All of the verbal above came from the day after Edmonton tossed the Los Angeles Kings in 2023’s playoffs. The notes above appeared on this blog April 30, 2023.
After a game like the one we just saw from the Oilers in Vegas, I feel free to write just about any damn thing I want with regard to the Oilers.
I’ve decided to spend today’s GDT talking about Brett Kulak. He was an astute addition at the 2022 deadline and delivered since. The 2024-25 regular season was an outlier in five-on-five scoring. In the previous 2+ seasons, Kulak’s Oilers delivered a 52 percent (117-108) share of the total goals.
This past season, that number (53-68, 44 percent) was lowdown and trifling. He was 14-18 with Darnell Nurse, 9-12 with Evan Bouchard, 2-3 with Mattias Ekholm and 0-1 with Jake Walman.
Kulak’s least successful partnerships came with Ty Emberson (21-29, 42 percent) as Edmonton struggled with goaltending, injury, chaos and general malaise.
In this year’s playoffs, Kulak is 5-3 goals, 63 percent. He has played with Ty Emberson (43 minutes, 2-1 goals), Darnell Nurse (37 minutes, 0-1 goals) Evan Bouchard (36 minutes, 1-1 goals) and pretty much every other defender for at least a shift or two. His utility (I write about it here) allows the coaching staff to play him anywhere. There’s an old Yardbirds song called Overundersidewaysdown and that’s kind of Kulak in this spring’s playoffs. The Oilers are using him everywhere, and it’s rhyming. Music!
Bagged Milk will be our feature guest today on the Lowdown, we kickstart the day at noon on Sports 1440. Much to talk about with the Oilers, and we’ll have time to chat Leafs, Jets, Jays 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.
STU! FINDS A WAY. That woulda been a tap in.
Connor Carrick (Bakersfield Condors) has signed in Switzerland for next season and beyond.
The Arvidsson non-call looks pretty egregious in retrospect, an obvious can opener, when you’ve seen the slow motion version.
However, in real time, I was watching closely and it looked like two guys just got tangled up and one tripped. From the original camera angle at full speed. I couldn’t tell that Arvidsson had tripped McNab.
Anyway, we’d be outraged if it happened to us, but it was a play that happened pretty quick in real time.
It is quite clear they weren’t going to call a penalty unless it was a high stick, delay of game, or a cross check to the face.
Trips and interferences were being dished with reckless abandon. The timing of the missed call relative to the goal should be irrelevant. The Oil got 9 mins of PP time, VGK got 8 min. Sure, Vegas got jobbed in the moment, but in the grand scheme of things penalties were pretty equal for pretty equal indiscretions. We can say we’d be outraged, but objectively things were pretty even-handed from the refs and we’d be fixated on single events.
Cassidy’s mature take on it was that the game shouldn’t be defined by the one missed call. Earned a lot of respect from me as far as opposing coaches go
I’m in Ottawa so I’m that was a very late night. I work at 7am but the OT win though has taken away a bit of the exhaustion. A bounce in my step.
Same, except south. It was better for my health when they sucked and I could switch off regular season games early 80% of the time. Hope I live to be old and tired!
See I cannot even put together a proper sentence. Agreed with your sentiment lol
I’m already old and tired. I don’t mind the old part, just the tired bit. Being old is cool, I just don’t fancy FEELING old… like when I see an attractive lady and I suddenly realize HER MOM would be too young for me. That part sucks.
I like to tell people I am 66 – on average Some parts are still 18, others are 81. I just regret not getting to choose which ones…
Things could get worse for Vegas. They may be short McNabb and Roy next game, if the league does what it should for a suspension worthy cross check to the face.
I’m thinking they’ll decide no suspension as a make up for the non call on Arvi.
Yep that sounds like the bizarro logic MHL would apply in this situation.
Another dash 2 in regulation. 8 straight.
Coach brings up suppressed PPOs postgame in relation to scoring leaders. It’s a thing.
One non call on one hard play on a 50-50 puck on a non scoring opportunity in OT does not erase any of that.
Bust out the crying towels for Captain LTIR. Mark Stone skated right over to the referees after the OT goal and tapped his stick on the glass, indicating “this is on you” He is absolutely livid!
Apparently only one team is allowed to benefit from missed calls, LTIR, suspensions that are incorrectly doled out. Mark Stone is used to that team being his team.
