The Edmonton Oilers delivered an efficient, business-like weekend in collecting four points against two teams that are building toward a new tomorrow. Oilers fans have been there, done that. On Sunday night against the Ottawa Senators, the club was effective in suppressing high-danger chances and mistakes were few. Kris Knoblauch might be the coach who harnesses all this talent and gets the entire roster playing two-way hockey. What a time to be alive!
WHAT TO EXPECT IN DECEMBER
- On the road to: VEG (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- At home to: CBJ, STL, TBAY (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 3-0-0)
- On the road to: MIN (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- At home to: VEG, FLA, BOS, SJS, OTT (Expected 4-1-0) (Actual 4-1-0)
- On the road to: LAK, ANA (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: UTA (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 9-4-0, 18 points in 13 games
- December results: 8-2-0
- Oilers in 2024-25: 21-11-2, 44 points in 34 games
Oilers are in second place, Pacific, and on pace for a 106-point campaign. What a difference a year makes. I have the club going 2-1-0 from here, and that would mean 10-3-0 for December, a hair above what was predicted before the start of the month. Full value, the team is playing very well.
THE NUMBERS
Stuart Skinner has a .916 five-on-five save percentage since October 15, .926 in December. He and Calvin Pickard had a productive weekend, in front of an effective set of skaters. I’m trying to remember the last time an Oilers fan could safely pee or grab a beer without worrying about the on-ice outcome during an absence. It might have been 2008-09 (that was a good defense) but was probably the year of the Pronger (2005-06). The 2005-06 team surrendered 242 goals, the 2008-09 team 244 goals and this year’s team is on track for 229 GA.
The defense had few wobbly bits and of course Evan Bouchard is a bad, bad man based on what you’ll read online today. The truth? He’s exceptional. The Oilers have five defensemen over 50 percent goal share five-on-five: Darnell Nurse (62 percent), Mattias Ekholm (57 percent), Evan Bouchard (54 percent), Brett Kulak (52 percent) and Troy Stecher (51 percent). That’s a lot of quality, and young Ty Emberson is coming on, too.
I was impressed by Zach Hyman (again) and Viktor Arvidsson (huzzah!) last night, and do wonder if we see those two men with Connor McDavid again this season. It was fun to watch the line, Arvidsson is a rascal and has skill. That’s a fine addition to the group. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins illness isn’t a “Wally Pipp has a headache” moment but it’s nice to see Arvidsson contribute on a skill line.
Adam Henrique’s line is suppressing offense and outscoring five-on-five at impressive levels. Mattias Janmark and Connor Brown are terrific wingers for the purpose and one suspects we are seeing a playoff trio refine their skills. I liked the Derek Ryan last night, the rest seemed to have helped the veteran. Jeff Skinner almost cashed on a fine pass from Corey Perry, that would have been a nice happening.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl had assists and skated miles, even on a night when they don’t go supernova their presence is key. McDavid’s pass on the Arvidsson goal was pure witchcraft, Draisaitl’s giant oar pass to the slot created havoc and then a goal. Music!
The Oilers get some well earned time off now, and we’ll talk about possible trades, the World Juniors and more in the days to come. Best of the season to you!
The Lowdown hits the radio at noon today, Sports 1440. Rachel Doerrie from ESPN and Betalytics will join us to talk Oilers, Rangers, Leafs and more. Jason Gregor will pop in to discuss the Oilers weekend, the NFL and we’ll also chat Jays. Declan Krueger’s Declanations will feature MMA and college football playoffs. 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.
Tkachuk miraculously comes back like a raging bull after he leaves the game with the hard sell on Kucherov, for a hit he has laid himself plenty of times. The Panthers like to play tough, while acting like they get shot anytime contact is initiated on them. Such terrible displays of sportsmanship, and it’s top down shenanigans
Be a pest, be an agitator, but if you’re also a diver without any sense of sportsmanship, you Tkachsuck. You Tkachsuck a lot of….(Insert expletives here).
I saw headlines during the game calling it a gruesome knee injury……ya sure.
Dylan Holloway hat trick!!
I sure know how to pick them lmao
Disappointed that Akey breaky heart isn’t playing in this game. Are they only allowed to dress 20 through the whole tournament? Schaefer is very impressive for a 17 year old defenseman.
Dylan Holloway: last 5 games 0-0 0 points…
Philip Broberg: last 5 games 0-0 0 points…
Just saying…
Ryan McLeod: last 5 games 0-1 1 point
Both fine young players, neither are going to be superstars anytime soon
Holloway with a goal just now.
