The Edmonton Oilers played a complete game last night against the Vegas Golden Knights. It was a strong road game, and came at the start of what could be a defining month for this organization. There’s a chance this Oilers train gets derailed by late April or early May, as the playoffs begin on the 19th.
Last night offered real hope, and with so many impact players out of the lineup the overall quality of play offers hope to a fan base that has been to hell and back in 2024-25. If the club can play with as much attention to detail as last night, and execute in key situations, this could be the magical year.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN APRIL
- On the road to: VEG, SJS, LAK, ANA (Expected 2-2-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- At home to: STL, SJS (Expected 1-0-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: WPG (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: LAK (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: SJS (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected results: 5-3-1, 11 points in 9 games
- April result: 1-0-0
- Current record: 43-26-5, 91 points in 74 games
- Final projected record: 47-29-6, 100 points in 82 games
The Oilers have a chance to finish second, and with this win last night it feels quite possible. The two games against the Kings are massive after last night.
THE NUMBERS
If you look across this roster and review the game in your mind, there are probably one dozen standouts. Viktor Arvidsson is coming on now, and just in time. Somewhere Jeff Jackson is lighting candles and it appears to be working. Vasily Podkolzin had maybe his best game, and Leon Draisaitl (as mentioned here) is an elite outlier in a most unusual season for this version of the Oilers.
Jake Walman and Evan Bouchard delivered a fine game, and so did Calvin Pickard. Nurse is playing at a very high level as the playoffs near, I’m so happy to see the good vibes online surrounding his game.
Connor McDavid, Evander Kane and Trent Frederic skated yesterday, that’s a good sign. Worry warts like me can continue to fret about Mattias Ekholm and Stuart Skinner, but everyone appears to be matriculating toward getting back into NHL action.
It was a most encouraging night on the ice.
The Lowdown hits at noon today, Sports 1440. We’ll talk Oilers and the road trip that started with a bang, while looking forward to the California portion of the trip. We’ll talk MLB (Jays are good!) and of course March Madness, Declan will be Dunkin’ and we’ll have a look at other major stories. 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, it’s available post-show on apple and spotify, and we tweet it out on X.
New for The Athletic: Can Edmonton Oilers forwards turn around their inconsistent season?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6247087/2025/04/02/edmonton-oilers-stats-forwards-2024-25/
This is a also a music blog…I thought I would post another anthem for today to honour the Memories
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlPhMPnQ58k
This may too personal for some, but on point for others. It is amazing how connected we can become through the written word.
Rest in Peace Bruce
Your memory shines brightly and you are a star amongst the stars and when I look up into a clear Alberta night sky, I will think of you.
🔭🪐🥅☄️🌘
So sad to hear of Bruce’s passing. Heartfelt condolences to his family and all who knew and had the privilege of interacting with him. Even though I never met him or spoke to him he, through his writing and the comments section of this blog, was an inspiration.
The news of Bruce came to me mid workday and in my work, all you can do is compartmentalize and keep going. Wrote a few tweets about it. But it’s only now as I get ready for bed that things have slowed enough for me to actually process it. To actually sit with it.
I learned a lot from Bruce. Not just hockey. He loved things and learned new ways to love them as times changed while still loving them the old way too.
That’s a vague statement, I know, but it was true of Bruce. He loved the Oilers. He loved them the way he enjoyed them 40 years ago and he loved them in all new ways now.
He loved the stars and was an absolute nerd about them in such an unabashed way that showed you how to give yourself to things in life you found cool.
He loved Ravi Shankar on the sitar playing classical Indian music.
He loved so many aspects of life and he loved them right to the end.
That’s a life worth living. A life worth celebrating.
I’m going to miss him. Who’s going to tell me what happened in the 1986 home opener? I can look it up. But I can’t off-the-cuff give it life the way Bruce did. I can’t instantly recall the emotion and experience of living it the way Bruce could. No one can. Not like Bruce. He was one of a kind and there won’t be another like him.
Cheers to Bruce. And cheers to all of you who knew him too.
Think I’ll stop on my way home tomorrow and pick up a bottle of Writer’s Tears. It’s going to take a spell to contemplate the loss of our favourite ink stained wretch.
