In the history of a sports franchise, there are relatively few major shifts in course. The Oilers were a fine example of that statement from 1979-2000. That’s a 20-year run of Glen Sather, Peter Pocklington (through 1998) and Barry Fraser in important roles.
Once Slats split for Manhattan, and Pocklington sold, things changed. Kevin Lowe made an immediate trade and it was a surprise. He dealt Roman Hamrlik to the Islanders for Eric Brewer, Josh Green and the second-round pick that the team used to grab Brad Winchester’s playing rights.
The period from Lowe’s arrival as general manager to Daryl Katz purchasing the club was one of the most interesting times in the organization’s history. It was the second chapter in team history, the EIG known for pausing the NHL-AHL affiliation for a time, cash calls and some uncertainty. They are also known (correctly) as the individuals who saved the team.
The Daryl Katz era will be remembered, I believe, in two distinct movements.
From 2008 through 2015, it was much about Katz learning on the job, and about the high cost of interference. I’ve always expected there was pressure brought to bear from the league/agents to get a ‘real’ general manager and that was Peter Chiarelli. I thought he would be a blessing, but it was a misfire.
However, by 2015 the Oilers had upgraded the Hall-Nuge-Eberle draft trifecta with McDavid-Draisaitl-Nurse and the handoff to Ken Holland improved the team’s fortunes.
The most recent verse began in the spring of 2020. Holland guided the ship until last spring, and now Stan Bowman is at the helm.
These Oilers may not win the Stanley, but each season sees the team push deep and one of these springs will bring the power and the glory.
What’s that? Five changes in 46 years? I think it is. All of the Stanley Cups came in stage one (1979-2000), one SCF appearance in stage two (2000-2008), none in stage 3 (2008-2015), none in stage 4 (2015-2020) and one in the most recent stage. The team is looking for the second SCF and Stanley No. 6. Tonight is a big game.
In the Dallas games, McDavid faced Miro Heisksnen 19:12, winning the shot share 11-3 but 1-1 goals. Expected goals? 83 percent. The Heiskanen-Harley tandem is one Kris Knoblauch may want to avoid for the No. 1 line, but he doesn’t line match as much as run his team with the idea that opposition needs to adjust. When you have McDavid-Draisaitl, it’s not the worst plan in the world.
Knoblauch might want to see what the captain can do against Lindell-Ceci in Edmonton. He has last change, and 97 could blow the series wide open if he gets clean air. McDavid versus Ceci in Dallas at five-on-five? 10:07, 2-0 goals, 8-6 shots, 66 percent expected goals.
On the other hand, Knoblauch should consider Kulak-Bouchard versus the Rantanen line based on the Dallas minutes. Rantanen was 10-0 shots with a 73 percent expected goal share versis Darnell Nurse. It was 15 minutes of hellfire.
Bouchard spent 12:19 versus the Rantanen line. Edmonton scored the only goal and Rantanen’s expected goal share was 48 percent.
I don’t have a feel for the game today. I’m uncertain what version of the Oilers we’ll see. If the home team plays at anything close to its best, Edmonton will celebrate a 2-1 lead in the WC finals later in the day.
I’m not tech incapable and not a techie (don’t need to be) but sadly India is keeping me away from my Oiler highlights. Saily, Telus data, wifi here…….Turn off and on and combos of things wax on wax off
No matter, so I went to CoH and was a little surprised to see some lower number ratings for McDrai and some others. Hmmm. As MP legume said can’t write the stars off just yet. Although if everyone has a good game, good luck to them
Dallas ain’t done. I ain’t looking beyond them much. not really.
That said…
Impossible not to contemplate the final. No question, both teams have retooled and made ready to raise a ruckus. Jones might be having his best postseason ever. Marchand adds an X factor, and me I got no bones admitting it gives me the fear. Oil manage to clear the present hurdle, the final should be truly epic.
My bias remains…
These Oilers are healthy and play their best? can’t see how they fail.
It’s time. it is. McDavid’s. time.
And if somehow, impossibility, the gords will it otherwise, all I see is 3-5 *more* years of the same teams locking horns again and again and again through the quarters and semis and finals. It might be one cup, or it might be a collection, but we’ve reached the point where at last I can agree with our host:
McDavid is inevitable.
The more I see the Petrovic hit on Brown, the more I don’t like it. If NHLPS wanted to set a precedence (past evidence says they don’t), it’s a textbook example of targeting the head.
Stecher = Kris Russell with boots, brain, and jam, and without hands of stone. The guy can make an outlet pass instead of endless resets. Breath of fresh air
Master of the one-knee block over Krusty’s fully prone, whole body block (which I’ll say was also effective).
