The Edmonton Oilers are at their best when it’s ‘us against them’ and these recent days the zebras have been doing their part of create that strange brew that drives this rock and roll band. Disallowed goals are so common fans cheer then wait, knowing Satan’s Rolling Review in Toronto or skates on the ground can change history in a heartbeat. Last night’s story had a delightful twist, as Connor McDavid got his stick in on Travis Sanheim and that runaway train crashed like it was the crash scene from The Fugitive. No call. NO CALL? No call. Imagine. What a world.
THE NUMBERS
For the first time all season, there is iron in these numbers. Stuart Skinner was money on several huge chances by Philadelphia, the Darnell Nurse-Troy Stecher was the best second pairing of the year so far. Evan Bouchard hammered home the tying goal and Mattias Ekholm made my favourite play (deflecting a sure goal) after making a terrible and unlucky own goal.
Connor McDavid committed a hockey crime and got away with it, dancing like a surprised free man on a breakaway. I thought he scored, and then Leon Draisaitl did score. These Oilers have movie of the week drama on their sticks, good and bad. You know those two have such good chem that OT is basically a chance to riff a highlight reel.
That Adam Henrique line had the wheel and drove the Flyers to distraction, hope to see them again someday.
I wrote about Ty Emberson last night for The Athletic, that story will be up later today and I’ll post it here.
I melded and welded two games from the past on X last night, kind of hilarious how the mind (at least mine) recalls events. Tracers drift into each other when you age, but it don’t make no never mind. The feel of last night was the same as the night Mick McGeough ruined a lovely Edmonton night, and the night Nail Yakupov invented the celly.
You know, games like that one can turn in to a blanket clarion call all by their lonesome. This team was lost in the supermarket, and that floor we talked about yesterday still exists. But this team has the talent to charm the leaves from the trees when they’re of a mind to do it.
This Oilers team still needs to adopt Warren Zevon’s Hit Somebody, Carly Simon’s Anticipation, maybe Pretenders’ Back on the Chain Gang and something that moves like the Stones’ Bitch. They also need more players with defensive acumen. That’s for another day. Today is a good day for Oilers fans. The lions roared. Finally.
A busy Wednesday on the Lowdown, we plant our feet at noon and ramble on for two hours, Sports 1440. Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal will join us and help break down the game, we’ll also talk NLCS, NFL and more. I’m at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section here and on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly. We can be heard at sports1440.ca; iHeartRadio; Radioplayer Canada, we tweet out the show after it’s done and you can catch us on Apple and Spotify.
New for The Athletic: Resetting expectations for Edmonton Oilers defenceman Ty Emberson
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5844862/2024/10/16/oilers-ty-emberson-stats-nurse/
Great article. The treatment of Emberson has been perplexing. Touted by Oilers media as the Ceci replacement. Talked about how Knobber previously coached him.
Then since camp, the coaching staff has not shown much confidence in the player and not provided the player with much opportunity. Very strange to me.
IMO, Emberson has looked quite good, especially with Kulak.
Maybe being perplexed is on the media and us, the fanbase, for presuming, or assuming, he was going to get this long runway at Nurse’s partner – I don’t recall the coaching staff every being express on that.
Burnaby PoJoe may have some work to do. 0-4 start for the Colorado “it’s a matter of how many cups” Avalanche is rough.
SN has their first draft rankings of the season up.
Pretty funny that Colorado keeps throwing Georgiev out there.
They are a mess.
Goaltending, man
“That’s a shame”
When Jesse was an Oiler, did he injure his hips while here or were they “bum” hips already? He’s looking pretty good right now, seems to have his confidence back.
Wowza! Watching some of the Bruins and Avs. Where did Colorado find some of these guys??? There forwards remind me of the DOD Oilers. After MacKinnon, Rantanen, and Mittelstadt, its a real dogs breakfast.
1:41pm and have yet to read the phrase “coach Q”. Last night I must of saw it 20 times or so, what a fickle crowd.
Shout out to Connor Brown.
