No matter what happens on a Saturday HNIC broadcast, the level of tension before the game is always elevated for me. Back in the olden days, it was due to the anticipated can of whoopass the 1980’s Oilers were going to deliver to 20 guys from the hinterlands. Nowadays, it’s more like ‘I hope they don’t give up eight in front of a national audience’ but there’s more emotion in a Saturday with the Oilers on the big stage just the same. Tonight is a big game for both teams; tonight’s game might be special.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN MARCH
- On the road to: CAR (Expected 0-0-1) (Actual 1-0-0)
- At home to: ANA, MTL, DAL (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 2-1-0)
- On the road to: BUF, NJD, NYI, NYR (Expected 2-2-0) (Actual 2-2-0)
- At home to: UTA, WPG, SEA, DAL (Expected 2-2-0) (Actual 2-1-1)
- On the road to: SEA (Expected 0-0-1) (Actual 0-1-0)
- At home to: CGY (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected results: 7-5-2, 16 points in 14 games
- March result: 7-5-1
- Oilers in 2024-25: 41-26-5, 87 points in 72 games
The projection I gave before the month began (7-5-2) will have been an accurate attempt no matter tonight’s result. Edmonton’s disastrous February is in the rear-view mirror, and the poor games this month have an ‘innocent, with an explanation’ view (my thanks to Luba) from here. I think third place in the Pacific is the likely landing place at the end of the schedule.
LEON?
Reports have Leon Draisaitl possibly stepping in to the lineup tonight, which of course will emerge as the lead story by afternoon coffee time if true. One hopes the big man isn’t coming back too soon, the Big Train is about to embark on a long journey this spring so everything needs to be right with the mechanics of his game.
OLIVIER?
My sense is that Stuart Skinner will be back next week as Edmonton’s starter. I do wonder if the coaching staff runs Calvin Pickard more than in the past. It might help Skinner to ratchet him back up in a measured way, kind of like pitchers in spring training. The die is cast for this spring, Stan Bowman can’t trade Evan Bouchard for Jeremy Swayman until the summer, so getting Skinner in the best possible place for him is paramount. If Skinner is out for longer, then Olivier Rodrigue will need to play. I would hope the organization doesn’t play him tonight, I don’t want a repeat of the Todd McLellan-Laurent Brossoit situation which (in my opinion) altered the relationship between the two professionally.
PROCUREMENT
I’m sure many of you hear me prattle on about signing CHL, Euro and NCAA free agents this spring and roll your eyes. Trust me on this, the Edmonton Oilers are in danger here. The Mikko Rantanen trade to Dallas may well be a harbinger of springs to come.
Dallas got Rantanen for Logan Stankhoven, a first-round pick plus a conditional, along with two third-round picks. So that’s a fine young player, possibly two picks in the 24-32 range, and then a couple more inside the top 100.
That is NOT an insurmountable package, but the Oilers couldn’t beat it. That issue is going to get more pronounced as time goes by. It tells me that Matt Savoie and similar picks fell shy of the Stankhoven package, and that cap issues (retention) were once again in play.
It’s important that Stan Bowman sign many undrafted free agents who can be plug-and-play in Bakersfield next season and possible recalls/trade pieces by the spring. The first signing is known, hopefully many more to come.
Granted, St Louis would still hold the tie breaker on ROW, but depriving Calgary of that single point is lovely.
The point remains the same and accurate but, just for clarity, 1st tie-break is simply regulation wins (ROW is the 2nd tiebreak).
Yes. If Calgary had won this game, and the next 3, they would be tied with St Louis on RW, so I went to ROW
Basically, if Calgary ends up tying St Louis in points by season’s end, they are likely losing on tie breaker, so this point was still a big deal and may well be a factor
Really enjoying this after hours. Need to hear from Mac T more often
Darnell Nurse with one heck of a hockey game tonight!
Drai with his 19th career OT goal.
8 OT goals behind Ovi for the record, and he’s got half a career left to do it.
Never in doubt.
lol
Gutsy win. Leon really showed how having a superstar in your lineup can change your entire lineup. Picks made the stops he had to and that’s all you can ask for.
I thought we were more conscious defensively but showed that it’s not our strong suit, yet. I hope we continue to play this style and get better at it, as we get closer to the playoffs.
Frickin Leon, man. He’s a beaut. When the game is on the line I want the puck on his stick, every time.
Take your time, Connor and Eks. Leon has giant shoulders. He’ll carry the list while you guys heal.
Draisaitl can center anyone right now.
Frees up Nuge with Arvy and Podkolzin
McDavid with Hyman and another winger
Keep a scoring winger like Skinner in your lineup
Jack: “ohmergherd what a classic…that was amazing…soooo gooooddd” (this and every single game regardless of what actually happened.