#haveadramforBruce
This is my all-time favorite Bruce McCurdy piece:
https://www.coppernblue.com/2010/9/28/1700540/the-worst-captain-in-oiler-history
That’s just a spectacular piece of writing.
Echoes of Peter Gzowski…but better.
Not much to add to all the heartfelt messages. Been reading this blog for 20 years, and used to be on twitter/X, read CoH, and almost feel like I knew Bruce as well. I talk a lot with my kids about the things that matter, the wake you leave, and the fact that people may not remember what you did but they will absolutely remember how you made them feel.
Bruce McCurdy managed to make people who he only knew online (!) feel welcome, like a friend, even in disagreement. His inherent kindness and patience was obvious to all. I’ve been to many message boards today reading hundreds of comments about his genuine kindness, curiosity, and all the positive memories people have from their interactions with him. That’s a legacy we can all aspire to. RIP Bruce.
I’ve been on the Lowetide Oilers blog for 20 years, since I was a very young teenager. Bruce McCurdy is one of the most intelligent people I have ever conversed with. Not just about hockey, but he was also involved with The Planetary Society esque stuff, and RASC stuff.
I thankfully have been able to converse with him about those shared interests as well, and I thought it really neat that he had led searches for meteorites around Edmonton before!
He was one of the shining lights of Lowetide, Edmonton, Canada, and humanity.
My condolences to the McCurdy family – an enormous loss for our little family
RIP Bruce
Bruce was a genuinely good man and he will be missed in the community. CoH will not be the same without him and condolences to the McCurdy family on their loss. I hope the team wins it all for him this year and he is somewhere smiling when it happens.
RIP Bruce.
Even though I never met you, you contributed very positively to my own quality of life by helping my understanding of the game and that contributed and deepened my love for this team. Your recollections also helped me relive some of the greatest moments my childhood, a period of my life that didn’t have a lot of highlights.
I also want to mention that when he called me out during the 2016 Draft for comparing the selection of Matthew Tkachuk to Jason Bosignore, it was very humbling, but it honestly helped me to understand and recognize my personal biases. That was a moment of clarity for me, as it taught me to take a step back, and to look at the whole picture. That has served me very well in my life and I am better for it.
I also wanted to mention his attempted spelling of my name, while agreeing with my comment a few days ago. That truly was a really fun moment for me. I honestly LOL’d when I read that. That will forever be a cherished memory for me.
My sincere condolences to everyone who knew and loved him, he will be greatly missed.
#neverindoubt
Won’t happen, but would be sick for the Oilers to put a copper telescope in front of the rink for Bruce.
What an unfortunate loss. His comments and insights on this blog will be missed.
A good measuring stick for the character of a person, at least for me, is if I find myself wanting to be more like them.
Bruce was one of these rare gems. I wish for his kind and steady demeanor. I strive to find a passion as deep as his.
He seemed to be the type of a man that compelled me to listen to his words, but not through volume or coercion. Through mutual respect. Through the fact that you knew you were hearing words that meant something to him.
When folks like Bruce move on it leaves a profound sadness. Its as though not only did the world lose a man, but also an era.
My heart is out to all of us sharing in the bittersweet sorrow of having shared in Bruce’s life. Even if it was only through listening to his words over the years and knowing that this was a man that you could trust.
Wanted to add my condolences to the McCurdy family on their loss. Bruce did not need to give the time and thought to responding to so many of us as he did, but he always took the care to do so in the best way possible (sometimes with a sharp question to quicken the thinking about what we said). I remember coming on here years ago and being awed by the posters and the way they saw the game, and to have someone like Bruce stop to comment or converse was incredibly encouraging.
I can’t say anything better than what was already shared, so I will just say that he was a great man and I will deeply miss him.
Just enjoying this McCurdy classic…
I loved reading and listening to Bruce’s post game analysis of the games. I especially appreciated and enjoyed his many impactful posts on LoweTide’s blog over the years. I never had the pleasure to meet Bruce, but I had the sense he was a kind, respectful and intelligent person. My deepest condolences to the McCurdy family on this tragic loss.