I sure hope Pickard didn’t tweak anything that could flare up overnight. No way Pickard wants to give up because of injury this dream run he’s having
He limped off after the 3rd, looked a bit laboured getting up in OT but looked better by the end. Fingers crossed
Take out the ice, Vegas!!!!
How many games does brain dead Roy get for breaking Frederic nose 1or 2? I say 2 that was as clear-cut as it gets he just lost it on Frederic face.
Cassidy a pro in the media avail. Very poised and direct. He seems less pissed off about the play than some people on this blog, while calling it out as a missed call.
There was an article before the series started that talked about how Cassidy would be salivating at the thought of facing Pickard. Wonder what he thinks now. Pickard stole that game. Along with Oilers depth. Kinda feels like stratight outta that 2023 Vegas playbook, non?
Just wondering if the league might lol at the Arvidson play and give supplemental discipline? Haven’t they done that before even when no penalty is called?
For what don’t be ridiculous?
Maybe they should review the accidental on purpose Hertl fall on the back of Pickards leg.
Don’t disagree, but McNabb looked more injured than Picks did
Pickard was hobbled by that
For a tripping call with no clear malice? I would find that hard to believe
What if he’s got an injury out of it? Surely player safety has done this before? Obviously I’m not hoping for it, but it does worry me a little
A lot of players get injured on penalties. Even if it was called, it wouldn’t have been a major because he got hurt.
No cross check, no hit from behind, no hit to the head, no pre-meditation. I could stand to be corrected, I just don’t see what would make it worthy of a suspension.
Roy cross-checked Frederic in the face, not dissimilar to what earned McDavid a 3 game suspension. Not saying he deserves a suspension, but that was the most dangerous play of the game
Not a chance. They have to at least pretend to be fair. What you’re saying has never happened and will never happen. Penalties are missed all the time.
From NHL.com Department of Player Safety FAQs:
When considering Supplemental Discipline, does it matter if there was a penalty called on the ice?No, Supplemental Discipline may be assessed to any Player regardless of whether or not the infraction was penalized by an on-ice official.
The thing about the NHL is they develop a past. I expect a suspension because it was big missed call and Mcnabb could miss time.
Because Oilers.
It was a dangerous play and looked intentional in slow-mo. That said, I’ve seen a few hundred worse plays go without supplemental discipline this season, but I expect a suspension and the oilers 2nd round pick transferred to Vegas.
The only play that could be looked at for suspension is the Roy cross check to the face of Frederic
Well we will see. Time to crash. Love the win
I am excited to wake up and read some essay from some deranged corner of the internet calling for clear bias toward Canadian teams because Bettman wants a Canada vs USA final.
I saw a few posts on X stating just that last night
Maybe, Vegas and the Florida teams have cups. Storybook endings seem more the norm in sports than ever before.
Another +3 for Walman to make it +11 through 8 games. He must be some value for that, no?
Woodcroft gave us the clip of him sassily standing at the Flames bench.
Now Knoblauch has gifted us this
https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/s/iHqFPPs9Eo
That’s for the 2GA on the PK. 🤣🤣
Pickard faced some tough shots Vegas could of had 3 goaltender interference calls if Browns penalty in game 1 was the standard.
Win after not playing your best game, with your bottom six chipping in? Yes please. Good teams can win even if they don’t dominate the game, even if their best players aren’t their best players — and that’s what happened tonight.
Assuming the Oilers have more to give — and I have every expectation that they do — they’re in a really great position.
Really well put.
So much room for improvement on special teams (which they were somewhat able to figure out against LA)
Too many stretch passes into turnovers
And limited McMagic
Impossible to feel guilt seeing an injured Vegas player when they were all celebrating chopping Draisaitl’s arm off.
I hope the beatings continue.
I never wish for an injured player, but their D core is strong and McNabb being injured for any length of time would be a big blow that the Oilers could take advantage of. Puts more pressure on Hanifin and Theodore, in particular, who were not so steady
At least until the moral improves
Did you feel any quilt when Hertl accidentally on purpose fell on the back of Skinner leg. Watch the replay it was a Corey Perry special at its finest.
That might be the best performance by a goalie I’ve seen giving up 4 goals. Pickard kept making big saves when he had to
I’m beyond impressed with what he’s done so far this year – talk about seizing an opportunity
Pickard stole that game holy smokes did Vegas have some good looks.
It reminded me of Binnington at 4 Nations OT. Settled the team early when it should have been over
Where would we be without Klingberg & Walman?