51 games faster to score his first goal of the season. Brown has played 39 games as an Oiler since that first goal on March 13, 2024 and has scored 7 goals during that span. That puts him on pace for around 15 for the year!
Go Brown Go
KK took a LOT of flak (including from me) for sticking with Brown last year. He deserves a lot of credit for Brown’s resurgence.
And the 18,000 Oiler fans who gave Brown a standing ovation after his first goal deserve some credit for Brown re-signing on a value deal.
That first goal of his last year (and the crowds response to it) is easily one of my top moments from last season. It was just so damn special.
Hold up.
Brown signing a “value deal” is really balancing the egregious overpay he got last season. It’s called having a conscience. Which is not without precedence in Oilers lore.
Adam Oates gave back his salary to the EIG after his season here, because he didn’t perform to his standards.
Sure, you can say he morally owed us. But how far does that really go? It’s a business. I think Brown deserved credit.
Oates was an outlier. He was super-principled about having his pay reflect his ability…including when he held out in St. Louis twice in a calendar year.
Oates returned his salary? I had never heard that. I wanted to read up on it, but some of these stories from 20+ years ago are not easy to find.
Following this trend, he’s on pace to score in game NEGATIVE 47 next year!!!!
Captain’s Skate in July?
Have they tried Kulak with Nurse yet? Not optimal, but a possible bandaid in the meantime. This D is not going to hold, and I’m afraid a trade will be made too late from a position of weakness.
Kulak expressed uncomfortableness playing the right side and arrows are pointing up the Stecher could be a good stop-gap partner for Nurse.
This duo has now played 58 minutes together (last year and this) – most metrics are 50% across the board, except the high danger Coris is 11-6 leading to a 60% expected goals and….. 4-0 real goals.
50 of those minutes, and all four goals scored, are without McDavid!
It’s always been interesting to me that we’ve never considered trying Nurse on the right side. Maybe my view is flawed, but considering his play on the left side can be chaotic and his strength lies in his toolset, he seems like the perfect candidate for the switch.
Thank you OP. I just don’t see Stecher doing the job for any length of time. I don’t think this will end well.
No, the Oilers do not need to claim Brendan Lemieux for their bottom six truculance.
They don’t need any more players in the bigs. These ones need to figure it out, they are good enough players. If a better RD or back up becomes available sure, but with Philp in the wings no need for forwards, he’s big tough and can skate and plays an important position or can play wing
I haven’t dug into his numbers or followed him much the past couple of years while he’s been playing in the East, but I recall him being quite the agitator and a bit of a lightening rod in a good way when he played for the Kings.
I would leave Skinner on the third line for a bit. There is hay to be made there getting good match ups. The second line needs some help though. I’d go
Hyman McDavid Perry – challenge McD and Hyman to be better defensively
RNH Draisaitl Arvidsson – No reason these guys shouldn’t outscore
Skinner Henrique Brown – keep it going
Janmark Ryan Pod – give Ryan more speed on the wings
I like it. I also like what Skinner Arvi Rico and Perry bring, even if they aren’t perfect
They play differently more like other teams do. They attack the net more directly and look for plays to the front, tips and such, in a less fancy but effective way
They are also smart players. I really liked Rico’s game last night. Arvi isn’t quite there yet but love his aggressiveness, hope he stays healthy
Some of that jam some have said was lacking showed up. It’s infectious. Guys with non stop motors who don’t take crap lift the more mercurial ones who don’t react reliably. Stecher being example #1
It would be great if Hyman got a little fistier. I get he probably doesn’t want to fight being a Dad with kids watching or whatever, but you can still be more of a pain to play, and use that size when it’s appropriate to step in. Maybe a few games with Perry would be good
I can’t explain why I feel this way, but to me, Arvidsson looks like he’s still trying to find some chemistry and rhythm, while McDavid and Draisaitl look like they retired from the NHL years ago and are dropping into a local beer league mens team to help them win a tournament.
I’m hoping Draisaitl and McDavid are sick or something because boy, do they look off.