His 11th of the season.
Blues have an easy schedule over the next 2 weeks. Scoring will go up across their roster.
Holloway with another goal…now 12 on the season.
Would like to hear what HH Szadouche thoughts are.
Aatu “Like a First Round Draft Pick” Raty with 4 points in 20 NHL games.
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=227734
Dom’s Model suggests he’ll produce at 1st line rates….. in the AHL. RFA after this season, I expect he’ll sign with a contender…. also in the AHL.
these pretzels are making me thirsty
Holloway with a hat trick.
Now 13 on the season.
Too bad the Oilers brass didn’t pay attention to HH last year when it/they was promoting Holloways potential as a goal scorer. HH outsmarted us all again as per usual.
Good for him.
Have no issues with either Broberg or Holloway. I always thought Broberg in particular was going to turn out well as soon as I saw him play for the first time.
Fortunately Oilers are able to replace these players at least to a high degree already, and as defending finalists who came within a hair of creating NHL history from 0-3 down etc…
That aged well.
Wonderful, if only every post I made was like this.
Paul Fischer looks to be on the 4th pairing as Team USA wraps up pre-tournament.
I think Akey is clinging on to a 3rd pairing spot.
Maybe not on Akey. Not in the line up in final exhibition game
Love the Hydrangea photo Allan. Is there a story behind it?
One of the joys of living in Mexico is having plants that bloom year round. And still being able to enjoy a cold one and watch the Oilers at home or at the local Sports Bar!
Feliz Navidad a todos y no se preocupen por Bouchard, todavía está mejorando!!
just because Bouchard is not perfect doesn’t mean he’s not absolutely great defenseman. I don’t think I’d pay him the 11 mil he’s asking but he probably gets the Nurse contract which is fine by me. Too bad he cost skinner a shutout cause he deserved it.
Arvidsson was very noticeable in a lot of good ways even when he mishandled a few pucks. I like that he goes to the front of the net. I would try him in that Nuge spot for a few games
If he’s healthy he’s one of two with top 6 skill and an attitude, outside of the duo
Is this a thing? (ask and/or offer having been reported)
I don’t think there has been an ounce of actual info of his “request” – media, bloggers, fans presume its in the $10MM range but we just presume.
Yeah, leadfarmer said “the 11 mil he’s asking”, so just checking if I’d missed something. Thanks.
Everyone assumes that he’s going to be demanding $10MM (or, in this case, $11MM) but there hasn’t been any indication of where either side is at. I presume its in that range ($10MM) but just a presumption.
I wonder how long before the Rangers blow it up.
They just lost 5-0 to the Devils and now sink further away from a wildcard spot.
Jack Hughes with 2G 1A while brother Luke had 2 assists…..quite the hockey family.
It’s okay, the Rangers committed $11.5 million for the next 8 years to a player who doesn’t even play every game.
Dolan and Drury thought that they could buy up UFAs and then cast them away whenever they feel like. But the dirty way they did Trouba and Goodrow, and are attempting to do with a franchise stalwart in Kreider, is casting a pall on the Rangers that’s sinking their season.
Panarin is a great player, but he’s got 2 years left on his contract, and will 35 when he signs his next deal. He’s going to ask for bank, and he’s the key to their offence.
Shesterkin’s a great goalie, but that alone is not enough to win … just ask Henrik Lundqvist.
Wow, Rangers are just broken.
0-5, 12 shot on goal. Oof.
Kreider is a healthy scratch. Likely due to him having 6 even strength points all season.
Zibanejad is having an awful year too, I don’t believe it’s Kreider as much as it’s the coaching & culture of the NYR
Agreed. They sure screwed up by picking Laviolete over Knoblauch. Great for the Oilers!
I guess the Skinner’s and Arvidsson had decent games last night as the venom is being spewed at Bouchard today.
.
Oilers enter their break on quite the roll having lost only 3 times in the last month. 11 wins over that time-span. Lots of positives for this serious contender!
This is the best Christmas Break team of the Connor McDavid era (was looking last night).
Nice to see no coaches are on the verge of being fired (or have already been fired) this season.
Re Bouchard – the bonk on the head is likely showing up in subtle ways, including errors in judgement. I *know* minor head injuries, well. A few days rest is the least the club can do for him as his brain heals.
ps. I write about here https://medium.com/@rev.hanspetermeyer/bouchard-bonk-a4c94c2a7809
Cousins is a dirty rat, but he’s also a decent hockey player. I choose to tip my hat to him making a great play, rather than Bouchard making some sort of major error (aka – Cousins took the puck away from Bouchard, rather than Bouchard giving the puck away on an unforced error).
