pts in 8 games. Not bad, but no offensive powerhouse
For a skilled team they have pretty meat and potatoes O zone tactics. They can be good on the rush, and can hold the puck on the boards. Connor skates around like a madman when he’s out, but not often does he set anyone up because there isn’t much support off the puck, so he looks for Leon who always goes to the same place, or Bouch, and everyone on the ice knows it. And it stops working
They have to have counter plays when everyone is trying to box out Connor and taking Leon’s angle away or attacking the point shot. There are 2 other players and there is open ice, just have to figure out how to set up good clean chances. They need to be trying to get inside all game with players finding soft spots, not occasionally, and they need to have someone in Bob’s eyes and in position to tip consistently. Or shoot for rebounds and have guys there, like Connor’s shot pass, you will get goals doing that. Or Bouch’s filthy setup to Connor in the slot, fast and behind the coverage
To me when players go to the paint they are often so tight in they don’t have room to do anything or there are D right on them. It’s too literal. Maybe the screen can do that, other guys need to find the soft areas. They are ending up with too many lower % chances (point shots, contested shots, jams and wraps) , they need to be making more low high and seam plays because they are far harder to save. This is what I see from teams that are good 5v5, it’s always been the way outside of broken plays
I hope they can find the counters to take what is being given. It’s there. And that next season the coaches make it part of the plan always
That’s a feature not a bug.
Can’t recall where I read it, but I had came across something once about Zito and Mehta specifically went out looking for players with aggressive tendencies.
Florida has a well balanced playoff type team and with last years final experience they are using the officials to a T. A hot goaltender can also make any coach look like a mad genius.
— yes this a reminder of what matters: if we knew that McDrai would have 1 assist combined in the first two games we would know the result
— McDrai needs to be contributing a lot more : the rest just details that people get stuck in weeds.
— Suspect they will score more next two games and the “weeds” will be less examined as they do t matter by order of magnitude
— 1 point combined next two games: pack your bags, warm up the jet your all going home.
The Panthers were excellent in game 2, and are certainly all pulling on the rope generally.
But why has this brilliant coach never won a cup in almost 2000 career games? And why have his teams been out of the playoffs more than in?
The year that stands out for me is the 2017-18 playoffs.
The Jets lost to the Golden Knights, 4-1 in the conference finals.
My goodness, what a roster the Jets had that season.
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0063782018.html
seriously. click on the link.
Yeah, I couldn’t believe they lost that series. Incredible depth. NHL #1 NSH vs NHL #2 WPG in the quarter-finals should have determined the Stanley Cup winner that year.
Panthers = Floppers (well trained) deluxe
For all of those who rode Nurse’s ass for these entire playoffs….and his entire career, here is the much anticipated opportunity to see what the Oilers look like without him.
Let’s not overblown things and get melodramatic. If Nurse doesn’t dress this isn’t what the Oilers would look like without him (ie had they traded him). In such a scenario the replacement plan would not have been to elevate Kulak.
He’s playing tomorrow.
This series has a lot of parallels to the Infinity War in the MCU. Just as Thanos used the infinity stones to wipe out half of the universe, so too has Florida wiped out half of the wins available in the series. Their infinity stones were:
The reality stone (They are able to bend the reality that the referees are able to see)
The time stone (They were able to restore Bobvrosky to levels known in the past)
The soul stone (They were able to suck the life out of an enjoyable game)
The power stone (They have sucked the power out of Kane)
The Mind stone (They have caused Oiler fans lose their minds, resulting in dueling challenges over blog spaces)
and The Space stone (They have eliminated the time and space from the Oilers forwards)
But the Oilers have a shot to regain the stones, and restore the universe.
Florida: I am (the Stanley cup is now) inevitable.
Connor: I am…. McDavid.
*Connor snaps his wrist, and puts home the OT goal in game 7, and the universe is restored.
This Oiler fan is still happy and chipper. In every series it’s taken the Oilers a few games, or four, to figure out who their opponent is, and how to respond appropriately.