And I’m also expecting Draisaitl and McDavid to totally turn it on and make me look like an idiot in 2 games or so.
Maybe Arvi is still coming around after the injury. Looks to be still figuring a few things out. Hopefully it comes along sooner.
“…look like they retired from the NHL years ago and are dropping into a local beer league mens team to help them win a tournament”
Many years ago a guy named Bob Logan played for our intramural team:
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=3181
Really nice guy, super bright Yale grad, cups of coffee with the Sabres and the Kings. He was nearly a decade past his NHL days, trending towards middle-age decline with lines of hair and waist going in opposite directions.
The league was competitive, most guys in their early 20s, ranks filled with former CIAU varsity and Jr A players, so a surprisingly high standard of play. Some nights our team would be getting shelled and our player/coach/captain would have no choice but to utter the fell words: “Give Bob the puck and get out of the way.”
Wheezing over the boards, a little pudgy, and if we are being fair more important things on his mind, Bob would pick up the puck in our end, skate through a couple of the bad guys (shoulder to chest, Lindros-esque straightarm, dirty look-whatever was needed) and score a goal. He’d then collapse on the bench and say something like, this used to be a lot easier.
It was really something to see-and Bob was not an NHL star. Gives deeper appreciation for how good the players are who play for a decade in the league.
— Yeah I’ve got two buddies: former NHLers good ones that scored a lot. that I got to play with a few times in charity events
— For the most part they don’t like playing against “amateurs” because the amateurs often look at it as an opportunity to “show up the star”. You know chip at them go after them at the boards etc.
— These guys are out for shits and giggles and remark :” do they not understand that we are playing at like 10% intensity”.
— But whenever they decide to “try” it’s like watching the equivalent of 7 year olds trying to keep up with “Dad”. They can take the puck at any time and blow through anyone easy.
— But just like the Dad: who cares if they can steal the puck from the 7 year old. It’s just not that much fun : at least the 7 year old can’t hurt you.
Me before the game yesterday. It is a good plan to put Skinner in a position where he can outscore without being a defensive liability. To paraphrase OP from yesterday before the game: Bad idea!
Skinner belongs in the top 6, he’s second in scoring, second in hits, 1st in shots.
If Skinner is playing with Henrique, is that not an NHL #2 line?
They’re clearly the 3rd line, being deployed as the 3rd line, cope.
Yes. I would think so. Skinner-Henrique-Brown could easily be a second line.
Nuge & Arvidson could form a solid third line all they’d need is a center. Better call up Philp and give him third line minutes.
They can sort out the fourth line with Janmark, Podz, Ryan & Perry.
Is RNH not good enough to be a 3C?
Oilers are just practicing their 7 game sets, they decided to start with the most difficult first and vanquish the demons.
I would like to see Skinner take some reps in Nuge’s spot on the 1st PP unit. He’s a better shooting threat and still a good playmaker.
I’d like to see him take the spot for a bit just to give Nuge a bit of a breather on special teams.
Oilers are taking a ton of penalties and Nuge is one of the main PKers.
Absolutely yes. I’ve wanted them to do this since they’ve signed him. Need a trigger from that side.
Nuges 4 pp goals last year is very impressive in a bad way
He had 5 PP goals in 25 playoff games last season. Over his career he has scored the same number of PP goals as Skinner and almost double the points while playing about 10% more TOI. And Hopkins was well ahead of Skinner in PP points even before he joined up with McDavid and Draisaitl about 5 seasons ago.
Seems like the coach is going to continue with what has worked very well for the last 4-5 seasons unless it stays in a prolonged slump.
Well one was on the Oilers powerplay so that’s a bit like comparing apples to oranges. I think Nuge is too passive shooting the puck
How can we say that being on the Oilers powerplay is an unfair advantage because its too good, while also trying to remove 20% of that powerplay for not being good enough?
