This is miss Ziggy about one day after my daughter bought her the pineapple bed. She figured out how to curl up in the bed in the days that followed, but I took this photo because that little doggo loved the bed immediately and wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of enjoying the hell out of it.
My baby dog still has a firm hold on all of my heart, but she is losing some of the things that one does as age creeps in. It hurts me to watch, but I am determined to make every day she is with us as good as it gets. Dogs. They are the best.
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 2-1-0
- On the road to: Sabres, Capitals, Lightning, Panthers (1-2-1) Actual 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 5-5-2, 12 points in 12 games
- Season Record: 10-9-5, 25 points in 24 games
I have the Oilers winning tonight and grabbing a Bettman on the road in Seattle. If they get three of four points to end November, my prediction would be top dead center and I’ll take it. There’s a better feeling about this team today, important for the club to prove it against the Stars.
JESPER WALLSTEDT
Plenty of chatter about the Edmonton Oilers not taking Jesper Wallstedt these days, and for good reason. The young Minnesota Wild stopper is rocking the casbah in the state of hockey, with three shutouts, a .935 save percentage and a 6-0-2 record.
Many Oilers fans were screaming at the time that the Oilers should take Wallstedt, so this isn’t 20-20 hindsight on their part. The Oilers had a need in goal, Wallstedt was the highest-ranked goalie, and he was there until Ken Holland traded out of the No. 20 position.
I was not part of that group of hellraisers who were vocal about passing on the goalie. I’ve never felt drafting for need was all that and a bag of chips. I wrote a book about NHL drafts, and the main messages in the book are ‘draft skill every pick’ and ‘don’t worry about size if the guy has skill’ and am still convinced of same.
The sin of Wallstedt belongs to Ken Holland, not Tyler Wright. Wright became yesterday’s papers in a tomorrow world not because Wallstedt went to Minnesota. He lost his job because Bourgault didn’t develop, this during a time when Edmonton needed to be sure. Anyway, I’m impressed by the Wild and pleased for Wallstedt. If he can deliver over a full season, he might win the Calder. Good for him.
BIG, AGGRESSIVE WINGERS
The number of low percentage passes out of the zone have increased this year, as coach Kris Knoblauch appears to be downbeat on the ability of his forwards to transport the puck under control. I wrote about this subject here and here.
This is important stuff, because the roster is designed to move the puck quickly and under control. So, the gap between forwards and defense, which has increased, welcomes the stretch pass but sacrifices control. Edmonton’s quick transition defense means the team plays less defense, but the stretch pass Oilers are being forced to defend more.
This can have all manner of consequences. If the coach decides the defensemen aren’t defending well, it’s possible Stan Bowman will trade for bigger defensemen who are less capable of handling the puck. We see that now with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Speaking of, one of Edmonton’s puck movers (Troy Stecher) is gone east now, and with Jake Walman hurt again there’s worry there. The Oilers don’t have an obvious recall (it might be Riley Stillman) but a trade isn’t out of the question. Are the Oilers heading for another Brandon Manning/Alex Petrovic trade weekend? Hope not.
On the Lowdown today, Daniel Nugent-Bowman at The Athletic will be my feature guest and we’ll have the roundtable hooligans chasing down the old man like a pack of hyenas after a zebra. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
29 with carefree puck management and follows that up with an embarrassing recovery effort on goal 8!
Like this is the NHL, quit fin pouting and put in an effort
Yes this season has been 29’s fault…
Second in scoring, good faceoffs and best plus minus on the team. He is the problem…
Well I had fun watching Clattenburg!
How much to get Chris Pronger out of the booth and behind the bench as D coach?
Not much. The problem is, he’ll only stay one season, we’ll lose in the final again, and the very next season he’ll coach Jackson Lacombe to playoff glory.
Winner of best comment!
Well, at least Roslovic will have some value at the trade deadline.
Reja got his Clattenburg goal! Sure could use Stecher in for Regula.
Just went back to check.
The 23/24 team, with their catastrophic start, had made it up by game 25, with a 12-12-1 record, good for 25 points.
The 25/26 team is now 10-10-5, good for 25 points.
It took an NHL record-tying winning streak to save that season. Who has any hope that this group can do it?
