Alas, the gales of November did not come early. Kris Knoblauch and his coaching staff managed to hoist up the John B’s sail, and to see how the mainsail set. Not the powerful start all hoped for, but close enough to jazz. Question: Was the final game against Nashville high-octane Leon plus adrenalin, or is this a repeatable game?
The Athletic article today is about Matthew Savoie and Roby Jarventie. It is here.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN NOVEMBER
- On the road to: CAL (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: NJD, VEG (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: VAN (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: NYI, NAS (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: TOR, MTL, OTT (Expected 1-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: MIN, NYR (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: UTA, COL (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 8-5-0, 16 points in 13 games
- November results:
- Oilers in 2024-25: 5-5-1, 11 points in 11 games
The Oilers have a reasonable schedule in November, though much tougher than the October slate. I’ve learned that this team often plays down to competition and leaves points behind early in the season. Once the calendar turns, we’ll see more consistent play.
For now, I do think this Oilers team will deliver a handsome return for November. If I’m correct, Edmonton will end November with a record of 13-10-1, 27 points in 24 games. That projects to 92 points for the year. Need to improve on that in the months to come, but there is still some wobble on the current roster.
Things I’m watching for in November: A more settled second pairing. The coaching staff is running a rotation with Darnell Nurse that includes Troy Stecher, Brett Kulak, Travis Dermott, Ty Emberson, Mattias Ekholm, Evan Bouchard, Chris Hajt and Bob Falkenberg. They need to find a solution and run that one pairing for 20 games. I know there’s going to be a deal at the deadline, but what if that deadline acquisiton gets hurt? Find an actual roster solution. It matters.
I’m also interested in Stuart Skinner’s rounding into form. Skinner has strong supporters and strong non supporters, but the Oilers have to be practical about their young starter. The organization has invested many playoff games in this young player, and he has backstopped the team to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. That experience has value. I’m convinced Skinner is a key and am most interested in what kind of improvement we see in his play over the next 10 starts.
Knoblauch has several new players on the roster, and it’s tough to unlock every player at once. It looks like Viktor Arvidsson is there now, and with that I would like to see Jeff Skinner get a push. Skinner has played well for the Oilers, mostly away from the glimmer twins. Time to get him on a super nova skill line and to get some power-play minutes for this player.
Ty Emberson and Vasily Podkolzin are settling in, I’d like to see them get consistent playing time over the next 30 games. Edmonton may need to make more than one move at the deadline, and recent history tells us the Oilers management group is capable of fading a player (Philip Broberg) while also turning to a player in a last second panic when Plan A (Vincent Desharnais) falters.
The Oilers have a better record now that they did a year ago. It’s reasonable to expect we’ll see more Emberson and less Dermott, and maybe we’ll see some Matthew Savoie and Roby Jarventie too as time goes by.
A calmer entry into November this year is a welcome respite from the chaos and the cold north wind we were feeling last year has given way to more hopeful skies. Oilers fans can hope for a strong November, then a long December with reason to believe on New Year’s Day.
45+ yr detroit lions fan! When MCDC talked kneecaps & week later said he did large win affect analytucs in Summer, I smiled & thought of Dad! He passed away Apr 2, Alzheimer’s clininic in chilliwack. (2000 sq ft house 1.6M) WTF! My 20 yr old son (High func Aut) did 1st yr carpenrtry. then approached by boilermakers. But Fed Pgm $ redirected 2 Corp. highering Foriegn workers. But was asked 2 apprentice in HVAC. Heat pump Pgm in Maritimes!
Go Oilers!
Good luck to him! Lot of chatter here about heat pumps now too. Getting in at the right time can be a very good opportunity for him.
Bear sighting!
72:39 EV min of Nurse – Dermott is the only oiler EV pr in top 1/3 of (4 x 32 pr). Stetcher has a top 60 Def d history!
was unaware that everything has changed 2 hockey acadameys. Talked to the Drum dragons back-up Goalue 16yr old. I enquired if they were teaching Goalies 2 read the stick position relative 2 their location in the net & tracking. (I had explained the 3=planes of OSH targeting. (clear from WC final Vcr is using it.) 6 top 60 OSH targeting Fwds. He said they had not. But he recognized it. ( explained his thought) Correlates with Acadamey teaching of blade angles, etc in shooting! Bright young man! his hope is NCAA!