I like your take. Come on home boys, make the adjustments and begin the real battle here. Some of our response will result from the multitudes of very very loud Oilers fans, who will likely have a substantial effect on the play of both teams.
Reporting from Tampa, I can’t see Miami from here, thankfully, (pretends to spit), but I know people who can. It’s a 4-hour drive from here, and about a 45 hr drive to Edmonton, 450 hrs with kids.
Even since moving here, I still can’t really comprehend how far it is away from home. It’s like driving from the Southeast tip of Portugal to central Poland (through 3-4 countries).
Ya, they flew on a private jet, and ya, they had 15 2/3 days off in between. But the travel, the time change, the humidity. OH THE HUMIDITY! The “ice”.
These things may have played a factor in games 1 and 2.
The Panthers were home in their cozy little beds, and Edmonton had to John Candy/Steve Martin their way down here. Plus, Miami is like Tijuana mixed with Vegas mixed with Cuba, with a bit of ‘Murica in there, so I suspect there could be distractions about.
Ya, I know they get paid millions, and this is their life, and they should be ready/prepared for this, but YOU try playing 100 games plus practices and THEN try to travel kitty corner across the continent and try to play the hardest game you have all year.
So my point is, I guess…NO excuses, no prisoners, gotta suck it up boys! Overcome it all. Learn from your experiences. What does Lowetide say? You have 2 games experience, not one game experience twice? Pretty sure I messed that up. Maybe that doesn’t apply here.
At least we have a coach that makes adjustments when things ain’t working.
Lord Stanley don’t care how far you travelled to get here. He expects your best.
One can only hope a combination of:
-the travel
-playing way past their bedtime
-dry prairie air sucking the life out of their tender, moisturized skin
-the thunderdome filled with deranged lunatics
works in our favour the next two games.
P.S. Why did we add that U in favour Canada? Answer me that. Efficiency.
At least we use the metric system.
The Oilers had six days off after Dallas. All the games in the final are 8PM EDT. One assumes they switched to living in EDT right after beating Dallas.
Ever been to Miami? That place will vacuum the life out of a small town boy. Maybe I’m the only one who goes to bed at 8pm EDT.
I’ve been to Miami. I didn’t find it all that interesting. I liked the everglades, the alligators and iguanas everywhere. But it felt like a fairly vanilla flat town, after that, with kooky politics. But then again, I’m also the kind of person that finds LA boring. I love NYC, though. Well, NYC in the 90’s. Sounds like it’s not quite as interesting now. Bankers, everywhere.
I’ve lived in the US and married an American which is just caveat: I agree “a fairly vanilla flat town, after that, with kooky politics” describes so many cities that we as Canadians fear losing our NHL stars to. We have a tendency to galmourize (ou +z) American markets but outside a very few exceptions I don’t find American cities any sexier or interesting than Canadian ones and in most cases they are even more generic and spread out. I get the tax thing but I don’t think we should be so defensive all the time. Like, I’m no Flames fan but Johnny Hockey choosing Columbus is nuts. Detroit nearly had a dynasty during a period when it was practically unliveable. The boys from Oilersnation landed in Dallas and were politely like, “this is a city”? Etc.
Anyway, go Oilers!
I lived in the States for 10 years. Mostly NY but also a year in Eugene Oregon. Eugene is a pretty nice town by Canadian standards. So is NYC and Ithaca NY.
One of my fondest memories of living in Eugene, I was playing hockey in the city league. In one of my first games I scored a goal. A guy from the **other team** came up to me and said “nice goal!” I was shocked. Turned out he was from Calgary, but had lived in Oregon so long the culture was settling in.
I lived in France for a while and they had some similarly weird cultures. In a hockey game, both teams shake hands before the game starts. Was this some sort of subtle contract where we agreed to not hurt each other? What’s going on?