Sounds like he’s the exact opposite of Kris Russel
Just got back from Edmonton. My voice is hoarse and I’m exhausted but elated.
This team really plays for each other and McDavid and the A’s maybe don’t get enough credit for that.
Skinner was the goods. The second period was all kinds of stress and he was such a difference maker. McDavid’s 3-1 goal was critical and put the life back in the building.
The overall boys brought it today to this matinee affair. They had “shaky Jakey” signs, and started the “U.S. backup” chant that our section really leaned into.
Incredible game to be at. My only regret was not wearing my Hyman jersey. We all knew he wasn’t going to be scoring 16 goals this playoff run, but damn he just brings whatever this team needs. As an Oiler he has 60 pts and is a +27 in 67 playoff games (Auston Matthews has 59 pts and is a +2 in 68 playoff games). And 17 hits away from setting the single playoff season record, to go with the most goals in a playoff season in the last 30 years.
I didn’t see that Nuge had left, but I’m assuming he’s okay?
Nuge came back and played quite a bit in the 3rd period.
For sure. Hopefully just some bruises
He also did post-game (which means he wasn’t receiving material treatment) and said he’s fine.
Could wake up stiff tomorrow I suppose but signs are currently good that he’s fine.
I am so impressed with the team. This type of strength is what I thought they are capable of
All without their best overall D. Bowman’s deadline can’t be underestimated
Score is deceptive – Dallas had lots of pressure and physicality in the 2nd and the game was on a knife’s edge until McMagic.
Grant Skinner to the rescue, ‘
Bring on G4
Dallas had a great second period – they pressed hard and Skinner was fantastic.
Oilers were the better team in the first and, of course, the flood gates opened in the 3rd but, overall, now a 5-goal differential game but the Oilers were never really “not in control”, even in the 2nd, with the way Skinner was playing.
What an adjustment by the boach.
Dallas took over the 2nd period and, for the third, coach takes Nuge (who was having a game) off the 1st line to anchor the second line and load up McDavid/Drai with Perry and, well, the Oilers dominate the third period.
Stan is about to give Stu 24 mill over the next 6 years, strap in.
I am not sure Skinner’s gonna get a 6 year contract. I’d look for a 3 year, if he continues to do well.
If Stu would take 4M per you do that all day long. Thats a moveable contract anytime given the street cred he’s established
If they make the finals that would be 2 in a row for Stu, wobbles or not, and the 3 SO. Big guy, not a locker room issue. Lots of GMs in need would bet on Stu. It would be massive even if he became back up at some point, that’s what they’ll make in a few years anyways
For real, that’s a realistic contract for Stu. Takes him to 30 – goalies are still in the midst of their prime at that age. I’d be all for that
I know this is light-hearted but I don’t see anything in Bowman’s GM past to lead one to think that he gives goalies big contracts based on small sample performances.
Stu signed for $2.6MM through next season remains a large value contract.
I don’t think he can trade Stu and sign an expensive goalie, cause I don’t think we got the cap room. If Skinner does well, let him play out his contract here and make a decision in the off season. (Is he RFA)?
No. Skinner is UFA after next season. One sort of has to extend him or trade him this summer.
I don’t think they have to make that decision this summer – they can play him in his UFA year and continue to discuss contract, etc.
He’ll be a UFA upon contract expiry.
There were postings here in the last week suggesting the Oilers may have to add a sweetener to move Skinner this offseason.
I say run both Skinner and Pickard next year for $3.6 mln (plus Campbell’s buyout). We will need to save money for the raises that 29 and 2 will get.
Agreed. Those that consistently think most Oiler players aren’t tradeable are either the troll or not able to see that things have changed under Bowman based on his deals (back to having a normal fully competent GM) and that Bowman gets the value that even the least of the Oilers inherit from playing on this team. And what playing on the team means to incumbent players and how that’s valued
It used to be us buying players from better teams and seeing that perhaps the team had floated the boat at least to a degree
If that’s a Stanley Cup champion bonus, I’m good with it
If the Oilers lose to Florida 3 x $5 million. If the Oilers beat Florida 6 x $6 million.
Oilers seem to handle the puck better offensively I think the ice in Dallas was soft.
It was slush
Pretty confident the oilers didn’t bring their A game is because of the early start. I’d expect a full defensive clinic on Tuesday with the later start date.
SO’R with a nice defensive play and the secondary apple on the ensuing empty net goal.
Knights win 3-1 and guarantee at least a spot in the Mem Cup semis.
Summarizing!
