The Oilers played a better team yesterday, and sometimes you have to give the other man his due. The good news for the Oilers (and bad news for the Wild) is they don’t pass out Stanley in December. Miles to go.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN DECEMBER
- At home to: Wild, Kraken, Jets (Expected 2-1-0) 2-1-0
- At home to: Sabres, Red Wings (Expected 1-0-1) 1-0-1
- On the road to: TML, Canadiens, Penguins (Expected 2-1-0) 2-1-0
- On the road to: Bruins, Wild (Expected 1-1-0) 1-1-0
- At home to: VEG, Flames (Expected 1-0-1)
- On the road to: Flames, Jets (Expected 1-0-1)
- At home to: Bruins (Expected 1-0-0)
- Expected Record: 9-3-3, 21 points in 15 games
- Actual Record: 6-3-1, 13 points in 10 games
- Season Record: 17-13-6, 40 points in 36 games
I have the Oilers going 3-0-2 the rest of the way, but didn’t factor in the Skinner trade or Jarry injury. We’ll see. Tonight is a big game for the Oilers. If this team is real, then we should see their best tonight.
- Nuge-McDavid-Hyman 11:19, 7-10 shots, 0-1 goals, 44X, 5-3 HDSC
- Mangiapane-Henrique-Savoie 5:37, 2-4 shots, 17X, 0-1 HDSC
- Frederic-Draisaitl-Podkolzin 5:00, 1-6 shots, 34X, 2-3 HDSC
- Jones-Frederic-Janmark 3:40, 1-1 shots, 41X, 0-1 HDSC
- Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Hutson 3:25, 20X, 0-1 HDSC
I didn’t like the line shuffling, and especially disagree with Trent Frederic in a feature role. I’m a fan of the player, but am not certain he’s a guy you run with Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl for an extended period. I did like Mangiapane in this game, he was grumpy and made a lovely skill tip on his goal. Ike Howard is scoring in bunches on the coast (by the coast? near the coast?) but I don’t see him in Edmonton before the break. The Olympic break. The Glimmer Twins are some kind of wonderful right now, just a delight. I would run Nuge-McDavid-Hyman and Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Savoie tonight.
- Ekholm-Bouchard 17:45, 11-12 shots, 0-2 goals, 40X, 5-6 HDSC
- Nurse-Stastney 17:25, 4-11 shots, 39X, 2-4 HDSC
- Stillman-Emberson 11:36, 3-8 shots, 0-1 goals, 6X, 0-4 HDSC
You’d have to look long and hard for a combination that played well together (Nurse-Bouchard 1-0 goals in 1:25) at five-on-five against Minnesota. I like Spencer Stastney and don’t believe Riley Stillman was the best possible recall. He ranks last in even-strength goal share in Bakersfield and he doesn’t recognize danger quickly enough in the NHL. That’s based on a small but impactful sample size. The third GA was pivotal. Calvin Pickard stopped 32 of 36, thought he played well enough to give his team a chance. Needed more help on that third GA. He stopped 32 of 36, .889SP.
CONDORS
Ike Howard is driving a ridiculous line and scored a hat trick last night. He has eight even-strength goals in 15 games, that’s a fantastic scoring rate. Miro Satan’s 1994-95 season is the peak Oilers minor-league scoring season in my opinion. Satan scored 14 even-strength goals in 25 games. Howard is in the same range currently. What a player.
They’ll keep him down, I’d expect, but they should not keep him in the AHL for long. The club can send out David Tomasek and bench Trent Frederic while also improving the team. Pretty sure. I understand paying your dues and learning to play away from the puck, but this is simply too much evidence.
I think it’s fair to say the Oilers recall of Riley Stillman had more to do with reputation than performance. And I’m not saying Josh Brown would get to more plays and Cam Dineen was injured at the time of Stillman’s recall. The current rising star is Atro Leppanen, who has turned it around bigly in the last 14 games.
Connor Ungar made his AHL debut last night and was brilliant for the Condors. He’s undersized (6.0, 205) so there’s a bias, but the Oilers need someone to stop pucks and this fellow has been doing it in four different cities so far this season.
Even with a lot of players back the bottom six is a mess.
Anybody got that feeling of burning out the top six players? Even with the Olympic break, they’re playing a ton of minutes.
Rishaug mentioning post game lots of players with “runny noses” in the room.
Ingram sub .900 save percentage. Skinner would have been roasted by the mob. The team in front of the goaltender will not let the goaltender hit 0.900.
When Jarry is healthy, Pickard’s NHL career is in jeopardy.