In the early part of this season, there were some defensive miscues that were due to a lack of effort. That has not been the case for several months now. Bouchard looks fully engaged. Unless we’re talking about Nicklas Lidstrom, even the best offensive defensemen are going to get snakebit by a turnover now and then. Bouchard contributes away more to winning hockey games than he gives up now.
During the Vancouver and Dallas series last spring, Bouchard was the best defender on every inch of the ice in all facets of the game.
He’s suffering from some bee attacks but I’m fully confident the 200ft Bouchard will return come the spring.
I have no time for the Bouchard hate.
Just an unbelievable player. So fun to watch.
TOI suggests the coaches can live with Bouchard’s misfires.
Top-5 RHS dman in the league.
Happy holidays Connor!
Clattenburg signs his 3 year ELC as per Oilers official twitter.
I like the top 3 lines from yesterday a lot. Could we try Skinner Nuge Perry and maybe have 2 3rd lines? Skinner and Perry the play makers and Nuge the defensive conscience and they all think the game at a high level. it could work.
with a “4th line” of Kane-RNH-Perry as an option once EK91 comes down off the hoist
Nuge was missed on the PP last night. His importance on both special teams is clear. Arvi did a fine job and presented an opportunity for a new wrinkle. When a PP has been together and clearly successful for nearly 3 years and one of the key puck handlers goes out it is going to take a few reps to get up to speed especially when they go from 3 LH+2RH to 3RH+2LH. You could see the improvements as the game went on… Arvi established himself in a territory and they started moving the puck around as a stationary Powerplay with a few switches (Arvi and Hyman/97+29) and you saw less of the 97 wheel around the outside. Good options to have.
I agree. I like what Arvidsson brings: hustle, puck retrieval, one-timer, smarts. Not “better” than RNH, “different.”
IMHO, the Oilers PP needs some “different.” But not stationary. The McDavid swirling, the PP unit moving, this is what messes w most PKs. Give Arvidsson a little time with the unit & the Oilers will have a variation that will unsettle whatever PK solution other teams have found for the current and long-standing variant.
Yep just different. As a coach it is great to have options. When I said stationary I didn’t mean stand around and pass, meant more stationary than when 97 is buzzing all over the ice. The Hyman goal was a great example, Arvi slid down to the post and Hyman moved to the bumper. The puck moved quickly and Hyman found the rebound and buried it. Not often in the last 3 years you see Hyman on that side of the ice.
Dam those Oilers, what do they expect me stress over for the next five days!
Apparently, Evan Bouchard.
Christmas can be a stressful time of year all on its own.
Merry Christmas!!!
The team needs to help Boosh. The other teams are double manning him and our guys are smoke bombing like Shinobi when this happens.
There’re a few guys on the team that get double manned. But that’s ok eventually someone breaks free, and it isn’t always the few that are being double manned.
Double teaming Bouchard brings the inherent risk that he will beat you with a pass to the open man. For all of his warts that are all over the internet at all times, the man also has some high-end skills, with elite passing at or near the top of the list.
This is exactly why the opposing team presses him. They give him time back there and he’ll pick the lock.
SOMETIMES, he will pick the lock.
The most disturbing thing about Bouchards giveaways, is that a lot of them occur when he is under little, or no, pressure.
The goal he gave up last night occurred when he had full control of the puck, and plenty of time to make a play. He also turned the puck over on a 1st period PP from the left point. Very little pressure, and he put it right on a Senators stick at the faceoff dot.
LT talks about singular negative events, but there sure are a lot of them with Bouchard.
And again, a lot of them seem to be self inflicted, and not caused by heavy pressure from the opposition.
Noteworthy about Bouch is a mistake like last night does not ruin his game. He parks it, moves on and continues to make positive plays. The puck is on his stick more than most D so more chances for error.
Cousins actually made a nice play taking the puck away from Bouchard from behind. He then had a clear path to the net and beat Skinner for the Sens only goal. I would have liked to have seen Bouch dive and attempt to knock the puck off Cousin’s stick.
I would have liked to see Skinner make the save. But Oilers won 3-1, so it just doesn’t matter.