See above report from our East Coast bureau chief Todd Macallan.
Also, Nicholl was denied the gift of soup.
Prospecting takes a break until Tiw’s Day when the Knights take on the McKenna Hat Tigers.
Things are looking good. If the first and second periods are the best the Stars can do, the hardest they can press then they have little hope in this series:
While they carried the play in the second by a wide margin, by my eye most of their chances were crash the net and work for a deflection or rebound. Skinner played a great game but the Stars didn’t manage any impossible shots.
The Stars pressing the matter once they fell behind resulted in a tonne of odd-man rushes — something you don’t want to do against this Oiler team.
The coaches are going to look at the tape, make some adjustments so that level of Stars’ dominance seems unlikely.
Dominance and Submission.
Was only able to watch the third period. I guess Stars emptied the tank in the second, thank goodness Stuey was up to the task. Looks like Edmonton can score goals & Dallas can’t. Stars got goalied LOL.
Good Vibes Stu Skinner is a Smooth Operator
Stu stole it outstanding performance 6 more wins to go. If we win our remaining home games which very well could be 6 we get number 6.
Play off stats so far
Stu .902 S%. 2.66 GAA
Oett. .906 S% 2.76 GAA
This series
Oett .842 S% ~4.00 GAA
Stu .930 S% ~1.66 GAA
idk what my point is.
Oettinger facing an entirely different calibre of chances. The Oilers are pressing through and the Stars are hanging him out to dry.
Yes, one wouldn’t want to give Skinner any credit seriously one.
No credit and all the blame when the team in front of him plays bad
Skinner played a great game and definitely was the better goalie. Even though he got a shutout last game I liked this game even better; very confident and not shaky on anything.
I’m surprised the start Casey DeSmith bangeagon chatter hasn’t started yet. I would not be surprised to see him start game 4.
Sun Belt teams don’t have rabid (i.e. bipolar) fanbases. They don’t get pressured into doing crazy things.
I would suggest there is all but zero chance DeSmith starts game 4.
If Brown can’t go, maybe Ekholm is ready and they go 11-7?
Lol I mentioned that earlier
The 11-7 is a thing of the past like the Dodo bird I don’t see anybody lining up for Woody 11-7 strategy where you wear your top players to the bone. We have more than capable wingers chomping at the bit in Viktor-Skinner-Savoie-Phillip
Yes we do but that wasn’t the rationale. The idea is that Ekholm may not be able to shoulder a full load so you dress insurance on the back end. In any event, I hope Brown can play and it was just precautionary.
If Ekholm isn’t ready for 15 minutes than he’s not ready.
The way the defence is playing, why would you bring him back before he is completely ready?
I know the rationale but this isn’t experiment time. All coach Woody had to do was let the team continue on its merry way. Instead he alienated his bottom 6 by double shifting players that get all the juicy minutes to begin with and now their taking your table scraps. 11-7 in a pitch because of injuries is exceptable but not as a conscious strategy.,
If Ekholm is good to go they could always try spotting Stecher up front on the 3rd of 4th line, bring some energy…
And some insurance in case of a repeat incident.
I would let Arvidsson have a turn. He should be fresh and motivated. Want to keep the hard forecheck going.
Arvi’s about due. Didn’t see much that merited pulling him tbh, but Knob played his hunch w Kap and it looked genius last series.
This series…kinda counting the primo passes Kap bungles.
Geez the one from McDavid was gift wrapped with a bow on it. Viktor 50/50 Skinner-Savoie bury that opportunity 9 out of 10 times. Time for Kap to come out Viktor and Skinner IN.
Great first and third periods. Principal Skinner saved our bacon in the second. A PDO of 1.22 didn’t hurt either.
PDO in one game merely reflects the save percentage in the game. Skinner had the higher save percentage so PDO is positive for the Oilers..
PDO is a goalie stat not a luck stat.
Oilers hung in there in the second
but odd man rushes were I believe 10-0 for the Oilers
Woodguy can correct me, but the very definition of score effects. An outlier to be sure, but you cannot press so hard that a team like the Oilers get an absolute disproportionate amount of rushes.
When we say Edmonton can win in different ways, rarely are we describing whatever that just was.
All of this with the Oilers two big off-season additions sitting in the press box. Hopefully Brown is OK, but having depth is nice.
SN just showed this stat on the postgame:
Oilers are 21-3 all-time when holding a 2-1 series lead.
Greedy Oilers.
So that’s 7 times out of 8. It’s that 1 that worries me. And I only say that because this team usually does things the hard way.
Colonel Kling with the clincher!!