3 points in the last five games. Two fall-on-their-face, laughably embarrassing losses in measuring stick games in the last month, combined 17-4 against so-called rivals in Col and Dal.
This is not a playoff team.
“Tough game, bad breaks, but that’s hockey! At least we held Rantanen pointless”
Coach doesn’t even have the brains to give 64 a shift with one of the bigs as a reward for the effort? No sense of the moment. None.
A 20-year-old allegedly marginal player has had more positive impact than about $80M worth of “talent”.
Perhaps the analysts should have their yardsticks taken away.
What honestly kills me most about these losses is watching McDavid and Draisaitl get outplayed and outscored night after night, whether it’s Wyatt Johnson or Noah Ostlund…
This blowout loss currently puts Oilers goal differential at -18, just above St Louis and Nashville for worst in league. They have lost 4 of the last 5, and given up 21 goals in their last 3 home games.
Is this progress, or is there some sort of excuse I am missing? As an GM, you either try to save this season or don’t. This is not even fun to watch in any way, shape or form
The most startling stat is the Oilers giving up 95 goals against.
The Avalanche have given up 50.
That’s a bad sequence.
At least fire the defense coach …
I think the offensive coach has to go first. They are using his system to break out.
Nurse and Regula should be sent to the ECHL for this effort.
Over Bouchard? Bouchard failed to take his man over and over and over.
So when do the questions start about the leadership group on this team?
They’ve been going on for three years now. The captains on this team have cared more about scoring goals than preventing them. Look at their results in the last two finals.
There would be two banners hanging in the building if that were true.
It’s much tougher to lead when times are tough
Yet the true greats manage to do it.
McDavid can’t coach the team.
But he can lead and mentor the young kids, and ensure his line isn’t being caved. I would argue that he is underperforming for his current contract, as he has not functioned as elite 1C. That may be related to winger choice and coaching, etc. but it’s not a good look. He needs a few 4 point games and some mojo back
This team makes the same mistakes over and over again. They’ve played terrible for the first quarter of the season for three years in a row. The coaching staff is failing them, sure, but when do you expect the captains of this team to start holding players accountable? Including themselves. McDavid is a great player, no doubt, but his leadership is questionable. This team needs Messier style leadership not coddling. No wonder this team is exhausted when they make the playoffs.
I won’t get personal on leadership qualities that I can’t comment on. He will never be an in your face type, but some don’t respond well to that either.
I’ve seen no evidence that McDavid’s leadership style is “coddling.” In fact, there’s been a few discussions over the years that it’s the exact opposite of that.
Whatever style leaders he and the other captains are aren’t working.
I am not watching the game, but checked the score. After chuckling with a somewhat depressed tone and for shits and giggles I decided to pick a random Stars goal (4th) to see what the hell was going on this time. I’ve been here long enough to understand the Lowetide teachings of single events sometimes being just a shitty play.
But my god. The complete lack of effort by Ekholm, Bouchard, and McDavid to try and cover for the single event turnover was to me a sign that the core is playing with the intent to get a coach fired. Seriously, those are your top players and they no longer care. The Dallas PBP actually used the (sort of) word “shambolic”, to describe the effort. A rotten, completely earned collective -3. A coach with any stones would be bag skating a lot of players tomorrow.
Congratulations Connor Clattenburg!
Hyman and Clattenberg top of crease resulting in goals. Where was the rest of the roster for 20+ games?
Bowman may send out a letter to all the GM’s tomorrow “We are open for business”
Vancouver putting Kane on the market along with other UFAs
Notice they’re working 2s side hard on the PK. Struggling to get in the passing lanes and clear loose pucks
Maybe Skinner heard the Binnington trade rumors and I suppose he’s just trying to drive up the acquisition price for the Oilers.
Haven’t watched in a month and I’ve missed nothing.
This is the way.
Saturday felt like a season turning win.
This team will always surprise.
This loss is a fireable offense. For the coach. For the goaltending.
We have officially reached the need for a necessary 5 game winning streak to save the season. For the third year in a row, it has to happen before Christmas.
One of these years, they won’t be able to. It sure feels like it will be this one.
Team is embarrassing . Plain and Simple.
Nice to see Clattenburg score. At least he is trying hard every shift.
D is so bad, and Skinner make a freaking save.
After 2 McD looked gutted .
