The Edmonton Oilers are facing a tough opponent tonight, and reach Game 20 in need of a win. What’s more, coach Kris Knoblauch and his team need one of those winning streaks that vaults the team up the standings in a quick hurry. The Oilers don’t look like the team that came within inches of Stanley two years in a row.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN NOVEMBER
- At home to: Chicago (Expected 1-0) Actual 1-0
- Road: Blues, Stars (Expected 1-1-0) Actual 0-1-1
- At home to: Avalanche, Blue Jackets (1-0-1) Actual 1-1-0
- On the road to: Flyers, Blue Jackets, Hurricanes (1-2-0) Actual 1-1-0
- On the road to: Sabres, Capitals, Lightning, Panthers (1-2-1)
- At home to: Stars (1-0-0)
- On the road to: Kraken (0-0-1)
- Expected Record: 6-5-3, 15 points in 14 games
- Actual Record 3-3-1, seven points in seven games
- Season Record: 8-7-4, 20 points in 19 games
The road trip is going about as expected, no sustained success but a nice game or two sprinkled in to offer hope. The big ticket item for hopeful fans is the return of Zach Hyman to the lineup. I projected 66 games and 22 goals in my reasonable expectations series. Edmonton needs him to exceed those numbers.
The Oilers also need Jack Roslovic to keep scoring goals, along with wingers like Vasily Podkolzin. I don’t see David Tomasek in the top-six now, and wonder if he can carve out a role in the bottom-six. My guess is Tomasek heads to Bakersfield sometime before the deadline.
I think Kris Knoblauch is probably at the point where fading Andrew Mangiapane and Trent Frederic is the right cal. It’s been so for a time. I think Matt Savoie has earned the other wing on the McDavid line and that Hyman will also play on the top unit.
One more item: Ike Howard plays his first game in the AHL tonight (probably). That’s going to be a fascinating story.
CONDORS
James Hamblin returned and played well, Rem Pitlick is such a good player. Among the new recruits, I’d say Quinn Hutson, Vilkami Marajala and Josh Samanski have impressed most among forwards. One would like each of them to impact even-strength scoring, but it’s still early days.
The defence and a profound devotion to playing shorthanded ruined a pretty good night on Friday. Cam Dineen got hurt we don’t know if Troy Stecher clears and then we don’t know if he could play tonight for the Condors. The AHL affiliate is not going to produce many future NHL defensemen this year.
Connor Ingram stopped a lot of pucks last night and improved his save percentage markedly. I think it’s fair to say it was his best game so far (partly due to being a showcase courtesy sheer number of shots).
Have seen multiple “insiders” mention that sam montembault may be available.
Due to his abysmal stats i cant imagine the price is ridiculously high and he does have an established record of good play.
with laine, newhook and dach out montreal needs a skill forward and some warm bodies….
Oilers have one in tomasek who could slot in for montreal, i can see them hoping to unlock the SHL skill.
Does a deal based around pickard, tomasek, janmark and a 3rd get it done?
the cap works if you send down philp.
Both Jarventie and Howard are looking good as call ups later in the season.
They need to move Mangiapane … he doesn’t fit at all. Watching Hyman take hit to make the play on McDavid’s goal really highlights what’s missing in Mangiapane’s game. He’s got a NTC, not an NMC … so he can be waived … other teams around the league are piling up injuries tonight. A smart GM would cut their losses.
I like Roslovic on the PP more than RNH. He can really rip it, and he doesn’t need to dust it off first. He’s been a great add … win some, lose some.
Stu’s a keeper … he just needs help. Try Ingram first, and if that doesn’t work out, then go get a Dipietro.
Save the 2027 first to upgrade the RHD. Not sure either Regula or Emberson are up to the job.
The PP today was awful, until it scored. 3 failed zone entires which never happens with Nuge. There is room for both Nuge and Roslovic – PP is top of the league without Hyman.
Nuge isn’t responsible for zone entries … that’s almost exclusively McDavid’s job.
I’d rather see Nuge on PP2 … ideally with Savoie and Howard (after he’s crushed the AHL for 20-30 games).
PP2? There’s only 5 spots for PP on this team
10 with 10 shifts all game. I thought the pro scouts had made improvements in their recs since the DOD, but looks like they have a couple more swing and misses to their record. Past vs projected performance is tough. That’s the job though.