Passive players get marginalized. Nuge has to get pissed off to play to his talent level. I think that’s why he can disappear or get poor 5v5 results at times. Nuge is good at making decisions on the PP, but not being constantly dangerous to score and pass first makes it easier on the PK. You get a shooter over there that can make a pass and it’s another level
I know that signing Skinner cost the team Broberg, Holloway, Deharnais but hot damn if he isn’t playing well right now – and not soft at all.
If only the more expensive Arivdsson, who, apparently, did not cost us any other players, would get going – that “2nd line” was, well, not great last night.
The 2nd line is never good with RNH at centre. RNH is a black hole offensively when he plays centre. Great player but not a centre.
2nd line is a black hole offensively unless Draisaitl is centering it, it’s not just Nuge.
None of the wingers they’ve ran on line 2 have created offense unless Draisaitl is involved in years past.
Skinner who’s been the most dangerous forward gets bumped to the 3rd line because reasons, makes no sense.
Especially when you see Janmark put with Henrique and Brown for a shift and they create a goal.
Leave Skinner and Arvidsson as a tandem, Nuge will look alot better between them then running 4th line Podkolzin on 2nd line.
Nuge is not a center and has really fallen off offensively
Where is the fall off offensively?
The last time he had back-to-back 30+ point seasons at Evens, was 2013-2015. He had his best offensive season 2 years ago, and although last year was a step back, that is still his 3rd most points in a single season.
His powerplay points last year was the second highest total in his career.
I am not sure where the fall off is?
I would think more than a few games would be necessary to build chemistry.
Someone so far has picked the wrong whipping boy for the loss of Broberg&Holloway. I wonder why he choose Skinner who’s on a 1 year contract to blame over Arvidsson who makes more money on a 2 year deal.
Skinner has more points then Foegele, Mcleod, and Holloway combined.
Broberg has 4 points. He hasn’t been on for a GA yet.
Leddy is having an poor start to the season beside Parayko.
Broberg playing 3rd pairing minutes
No he isn’t.
He has the 4th most ice time amongst the defensemen, almost all even strength. (Only the D with special teams have more, Parayko and Leddy on PK, Faulk PP and PK). 5th He is playing 2nd pair LD with Faulk. 0 GA in 4 games. 1 goal 3 assists.
Suter ended up with more minutes last night than Broberg because Broberg took a 4 minute high sticking penalty late, and Suter PK’s. And the Blues took a lot of penalties last night.
he played 16 min last night and 3 straight games of under 20
their top 3 get lots of minutes. Their bottom 3 get much less minutes. Sort of like oilers last night. Just because you play 4th most minutes doesn’t make you a second pair in my eyes. Makes you more of a place holder
Even strength minutes from natural stat trick.
Parayko 81.09
Leddy 79.22
Faulk 77.07
Broberg 71.10
Suter 56.57
Kessel 37.58
Joseph 12.39
There is a clear gap between the top four and the bottom pair.
Faulk gets almost all the PP time. Parayko, Leddy, Faulk, and Suter get almost all the PK time
Broberg is the clear 2nd pair left D, with very little special teams time.
Yes, he has. Against San Jose.
And I’m talking about forwards. No one cares about what St.Louis defenders are doing, good or bad.
Skinner didn’t stop a Broberg signing, he didn’t want to be a Oiler for several years now. Entitled diva.
Broberg had the 4th most minutes amongst D against San Jose, over 18, a full 4 more minutes than Suter at #5. Broberg actually has over 1PP minute in that game, and nearly 17 EV minutes.
And he was on ice for a goal against.
Please identify which one. It is not on any of the game sheets. The first three games were on TV in Canada.
Broberg has 1 goal and 3 assists in 4 games. +3, having stepped off the ice for two assists before the goal was scored, and stepping on the ice with no involvement in one goal being scored.
You think wanting a fair shot at a NHL roster spot to make millions of dollars versus 80-100k makes him an entitled Diva? He was running wild on the AHL. It’s not his fault the Oilers had established defencemen in front of him. He did everything asked of him and kept drawing the short stick because there were vets in front of him. I don’t mind the way the Oilers ran their D, but if I was Broberg, I’d be annoyed too.