I passed through Eugene once on our way from SF back to Edmonton on a long road trip. I recall more than anything a very good sandwich. I love the pacific northwest (wait – maybe Eugene doesn’t fit into that geography exactly? Or it does?) and to be clear none of my criticism of American cities is applicable to the American landscape. Stunning, variated, dramatic.
Haven’t spent time in Ithaca but I’ve had some good times in Albany-Troy. And New York City is America and it is amazing, but its New York City first, IMO. I wish I had had more time or energy to get into playing rec hockey as I lived in Massachusetts and could have found a league. I wonder what the east coast vibe would be like as compared to these nice west coast vibes you describe?
My favourite American city (NYC notwithstanding) is probably Philadelphia. Not only because I got to see McDavid score the goal that LT uses, with 4 Flyers draped over him, from right about the same angle. But it helps.
Hockey in New York is pretty much identical to playing in Edmonton. People wear Rangers gear rather than Oilers gear. You have to get really close to Buffalo to start seeing Sabres jerseys. Moving from Edmonton to NY felt like a small transition, to me. Germany, France and Oregon were all bigger steps. That said, I live in Victoria now and it feels quite a lot like Oregon. So little hockey here.
I went into a bar in Manhattan in the 90’s and found a huge guy (6’8″ and likely over 300lbs) wearing an Oilers jersey. This was Doug Weight years. I walked up to him and asked if he was from Edmonton. He had never heard of the place. With all the black players on the Oilers in the 90’s apparently it was a trend to wear the jerseys.
This is a really interesting discussion. I think the psychology of the average hockey player is different from the psychology of the average fan, and WAY different from the psychology of the average Lowetide poster.
I’m also the kind of person that finds LA boring, and would prefer NYC in the ’90s. I highly doubt that hockey players feel that way. (Guys like Jaccob Slavin or Dougie Hamilton might be the exceptions that prove the rule.)
The psychology of the player is definitely different but also they aren’t so homogenous. I remember Dougie Hamilton being alienated as Flame because he wanted to go to museums on off days. But sure a player making millions might want to blow his money on a Florida beach front home, my only point is that this is no reason to think Tampa Bay is a better city than Winnipeg, say.
Agreed I was there for work and took an extra day to explore a bit. If that is my last time in Miami, I won’t be too somber
— I don’t think you saw the Miami that I know : little Havana and little Haiti are very unique in North America. Wynwood a marvel in repurposing warehouse area to a fantastic area. The architecture varied and beautiful. Not to mention some stunning beaches and one of the most multicultural cities in North America. Fashion District incredible. Great neighborhoods like surfside. Fantastic variety of restaurants across the gamut. All the professional sports. The intercoastal with stunning homes and a neat way on boat to explore.
— Yeah there is a Vegas vibe if that’s what you want and seek out and a small pocket of South Beach is an overpriced over crowded nightmare, but Miami is so much more. To each his own. I suspect you didn’t really get a chance to see all that Miami is. It’s a complex interesting place IMO, one of the few cities that isn’t a humogenous urban sprawl like most of North America.
Also the Golden Girls. Fantastic.
The 1440 sports update at 1pm indicated the Panthers flight hadn’t left yet. Something about flooding. It would be really too bad if they had a bad travel day…
Jason Gregor
@JasonGregor
RNH-McDavid-Hyman
McLeod-Draisaitl-Holloway
Janmark-Henrique -Brown
Foegele-Carrick-Perry
Ryan
Ekholm-Bouchard
Kulak-Broberg
Gleason-Desharnais
Kemp-Ceci
Skinner
Kane and Nurse not on ice.
11:10 AM · Jun 12, 2024
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https://twitter.com/JasonGregor/status/1800938753713897957
Broberg still on the right side. Kemp on the left. Things that make you go hmmm….
I would take that as a sign Ceci is injured as well, but maybe close to ready. That’s news to me.
Kemp Ceci would arguably be more likely than Gleason Desharanis to play, i think, if Nurse cannot go.
