This is Clifford. He’s the sweetest big dog, partly because he thinks he’s a small dog. If you’re laying on the sofa, all stretched out, and there’s no room for Clifford, don’t worry! Clifford thinks he’s a small dog and he’ll find room! And you know what? He does! Now, your leg may be on the floor, or it’s possible you’ll lose feeling in your extremities, but who could complain when Clifford wants to join you on the sofa? He’s the sweetest damn dog.
You’re going to see this photo of Clifford whenever the Oilers play an indifferent game. Twice on this road trip for those counting. I think Kris Knoblauch joined the indifferent group yesterday, there wasn’t a lot going right and the fixes were worse. I could write a thousand words, but that sweet boyo Clifford summed it up in one look.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN OCTOBER
- At home to: Calgary, Vancouver (Expected 2-0) (Actual 1-0-1)
- Road: Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Detroit, Ottawa (Expected 2-2-1) Actual 1-2-0
- At home to: Montreal (1-0)
- On the road to: Seattle, Vanouver (1-1)
- At home to: Mammoth, Rangers (1-0-1)
- Expected Record: 7-3-2, 16 points in 12 games
- Actual Record: 2-2-1, five points in five games
You can’t win them all, and really the overall start is fine. It is, however, galling to see this team lose in the same way so many times in a regular season. I mean, they’re good, but they’re not that good. I think this team misses Zach Hyman, because that guy doesn’t get beaten to the puck many times in a year. The Oilers were second place for pucks all afternoon in New Jersey. And hey, they’re a good team. However, that’s even more reason to show up, because if you don’t, you wear your ass for a hat.
- Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Kapanen: 11:25, no goals, 6-7 shots, 24 pct expected goals
- Savoie-Frederic-Roslovic: 7:04, 5-3 shots, 53 pct expected goals
- Lazar-Henrique-Tomasek: 4:49, 1-0 shots, 1-0 goals, 100 pct expected goals
- Nuge-McDavid-Tomasek: 4:10, 2-0 shots, 36 pct expected goals
- Mangiapane-McDavid-Nuge: 3:55, 0-1 goals, 3-2 shots, 29 pct expected goals
- Nuge-McDavid-Savoie: 1:16, 4-0 shots, 100 pct expected goals
Matt Savoie was part of two successful lines, I’d prefer him with McDavid and Nuge but we’ll see. Curtis Lazar found quiet ice, and drilled the puck into the net without hesitation. This is somewhat more innovative than the David Tomasek method. Tomasek tends to make sure it’s an official puck before shooting it, and of course the goalie has time to set.
Nuge-McDavid looked good with everyone but Mangiapane, but all those guys are just damned good. They’re not in sync yet, partly because there’s so damn many wingers to susss out and that’s not the coach’s fault. Jack Roslovic has played in three games and the Oilers haven’t been great in any of them, but that’s not Roslovic’s fault either. Today, I’d run Nuge-McDavid-Savoie and Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Mangiapane, but that’s just me.
- Ekholm-Bouchard: 13:55, 13-2 shots, 66 pct expected goals
- Nurse-Stecher: 11:06, 3-7 shots, six pct expected goals
- Kulak-Emberson: 10:48, 0-1 goals, 3-5 shots, 48 pct expected goals
Top pairing is money, middle pair in the ditch and the third pair probably could have played more. I hope Jake Walman returns today, but that’s even more roster shuffling so who knows? The Oilers can turn this around on a dime, so don’t lose hope. However, it’s completely fair to call this a boring team this morning. That’s what they are. If this team, right now, were a Rolling Stones song, it would be ‘Mixed Emotions’ and that’s not a compliment. All that talent and the result is flaccid. Shame on everybody.
