The Edmonton Oilers play the Los Angeles Kings tonight, and a win makes things interesting. It’s likely the LAK host Game 1, but is not guaranteed. Connor McDavid’s competitive nature is something you can count on, but maybe the club keeps its powder dry and looks to fade the Glimmer Twins playing time. Yeah.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN APRIL
- On the road to: VEG, SJS, LAK, ANA (Expected 2-2-0) (Actual 2-2-0)
- At home to: STL, SJS (Expected 1-0-1) (Actual 2-0-0)
- On the road to: WPG (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- 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: 5-2-0
- Current record: 47-28-5, 99 points in 80 games
Suspect I’m the only one who cares, but Edmonton could hit the 100-point plateau for the fourth consecutive season. The club hit 100 points in six straight seasons (1982-87) under the previous format, but I think it’s a good sign for consistent excellence in this era.
THE NUMBERS
I’m officially curious about the Skinner-McDavid-Brown line, they’ve been running for a few games and having success. The benefits are obvious, and include greater depth up and down the line. Will we see it in the playoffs? Don’t know.
Corey Perry is never going to age. What a damned hockey player! Did you see the goal? Balls out to try that shot from such range and he beat an NHL goalie! Giant hockey brain.
Connor McDavid is playing brilliant hockey, setting up everyone for cherry goals and outscoring five-on-five. He is now 55 percent goal share for the year, and has reached 49 percent without Leon Draisaitl alongside! What a recovery. Since March 1, at five-on-five, the captain is 13-4 (77 percent) without Draisaitl, 5-2 (71 percent) with him, and 18-6 (75 percent) overall. Music!
Evan Bouchard picked up an assist, went 19-3 shots and 2-0 goals at five-on-five. Darnell Nurse went 18-1 shots, Brett Kulak 12-7 shots. Ty Emberson, Troy Stecher and Cam Dineen all played well enough. We should have a talk about those three playing in the postseason, because the depth chart currently goes Nurse-Bouchard, Walman-Emberson and Kulak-Stecher with Dineen the extra depending on the status of Mattias Ekholm and John Klingberg. I do like Dineen’s mobility and puck-moving ability, but this would be a massive ask.
The Ekholm situation is a major story for this team. He is a foundation piece of this hockey club.
A busy show on the Lowdown today, as we preview the LAK game and look back on an enjoyable trip to Winnipeg. It all starts at noon, Sports 1440, with Rachel Doerrie,CTO of Betalytics and Host of Puck Social and Jason Gregor joining us. Jays talk, NFL draft talk 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, it’s available post-show on apple and spotify, and we tweet it out on X.
New for The Athletic: Will there be playoff redemption for Edmonton Oilers’ July 1 shopping spree? There’s something happening here.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6276230/2025/04/14/edmonton-oilers-players-playoffs-2025-signings/
Got ‘Yer Back says no suspension for Nurse. Cult of Hockey says one game. Player Safety is unpredictable. I could see them giving one regular season and the first playoff game because Byfield didn’t return and because Nurse is a repeat offender. I can also see them giving nothing.
Not quite the worst case scenario but nobody got hurt and we left some bruises on these jackasses. If we coulda stayed out of the box, we coulda slowed this game down and maybe capitalized on a few mistakes. Alas, the refs started early with the cheap calls and it was off the rails.
We played a near perfect game yesterday, don’t forget. Against a superior team, I might add. The tired legs showed up on the pk guys who had a lot of extra minutes, these last 10 days or so. It was asking a lot for them to play any kind of uptempo game.
This was not our pk. This was our pk on fumes. This was not our pp, obviously. More like the third preseason game pp.
No way was Skinner Ever going into this game unless of injury. He just came back from an injury, played last night and it would be lunacy to put him into a game that we had little chance of coming back and winning.
The game sucked but it showed us that the kinks have no backbone. When the going got rough they cried to the reporters, refs and their coach, who then cried to the refs again.
If they were intimidated by This lineup, imagine what’s gonna happen when they face out “A” lineup, eh?
You win this game, kinkers.
In the playoffs, we’re gonna give you a thrashing that they’ll write songs about. You can put that in the bank.
The worst case scenario was starting the playoffs with a top 4 D of Kulak, Bouchard, Walman, and Emberson, and that’s what they’ll be working with. Maybe Byfield will be out as well
Well…they don’t have to work on penalty kill next practice, they got in enough tonight…
Looked a lot like a preseason game except that the home team didn’t dress their stars.
Ekholm playing at 25% would be better than Dineen or Brown
With Ekholm out we need as many depth players ready as possible.
Dineen I didn’t see him as good as earlier in the year. Not much opportunity to see his game today.