Ek-Bouch
Bro-Ceci
Kulak-Desh
Coach KK has Kemp and Gleason getting some reps, nothing more to it than that.
I am struggling to figure out what this means, if anything.
I can’t imagine they play either Gleason or Kemp OVER Ceci if he’s healthy – maybe he’s not.
My guess is that it means (or is in case of) Nurse is unable to play. That means Kulak-Broberg get big minutes and a new 3rd pair gets not many. I’m guessing Kemp-Ceci more likely for that role than Gleason-Desharnais.
A few weeks ago, we’d know it was Kulak-Ceci as 2nd pairing with Broberg-Desharnais as a faded #3. Not anymore.
You’re usually the master at sussing out what these mean so maybe I’m missing something but it seems obvious. It means to me that they think Nurse will play so have a LH placeholder. If they thought he was out then they’d have Broberg back on the left and Ceci “in”.
That’s what recent practice history tells us.
That makes sense.
That’s a surprise turn of events if Ceci doesn’t play. However, as I recall Gleason was impressive in camp, defended well & handled the puck with no difficulty, even had some offensive flare.
How so?
This all but confirms that Nurse will be in the lineup tomorrow and paired with Desharnais.
Edit: what knighttown said
@Lowetide
Hopefully you see this, but what do you think about Bourgault for Wahlstrom in the off season as a potential upside player who is on the outs with his team?
I paid a lot of attention to Wahlstrom at the time of the draft but haven’t followed so much after the first couple years, I know he has struggled but might be an under the radar option.
I think this is wishfull thinking.
I would like it, but i suspect the bourg has likely no value or very little in the trade unfortunately…
Agree with Joe – while Whalstrom is struggling, he’s played almost 200 NHL games and has a higher pedigree than Bourgault who’s arrows are currently firmly pointed down.
A duel, how retro!
Now I’m dying to know the details. Was it pistols at dawn? A Lowe v Burke style barn fight? Or possibly the best kind of Duel of all: https://youtu.be/SutDTIhbQ2g?si=2rVc3evsETIpjkVg
Remember the clip where the punk gets decked at the Dallas Stars game? That was bulletproof internet bravado meeting real world consequences. Or to put it more succinctly, writing cheques with your mouth that your fists can’t cash.
Dude might want to watch that clip before he sends out more duel invitations. lol
Edmonton hasn’t lost 3 games in a row since December 14-19, that’s half a calendar year ago.
Man, I missed the duel challenge. Was it rapier and dagger? Been meaning to learn the technique but can’t find anyone to practice with me. My son is almost big enough.
It was soccer cleats vs soccer diving, I think.
The guy had a lot of rage for a soccer diva.
I’m not even sure how soccer is a sport people actually watch. It’s baffling to me.
That is not duel! It is known.
Be careful what you say about Soccer, or you too may be invited to face the wrath of the soccer cleat 🙂
I believe that when you kept posting pics of diving soccer players, our new friend was ready to get his dad to beat up your dad. It was pretty funny…
Well, according to the internets, 3.5 billion people watch soccer in some form. So, I guess, it’s more baffling you DON’T watch it.
Maybe for him it’s because it doesn’t have a commercial every 5 minutes. Some people through no fault of their own have a very low attention span.
They watch it because they don’t have hockey.
This is also known.
I think there were some tears over a threat of a wedgie followed by a threat of flushie. Not certain, but the UN Council is mulling this over. I know my posts have caused many down thumbs, unsettledness, loquacious retorts, and even worse… meanderings
What about the dreaded ‘Rear Admiral’?
Man, it sure would be nice to have a healthy Kane and Nurse on the ice tomorrow.
You’d have to think that someone else will coming into the lineup for one or both. A lesser player that’s healthy has to be better than good players that are playing with what appear to be significant injuries. Bruce pointed out yesterday that Kane hadn’t even had a shot attempt in the first two games of the final. Yikes.
(Sorry, meant as a reply to OP below…)
They might be better off sitting the two of them.