That’s Ingram’s job – to keep the roster spot when Jarry is healthy.
Pickard needs waivers, Ingram does not (well, not until he plays 10 days or spends 30 days on the roster).
Crosby with an incredible achievement, passing Lemieux for 1724 pts. He’s 38 y/o and will end up anywhere between #2 (1921+) and #5 (1798+) all-time points depending on how long he chooses to play.
But lets talk about McDavid, as this is an Oilers blog. He’s turning 29 in a few weeks. He has 1144 pts and climbing fast this season, just about to pass Tavares at #61 on the all-time list and on pace to finish the season just outside the top 50. Averaging 127 pts a season for the last 4 (despite missing 21 games in the last 2 seasons).
If he is able to keep a pace of ~125 pts a season (currently on pace this season for 137) for the next few years, he would finish seasons with all-time pts as follows –
25-26 (29 y/o): 1207
26-27 (30): 1332
27-28 (31): 1457
28-29 (32): 1582
29-30 (33): 1707
30-31 (34): 1832
If this held true, he would pass Lemieux just before turning 34, and finish that 30-31 season between Howe and Messier on the all-time list. Pretty cool stuff
McDavid will pass 2k I’m pretty sure.
I just hope it’s as an Oiler
The Oilers dominated that game until the fatigue set in (crazy turnaround from playing in Minny last night and 6 games in 9 days) and they got complacent.
The non-call on the Bouchard stick thievery followed by hook call to Regula came close to having a major impact.
Good job holding on and bending not breaking.
So impressed with the team for pulling that one out. For Ingram for holding on, and for the D for bending not breaking.
Positive that the other 3 lines won the possession battle, at least.
Mangiapane-Henrique-Savoie was, as expected, a failure. I think Roslovic may be better suited there, but the problem is still the other 2. An AHL call-up could potentially be an answer
So, it sounds like the Oilers are once again the team that finds quality D in a prairie snowstorm at midnight. Stastney (sp?) played a quality game from all accounts, which makes Regular, Emerson & him as guys to fill out the big team, with Leppanen knocking at the door in the minors.
Great that Ingram played well to win too.
Some major league in house help is never a bad thing
No NMC should be a company policy. Hard to predict bottom paring D and bottom 6 forwards
Stastney has been a pleasant surprise. With young d-men there will be ups and downs, but he moves the puck effectively and late in the game, he had his stick in the right places and looked composed under pressure. He’s earning his minutes and the trust of the coaches.
Could we fire our 3rd line into the sun?
Ingram’s post game with Gene is my new favourite from an emotional perspective. Taking over top spot from Patty Maroon in Stl all those years ago playing in front of his son with the Oil.
Ingram is the fourth different Oiler goalie rhis season to pick up a win.
It’s a Festivus miracle!
I wonder what the record is – might have to check the Pokey Reddick archives
Conklin, Markinen, Morrison, Rolison in 06?
If you haven’t checked, according to hockeygoalies.org the Oilers record is 5, done twice.
I remembered the first one in 79-80. The goalies getting wins were Mio, Corsi, Dryden, Low and Cutts. My recollection was that at some point later in the season they used a different goalie in 4 or 5 consecutive games. I think one was Bob Dupuis, who I believe was the goalie for Team Canada at the Calgary Winter Olympics.
I didn’t remember the second in 13-14. The goalies getting wins were Dubnyk, Scrivens, Bryzgalov, Fasth and LaBarbara.
Not sure what the NHL record may be.
I’m biased because I liked Ingram back when I said we should trade for him before he popped in Arizona, but I thought he looked great.
I didn’t think he had a chance on any of the three goals that went in. Maybe the second goal against.
Excellent rebound control. Efficient and composed in net. Used the RVH effectively.
Good positioning.
After watching Jarry, you really notice the rebound control.
He looks predictable.
Skinnard opposite.
Time to complete the transition to Jargram
The fourth Oiler goalie to pick up a win in like the last couple of weeks…..
Vegas goes 0 for Alberta. Nice.
Good W, 2 clean points gained on Div leaders. Bent but didn’t break.
Ingram provided NHL level goaltending.
‘there is a gleam’
This Ingram performance likely to be greatly underappreciated.
Hasn’t played in an nhl game in 1.5 years? Had some personal struggles. Incredible story!
I’m happy for him too but not entirely surprised – goalies can look worse and have poorer stats when playing below their level. the oilers bailed him out a few times in ways that the Bakersfield chaps can’t do.
More please!
Grabbing the stick from an opposing player’s hands when he doesn’t even have the puck and tossing it about is surely a penalty in any league, no?