CONDORS THIS SEASON
I’m going to track this all season, suspect there’s enough interest in the Bakersfield Condors. Quinn Hutson scored the winner, nice goal by the two-way winger. Best forward is Roby Jarventie, Ryan Holt noted he may not play today because he’s still ramping up from the injuries one year ago. I have no quarrel, this guy is good. Get him to 100 percent, ship him to Edmonton. A quick note on James Hamblin, he’s such a smart player. Kudos to the people in the organization who signed him. Wonderful player.
I’m not completely certain there’s anyone on this list who has played well enough to earn a recall. If there is one, it might be Josh Brown. I like Leppanen, and we’ll have to give him time, but the plays in Bakersfield so far have been average. Maybe he’ll do something brilliant today.
Connor Ingram was good in the win. He stopped 21 of 22 in front of some good defending. That’s a .955 save percentage for those who don’t have their Texas Instruments handy.
Why Edmonton Oilers’ goalie of the future might be in Fort Wayne, Indiana
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6728750/2025/10/19/edmonton-oilers-goalie-prospect-nathaniel-day/
Bower, Sawchuk, Dryden — many interesting & crooked paths to goalie greatness. Is it voodoo, or is it GMs who see something no one else sees? And what would that be? I’m leaning into that “something” having to do with Winning %, but especially W% in clutch situations (eg. playoffs). Let’s see how Day does with that.
Jays force Game 7 tomorrow night.
Schneider should have trolled the world and got Little up when Yesavage got in trouble in the 6th.
Haha…if the Jays win tomorrow night, I wouldn’t have Little on the WS roster. Same goes for Rodríguez. I’d have Bruihl and Nance there instead.
Robert Clark just put out that he’s got Hairy Cell Leukemia and will be starting treatment soon.
Best wishes on a full recovery.
Is that CML? My wife has had that for over 20 years. If he responds well to Gleevec as my wife has, the prospects are good
I should have checked before commenting, it is a different kind of Leukemia, so trust his treatments are successful
Dineen goes end to end in OT, cuts to the, shovels one, its stopped, he bowls over the goalie and Hamblin shovels in the rebound.
Not sure if should have counted, but it did…..
Prokop throws one on net from the point and Pitlick deflects it in to tie the game up with just under 7 minutes left.
Classic AHL goal.
On the PK, Coppini strips the last man d-man at centre and goes in with Hamblin on a 2 on 0 – Hamblin buries it to tie the game with 6:15 left in the second.
Great play by Coppini – Bad play by the d-man.
Summarizing!
Lewandowski scored his 5th of the season and added an assist in a win. He also had a game-high 5 SOG. He was named 1st star for his efforts.
Prospecting takes a break until Thor’s Day.
Condors are extremely sloppy again today. Not quite as bad as last Saturday but odd man rush after clean look after odd-man rush. Tompkins sucks but is making some solid saves now.
They were locked down yesterday for Ingram.
Condors make quick use of the 5 on 3 as Dineen walks in and snaps one shelf from the top of the circles. Down 3-2 (gave up a shortie earlier – Tompkins sucks). He did stop a breakaway and then the ensuring penalty shot.
I think Jones may have tipped it as well.
Jones will get the goal or the second assist off the face-off with – Griffith the first assist.
It is nice to see the team saving it all for the home rink. On pace for 21-0-21 at home and 11-31-0 on the road. 😂
Perfect picture today. Clifford looks like he’s just been told Frederick signed for 8 years and Nurse has a NMC. Can’t wait to see a photo after you tell him Philp scored and thus will be a HS for the next three games.
Nice dish to the slot coming out of the corner from Hamblin and he buries it – Petrov with the screen.
1-1 (I missed the goal against which was just 14 second before).
Team looks uninterested ( except a few) in the last 7 of 9 periods. Philp scored so I expect him to sit out again. Knobby needs to pick lines and throw the blender out for 3-4 games.
Someone said the Olympic team brass were there looking at Skinner and Bouchard. Not a good audition
Ha Olympics. They can’t risk it with guys that are that inconsistent
If Skinner didn’t steal the game at MSG that would be 4 badly outplayed losses in a row.