Defensively they still have Ekholm & Bouchard, Broberg & Ceci, Kulak & Desharnais.
Give Nurse a rest he deserves it.
The Forwards need to be quicker. IMO try Holloway with McDavid & Hyman, Nuge with Henrique & Leon on RW, Foegele & MacLeod with Carrick on RW & Derek Ryan between Janmark & Brown. Four functional lines. Give Kane a rest he deserves it. Heck it might even be time for Skinner to have a rest too.
Nurse not on ice for practice.
Apparently a good 5-minute plus chat between Kane and Coach on the ice.
Would like to know what was said…
Not sure but apparently Kane left the ice after and didn’t practice.
Him not practicing is no surprise and the norm but him getting fully equipped and being on the ice to start and then not practicing at all seems odd….
“Evander, we’ve placed you on retroactive LTIR and signed Mark Stone. He’s taking your spot tomorrow night.”
This made me laugh out loud
— Fight!!!! I didn’t read yesterday now I want to go back and read!
— This is the third of my self-proclaimed “most important game of the McDrai era.
— that said, this season has been mission accomplished full stop. I really believed early in the season McDrai would not have re-upped. And who would have blamed them.
— Win or lose the cup there will be unfinished business (to repeat or be next years Florida).
— Nothings guaranteed but there ought to be a few more Cup runs for the Oil in a prolonged McDrai era, post Holland.
Mission accomplished: In my efforts to spin positive any and all things Oiler, I have come to think that “Cup or Bust” has been attained. They are here, the Cup is here. They made it to the Cup.
Crosby and the 2009 Penguins were in the same spot. About to lose for the second year in a row to the Red Wings. They overcame 2-0 and 3-2 series deficits to win Stanley.
This series reminds me of the 2006 series against SJ, although I’m not wishing for another triple OT game 3.
FLA will crumble. Oilers in six. 97 becomes a legend … the handoff to Nuge will make everyone shed happy tears.
McDavid is a better player than 2009 Crosby and FLA doesn’t have anything resembling a Lidstrom.
Im old enough to remember the old Oilers. This series is giving me strong flashbacks to 1983. The Oil had made it to the second round twice.this was their first trip to the finals. Their nemesis had an unbeatable goalie (Billy Smith), and a stifling team defence that completely stymied out superstar forwards and defenceman. That Oilers team was swept, but learned the commitment needed to win it all, and did so the next year. I wonder if history is repeating itself in 2024? Not ready to give up yet of course, but this is all looking eerily familiar.
Well, there’s some big differences. The Islanders were an imposing dynasty. Florida is not. And the Oilers were young punks. These Oilers are a veteran team. The Islanders had a lot of offense. While Florida has some offense they’re not record-setting like the Islanders.
I don’t think we’re headed for a sweep. Suspect tomorrow night the Oilers give Miami a fright.
Agreed, those are important differences. Another: zero pucks dropped in our town at this point.
games 1&2 in ‘83 Final were in Northlands3&4 back on the Island
I don’t think you can say the Panthers aren’t imposing.
The first game in 83-84 definitely was a mirror image the only difference was we were at home. Gretzky missed I believe 2 clear cut breakaways just as RNH and Henrique did. That 1st game 83-84 set the tone for the entire series as the Oilers gave more than 100% in game 1 and couldn’t beat Smith and win that all important 1st game on home ice.
I don’t think back in 1983 they got as much rest between games as they do in the present.
It was more of a grind back then. This Edmonton team will be well rested for their home stand. They better be ready to perform as they can.
Thanks for all you do Mr. Lowetide! I am feeling especially grateful this morning. I’ve been living in Singapore for the past two years and your site has kept me connected to the team I grew up watching in the 80’s, taking for granted all the parades we got to experience in the youth of this franchise. The 90’s were also special in a different way as the team most closely matched the character of the city in those years with a hard working club that gave its all more nights than not, but missing the superstars as they got moved to richer clubs in their peak years. Through the decade of darkness that came after our teams brilliant, unexpected, and heartbreaking 2006 SCF loss this site was a breath of fresh air. Being able to discuss our beloved team with other passionate fans, many with such deep knowledge of the game, has been a true blessing. Through it all, our host somehow always keeps it all in perspective. Blending a perfect mix of personal stories with knowledge and understanding of the history of this beautiful game.