Deepest condolences to Bruce’s family, friends and colleagues on his sudden passing. My thoughts are with you as you comprehend and grieve this loss. It takes a very special person to have such an incredible and significant impact on so many people, including those who never met him in person. That is a wonderful legacy to leave behind. I will miss reading his articles and his posts here, and I will miss his Cult of Hockey podcasts with David. Rest easy Bruce.
It’s amazing the impact Bruce has had on my life and how intensely this news has affected me considering I never met him. In 2013, when I was going to be visiting Edmonton for the first time, I asked for recommendations on what to do. Bruce replied suggesting the World of Science and to come say hi if I made it out there when he’d be there. I wish I had.
Listening to him talk about the Oilers and reading his articles and comments has been a staple of my life for 15 years, and I can’t express how much it’s done not only for my understanding and enjoyment of hockey, but also the comfort it’s brought me. Many, many times during a stressful day I’ve thought to myself, thank God I’ll be able to listen to Bruce (and David) tonight to help me wind down and settle.
I never missed a podcast and rarely missed any articles, and reading his comments here was a special treat. His mix of insight, analysis, wit, memory, and kindness is so incredibly rare, and I will miss him greatly.
My condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and all the members of the community who haven’t met him personally but feel the loss.
Just devastating news today. So many kind words about our friend Bruce, I just don’t know what else to say.
Bruce, I’m happy your last game was a great effort by the good guys. I’ll be thinking of you looking up at your beloved sky here in NL. Of course by sky here I mean clouds, but you taught me a lot about the stars that are up there somewhere. I hope you are now enjoying teaching them about our team’s history as you did for all of us.
Cheers b’y.
I’m just gutted to hear about Bruce’s passing. The word ‘kind’ has been used so much in the comments already but it really is a perfect description. There was no better historian of the team than him, other than perhaps our esteemed host.
The thing I’ll hold in my heart most about Bruce was his absolute non-stop encouragement of my early blogging days at the long-defunct Bringing Back the Glory and being the reason I (briefly) joined the Copper n Blue as their ‘travel correspondent’. Completely different fields and academic backgrounds, but we were united by an endless curiosity. I don’t think I’d have the career I have now doing sport research and teaching in a sport media program without the twin influences of our host and Bruce shaping my perspective and helping me to develop the confidence in my writing voice way back when.
Bruce was the very best of us and will be missed greatly.
Well put Stephen.
Sad to hear about Bruce today. Like so many, I really enjoyed listening to Bruce talk hockey. Always a thoughtful perspective.
I recall chatting with LT at a book signing, and sharing a chuckle over the seemingly endless group of dudes surrounding Bruce, who was effortlessly holding court on the other side of the room.
”I’m telling you Bendelson, it’s like that everywhere he goes!”
I was one of those dudes.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Bruce, but learning of his passing just now, I feel as if I’ve lost a friend.
I admired Bruce for his great mind as a hockey analyst, and for his great soul as a person.
(You and Bruce really reminded me of each other, Allan)
My sincere and deep condolences to Bruce’s family and friends at this tragic time.
Apparantly not a no-brainer to start Rodrigue tomorrow, Pickard starting tomorrow.
Knob has basically said there are no back to backs so he can just run with him.
Its SJ, last place team that has a further gutted post-deadline roster, in between games vs. Vegas and LA. We are coming off a pair of wins.
Also, its a super late game, 8:30 start, on Thursday and an early 2pm start on Saturday.
I think this is a poor decision.
There cannot possibly be a more perfect time to get him a game, right?
You are correct. The sophomore coach is over thinking things now.
No defense of that decision
His starter is one net crash away from not being available in the playoffs and he doesn’t test drive his 3G against the worst (or close) team in the league in a game that means nothing.
Incredibly short sighted.
RIP Bruce.
Kind, Respectful, Thoughtful, Intelligent, Genuine.
Will be sorely missed on the blog/cult and infinitely more in real life. He brought joy to others through his passions and you always felt more informed anytime he chimed in.
Swing easy in the clouds good man.
Everyone should aspire to having so many people use the word “kind” in describing us upon our passing.
I will admit, though, to thoroughly enjoying how salty Bruce could be about the men in stripes on occasion. They always deserved it. 🙂
Bruce McCurdy was the best of us. I will miss his insightful and crafted words. My condolences to his family and the people of Edmonton.