KK only has one plan -> The glimmer twins together or bust. He better start getting out of his own way or he will be gone by American Thanksgiving.
That’s over a month away!!!
I think we’re still in Oiler sick season. We know it was going thru the team. Happens every year it seems
Given that there should be a strategy change. If it cranks up you roll 4 and 3 and wait for health, don’t try to win now so you can lose when it counts later. Been listening to Life’s What You Make It the OG which is banging. Among others
Given vintage I just love the best of the 80’s. I like a lot of anything that is good from whenever and wherever. Take heed on the philosophy Mr. Knobby
Same lineup for the Condors with the two expected changes:
Jarvenitie out solely for load management he’s fine. Petrov moves up to third line and Keppen in on the fourth.
Tompkins starts.
Last night Holt said both Carfagna and Akey are close. We’ll see.
Nurse played 20:52 at 5v5 xGf%: 8.44 [!]
Oof.
And that is a part of problem, the same old gets rolled out shift after shift while talking about competition for ice time and accountability.
The only thing I’m really salty about is that I had to wait until this morning to download & watch yesterday’s game by 11, and then watched this one live at noon… So, I’ve spent most of the last six hours watching the Oilers play dreadfully.
Six hours completely wasted when you could have spent it drinking, gambling and … well, that other pursuit.
Draisaitl has 5 pts and Eichel has 15.
McDavid 0 goals still.
Bouch another bad game.
People blaming wingers are probably missing the part where the superstars aren’t performing. Some multi-point games and goals are sorely needed.
You do understand this is a team game?
Eichel is benefitting from playing with Marner for sure
So why is McDavid not benefiting from playing with a superior player in Draisaitl?
Our star players come out slow like this every year.
Actually Eichel and Stone have been on fire together and Marner is just getting warmed up.
Stone, however, left the game in the third period last night so not sure how serious.
That was Ike Howard’s best game as an Oiler. He didn’t score so he’s ok for next game.
Your sure on a kid who hasn’t been given a opportunity you can see glimpses but K.K waisted a opportunity to get him going early. Now with every game with shit minutes he’s losing his mojo.
lol, Philp out?
Wonder who sits next game? My choices start with Roslovic and Frederic. My guess.. Philp
Rico.
Burn the skates, burn the sticks.
Heh heh
The Draisaitl fumble on the breakaway sums up the game
The whole road trip really
lol… Oilers catch a break with a deflected pass to get a breakaway, and Leon, of all people, loses the handle.
Absolutely unfathomably terrible by Draisatl. Breakaway… wtf?!
That bobble by Drai describes the Oilers since Vancouver.
Not to single him out, because he’s had company, but Stecher has been awful.
Darnel come on down!
McDavid is playing like hot effing garbage.
Turnover after turnover. Lazy plays and no recovery of pucks.
McDavid can’t buy agoal.
He’ll never score again.
The well has not run Drai.
Nice pass from Kulak to Draisaitl for the tapperoo…
Yea Leon.
That was a pretty goal – nice pass by McD….. Kulak.
Frederic looked much more physical and dogged on the puck when he wasn’t an Oiler. What the hell happened?
Getting over coached time to bring back Woody who got 65 goals out of the same core. How can McDavid be scoreless 6 games in.
Bruins system was much better suited. Didn’t rely on the fancy Dans to save the day all the time. Created roles and team depth
So many passes being deflected. What is it? Are they just not moving it quick enough?
So many low percentage passes attempted.
Lack of net drive to open spaces up behind them
Sounds like some of you think KK has two strikes against him…
About 5 actually…but who’s counting?
Does that mean three fouls, or is he out?
I want the Oilers to trade for Kyle Palmieri and Jackson Blake, if for no other reason than to cheer for a team that has Emberson, Blake and Palmieri.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer..
If that happens, you’d be a Lucky Man.