Leon: “We played a decent game.”
Truth and standards, people. #29’s that guy.
I love seeing Jeff Skinner smile.
Seems like such a good dude.
MthrFckn Yes!
Leon “LaBamba” Draisaitl!
With Ice in his viens
BOOM!!! Holy hell, we missed you, Drai!!! We missed your SHOT!!!
L51N!
29 with the shot mentality – drink
He played Skinner in OT and was rewarded. It is a miracle.
King Leon reigns supreme.
Leon Draisaitl just won the Hart Trophy!
He should have, but he probably still won’t.
Voters don’t look at the fact that he’s played with Podkolzin and Arvidsson, while MacKinnon’s played with Rantanen and Necas.
Voters want a narrative, and with MacKinnon, they can say that he held COL in it when they had ridiculous injuries and major goalie problems.
Or, with Hellebuyck, they might be able to say “President’s Trophy.” Or they’ll want to reward him for his 4 Nations performance for America.
Leon Draisaitl is The Man!
Draisaitl is the most awesome ever!!!!
Welcome back Leon! We missed ya
Wow, Drai shooting lasers tonight. My goodness
Free shot to Bouchard’s chin. No call. classic nhl
Condors with a massive regulation win tonight and two huge wins this weekend with maybe the most depleted lineup I’ve heard of in the AHL.
Kudos to the coach for his work with this roster!
Paging Godot!!!
lol
NEON L50N!
I love that read, that play and that shot so damn much.
That’s controlling a game right there.
Leon all Hart!
BOOM!!! 50!!! Lookin like Messier!!!
YAH! That’s what we want to see, baby!
Get hooked on THAT!
L50n Draisaitl!
#50 was nifty!
That is a mother-effing Hart Trophy goal.
Yea Leon
Draisaitl is awesome
L50N
Wow, what a shot by Drai. Amazing!!!
HUGE goal for 50!
Give the man the Hart!
Hyman clearly interfered with. Brutal non-call
Pad stack!!! Close the door, Picks!!! Give the guys a chance!!!
That definitely seemed like a bit of a performance by Kadri.
Ask Kadri if there’s any water left in the pool.
If he wants to dive like that, I’m NOT putting water in the pool. That’ll teach him.
Of course, after the non-call on Hyman on a scoring chance….
That time, Bouch didn’t stop skating. He’s coulda done that 20 time this year, if he didn’t stop skating..,
Caggiula bangs one home on a net-front scramble and the Condors lead 3-2 half way through the 3rd.
I don’t think I’ve seen that many poke-checks in sequence before!
I will say that at least Edmonton is getting shots. They’re still in this game.
pressing now. Gotta get one before we get caught, again!
One breakdown. Geez. Picks gotta have that…
He’s made many saves to keep his lifeless, poorly executing team in the game
He’s been solid but that was from distance with a clear look. Gotta have that.
He was point blank in the point. The Oilers rush defense had remained awful since the break
Emberson needs to get back in the press box
He’s been better than Kulak, this game, up until that double blunder. He’s hitting someone every shift.
Why would Emberson make that pinch…..?
Tried to make the play. It was broken up and he tried again instead of booking it back towards the d zone. First I was ok with. Second attempt was dumb.
But Picks gotta have that from that far out either way no screen..,
Klapka is a dirty dirty player with an IQ smaller than his jersey number.
The refs and the NHL are an absolute joke. Shielding Backlund like he’s his wife has to be the most one sided crap I’ve ever seen. If only they protected the stars like they do the plugs. The NHL might actually be better than the 10th most popular sport in the USA by now.
Backlund turtled hard. Tkachuk would be proud of that performance.
Because you haven’t heard me mention Gavin McKenna enough here:
A goal and four assists tonight gives him eight points (1 + 7) in two playoff games.
There has been considerable speculation McKenna could be one of the first CHL players to transfer to a NCAA school in the fall.
That would be an interesting move. Play against older, stronger competition but a reduced schedule. Pretty sure he will stay in the hat.
A much better development path and a quality education must be tempting.
What evidence do you have that NCAA is “a much better development path”?
There are currently more CHL graduates playing in the NHL. Additionally, many former NCAA players now playing in the NHL played at the Junior A level in Canada prior to playing NCAA.
The NCAA is probably a better development path for most players.
The CHL is undoubtedly the best development path for guys who are guaranteed to play in the NHL. You’re getting twice as many games a year. Playing NCAA, he’s going to power out halfway through his first NHL season. Besides, as a guy who’s going to make $100M+ in the NHL, he doesn’t exactly need a college education.