Good for Bro. I hope they miss the playoffs
Holloway is down to bottom 6 already
Nobody was really expecting Holloway to be top six in St. Louis. He is right where he was expected to be.
He is seeing a lot of #3C. Started yesterday on 3rd line RW with Schenn and Joseph. Finished at #3C with Joseph and Bolduc, and that line got the goal,
Holloway can disappear for long stretches the St.Louis players and fans owe him nothing. This kid was treated very well in Edmonton and yet he felt he deserved more. As the saying goes watch what you wish for.
His minutes have dropped 4 straight games. Was on the ice for the goal but had nothing to do with it.
If you believe that he should not have signed for double what the Oilers were offering him when he has no guaranteed money in the bank, you were either inheriting more money than you knew what to do with or I’d ask if you can see the rest of us down here from your high horse.
Joseph got the goal. And it was a lucky one that caught Gustavson sleeping
Made it to my first game since the move to Rogers Place, and the streak didn’t stay with Rexall/Skyreach!
In all my years as an Oiler fan and attending games (probably over 20 now), I still haven’t attended a loss or a tie. Last year’s team won 16 in a row, but I’m pretty sure they still only have the 2nd best Oiler win streak. It was also both my sons’ first NHL game, so they’re starting their own unbeaten streak.
I thought I was going to be a part of a referee lynching in the first. I was upset with the calls, but my section wanted blood
Somebody buy this guy a season pass.
When I was little, I attended about 40 (WHA) Oilers, Oil Kings, Golden Bears, and Esks games with my dad until I saw the home team (Golden Bear’s hockey) lose a game.
This due has now played 58 minutes together (last year and this) – most metrics are 50% across the board, except the high danger Coris is 11-6 leading to a 60% expected goals and….. 4-0 real goal.
50 of those minutes, and all four goals scores are without McDavid!
Boooo!
Nurse sucks stupid!
. . . Am I doing that right?
Yeah! And send him to Bako already! Stoopid!
Stecher also plays a harder game than almost everyone on the team. I am thinking he stays there with Nurse until someone provides a better alternative. I also think he’ll likely be the more physical harder to play against member of that duo and maybe shame Nurse into playing more like he did as a younger player???
He does play a very hard game – I do have concern about his body holding up through the grind of the season (let alone playoffs) but I don’t think any of us think Stecher is the long-term cup winning solution at 2RD – hopefully he can continue to help settle it down though, for now.
Stecher can be a passable 4-D for a good stretch of games this will allow Bowman time to shake something lose. I have more concern with stecher health then his capabilities in the top 4.
Yea he might suffer more injuries than a 6’3″ dman but sadly we don’t have anyone that fits the bill at the moment.
Stecher deserves some 2nd pairing run after last night’s performance. Giving away 20lbs in that fight, Skinner owes him half a cow.
Stecher better cut those sideburns quick! We’re gonna need him!
My memory of this pair was that they looked suprisingly good last year. For the life of me I have no idea why Knob didn’t start here and work in the others for comparison purposes.
Is it a size bias thing? Maybe more of a “if I can’t find better solution I’ll go with the little guy” thing?
Probably an unpopular opinion, but I don’t think that was a missed penalty on McDavid before the game winner – No trip, no hook, no obvious hold. That type of contact happens to Connor twenty times per game, except he doesn’t fall over.
After how the preceding 60+ minutes went, and the marginal calls that had already went against the Oilers, we all thought McDavid would get called for that … even McDavid seemed surprised (he looked behind him at least twice … at least of those times must have been to find out if the Zebras arms were and the play was still alive) that he wasn’t called for another ticky-tacky infraction.
Troy stecher played a fantastic game last night, 3-0 in high danger chances 5v5, solid passing and puck moving, decent positioning, and heart in spades. there was absolutely zero hesitation when skinner got run.
Kudos to stecher. i also thought his puck moving freed up darnell somewhat as he looked less panicky and unpredictable.
I saw him good too. Stetcher had his head up and seemed to have a plan B in mind when required.