I just arrived home yesterday from Singapore and will be watching game 3 at a pub in Calgary and seeing the game live in Edmonton Saturday. I hope this team can pull one more rabbit out of the hat in the coming games. They have shown their grit and resilience throughout this season to this point, and I expect they will continue to give it all they have left in them. It may not be enough but it won’t be for a lack of wanting it or giving all they have. I, for one, will be soaking in every minute of the time we have left watching this team, from impressive superstars, underappreciated long serving pp witches, lackadaisical looking dmen with pinpoint shooting, unexpected pk workers at the bottom of the lineup and all in between. Let’s enjoy it together! Thanks again for all you do to share your stories with us, Allan!
Thanks so much for the kind words. I’m glad you drop in! Always wonder about clicks from exotic places like yours. 🙂
I find it funny, in that synchronistic kind of way, that a post such as this should pop as I have been mulling whether or not to peer out of my cave. I’ve been a lurker since always and prefonmich sums up my feelings pretty well here. I have been clicking from B.C. to Ireland, to Germany, to Mexico, back to Edmonton, and then back to Mexico again. Kevin Lowe might consider me a tier 7 fan at this stage as the only real thing that keeps my interest afloat in hockey is Mr. Lowetide’s ability to sew together the childlike nostlagia of better times with tough life lessons, all through the lens of a passion for hockey, and moreover, our beloved and storied Oilers. It’s so strange,,, Lowetide speaks of Bobby Orr, Guy Lafleur, and the like, exactly how my Dad did and so there is this very real familiarity that I connect with. Lowetide seems like a friend that you never actually have to see but you know is there, and you pick up from wherever you left off, at any time, without missing a step. My father arrived in Canada from Ireland on a boat in the late 1950s, wearing a 3-piece wool suit, in the middle of a summer heatwave in Montreal. He fell in love with Canada that day and Hockey became an easy favourite pastime. My dad’s love of Hockey passed onto me as a child and the fact that I got to actually watch Gretzky a few times, live, still amazes me. We made do with what we had and nosebleed seats against the Northstars were as thrilling as anything for a 7-year old. Thank you, prefonmich, your words really hit home. And thank you Allan, for everything, since always. See you in another 10 years!
Thanks for sharing! I feel truly blessed to have seen Gretzky live as well. Time has shown just how lucky we were. And watching Mcdavid in person might be even more of a gift. To see his combination of speed and skill combined in real time is such a gift. I think this is why there is so much to dislike about Oilers and their fans from other fanbases.. we have been beyond lucky as Oiler fans!
MoogerFuhger is a genius handle! One of the best I’ve seen here over the years.
And that’s a genius line! Pretty much applies to me too.
Next clicks for me after a summer in Alberta will be Saudi Arabia. Looking forward to reading more positive perspectives from your site in coming years. Hopefully with a recent cup achieved!
So, visiting Edmonton from North Carolina next week and looking for some info on watching game 6.
I originally tried getting tickets and after waiting on the queue with over 7000 people ahead of me I finally got a chance at some nosebleeds for almost $900 each and no two seats together…trying to decide on the fly if I wanted to spend that without being able to sit by my wife ticketmaster sold out and made the decision for me. Lol
Anyways, the Moss pit looks super fun as a plan B, but just wanted to hear some of your thoughts on that. Info on it is kind of blurry, do they open it for home games? What do they charge? Are adult beverages available? How early do you need to go? Also, other game watching venues/bars/breweries etc that you might recommend and why?
Yup, there will be thousand at the Moss Pit on game day, I expect.
