The building with the largest gap between floor and ceiling on planet earth is the vehicle assembly building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Edmonton Oilers have a larger gap, but a team is not a building so does not rank on the list. It’s Festivus and there will be an airing of grievances across all formats and walks of life today, but I’m not angry enough at anything to go full torque. So, I’ll simply say that floor-to-ceiling has to improve for these Oilers to win anything.
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) 1-0-0
- 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: 7-3-1, 15 points in 11 games
- Season Record: 18-13-6, 42 points in 37 games
The Oilers are getting exactly the month needed in December. If the club can finish strong, January might be spent paying attention to the standings in the Pacific division. Last time Edmonton won a division, it was the Smythe, and it was 1987. That team won 50 games and the Stanley Cup. I believe the 1986-87 Oilers to be the best of all time.
The Gretzky line (Kurri and most often Tikkanen), the Messier line (Anderson and Kent Nilsson beginning in March) were complemented by a fantastic group of support forwards. Craig MacTavish was the No. 3 center, and extremely valuable. Mike Krushelnyski provided size, toughness and some scoring. Kevin McClelland was the No. 4 center and a tough-as-nail playoff performer. Jaroslav Pouzar was the human steamroller, he was an amazing player. Moe Lemay was a terrific skater who could check too. Dave Hunter was still hanging around too, excellent checker and penalty killer.
The Gretzky line scored 19 even-strength goals in the 1987 playoffs (21 games), the Messier trio 23. All other forwards combined for 10 goals, meaning the third and fourth lines delivered 19 percent of the goals scored. This is even strength and doesn’t include goals scored by defensemen.
The current Oilers have recieved 24 goals from the McDavid line (Nuge, Hyman), 25 from the Draisaitl unit (Podkolzin, Roslovic) and another 9 goals from players who spent time on the top lines when injuries hit (Mangiapane, Savoie). That leaves 16 goals from the forwards on the rest of the roster. That’s 22 percent, in the range of the same and we have to allow for the imperfections and randomness of these totals.
The difference between the 1987 Oilers depth lines and the current lines? I’ll say center ice. Craig MacTavish was a smart player, it was like having a coach on the ice in 1987. Kevin McClelland was a physical force and he could hurt an opponent with hits and fists. I don’t think the Oilers are far away from fixing the bottom six, but it begins with the MacTavish. I choose Nuge as the ideal solution. Trade for Tuch, win Stanley.
On the Lowdown today, we’ll have the roundtable youngsters, who once again play hyenas to this older and tired zebra. It’s Wild Kingdom on the radio! We’ll talk Oilers, Olympics, NFL playoff picture and MLB trades/free agency. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440.
One more comical thing
Going into the game, Flames PK was listed as a “strength” at 8th overall in the league. It now sis at 17th.
Has an NHL player ever been named 1st star of the week for 3 consecutive weeks?
McDavid’s 5 pt night was incredible, and he has every chance of replicating a similar quality performance in Calgary this Saturday, as long as he lays off the extra helpings of turkey… That was the least taxing 20+ min TOI I have seen him play
That was the most satisfying BOA regular season match I’ve been at. Looking around at the arena to see all the broken spirits in red brought a tear to my eye 🙂
No push back, no Go Flames Go chants, and when the Calgary sucks chants broke out, the couple next to me resigned and said “they’re right…”
The only imperfection was that we couldn’t run up the score the way we should have. I know we can say this most nights, but I was fully expecting McDavid to get a 6th or 7th point. Hyman could have easily had a hat trick in the 2nd period alone.
Really appreciated seeing the offensive production coming from intercepting Flames passes on D and breaking out quickly, making and taking great passes, and patience in the O-zone. Good fights and standing up for each other while staying mostly disciplined.
And I really hope I was wrong about Ingram. Way too early to say, but he was steady in a good way, calm and poised with puck handling, and already seeing improved rebound control.
Also, best game I’ve observed Frederic as an Oiler.