Met Bruce in 2013 at a hockey analytics conference as well as several of the fine people on this blog. The last I chatted with Bruce he mentioned Gary “Suitcase“ Smith and I used that opportunity to test my old time hockey knowledge with him. I stated that Gary Smith played with both Gretzky and Messier played with him for the Indianapolis Racers. I was immediately put in my place (politely as Bruce always was) where he informed me they (Mess and Gretz) didnt play together. But he also let me know in a way that I was right – they played on the same team at different times. That made me proud to only be partially wrong ha. Bruce was so knowledgable and the standard for how to engage politely online. Gonna be missed bigtime.
Im gonna suggest a best of Bruce McCurdy hour or maybe a full 2 hours session one day (even in the summer?). I always enjoyed listening to him on your show LT.
Incredibly sad news. While I obviously never met Bruce in real life it feels like losing a friend after the years of reading and writing on here.
Every interaction with him on this blog was entirely pleasurable, he always came off as such a kind, intelligent and respectful individual. Such incredible knowledge and insight when it came to hockey, after watching a game and reading his thoughts afterwards on the game I often found myself just nodding in agreement.
As a fellow nerd I truly enjoyed his nerdiness and great passion about the things he loved. The last few years whenever I’m back home in the north of Sweden and see the northern lights I always come to think of Bruce after the conversations we’ve had here on the topic.
My condolences go out to his loved ones.
Next time I see, and hear, the Aurora borrealis I’ll make sure to send your greetings and tell them to watch over you Bruce!
Awful news.
Had a nice night of quality whiskey and great food not long ago with Bruce, Parkatti and Hupka. All friends because we met here at Al’s fine blog.
That was the last time I saw Bruce. I’m very glad we all made the effort to get together. It had been too long.
If there is a place in the universe where good souls go after leaving this world, Bruce is surely there.
Frederick is getting close.
I’m not sure why they wouldn’t give Rodrigue the start tomorrow presuming Skinner is not playing Sat.
No Rodrigue starts coming up:
They have to start seasoning their rookies. Get him a taste and get him hungry. Knobby starting to mek me mehd
They also likely want to win the race against the Kings. I am fine with this. 1 start will not change anything.
I’m absolutely gutted to hear this news about Bruce. His voice here and around these parts has been for so long been one of reason and civility, understanding and clarity. I learned a lot about hockey and about communicating by listening to him on the web, I would have loved to have shared a conversation with him. My condolences to his family and his many friends. My thanks to you Lowetide for bringing him to the radio, it was a joy to hear you two chat.
Brrrrrrrruce McCurdy.
Hello David….
Oh my am I going to miss that. My deepest condolences to the McCurdy family and many friends of Bruce.
I’m so grateful for everything I learned from Bruce over the many years of reading and hearing his work. Truly a legend! Bruce McCurdy. RIP
Just heard the news about Bruce McCurdy. I am devastated. Bruce gave me a chance to write for the Cult of Hockey about Oilers prospects that I had seen in action here in the outpost of Prince George.
I always enjoyed his writings and hearing him on Lowetide.
My dearest condolences to the McCurdy family.
The Oilers universe feels a little empty today.
RIP Bruce you are a legend among the stars.
Dear Bruce,
You will be missed tremendously…
Just to add to the many encomia* already posted here (and those to come):
I never had the privilege of meeting Bruce–I only knew him from our interactions in this space. A response from him was like a seal of approval. A wealth of Oilers lore and seemed a genuinely good person to boot. (And a fellow prog-head who understood my references!)
And now, as a watcher of the skies, he is off to the great gig in the sky.
Thoughts are with his family and friends. Rest easy, good sir.
* I’m sure he would have appreciated the use of that word as a fellow logophile**.
** That one too.
Hear, hear. Bruce was a consummate gentleman through and through. He is sorely missed.
BTW always amazed how many prog fans are on this site. I always felt a bit of a minority in that regard in most gathering places. This last two weeks of the season looks to be a Dance on a Volcanoe’s Edge, as it were. Going to be fun!
Damn scrolled down and saw the news, RIP Bruce.
RIP Bruce.
Awful news about our friend Bruce. Condolences to those of you here who knew him well. A gentleman and a guy with an eclectic set of interests.