CV gets one back but, boom, Jarventie with his 2nd of the night tipping home the point shot.
Great deflection.
14 second left in the second which means McFlurry’s for everyone in the crowd.
5-2 Condors heading to the third.
Great stretch pass from Stilman to Hamblin on the 4 on 4 – Hammer streaks down the left side on the 2 on 2 – throws it in front, they crash and it bounces in.
4-1.
Clattenburg with ANOTHER massive hit and he’s jumped and, in THIS fight, he’s throwing BOMBS and wins decisively and then plays it up for the crowd as he heads off the ice and down the tunnel.
He shouldn’t be thrown from the game because of the clear instigating by the the opposition – we’ll see.
This is his fifth fights of the year – once you hit 10, you start getting suspended…..
He’s had two other kinda fights in the year that could have been fighting major.
Per money puck, Skinner is 19/33 for GSAA/60 min for goalies with at least 10 games. That is average starting tending.
For all goalies this season, Pickard is 60/74 by this metric
Currently still on pace for 16 regulation wins this season, though. Last season they had 36, and only the Sharks finished with less.
On the plus side, PK and PP both in the top 10 is good news.
As is Hyman’s return and Mangiapane demotion while still giving Savoie over 16 mins
Winning in Overtime gets you 2 points too
I think you know well that the point was that this is an unsustainable formula for success, both for regular season and playoffs. Truly hopeful they are turning the corner.
So they’ll likely finish somewhere between 16 and 36…..🤷♂️
Big battle on the offensive half boards, Leppanen wins it, pushes it down low to Jarventie who drags a defender on his back with the quick wraparound to give the Condors a 3-1 lead.
Marjala with the 2nd helper on the board battle so, yup, three Fins in on that one.
Marjala has 10 points in his last 10 games.
Summarizing!
Lafreniere scored his 13th of the season.
Fischer and Lewandowski each garnered an aPPle.
Park, Barnett, Berry and Wakely were not awarded soup and so shall have to subsist on beef tallow instead.
Prospecting takes a break until Tiw’s Day.
Lafreniere added another, his 14th. Also had 5 SOG.
His two goals earned him 1st star honors.
Howard rips one off the post from the slot on the PP.
Clattenburg lays out an opponent and gets jumped for a fight.
His second fight of the game and he’ll be gone for that but he had no choice but to fight.
It was a massive clean hit.
They don’t call it a fight so he gets to stay in the game.
Credit to Stu Skinner for a great game. The Hurricanes owned the puck once they fell behind 2-0 but Stu saved us multiple times before the wonder twins finished it in OT.
Leppanen’s defence is starting to come a bit….
Akey to Howard on the half-boards, cross ice pass to Hutson who one-times in the PPG.
2-0.
Give Howard 10 games and bring him back.
May need to swap out Freddy for some time watching from above. He is playing awful right now. Zero confidence in any area of the ice.
Clattenburg drops them at center ice – more grappling and take downs then a fight.
Clattenburg then beaks at the CV bench
Howard on his horse on the forecheck, pokes the puck to the front of the net and Samanski buries for a 1-0 lead.
Nurse/Walman on for 15(!) scoring chances against. Kulak now down to 0/11 GF/A since Nov 1.
They really need to consider whether Mark Stuart is an NHL caliber defensive coach.
That is staggeringly bad! Something needs to happen.
Im not fully blaming Kulak, dude was transporting pucks out alot tonight with no easy outlets and his d-partner trapping him deep.
He skated out of alot of danger. Regula needs to play to see what he is but so far, not great.
I give this one to Stu, credit where due. Obviously Connor & Leon were outstanding, but Stu faced a fierce attack on numerous occasions. Overall we were outplayed (again) but found a way to get the ultimate win. BTW, welcome back Zack, your presence was felt (by both sides!), for sure.
Nine Stuventeen!
Yup. Stu!
Do we know when Nuge back? Guessing he bumps out Philip??? Should help. Not sure what you do with the D? Paul please come back?????
Not Janmark?
When the coach is throwing Janmark over the boards to protect a tie in the final minute, the janitor is keeping his job.
Tomasek IMO.