Zach and Nuge played out of their minds. Stu was SOLID. That was the sloppiest 6-1 win I’ve ever seen.
👀
And somehow not the first star.
Media doesn’t watch the games.
Hyman is going to have 500 hits by the end of the playoffs.
We did not dominant as the headlines say. Stuart Skinner stole that game it was outright theft. Skinner has played his best playoff hockey against Dallas.,
Skinner was huge in the second and a key reason for keeping a multi-goal lead but Skinner was part of a team win.
That’s the best game I’ve seen Dallas play they effectively had us pinned in 75% of the time they were pinching like no tomorrow. The only problem with that strategy is it leads to odd man rushes which we seemed to get lucky and score on a few not so dangerous looking plays. This game definitely makes up for the game 1 debacle. I wonder if Dallas try the same strategy or play more of a rope-a-dope in game 4.
I definitely credit that win to Skinner. Good for him and us.
You also need to give Ottinger some credit for the win. He was part of the solution for the oilers.
Stu Skinner and timely goal scoring. Skinner in the 2nd was insane. 97’s goal with 18s left in the second changed the game.
They gave up way too many chances against.
Reja, I’m surprised you aren’t complaining that Skinner let in a goal and didn’t shut them out.
Bouchard has been unreal, but Zach gets my vote for playoff MVP so far.
Off the charts in terms of heart and the scoring and hit stats to back it up!
WOOOOOOT!
Can’t wait to hear Deboer fine some way to whine about this one…
Only 7 hits tonight – old guy is slowing down.
I see 10
Not their best performance.
But this team can score
Stu Skinner’s best performance
SSkinner, McDavid, Kane, Hyman all with huge games.
And last, but not least, is RNH. Huge on the scoresheet and huge in our hearts for staying in the game after the thunderous crash into the end boards.
Fantastic the way they turned things around after their crappy 2nd period.
I’d like to add in a little Evan Bouchard to the conversation but that’s a nightly thing.
#NeverInDoubt
18 different scorers for the Oilers now.
Most heartening thing from today is Skinner didn’t have to pitch a shutout to win. Didn’t let one turn into two into three, etc.
Survival of the fittest out there. Call some of the dirty shit before the game gets out of hand. Hopefully the Oil aren’t too beat up, but Arvi, JSkinner, Emberson, Ekholm are all waiting for action.
#PlayLaBambaBaby
DeBoer’s crashout is going to be legendary lol
His game 7 winning streak will be intact, this isn’t going 7
He already looks defeated.
Reminds me of TMac every time he’s faced the Oilers since he and EDM parted ways.
#Suspend Bischel #FIne Petrovic and force him to play 20 minutes /in game 4
#StUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
That was a disgusting display of filth by Dallas
BOOM!!! Klinger twists the knife!!!
Klingberg sticks the knife in! Nice to see Stars ass kicking.
18th different Oiler to score.
Run the score up on these pricks.
Angry Tarkus is like Angry Hyman. My favourite.
I look forward to DeBoer’s post game
He’s still complaining about the missed delay of game and Nurse slash
Yup. Don’t care for him but this was funny
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJpJ8Ezx-V1/?igsh=MWdncmY1eWxpMHA0bw==
That pass from Kane was absurd.
Simpson was saying it wasn’t very good lol
Refs today have been awful.
Finally a spanking!!!!!
That’s what she said.
Two blatant missed calls.
Tine to take matters into our own hands. Freddy, if he’s not hurt, is gonna get his payback. It time.
No worries, they’ll just score another goal on Otter even strength.
John “How’s that Sting” Berg with the dagger.
Dallas has played a filthy dirty game.
I really like how instinctive and easy it was for Draisaitl to dummy Granlund after being roughed up on the boards behind the net there. As soon as Leon had his footing he just stiff armed Granlund to the ice and gave him the lumber for good measure.
Que the Dallas powerplays now. This league is fd and obvious.
This is a fn embarrassment to be honest. The officiating is fn god awful. I dont expect everything to be called but holy f. Nurse still got a penalty on his slash for f sake.
This could get ugly with time left after the 5th goal. Still lots of time left.
In light of the performance since the line shuffling, this is a good time to remind everyone that Kane-Hyman are 6-1 with a 75.8% xGF together.
Kane-Nuge-Hyman is a good answer for L2 🙂
Brutal crosscheck to Frederic. Clearly the refs aren’t calling anything. Ridiculous
This is a fn embarrassment to be honest. The officiating is fn god awful. I dont expect everything to be called but holy f. Nurse still got a penalty on his slash for f sake.
This could get ugly with time left after the 5th goal. Still lots of time left.