If anyone has his address for sending his family a card, I’d be grateful if you could pass it along. tyler@mc79hockey.com
Awful news. RIP Bruce, and condolences to his family and friends.
I didn’t know Bruce, but if his posts here were any indication, he was a wise, thoughtful, interesting man, that one would have been lucky to have known.
For those who did know him, I am sorry for your lost. I can’t even imagine.
1) I don’t know if I’d call last night’s performance a “complete game” seeing as how they were shelled in the first period, but they held on and played a fantastic final 40 minutes to pull out the win.
2) I thought Skinner-Janmark-Brown was an awful idea and I feel vindicated by the numbers above. Jeff Skinner is a good complementary offensive player, but he needs another offensive player, preferably someone who can push the river, to get the most out of his skill set.
3) pickard with another “good not great” game that’s enough to win when he shows up in big moments. He kept the team in the game in the first period, got lucky with a few posts/Dorofeyev’s miss on the rebound, and made a few great saves when needed in the 3rd.
Very sad, tragic news about Bruce’s sudden passing. My condolences to his family, friends and the Lowetide community.
His presence on here and the Cult of Hockey will be sorely missed. I appreciated his never get too high, never get to low approach to discussing the Oilers. And often with a good dose of humour. His historical facts and anecdotes were always a welcome read. R.I.P.
That’s devastating news, such a bonafide person you could always trust coming from a position of honesty and reason, yet still could be relied on to echo our emotion or anger against a terrible call.
RIP Bruce, you were a cornerstone to the Oilers community and I’m sure that pales in comparison to what you meant to your loved ones.
Wow, shit. Bruce: Your friends, family, and colleagues have lost a great one, I’m sure.
For anyone who only know you through here, or CoH, we just lost the best of the best.
I’m sorry for your loss, Lowetide. Your mutual admiration, respect, and friendship was so evident in all your discussions.
Bruce you were my favorite Oiler media voice. Your mind was like a steel trap. The oral history of this club just took a major hit. Always calm, always cool, always spot-on. You showed insight and patience of a man who played goalie, and the memory of a man who loved the Edmonton Oilers and the game. And clearly, you were a man of depth, intelligence, and sensitivity. Its safe to say I had a little Oiler crush on you. I would always tell my wife when you replied to me here, “Bruce responded to my post!”.
You were first name basis in a household of people you never even met.
You go out universally beloved. RIP, man.
Lots of great McCurdyisms but I was always amazed when he would drop some reference to something like when Pat Hughes scored 3 shorthanded goals in 1983, but more amazingly he scored all of them on a Sabres, Bruins, Whalers east coast trip when Kurri was injured AND he scored them in three back to back games and even more amazingly in each case it was the only penalty of the game so in effect he scored three straight shorties….and then didn’t score another shorthanded goal until the VERY NEXT TIME they were in Hartford again more than a year later!
Or something photographic like this. I had to make this up just to compete with his amazing memory.
Looked like the same lines and pairings at practice today. Pickard listed in top of Rodrigue – I thought it made sense for Rodrigue to get this start (presuming Skinner isn’t available for Sat) but I guess we’ll see.
Sad news. I just heard and had to check here to confirm. You will be missed, Bruce. Loved seeing your interactions on this blog. If you chimed into a thread it was either the poster said something really good or really dumb. Your insight was always valued and your snarkiness on point, when necessary.
My condolences to your family and friends.
There is a saying that people are lost twice. Once when they are physically lost, the other is when their name is spoken for the last time. If that is the case then your memory will live on for a very long time, on this blog alone.
Rest in peace, Bruce. You will be missed and remembered.
#neverindoubt
Bruce may have been my favourite guest of all time in Edmonton radio. I never missed a cult of hockey game podcast. Tough news.
Rest in Peace Bruce.
May you begin another walking streak that never ceases.
Despite hardly knowing the man, I’m devastated by the news. I was fortunate enough to have briefly met Mr. McCurdy. He was as gentle, kind and wise as you all heard and read him to be.
Apart from our gracious host here on this blog, there was no smarter Oiler mind. Our lives as fans were made better by his insight, humour and love of this team.
Every Oiler win, I call my father, and he answers “never in doubt.”
RIP Bruce McCurdy. Your influence and value to this community was truly never in doubt.