Hat tip to my son who went with his grandmother to the VGK game and exorcised his Rogers Place curse of the Golden Knights (his first 2 games were game 6 elimination in ’23 and the ’25 0.4 second debacle), then followed it up with this glorious win with me. Very successful road trip to Edmonton for him 🙂
I’m not generally a proponent of playing guys for the “wrong” reasons but if there was ever a time to call up Josh Brown I’d do so for the next game and have him go ham on Klapka, have Nurse remind Mr. Andersson what his fists feel like on his face and while they’re at it, have Frederic et al give some business to Lomberg and use that game to send a message this team will not be bullied.
I would personally rather they beat them on the score sheet while showing that snarl and discipline that had their PP running the Flames ragged. Even better if they embarrass them again in front of their own crowd
I wasn’t paying as close attention while I was away but I think Josh Brown left the game hurt this past weekend.
I also wouldn’t do that – even taking away they don’t have the cap space to do it without moving someone off the roster (or on LTIR), Klapka can run around, the Oilers will score goals.
The Oilers should not make roster and lineup decisions based on Adam effing Klapka.
15-2 HDCF!
6 HDCF’s by Hyman!
In the game before Christmas 🎄
The Oilers gave to us
Five Connor apples 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎
Four penalty kills 🚫 🚫 🚫 🚫
Three goals for Leon 🚨 🚨 🚨
(Twenty) two PIMs for Weegar 🚔
And stupid Falmes go home unhappy! 😂
#PlayLaBambaBaby
Marc Andre Fleury apparently mulling a comeback
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/report-goalie-marc-andre-fleury-open-to-comeback/
I’d be fine with this provided it’s not an 8 year deal
/s
Why though?
He’s 41 and not good any more.
Below ,900 each of the last two years and very poor playoff numbers (in 1 and 2 games) the last two years.
The Oilers are exposed in net right now
Our goalie depth chart is
-Jarry (injured)
-Pickard
-Ingram
-a toss up of Tomkins/Ungar/Jonsson
Stan needs to be looking for another goalie in case Pickard/Ingram prove unworthy
Ingram is the new Roli.
Well, sure, and I’m cheering for him (and Pickard) like every other Oiler fan
Stan has made his bet – Jarry is the #1 when he is available
The auditions for the back up position are underway imo
Skinner with 4 EV GA and an 0.862 per cent save percentage against Toronto, in a 6-3 loss.
The Penguins must have been BAD because he was actually plus on the goals saved above expected
They were really bad defensively – kulak one of the culprits
He’ll be getting a 3rd opinion shortly
Kulak?
And Pittsburgh will probably be getting a nice draft pick for making that trade happen.
Everybody in the league watches the SCF, and Kulak has been a warrior. D-men have a high cost at the trade deadline.
Some team will probably trade for Skinner’s playoff experience too.
I’m happy enough with our trade for Jarry, but if I were Penguins fan, I would have been over the moon with that trade.
97 on a 3 pts per game stretch, unreal
Let’s not get carried away, a poster on here told us that PP points don’t count the same as 5v5 points.
And that 97 was in steep age related decline.
MacKinnon with zero points tonight, even strength or otherwise.
Maybe he won’t end up with a 5×5 on ice shooting percentage of 15% with a 0.954 Sv% by seasons end?
Too early to call assume that though. The way Necas zone entries are going it’s a coin flip if his PDO will end up jumping from 1.100 to closer to 1.200 just as easily as it might drop closer to 1.000…it’s same difference numerically after all.
and what’s the excuse 😉 ?
You won’t see him tonight. He only appears when Oilers lose.
He sure did, and I told him to piss off
They certainly counted tonight 🙂
Best of luck to the Calgary Flames this year.
Very good game for nurse. Even his own goal he was actually doing exactly the right thing. Also liked his presence out there.
Him being open for customers with no takers, I think that presence was felt.
Guessing he’ll have a dance partner on Saturday.
Jarry/Ingram= 5-0
Skinner 0-3. Could it be we just needed a couple of steady goalies that don’t lose us games.
This looks like the way come Jan
Gotta love the BOA, looking forward to the rematch on Saturday. 10’s all around to end the game! A dominating win, that could have been double digits without Wolf in net. Also, nice to see the crowd do the wave and not have the Oilers give up a goal during it. A win is a great Christmas gift for the fans!
It’s too bad Clattenburg is hurt Andersson has needed a thumping for years now. What he did to Laine on that late hit with a second left will not be forgotten. Someone is is going to catch him with his head down and he’ll recieve some payback.