Brown is a monster in front of the net and hits to hurt. He won’t be taking anybody’s spot but he looked fine at this level.
If Stetcher misses a few games, who is next up?
Upon reviewing the replay, the direct cross check to the back of the head of a prone player is at least 3 games. Longer if Byfield is injured. No Ekholm and no Nurse is a devastating blow. This game couldn’t have been any worse. We would have been better off playing the Condors against the Kings
These players need to learn how to want it. I know this game is nonsense, but they have been so flat and slow all game. Pathetic effort. Out-skated, out-battled, out-competed.
You think the problem is that Quinn Hutson and Max Jones don’t want it enough?
No. There are regular Oilers who will be playing in the playoffs who don’t look like they are playing with any jam. They have been losing every shift. Nothing going on offensively.
The regulars are being asked to punch above their weight while the better players are resting for the playoffs. On the second of a back to back. The effort we got is exactly what I would have expected. It was like watching the Patrick Roy game, and similarly, no one was being pulled
And yet, in other games, they do have it. This was just a bad game all around and due to many, many factors.
The talent gap is very wide tonight. Some Oilers could have career games and it still wouldn’t affect the result
Was it a pathetic effort by the Jets on Sunday?
Unreal pass by Skinner there. But sure, keep playing Arvvidson on the PP, I guess… Haha. Poor Jeff Skinner.
How has Hutson adapted to his first nhl game? Thoughts?
This is not an NHL game
Though for him to get into any kind of rhythm in a game like this. Doesn’t play special teams and this has been a wacky one.
True. He’s had lots of ice time though.
great shot there. He has some smarts but needs to increase his speed
To my eye, he looked like a worse version of Nuge. Agreed that he needs to increase speed. Whole team looked super slow tonight, though…
Nurse has disadvantaged them even more now. He’ll miss a portion of the series. They’re never lenient on Oilers suspensions.
What an Fd up season. No clue what hits the ice next week. Could be the Globetrotters or the Generals
Man, I don’t think that should be 2 games. But the way this season is going…
Repeat offender and because Oilers
I was skeptical of the take down. But then I saw the angle where he cross checked a prone player in the back of the head. It would be a minimum of 3 regular season games. It was definitely worse than what McDavid did
Hutson looks like a legit prospect. That’s nice.
4-0 after 2 – This isn’t going to do Skinner’s confidence any favors.
If Skinner was in the net, maybe
Not sure this will have any impact, him being on the bench and all. Or are you speaking of J Skinner?
The more I see the replay of Byfield’s BS turtle tuck, the more ridiculous that call is.
There is no way they actually reviewed that play.
It’s the optics. Not watching anymore, but I’m assuming the Kings kept Byfield in the room to make it looks worse than it is
This is what happens when you dress an AHL team against an NHL playoff team. I blame whoever decided to ice this team when it is clear that 5-6 of their top players could be playing right now. They thought they were playing it safe and look what has happened. To say that this plan has backfired would be a tremendous understatement.
There was a plan?
Season ticket holders also pay to be entertained by the stars for 41 games.
Entertainment value for the season has been lacking
Jason Strudwick not being able to remember Mattias Ohlund’s name right there was really funny
If McDavid and Draisaitl were healthy and in the game together, do you think Edmonton would have gotten this many Power Plays? Interesting thought experiment.
Also…Danault going on about this being the Oilers B squad and the game plan is intentionally trying to hurt the Kings. Glosses over the fact that there are 10 players out, and that this limited squad isn’t intentional.
The gamesmanship is real. The biased commentators are real. The league hates Edmonton and they’re the Big Bad Bully Oilers. I feel like I’m taking crazy pills.
Now that Kings special teams don’t seem as disadvantaged, I expect more PPs this series than past years.
Could very well be possible.
I find the commentary interesting.
Nurse should be suspended for the first round?! And yet Bennington gets praised.
Kings have the 28th best PP. Kuzmenko doesn’t make them any better.
I wish the game plan was to hurt the Kings. That’s what it should be.
I just get frustrated with tha always being the narrative. We always try to hurt the Kings every year, apparently, and we’re worse than the 1970s Flyers. I’m just sick of the commentary from every single other team, I’m sick of the one-sidedness and almost gaslighting type behaviour, and I’m sick of the refs. The NHL really seems to like to drive fans away. If it wasn’t for McDrai I really wouldn’t have an interest in watching any game, unfortunately.
Wait until the playoffs!
Not exactly sure what the Oiler strategy was going into this game? Crack heads or get the Kings over confident. Combined with clown show officiating pretty embarrassing NHL hockey game.