Given some time he could be a strong match for Darnell, especially if Nurse is going to keep playing with a burr in his saddle.
I am looking forward to the Emberson piece.
Based on toi, the coaching staff clearly does not trust the player yet.
Connor on his breakaway. Normally he would roof that puck. It seems he, like a lot of guys, have been playing too casual, not bearing down or “digging in” in the offensive zone.
Bold move but deserved sit down of Drai.
I would have thought Tiger Williams invented the celly.
I don’t recall Tiger and Celly in the same sentence ever, but could be wrong.
You must have been too busy watching the Bruins.
Haha true
I’m not near smart or savvy enough to send it to you. But just YouTube it. You will be impressed.
Tiger makes Yakapov and Fleury celly look like child’s play. This team could sure use a Tiger but I can see why Perry is so well liked.
— yup : as kids we all used to imitate riding the stick : thanks to Tiger: the OG celly!
Tiger invented players fighting Goalies.
Jeff Skinner deserves a shout out in my opinion. He has more tools than just find soft ice and scoring. He’s making plays, creating, forechecking, battling and providing some physicality and push back.
Agreed after a poor preseason Jeff Skinner has been a pleasant surprise. I love how he changes the angle on the goalie when shooting, he does this exceptionally well and Im sure this will pay dividends throughout the season.
I am disappointed in Arvidson so far, this is not the player that I remember from the LA Kings playoff series last year. I know he has a whole lot more than what we have seen.
That fake slapshot that led to a snap shot that gave the goalie a little trouble is an example of the offensive smarts – created a medium danger chance out of a 1 on 2.
My disappointment with Arvidsson has been his overall “smarts” and 2-way game. He’s probably just settling in but he’s made “mental mistakes” costing 4 goals I believe (3 against and one taken away).
Yes, I felt bad for Derek Ryan on that one, that was a beauty goal!
Pure gold, LT. Impressive wordsmithery.
Maybe a controversial take but my viewing of both the Backlund slash to Skinner and Couturier’s hit on Skinner have them both as looking like Skinner was trying to sell them. Backlund’s slash didn’t seem particularly hard, though his anger after the fact suggests to me that I’m missing something about padding/protection. The hit by Couturier looked like Skinner changed direction in order to get in the way and then proceeded to sell it a little hard (though there was definitely genuine contact).
Anyone else share this view or does someone want to fill me in on what I may be missing?
I agree Stu was trying to sell them a bit but I guess my biased opinion is a bit different in terms of the Couturier hit.
To me it looks like Stu moved an inch or two to his left, but well before Couturier got there and I thought Couturier had an opportunity to get by Stu if he wanted to. Stu had position before he was hit. Couturier also had a chance to turn to his right to hit Stetcher instead of Stu. Stetcher had only just released the puck along the boards.
In any case, I was delighted to see Stetcher’s response and it seemed to wake up his teammates.
In retrospect, I wonder if this particular non-call influenced the OT non-call on McDavid, although when played in slo-mo this play wasn’t nearly as bad as it looked in real time and the ref was actually in an excellent position to see it directly in front of him.
I would like skinner to hit these guys back. Two times he tried to sell getting hit (and the slash on top of those two). Make that player pay. Get Nasty. This is what i hated about Aiden Hill when we had Vegas in the playoffs. He seemed mean, and we paid when we were in his space.
I agree there. I’d rather he be the type to get mad and push back (he’s 6’4 230 after all) than be the type to try to sell calls. I don’t want him to go full Mike Smith, though 🙂
How hard does a slash have to be to be a penalty?
For it to be called? Pretty hard and usually up in the hands in my experience watching the NHL. Whether that’s how it ought to be or not is another matter, but slashes of similar strength/severity don’t often seem to garner calls.
We have 2 goals called back because Hyman and Perry exhaled on the opposing goalies yet the Backlund and Couturier slash and interference don’t get called why is that? I thought the Oilers would start receiving the Veteran team calls yet here we are. Does the Toronto replay crews have a bias against McDavid and the Oilers?