Yea hard to know what KK thinking? Personally would like to see Phillip stay in as 4 th line centre. I think he would have some upside there. Tommyshack was a good bet but don’t see that working out. We know who Janmark is, defensive forward with no offence.
IDK why people always say philp has upside, i like the story as much as the next guy but philp has not been good. His xgf, hdcf, are horrific 5v5 and he doesnt play meaningful pk minutes, why are we investing “learning time” and “young players need to make mistakes to learn” into a player whos ceiling is curtis lazar when we already have curtis lazar who is outplaying him by a wide margin.
When he first was ruled, coach said about a week “we assume”.
Soft intel is its his head – I bet ya he’s out for another week or two but, if we believe initial intel, and it was right, he could be back this week.
Good work guys. Don’t waste any time in OT finish it. Skinner with a fine performance.
Pros:
Cons:
Prognosis:
Impossible.
We are winning on the backs of 97,29 +2. Way too many passengers. D core is a shit show and tending is terrible (Skinner did play well tonight though)
Needed that win. That’s 3 in 4.
Not a Picasso, but on a long road trip, getting W’s builds confidence.
Yes – lots of room for improvement but 2 points tonight and a 2W-1L record on a brutal road trip is bigly
Well it was far from pretty but a big win against a really good team. Gotta sort out what is wrong with the defence and transition game though or there will be plenty more losses than wins.
Coffey gone?
That actually looked like a set play, thankfully. How you utilize so much talent
Short work in OT. That’s the old 3 on 3 Oilers
Carolina is a pretty easy team to dislike. Eat dirt boys!
Leon, le Professional.
Part of it is coming!
The Germanator!
Excellent
Well for what it’s worth Skinner has been solid tonight (so far!) Also great to have Zach back. In the game because our best players have been our best players. Our D core shaky as hell. Anderson can be had.
Ha ha! Honest I posted before the winning goal!!!!!
Skinner was solid against the Flyers too.
Much stronger 3rd period earns a point
let’s get 2!!
yup
Drai!!!!!!!!!!!
Wallman is a massive liability at the moment.
Scorers when open go top shelf not bottom 3rd 5 hole, especially against a talented goaler. They apparently will never learn
Although Drai did
What the…Nurse?
Nurse and Walman handling the puck like a fecking grenade!! Argh
Nurse seems to bring everyone down no matter who he plays with. If he was a rookie he would have been sent down to the AHL already. Not even being sarcastic here as he has been the clear winner of worst defenseman on the team so far this year.
Anyone seen Freddy this period?
Freddy’s dead
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFrz7sBWbyw
Jack talking about the canes 06 cup cellie, Louie even understanding how out of bounds that was and humphing, is my last straw
We deserve better. Perhaps a Canadian that gives a shit about Edmonton and how the locals feel
Just brutal….
The Aho tap/slash exactly the same as one called on Drai but no penalty.
Jack please shut the F**K up!
Is there a “get rid of Jack” petition we can sign? Honestly watched part of the game muted as he is so annoying and Louie isn’t much better. Homer’s calling the game should be enjoyable for home fans. These two are as bad as it could get.
Roslovic left his man Staal who then scored. Roslovic knew he blew it by his reaction afterward.
Roslovic had to help as Regula got walked again. He was frustrated cause he made a play on the puck and it bounced right to Stall.
This has been the issue w/Roslovic. He gives you offense, but doesn’t like to defend in his own zone.
So fits right in?????
Kulak/Regula leaking!
Pretty pathetic defending, yikes!
Problem is Nurse and Walman also leaking
All defenseman are playing so much different this year but the personnel are the same. It must be the new coaching trying to implement some new system. Remember the SWARM. Gags does!
A McMismatch for the lead.
Hyman is a beauty!
Lordy, that was a nice pass by Drai.
Hyman’s 1st point of the year.
That was a lovely goal – Oilers have come out strong in the third.
Started with a step up and transition by Bouchard, a great pass by Drai and easy finish.
hahahahahahaha,……..McDavid again!
man, if we can get a point from tonight that’s huge
2 points would be …er….huger
When you account for quality of shot, its been an even game, Oilers even ahead, per NST.
Yes you do that
And I’ll pretend the 2nd period didn’t happen
Now that was a nice passing play that lead to a goal. Welcome back Zach!
They consistently go below the puck, it’s coaching
And it causes most of their problems