It is possible to like what Bouchard brings, respect his immense talents, and also feel that for him to contribute the way he ought to, he needs to resolve a fixable element of his game, one that consistently leads directly to goals against. These are errors that have the potential to be deflating in big games. A bad turnover tends to reward the underserving opponent, they are not errors resulting from being outplayed or hemmed-in or out-skilled.
Expecting Bouchard to eliminate these unpredictable goal-costing turnovers from his game shouldn’t be some third rail. The goal-share is good. There’s room for it to get better and thats how the team will win a Cup.
This isn’t an inherent quality to his game, it can be fixed. Just please before the next best of seven.
When is the last time we saw Darnell Nurse snow angel his way to a series of goals against off his ass or elbow? Its the same with Bouchard. Let’s get these guys both responsive to the moment and then we have some real scary potential.
I think it’s all so easy for Bouchard that he goes into autopilot, sometimes the opposition gets a stick in the way which can be bothersome. I mean most of these plays he makes he can do in his sleep and at times he even looks like he’s asleep. If he didn’t wake up for the playoffs I’d be concerned. But his attention to detail during the playoffs was exceptional.
The solution for the Larry Murphy problem was six other defensemen on the team who were superior defenders, and 14 forwards committed to 200 ft. hockey. A team can have one D, and one F, who are loose, but that is about it.
As long as Bouchard is the only guy, there really is no problem. We will point out the blunders though, and hopefully laugh at them, because the team is winning.
I don’t know what you pay him though.
That’s the problem, at times Bouchard isn’t the only guy. Their commitment to defense however is improving. But defense is so boring, sometimes it’s hard not to cut loose and have a good laugh.
It is easier to replace the other guys, then to hope Bouchard gets fixed or fixes himself.
So Bouchard, like Larry Murphy, presents a challenge to management and the coach.
There is no right decision in choosing to commit to Bouchard or choosing not to. If one chooses Bouchard, a manage and coach has to accept the consequences of committing to Bouchard in terms of players on the remainder of the roster, and systems.
Scotty Bowman was able to do this, twice, in two different places, with Larry Murphy Other teams and coaches failed miserably or had varying degrees of success or failure.
They have no difficulty committing to Connor & Leon, I suspect they feel the same way with Bouch. There’s just too much upside.
This is exactly how I feel. I really like what he brings to the game, because his skill plays, even the subtle 10 foot pass, most players can’t make. I can live with the odd pass that goes astray, even if it leads to a goal against. What I don’t think is acceptable are the Hockey 101 errors, like trying to beat the oppostion at the blueline. I think his situational awareness needs to improve. He seems like he has a high hockey IQ, so he should be able to get those blunders out of his game.
Mistakes last night are indeed something that Bouchard has to, can, and has in the past cut down – hell, down the stretch and in the playoffs last season they were so very rare.
He’ll bet there once again.
Fact is that despite his proneness to the big mistake that leads to the high danger chance against, Bouchard does not make these in quantity.
The goals against, expected goals against (including via per 60) are simply not egregious – and he plays a ton against elites. Cult of Hockey analyzes every single high danger scoring chance for and against and awards culpability and Ekholm and Nurse make mistakes on high danger chances against at essentially the same rate as Bouchard.
Of course, Bouchard has a tendency to make those mistakes highly visible and that leaves lasting memories and skews reality sometimes.
He can do better, he has in the past and I’m confident he will against.
Bouchard made a terrible play last night, it led to a goal against and could have changed the outcome of the game.
Of course, the 5-6 great rush defence plays he made rarely get mentioned let alone the number of times he got the puck quickly on the stick of the high end forwards in full stride, etc.
During the Hyman board battle last night, I was suggesting to the TV after several Spicebox’s and Eggnog’s that he was doing great things in that battle to secure the Ozone. Then out came the elbow to the face of the Sens player. I also saw Draisaitl take the Tkachuk heavily into the boards for his pound of flesh on the wrong brother. For those clamoring for team toughness lately, I suggest it does exist. It arrives from the least expected players when the push back is necessary likely due to retaliation, and it’s all throughout the lineup.
Hyman got punched in the face(mask) and partially slew footed before he decided to exact a pound of flesh from Cousins, who went done like he got shot.
Hyman is focused on winning puck battles and scoring goals. He usually doesn’t have time for anything else.
Draisaitl definitely likes to mix it up with the opposition, which often takes him out of the play or gets him sent to the sin bin, and notably benched a few months ago.
When you have the puck on your stick all the time and are engaged in the battle like Leon or Hyman do, you’re going to take some abuse. Our stars can dish it out and be vicious when needed.
That’s hockey.