Yep.embarassing game. Betting Oilers get a call tomorrow and this will put them in poor favor with the people that decide how series shall be managed
I get the angst, but playing injured players to maybe get home ice (was never going to happen). Playing McDavid or Drai tonight if not ready, would be ridiculous. Look how Drai, Fred, and Ek did…. People are injured and sick and the cap still counts.
“I Danault whose stick is whose, so I just grab them all.”
“Fetchez la vache!”
If I’m not mistaken, Kuzemko went straight to the bench after getting plastered to the boards by Emberson.
Start shooting the puck at stripes. This is pathetic.
This should help ensure at least a split in the opening games of the playoffs.
Brown or Hutson should run the goalie.
Brown won’t play. Hutson can’t. Zero downside and become a legend. Break him.
Watch the Nhl suspended Nurse 4 games for that now
One guy tossed, two guys dimed…..game management indeed
That is the weakest damn call I’ve ever seen.
If they weren’t the Oilers, I guarantee you that this would not be reviewed after the call.
That’s how you make them pay.
Yeesh. Thought he drove him to the ice. Crosscheck to the neck of a downed player might cost Nurse a few games…not what we need.
A penalty for the A talking to the referee? That is literally the letter of the law. Their job is to speak with the officials.
Wes Macauly should retire.
Another weak call. Just ridiculous. Refs are trying to control this game by whistling the lesser talented but more aggressive team. Thats three cheap calls, by my count.
Oh. Wes. That explains a lot.
Speaking of needing to be the star of the show…
It’s only a game.
Why you heff to be mad?
PK coaches better be doing some homework. Lots of soft spots in that T formation.
Maybe we should just decline the next pp? Had better chances 4v4.
Also, frickin play Skinner on the first pp, for crying out loud. What did he ever do to the coaching staff to make him so invisible?
Woof, joke of a game. At least watching from home you can turn it off. Feel bad for paying fans.
This is what would be real torture for paying fans:
Having to listen to the putrid Oilers DJ who plays that horrible racket after each goal…
and La Bamba like everyone isn’t sick to death of it…
Also: not to forget mentioning the dull witted music oftentimes played incessantly.
Commentators are honestly trying to justify Kuemper.
Well, he was just in the crease, he didn’t trip him…
Extremely important, Kings are showing us who they are this year. They are NOT going to scrum it up. Despite last play…lol
They are going to hit and try and draw penalties. Careful .
Here’s hoping the canny Paul Coffey has got the Kings right where he wants them.
So…why is Foegele so immature about all this again?
Looks like we’re clinching third place in the Pacific tonight:
Calgary Puck salutes you.
Flames are still in the Lowe+MacT playoff:
suck most of the season before make the NHL sweepstakes race; with a fair chance of making it as type this.
Where was the penalty? Hitting kinks players to hard?
It’s nuts tonight, but even crazier because there is no way that gets called in 1 week
Skinner forgot that McDavid isn’t playing tonight with that play. But he does seem to be the only one running the motor here.
“Clarke has worked hard on interference” – there, fixed it for you.
Uggg…Pre-season level game.
Nobody even touches Brown after that hit. Wait til Kane and Freddy get here…
Kings are consistent. CAP spread out across the line up is a deep, steady team with replicating results.
Oilers advantage is highs and lows. If they are on a high, with greater top end talent, they roll the Kings.
I would not be surprised to see Connor- Leon one 1st line with a puck retriever on the right wing.
McDrai put up some goals and the rest of this roster asked to break even.
Tonight I hope they are just strategizing. Most effective breakout, defence weaknesses, players to exploit.
Their D is very inexperienced
Doughty?
Gavrikov?
Mikey Anderson?
Edmondson?
Inexperienced?
Or crappy. Their D is not fear inducing, whatsoever.
Do these prime intermission commentators even watch hockey
She is/was a scout for the Kings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake_Bolden
They could be the Kings commentators and favour Kuemper over Hellebyuk for the Vezina…
That explains a lot. Don’t people have to declare their biases anymore?
I want this Amazon prime commentators name so I can keep receipts for the end of the first round…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake_Bolden
Bernstein is insufferable. Watching the FanDuel Sports Network was a mistake. I still believe Edmonton can make this a competitive game.
I say damn the strategy. Just go at em! Finish every check!
You’re gonna bring in your top lines out for an obviously understaffed lineup? Fine. We’ll take it out on your top players, then.
Playoffs are coming, kinks. You’re gonna feel it when Kane and Freddy give you a waking nightmare! Connor and Drai are gonna crush you so bad you’ll feel it in your souls!
Like to see these guys show some pride and make a game out of this. Don’t quit
Management should be embarrassed that they iced this roster tonight. This is worse than NBA teams who sit their starters.