Dallas is missing 4-5 key guys and they are Shit Kicking the Oil.
No fight in this team on most nights this year. They are not going anywhere this year.
They should have to come out in the 3rd to an empty rink.
That’d be something eh
The Jordan Binnington for Evan Bouchard trade is going to hit like a bomb tomorrow.
McDavid is getting smashed at 5v5 this year. The guy needs to play less minutes.
After the 2nd goal he looked defeated
Well he doesn’t look like 97 when he’s fresh at the start of games either. He’s not able to gain separation as often.
Jeezuz, just dominated everywhere. Sad thing is there is some try there, but they are the 2nd best team in all areas top to bottom. Especially the top
My mother taught me that if I have nothing nice to say don’t say anything at all….so I’m signing off for the night.
I’m thinking I’ll go do something exciting, like run the vacuum in my suite.
Time for a coach change and goalie shake-up. It’s the only play after 2 blowouts on home ice and a terrible 25 games.
Both goalies and coach gone after tonight. Coffey takes over tomorrow.
I don’t think Coffey would want to. Could be wrong
When does talk of the draft start?
When we officially get into draft protected pick territory…
So by New Year’s Eve then.
Now seems like the right time to kick that conversation off. tankathon.com has us picking Chad Reid at 8th overall
Could you imagine getting a higher pick than Calgary the Flames fans would lose there shit. Good Goaltending can prop you as much as bad Goaltending can get a entire organization fired.
Never have I heard someone count more BS stats as Jack Michaels. “The Stars have won 6 of 9 at Rogers Place, but not when it counts”.
Yes, that’s true, but so what? The dice have no memory in hockey.
Total blowhard.
Speaking of stats, I lead the league ithis season in number of times I’ve turned off an Oilers game well before it’s ended.
Lucky the Stars are flubbing their Grade As. It’s a minimum 3 on 2 rush against every time. No forwards to be found
Are they? They scored 6 times on 17 shots….
Ha, they flubbed a few passes to the slot and didn’t get a shot off
Podz will never score again.
2 minutes each for roughing is a call…
This is really great. No play by play. Chefs kiss
Look at that, a hit, forecheck, and straight to the net. Rest of these perimeter punks should pay attention
Goals like that. More of them.
Clattenburg is onomatopea.
That’s where my old dog goes.
Good for Clattenburg, way to go. Quick hands
I’d like you to post the 6/49 numbers for me Reja
Atta boy Clatt!
Went to the front of the net and scored.
What a moment!
McDavid, on a team losing 4-0 after one, is on pace for 27 minutes tonight. Why? Roll 4 lines and try to at least get the rest of the team involved. Maybe get a rhythm going.
Those goals looked by and large like there are just blue and orange pilons in dzone
Good grief Ekholm made 4 mistakes/ brain farts in the matter of 3 seconds on the fourth goal. Lots of mistakes all around, even the dependable Podz is struggling on the defensive side.
Didn’t Binnington only get his break because the NHL goalies were floundering/injured?
Bring up Tomkins, send Pickard down and let another Edmonton boy get a chance. This team is not getting motivation or inspiration from its F or D. There is literally nothing left to lose with coaching like this
Too bad the Oilers don’t have the heart of these two kids. God it’s hard to be a fan of this team.
Start Pickard in the 2nd and cue the come-back
I bet oilers get 1 goal, then proceed to get scored on another 3 times
This is live and possibly only entertaining reasom to watch to conclusion if it starts happening!
One to go with a whole period left
It’s honestly perplexing how bad they’ve become. Oilers are going to get fleeced on whatever goalie trade they make.
No doubt. It’s not like our terrible goaltending is a secret. If there going to trade assets for a quality starter, go big.
It should of been done 2 month ago from the waiver wire. Skinner numbers have been on the steady decline since his rookie season. A 4 year-old child living in Nepal seen this train wreck coming. I think Bowman got conned in on the weight loss faster side to side range of motion thingy that the Skinner camp was pedalling.
Get Skinner the heck out of the net. What a gong show. What an awkward looking style he has, just awful.
Maybe they’re showcasing him for the full tank in St.Louis.
Going to embarras Skinner and the team again??
He does a good job of embarrassing himself.
Agreed, so get him out!
If the captain can’t be bothered to defend, why would anyone else?