Thank you Oilers mngmnt, you had no cap space, deep in LTIR & low on draft picks but you still added what the roster needed
The Klingberg reemergence is shocking, I’m adding part of his addition to the roster to Playoff Janmark’s legend per 60.
Podz, Arvi, Walman, Klingberg and Frederic all contributing big time right now. Who would have called that before the pkayoffs started. Suddenly this team is looking hella deep.
That said, how much time did Emberson get tonight? I feel like he didn’t hit the ice again after the first period. Does Stetcher draw in at some point? It’s not like the PK is looking stellar right now
I know I’ve been saying “don’t fix what ain’t broke” … but that PK is looking pretty damn broke. I’d be happy to see Stetcher draw in next game.
For who? Emberson, so we can take off one of the best PK D we have?
The personnel is likely the best we have, but this needs to be coached better.
7:05 for Emberson tonight, 31.3% CF. If the big Viking was coming back it’s an easy slam dunk decision but bringing in a cold Stetcher when the teams on a 6 game winning streak?
That’s why the coach makes the big bucks i guess.
Normally I’d agree, but Emberson just set a pretty low bar to clear for Stetcher to be an improvement. Even if he isn’t up to it, he could sit on the bench for 53 minutes and provide an equivalent level of play as Emberson did tonight. For me it’s a no-brainer, and I like Emberson, but he hasn’t been great 5×5 these playoffs
I think coach really needs to double shift McDavid and Drai on the fourth line a few times each game. Arvidsson and Podz are really feeling it and it will give the big guys some extra touches with the puck.
#NeverInDoubt
Well, duh, it’s Vegas, luck kinda comes with the territory. #PlayLaBambaBaby
I don’t think that was an obvious penalty, he put his arm out ya, but he let off before he hit the boards. If it was a non-call, and it might have been, it was a less worse than many boarding non-calls I’ve watched over the years. I guess the pendulum has to swing both ways to make it to the average in bad calls involving Edmonton.
That was a pretty clear and obvious trip, his stick clearly takes out his right skate. If it happened to Nurse and vegas scored a few minutes later this comment section would be screaming bloody murder lol
The Oilers won, screaming about what would of happened in the comments section if Nurse committed a penalty and the Oilers lost the game is an odd celebration tactic lol.
Huh? I’m saying if a LV player tripped nurse and he went hard into the boards, like Arvidsson did to McNabb, and LV scored a few minutes later, people would be losing their shit.
I’m not talking about Nurse taking a penalty lol
Clear in slowmo. Happened pretty fast.
I mean sure, but you could say the same thing about half the non-calls people whine about in the comment section during every game.
Oilers got away with one big time – why can’t we just acknowledge that while being happy it happened lol
I have several times. Just saying it’s harder for the refs in real time.
Thanks tips. Of course it would be an outrage on an Oilers centered blog. The point I was making, from the point of the refs, they obviously didn’t see it as a penalty in real time. Or they would have called the penalty. It seems like you’re suggesting the refs saw a penalty against Edmonton and didn’t call it. I would disagree if that is the case, if not, my bad.
I’ll graciously accept a helping of favour from the hockey gods 🙂
Father Pod looking like a real playoff player with 6 points and +5 so far!
Pickard stole that game.
One of those concerning wins as an Oilers fan
But… 6 comeback wins in a row. 2-0 lead. Better ice for the next 2 and the home crowd squarely in our corner!!!!
Just fix those *ucking special teams
(I’m choosing to be positive)
Since Vegas scored first, does this count as another comeback win?
Yessir
And 6-0 for #1 goalie Cal Pickard. Correct.
Can’t outscore your mistakes if there’s no mistakes to outscore. I guess that means we have to spot the other team 1 or 2 before we get going. I’d normally question the strategy, but it seems to be working
Something like the 1st lost for Vegas when the score 4 or more in the playoffs in 43 games.
Beautiful to see Eichel and Petrahack get burned for the winner
Stone whining as usual
He never stops crying. That was a textbook defensive play by Bouchard
Whoever made the Will Ferrell and Drew Doughty crying signs last round should make one for Stone.
Have to feel pretty fortunate to come away with the win but never bet against the Glimmer Twins.
Calvin Pickard, you glorious human being!!!!
If not for you we would’ve never had a chance for more McDrai magic!!!
Incredible pass by Perry! I didn’t realize he kicked it up to his stick and made a perfect, in stride pass!
What a frickin rollercoaster this team is..,they’ll be the death of me yet.,,
#neverindoubt
If the coach doesn’t sabotage them, they win this 5-2 in regulation.