NHEntertainment
Ingram full marks for the W
Start him next game
Oilers are 4-0 with Jarry/Ingram
Beautymark isn’t going anywhere.
This team loves to make it stressful but still a great win!
Phew! When I tuned in it was 4-0, so I was getting worried. Glad they got the win, especially happy for Ingram.
Nurse great stick.
Stastney on to defend the lead. Great pickup there for 850k
Soooo Spencer Stastney eh?
Awesome sticks by Nurse and Janmark.
Hate Jack!
He’s living in your head rent-free. LOL
The vitriol many of the posters here have for Jack and Louie is both amusing and baffling to me, especially considering how beloved they are amongst the fanbase as a whole.
Whew
That’s a big win for this club
That was Janmark, not Stastney with the deflection.
How could anyone not like Janmark?
Love Podz!
Leon will never score again.
His scoring has gone…Drai.
He’ll get back in the siatl soon.
Saitl
Hang in there kid- it’s going to be a long 8 minutes
Wait a minute, was that a time out? Jack has me confused. Should have been. It’s a Way underutilized tactic by nhl coaches to slow momentum shifts
Maybe they won’t call 6 penalties in a row as refs have surely bent as hard as they “sensibly” can justify to meet their directive of sweet parity at almost no expense.
Oilers are going give this game away aren’t they…
Officiating maybe
well Ingram isnt the answer lol
Time for a timeout
Call a timeout FFS.
OK, there it is.
Another obvious non call and then a goal. Ridiculous double standard.
Refs determined to be a part of it.
Wonder if sportsnet will get scolded for the highlight of the Vegas player ripping Bouch’s stick out of his hands.
It’s Gary Bettman’s league, Oilers are just living in it
I expect a rebranding from NHL to NHE at some point
I swear Jack is cheering for a Vegas comeback…
I think MacTavish called the Oilers the Ducks.
Let’s get a early goal then go to prevent defence for the remainder of the game.
Screw that. Go for the jugular. Don’t let them breathe.
We want 10!
That’s the spirit
This has been a statement game I hope Vegas doesn’t go head hunting If they give up a few more.
I like 50 goal Connor.
He should still shoot more – He gets into scoring position so often!
Ingram hasn’t looked out of place.
Seems to have good rebound control.
I like how he handles the puck. It’s like having another defenseman back there helping the breakout.
Calm efficient movements.
Opposite of Skinnard
Who? I already forgot about floppy
He plays a quiet game he’s not flashy so far excellent rebound control. He looks a little lost with the puck which is understandable.
Reminds me of a boring version of Mike Smith.
That’s on Jack Michaels. Like saying someone has a no-hitter in the 9th inning, “…Ingam’s been perfect on 14 shots” (and it was only 10 at that point).
As soon as I heard Jack say that I did not have good thoughts for Jack.
I thought maybe I was being too critical when I noticed his error. Good to see others also caught that.
The PP flows through McDrai but ends on Nuge’s twig. #triggerman #finisher
All 5 have a critical role and they are and have been tops in the league for a reason.
OP where ever you are I hope you are watching!
Jones is stealing Frederic lunch
And it wasn’t hard to do…..
Clattenburg got things going you seen Lonberg how he works the bench and crowd. If jones stays physical and keeps forechecking like a demon he’s not going anywhere.
A 4 th line of Lazar, Jones and Clattenburg might be fun.
Was given so much rope
Any one of 5 OKC players could have ate that lunch
Darnell is most effective moving forward. Needs a simple, low event, steady Eddie partner
The man has wheels he’ll be in the league for another decade.,
As a 3rd line LW?
These are the good old days.
Nuge only gets better. I hope he plays another decade.
1200 point career!
Aging like fine wine. Not ready to fade into bottom 6 duty, no matter where others think he should be
Carter Hart looking… rusty.
Hyman’s wrist looking… healthy.
Nice goal off the rush
Well not missing #10 being out there. Don’t think I would miss 88 either….
This is why you dont commit to term for bottom 6. Every team should have 3 guys on the farm that can be substituted with no noticeable difference. Nhlpa has done a good job of establishing job security though.
That was a puzzling contract for sure. Not sure what Bowman was thinking. I honestly hope his dismal play is injury related and he will recover with extended rehab and time off. If he doesn’t, yikes!
Ingrams style is peaceful.
So far so good!
The NHL is a 3-goalie league
I think i agree, but please explain further
That’s a very good point!
Bouchard made two nonchalant but plus defensive plays on the last two VGK chances, thwarting any danger before they could get off a shot.