This is a fair framing of the counter argument. If we’re going to have borderline calls made against us, it would be nice to see some in return. However, I don’t see selling the calls as being a path towards that. In fact, I see it having the opposite effect.
To me, it was just it seems these days if you touch a goalie there’s a call, kind of like the quarterback in football. With Stu however the ref’s seemed to be turning their eyes. There was no interference call on the first Flyer goal, there was no penalty on an obvious slash the previous game, then the Couturier hit was totally unnecessary, and no call again. I don’t think he was trying to sell them; the fact is, they happened, and the refs didn’t seem to give a crap. Oh, it’s just the Oiler goaltender.
There was a goalie collision in another game earlier in the week that wasn’t called a penalty so I don’t think it’s as simple as touching a goalie being a penalty. The net front interference standard is what seems to have gotten stricter while remaining unclear on exactly what constitutes “interference”.
I disagree that he didn’t try to sell them, but the fact that they happened isn’t mutually exclusive to Skinner selling them. However, we can simply be of different opinions 🙂
All we can ask for is consistency.
It looked to me like Skinner clearly set a pick on couturier. I mean it was pretty obvious.
If we replace Perry with Courturier it’s called a penalty you know it I know it so why is that?
Are goaltenders not allowed to stand behind the net in the trapezoid area without fear of getting hit? It was clearly a careless play on behalf of The Flyer captain. And he deserved a penalty.
The reffing has been absolutely bush league. It is not even a question. Sure they tried to sell them a bit maybe but at least one of them should be called. Skinner had his pads pushed and the puck went in, no goal? I can live with that call I guess. LOVE the Stetcher response. More please. It is not why the Oil have been losing but this officiating just keeps rolling every year… its terrible. I shut games off. I would rather watch my Godson’s AAA U16 games where there are no replays at all. There are bad calls sure and poorly reffed games but not near as many. They just let em play.
Looking forward to reading your piece on Emberson.
I haven’t watched near close enough to justify an assessment, but the one play I noticed him on last night, he was getting blown past for a scoring chance: a frame painted in shades of Griffin Reinhart. I can’t say I’ve seen him well early on, but I also wouldn’t never say it’s his fault. The initial ask of the man who is techncially not a rookie was to come in and wrangle our wildest horse on the 2nd pairing.
On the flip side, I thought Stetcher and Nurse both looked great last night. A few more games like that and “what if Stetcher was healthy for the cup run?” might petition membership into the list of great Oilers what ifs.
Early days, but if Stetcher can solidify his role and help unleash Nurse, I’ll suddenly feel a heck of a lot better about this roster’s odds to win home ice.
I saw Stetcher good even before he dropped the mitts. He moves very well laterally, and gets the puck up ice quickly. His style may end up being a sneaky good fit with all the skill forwards on the team.
Quick stick tap to Couturier for taking the fight but not beating the tar out of a much smaller player.
The win was very important for these guys. But overplaying the top guys to get it, well we tend to pay for it in December.
Is that what happened though?
I think they played McDavid and Drai together in order for them to get each other going, not the team. The win came by way of Rico, Skinner, Stetcher, Nurse…. while 97 and 29 were getting their stuff sorted out.
Knoblach benched Leon, and then the top guys had 7 minutes essentially to finish the job.
Brilliant coaching in retrospect.
Great comment! Agree 100%
Maybe you should have just stopped at “the win was very important for these guys”.
Maybe you should take a look at the Toi numbers.
What else is new? Top players shouldn’t get the most ice time?
This was a perfect game for a healthy Evander Kane to be in
He is missed.
Not near enough verbal or ice time for Jeff Skinner so far. He’s been the only one who looks like he knows how to be ‘that guy’ so far.
Once the passers know where to find him, this gets fun really fast.
He’s a cerebral player. Those gents often get less attention than warranted.
He’s a little digger out there – I agree once the chemistry develops he could pop big time
he seemed to have some very nice chemi with henrique and brown last night…. will be interesting to see where that ends up.
Have been pleasantly surprised at his tenacity on the forecheck and in the corners.