There’s another area just across 104th Ave with a live band and drinks, old Oilers signing autographs… all kinds of festivities. I heard Shania Twain is giving a free concert.
Should be pretty crazy.
There’s a load of restaurants and bars in the area, all will be full of Oilers fans.
https://www.rogersplace.com/2024-oilers-playoffs-event-guide/
Have fun, I wish I could be there.
Our Lady Peace is doing game 3 free concert and Shania Twain is doing Game 4 free concert at fan park.
There are a ton of good to excellent restaurants in Edmonton. I recommend following some food themed Instagram profiles and hashtags to get an idea of where you might like to try.
Right near the arena is a great local brewery, Campio Brewing. Great spot to eat and wet your whistle before the Moss Pit. Also nearby is a really good steakhouse if you want something a bit higher end, called DOSC. That’s just two among probably two dozen worthwhile establishments nearby.
Feel free to ask if you have any specific questions or more finely tuned recommendations.
Watch it on TV. LOL.
Wait, what?
I also looked online right as they went on sale (with only 700 people ahead of me, took 2 minutes) and the cheapest seats were apx $3000 – nothing near $900.
That’s crazy… now you’re making me really regret not pulling the trigger!😬😬😬
Hmmmmm… are you a season ticket holder? In know that they did a pre-sale for season ticket holders that I presume had a chance at more of the premium seats which might explain it… but yeah…definitely had options that were way less than that. 😱😱😱
Nope, not a season ticket holder (live in Calgary).
I’ve checked multiple times (daily plus) and nothing near $900.
Are you sure it wasn’t $9000 (there are seats listed for that, and more).
No, it was actually a little less, like $872 I believe.
A little levity after yesterday:
https://youtu.be/rUczpTPATyU?si=RbXTSB4F5dC-VtFx
I have played soccer at all levels up to semi-pro. It’s a lot rougher the lower the league, and if the ref was born in the 60s/70s and is from the UK, you basically have to die to get a free kick. I do, however, realize the terrible reputation that elite soccer has garnered over the years due to the theatrics. It’s genuinely getting better now, but believe me, it’s a road hockey should avoid.
You have my word as a Spaniard that I will NOT be challenging anyone to a dual, battle of wits or a fight after school near the bike sheds.
Let’s go Oilers!
One of my daughter’s recent games had Danny reffing. Still. How. He must be even older than LT. Given how terrible the game was, I’m not actually sure what he can even see on the pitch now. We’re beyond “ref you need glasses” into ” you might want to get cataract surgery”.
I never played Soccer much, I preferred to pick the ball up and run with it. Went to the UK on multiple Rugby tours, I hear you about the referees. You should have seen the refs born in the 30s/40s. They wouldn’t have any upstart Canadian team defeat an English side.
See you in the park after school. If I’m not there, you can start without me.
15 minute head start? >-)
Why do you hate Troy Stecher, LT?
I don’t but he is out for the season so not a factor.
Ah, I somehow missed that he’s injured… thanks.
He had surgery for a cyst on his ankle that became effected a few weeks ago (I think). Out until later in the summer I believe.
Edmonton hasn’t scored a 5v5 goal since the 2nd period of Game 5 against Dallas. That has to change tomorrow night, and they’ll probably need more than 1 to win the game. Bad time for the well to run dry!
Oh man, with this much firepower – that stat is alarming
I sure do wish the big Finnish wrecking ball was healthy. He’d be a great fit for a game or two at minimum. Hurt you for real with a couple clean hits.
Who?
I’m envisioning a healthy Markus Niemelainen who would have played a full season and gotten the development that came with that and how useful he could have been for a game or two in a series like this.
Just beat up those FLA forwards.
Niemelainen is a throwback as a hitter for sure. Zero doubt he would intimidate just by being on the ice.
Thanks for the clarification
Niemo had a fairly poor season in the AHL when he was in the lineup – I’m sure that health and being in and out was a big factor in that but this player is farther from the NHL than in the past, from my views (i.e on the computer on my couch).