Jarventie did say post-game last night he doesn’t think he’s playing today – just extra careful load management early.
Maybe Staios was tired of seeing a possible everyday NHLer always hurt. It’s frustrating same with Regula one hit and he’s off to the trainers room.
Jarventie is not hurt – just not playing 2 games 20 hours apart in right after returning from surgery.
Regula took two hit – the first of which was from behind into the boards by a strong hitter.
21 years old and is already on load management. Watch Schneider pull Yestervage after 84 pitches with a 3-0 lead 9 strikeouts after 5-1/3 innings so he can bring in Fisher. Coach K.K is over coaching maybe he needs to sit for a game and watch it from upstairs.
Dude, he played 2 games last year – he’s had multiple knee surgeries and is just back – they are being precautious with respect to over-loading his knee which, presumably, is still not at 100% fulls strength.
My goodness – he looks 100% out there and like the clear best prospect in the org and NHL ready – maybe being risk adverse here is a good thing.
If Philp can play 3c that just means Nuge doesn’t have too.
Might skate hard throw a hit or two, pressure on the forecheck. No way that unoiler
They could use one of him on every line
There are plenty of issues with execution. Plenty of gaffs from lack of focus or early season jitters.
A bigger issue, in my opinion, is it seems coach K has lost the plot. Or his plot just isn’t working well.
It could be momentary, as his coaching style has helped the Oilers the past two seasons.
My fear is it’s more permanent.
No more firing/hiring coaches, though I think Bowman would be better at hiring a new coach than any of his predecessors.
Hopefully he’s at least considering it.
Yeah, last week was a super great time for an extension for KK.
The issue with Skinner is his floor is so so low.
That the heavens we didn’t sign Skinner to a 8 year contact after he stoned Sam Carrick and the goal deprived Rangers. Skinner is what he is a soon to be expensive back-up for some other team.
Could say that about a few players on this team
Ingram will be here within the next week.
He won’t be here for months.
Oiler goaltending has be fine.
Deja from last season.
I am glad we are back to playing the top guys into dust.
Philip line is really only line playing the right way. Work hard go to the net get it on net. Draisatl is at his worst right now. Horrible body language and looking for fancy.. too many guys trying to pass it into net. The 3rd goal was a back breaker on Skinner. A goal he cannot let in, especially given how little their offense is creating right now. So far I’m really not loving the Roslivic signing. He is more of the same. Skilled small guy with little grit and limited defensive presence/awareness. Like Mangiapane, Savoie, Howard… too much of the same. Also lacking the forecheck presence. I know it’s early but I think the current version of the team is in trouble. Don’t get me started on Nurse..
Quiz of the day: Name 5 goaltending tandems worse than the Oilers.
Feels like Groundhog Day. Fire the coach?
I would.
Maybe time for the coach to recognize that loading 29 & 97 isn’t working?
It only works some of the time when they are absolutely dominatingly dynamic – they aren’t even close to that – they don’t win their goal share most of the time.
I don’t understand what’s happened to them – and it pre-dates this season.
Nice goal Philp!
enjoy having the next 3 games HS
I know Skinner couldn’t see the puck, but why did he jump up like that and leave the post? Just an odd decision.
Just put your pad down to cover the bottom of the net and it doesnt matter if he sees it.
Too many weird goals on this guy
There simply isn’t enough talented wingers on this roster. Everyone got sucked into the summer hype on Howard Savoie Tomacek and Mangiapane.
I think I may have mentioned and will repeat, our Top full time winger had 14 goals last year.
McLeod/Foegele/Holloway/Perry/Kane/Skinner/Arvidsson
Through age, trades, money or theft this team has downgraded on the wings so drastically.
Centers, defensemen, and goalies nothing to write home about either
There’s 40 odd millions in 4 players today doing sweet f/a on the team today.
Well we have so much money tied up in Centers and Dmen what do you suggest?
Backbreaker on Stu – that one cannot go in – sigh!