They didn’t “steal it”. They tried to barf it up and managed not to.
How did the coach sabotage them?
Had them retreat to a defensive posture. Couldn’t get his lines right.
He basically played the same lines that got them to 4-2, tried something new for a bit after it was tied up, and then went right back to the same lines they started the game with lol.
I agree the whole “now defend” shell was a bad idea but I think part of that is the players also being less aggressive/more tentative and then having trouble getting back in an aggressive/attacking mindset once the game was tied up
Woooooooooooo!
What a rollercoaster of a game.
I don’t see how anyone can watch that game and think there is some anti-Oilers/Canada conspiracy between the refs/league. Oilers got away with A LOT this game, and I’m overjoyed for it.
But no more whining about officiating for the love of god lol
6 down, 6 to go
10 to go
Clearly I’m not mathing correctly this late haha
Big wins make everything ok
You could even say they’re like heroin
I have been watching the oil chase a dragon with no luck since Winnipeg left for the desert.
When they win I change my name
The story was always that the Oilers didn’t get the benefit because they were young and hadn’t won anything. Now they are old and have been a strong contender. Should we be surprised they get the benefit of the doubt that our opponents did for years?
I mean I am, but it seems consistent.
It still looks like it went off the post on the 6th replay.
That was the longest second of my life thinking “we scored”, going “oh no, it was another post”, then “wait, Vegas stopped playing this time too… wait, we DID score?”
My daughter and I both thought it was post, and were confused. Meanwhile I was sure hymans was in.
That it was Eichel that got turnstyled at the blue line makes it even more delicious
Eichel had a really good game, if even with that play in consideration.
He’s so good
The Glimmer twins rule the day.
Oilers very lucky in tonight’s game. Las Vegas outplayed them for the majority of the game. Neither team played great.
Maybe the two worst players in the game tonight combine to win it.
Oilers luck, for sure. They did hit two post in OT though.
Great rush D by Bouch before that goal.
And Brown’s crossbar. But I agree, 97/29 were poor and Picks saved them. Nice to win when maybe it’s not deserved. Better than the opposite!
They won that one because of Cal Pickard and line 4. Well done gents.
That’s what depth is for!
Hopefully McDrai takes off if they get some clear air from Eichel in the next two games
Bouchard deserves massive credit for that OT goal!
Perry too.
Great defensive play
Yikes. Shoulda been a call on Arvy. Not a great way to win but a win is a win.
New pope, mcjesus and God?
Stone sat on McDavid on the major penalty and the refs didn’t give a 5 on 3. Definitely missed calls on both sides
They also missed two crossbars in the prior 10 minutes
I’m also not convinced it was a can opener. On the other angle I’m not so sure.
lol what game were you watching, the refs missing calls all night kept the Oilers in the game.
The same one that you were, but I guess you can talk perjoratively about disabilities to make your claim if you like. It’s not very intellectual or respectful, though.
I can accept that it was likely a penalty because the stick was in there, but I think he may have fell from the push before making contact with the stick. It happened really fast and I can see why it was missed.
I also think that there were missed penalties on both sides and that definitively benefited the Oilers given how shit the special teams were. You must not be reading what I posted or else you are just putting words in my mouth
I’m sure you, like everyone else here, brings the same reasonable, balanced “there were missed penalties on both sides” outlook to most other games, even the ones the Oilers don’t win lol
Yea, I do. You can look at the comments from the LA games. Perhaps you should think before you make claims about others’ credibility, lest you lose yours in the process.
lolololololol
By the way, if you think I’m intellectually deficient because you disagree with me, I would suggest that’s not a very bright approach to life
McNabb’s skate looked like it hit a rut.
How many times have we been jobbed by the stripes. Weird to be on the other side of those
Your whining to the wrong fans try the Flames fans.
LEON YOU HIT B🚨TCH
Well, if you have to show up at some point, that point was certainly it. Great job, McDrai.
Greasy one to win but you LOVE to see that. LFG!!!!
BOOM!!! McDrai save the best for last!!!!!
Effing stole that game and, truth be told, no more bitching about the officials permitted – Oilers got away with ALOT in this game.
Both ways but definitely no bitching here
I was just telling a buddy that I feel like we got to be the bad guys this game!
Oilers score 5 even strength goals to Vegas’s 2, I’d say they’ve earned it.
Boom
Man we were so lucky to pull that out!!!