Really failed 2 understanding that not everyone can visualize the same.
My picture memory is largely gone. But Nero testing still has 2 of 3 types of chart and 3rd 90+ percentile but not me! Still poor at articulating ideas. Was in coma from Covid couple yrs ago, wife to.d 2 prep funeral. Came out! As 4 oilers, Top EV Def pairs were drive by Ceci & Desharnais, top PK prs Ekholm in 4, Ceci 3, Desh, 24’ Kulak – Emberson Bott 15, Nurse – Ekholm Bott 3 before tonight.
Glad you came out of it!
00’ involved in creating 3D Maint track flagging system at Transalta w/ Gary woods (Maint mgmt Wabamun pwr plants, Now head of Gas & Renewables) & Mike Aubichon ( Maint checklists Bombardier & Boeing 767) Heat mapps of Fixes on boiler tubes was part of it. Mike created MTL minor hockeys Online stat site. 1st moment of hockey stats , analytucs marriage. The Gunville position legs down track with Puck did not appear until change in Facemask tech. Roy & JVB. Mikes son was being trained by Francois Allaire in MTL. Realized his Rep was the Gunville position driving starter avg change from .865 to .915. .050 Huge relative to most of range .030.
Recently talked 2 Ron Gunvilles widow. He had discussed our conversation about his Ron Gunville position. Interesting Pietrangelo disvussed my three target planes 1.Over shoulder 2. Over pads counter limb flex/move, fake sh pause tracking = space between G & Post, pointed out 2 Emmanuelle Perry years ago. My 4 data sets (ZS type) 3D XAvg based off Behind the nets (Team comp, zs) is 16 yrs old!
Bench Chg Vol with Puck, sheltered; OZ FO% Vol (soft), DZ FO% Vol hard, Bench Chg w/o puck toughs.
Good to see you back, been a while. Hope all is well.
Ricki!!! Great to see you’re back!
These past 2 games have been the most exciting of the year. No McDavid, no problem!
Nuge with an amazing pass and Zach with a ridiculous deke for the GWG. I thought Nuge was again quite plain tonight but if the trade off is a primary assist on a GWG, I’ll take it.
Still way too much adventure from Nurse. Thankfully no GAs…
Leon is finding that fine balance of taking offensive chances in the defensive and neutral zones and not giving away dangerous pucks.
Stu was solid. Full stop.
Henrique looks very slow this year.
What a ridiculous goal by Skinner. Lordy, those hands. Get him out there on PP1!!
That Leon line is so good. Reminds me of the Leon-Nuge-Yam line the year McD sat out a bunch of games and Leon won the Hart.
Tomorrow’s game could be tough for a few of the players.
They really only played 2 pairs in the third period, or most of it:
Ek/Bouch
Kulak/Nurse
There was a big gap in 5 on 5 minutes down to Dermott – apx 6 minute gap and another 90 seconds to Emberson
time for the stecher tommorow
Stetcher seems like an easy decision – get him back in.
Does Ryan come in for Perry given it’s B2B?
I was wondering just that.
I think that Perry has consistently made a positive impact most games – a couple plus plays per game but didn’t see that tonight – a night off likely makes sense as Ryan can come in and play RW.
Perry floated a nice pass while under pressure at the line to Philp for a chance on net.
Emerson dermott could be a pair? if they run nurse kulak as one
Was the final game against Nashville high-octane Leon plus adrenalin, or is this a repeatable game?
Anyone know where Flames Kevin Bahl came from? Draft, trade, free agent? Seems pretty solid?
Markstrom trade I think
Thanks!
ARI drafted him, then sent him to NJD for Hall. That’s when I started to kinda keep tabs on him. Late bloomer, starting to hit his stride by the looks of it.
As mentioned, NJD sent him and Sharangovich to CGY for Markstrom.
So where are the Nurse haters. Great game by 25. Second in a row.
Agreed.
Pluses – he roamed effectively.
Minuses – This should be an average game at worst for him, not an exception. He still had defensive wobble and wrecked the powerplay.
He hit the post on the PP
Don’t let facts ruin a good story 😂
And Rasmus Andersson, so even though he didn’t score it was still a good shot.
Nurse was on ice for 17 CF and 31 CA. That is brutal.
Huh? The Oilers were absolutely shelled when Nurse was on the ice.
I’m not sure I’d call it a great game. I don’t hate on the guy but boy is he an adventure. The own-zone giveaways are pretty astounding – sometimes he has relatively-uncontested maneuvers in his own end that end up on the other team’s stick. I counted at least 3 of these tonight. Thankfully none of them ended up in his net.
Yep. He takes so long to pass the puck sometimes. It is inexplicable.
Great game? Uhm … no.
We complain about players all the time. How about the announcers. My goodness Hrudey is beyond brutal.
Meh, it was the Calgary broadcast team. I think Vancouver’s broadcast team of muppets are far far worse.
Better than Jack and Louie. That’s not saying much at all, but still…
Huge win.
Still too many passengers.
Skinner with a really strong game. Made a number of key point blank saves
With Huberdeau standing in the crease over top of Skinner a goal there shouldn’t have counted anyway according to previous rulings
I think it’s good we didn’t have to test that theory!!!!
The goal would have counted and the NHL would have awarded an Oilers 3rd rounder to the Flames.
Phew 2-0 without the Captain. Wasn’t pretty but they had some good moments and did just enough for the W.
Finally back to .500 W-L
Draisaitl is going to have a 100 points by the time McDavid returns.
WTF were they doing 5-on-5 at the end? Should have been an easy end to the game and they act like they’re killing.
PP1 got stuck out there tired.
Why would you even put a PP out there at that point in the game?
29 and 2 with 2 soft giveaways to start the chaos
anderson had a plan until he gets punched in the face
2-0 without Connor!! Last minute was more intense than I would have liked but take the two points!
I knew that scrub was holding us back LoL!!
3 more points for Drai!
Big save and hold (no rebound) by Skinner there.
Oilers had PP1 out there and were not expecting the 5 on 5 – they were tired and not a regular 5 on 5 line – that was a bad situation brewing.
The “C” on the front stands for Cheaters!
Oh there’s a good break!!!
Coach rolling two pairs now:
Ek/Bouch
Kulak/Nurse
? When is Brown going to score his 2nd goal?
Saving himself for the playoffs again.
Connor Brown has had some jump tonight.
Good kill!!!!
Dumb penalty.
Good kill.
I need 1 more point from you Hyman!
Nuggy with the tasty dish!
Zach attack is back. Everything upstairs now.
You won’t see many nicer goals than that.
Draisaitl to Nuge to Hyman. Lovely.
I thought Ekholm’s play just prior to his pass to Drai that gained zone entry was third assist worthy. Just a heady move to make with little space and less time.
The Hyman is a Rhymin’
wooot wooot
Atta boy Zach!!!!!
Nuge with a beauty little pass.
Yikes that was more of a slash to the head
Be nice if our PP could cash here. Special teams costing us so far this game.
Oilers have nothing right now … getting pressured all over the ice.
Saw that coming.
Soft goal.
Two D right there and no one ties up the Flame who tips it in???
What a lucky little saucer pass by Corey Perry
-K. Hrudey
Damn, I heard “what a lovely saucer of by Corey Perry”. Guess I should wear my hearing aids
No, you heard lovely because that’s what he said.
I normally abhorr Hrudey because of his tendency to be so anti-Oiler, but have to admit he’s been fairly balanced tonight including his praise on Perry for that pass.
Guess that’s my bad lol.
Haha, well, with Hrudey its totally possible.
Nice pass by Perry but HELL OF A pass by Skinner.
No screen and no one is going to the net, No problem for an NHL goalie.
I’m late to the game, but watching that Skinner goal – just look at how he manages to keep his balance on one foot, with his whole body in a crazy position, while being tripped.
A thing of beauty. Elite hands and elite skating.
Arvidsson added to PP1 in place of Nurse.
Skinner in the Draisaitl spot, make Draisaitl the McDavid rover. Return to just Bouch on the back end.
IMO the coach needs to send Bouch out with line two. Nurse + the Nuge line is not working.
The third line looks better tonight. Not really a threat to score but checking hard.
Why not try Skinner instead of Nurse on the PP?