They don’t need Clattenburg to do that – they have a number of NHL players that can take care of Rasmus Andersson.
Some fans were trying it with 15 mins left, and I was not having it!
Hope that shitbird Lomberg gets tuned in properly on the 27th.
Like to see Podz tune him in.
Nice to see no goals against in garbage time
Why are the clowns talking about Flames scoring a shorty?????
Good on Ingram for a 95.0 SV% night.
That was a quietly effective outing by Ingram.
FO Huska, get your weak ass team off the ice
We’re reached the Airing of Grievances stage.
Happy Festivus everyone!
I’ve got alot of problems with you people!
Play the 4th line coach
Irrelevant Falmes are irrelevant.
What’s the record now with these unis?
Impeccable.
4-0, if memory serves.
Andersson is a clown if he’s actually arguing his sticking the leg out.
Keep the Glimmers out for this PP then give them the rest of the night off.
Flames are getting goony.
It is tragic that Clattenburg isn’t ready for this one.
Dangerous play by Anderson! Hope someone makes him pay for that cheap shot.
This game has gone great. It would be fantastic if they could play the Flames right away again to go for win number 3.
Light up the man’s name in neon, all hail King Leon.
Woooooot 13 straight more goals Draisaitl.
McDavid is unbelievable.
Einz, zwei, Drai.
Oh my Drai with the hatty! Scoring drought definitely over!
Lets get Drai his hattie here so they can get back to playing hockey for the rest of the third period.
Thank you.
5 points for McDavid.
You were pretty certain McDavid was past his prime, couldn’t handle the puck at speed. How’s that crow tasting?
Hey man, I was just calling reality as it was for apx 2 calendar years.
I never said he was “past his prime” but that he hadn’t been the same player on the rush for an extended period of time and hadn’t been the best player in the world for a couple of seasons – both were true.
Guessing it is quite a thrill for Ingram to watch 97 and 29 go super nova in front of him!
Wow two pretty dominant periods. If not for Wolf we could have 7 or 8. Lock it down in the third and don’t give Flames any life.
By lock it down you mean score 4 more.
Keep doing what they’ve been doing.
4 more would be fine with me! Just don’t give up 3….
I don’t think the VGK are going to obligingly lose tonight to give Edm first place for Xmas. Up 5-0 after 20 in SJ.
Embarrassed from their trip to AB, playing at home with something to prove.
That period was crazy. Some shifts they had 2-3 excellent looks. Hyman and Draisaitl had enough chances to each have a hat trick by the end of the 2nd. Men vs boys so far. The fans here have been spoiled
Very Entertaining on the TV, can’t imagine live.
That last rush by 97 looked to be on fast fast forward
Lames D are giving up skating backwards with 97. They turn and skate forwards to their net just hoping to get a stick on him once he gets there
Honestly, not a bad plan
What home announcers should say: this is an important PK for the Oilers to keep their lead heading to the third.
Louie and Jack: Huge powerplay for the Flames!
Brutal every single game.
They always do this.
Listen to how they frame things as the opposition doing something rather than the Oilers doing something.
its a oilers and flames broadcast
These clowns are the play by play for Oil. Shames have Hrudy and Cassie flapping for them
So the complaint is the announcers are not overtly favouring the home team?
Oh brutal call on 97!!!!!! Officiating the score for sure…..
#18 should be on Team Canada!!!
I don’t know why when picking forwards they look at the first 20 games of the season and call it a day, but goalies they base on reputation over a career. Hyman and RNH for that matter are both deserving. Hyman can take a pass with speed, forechecks like a boss and knows how to work with McDavid
Like to see Jack get in on the action. He was rolling before he got hurt.
Excellent by Hyman to angle that over the pads, otherwise Wolf would have had that to!
Loving this period long PP
Like my favourite Filter song, Hyman… Nice Shot.
I regret that I only have one thumbs-up to give for this.
Can’t play much better than Wolf has and he’s given up 4 in just over half a game.
1st place G on a last place team
He should be on team Canada
Would be nice, but quite sure he will be selected to the American team
Except Wolf is a Yank.
He’s American……
Pond the crap out of them!!!! 4 pt night for Connor (and counting!)
We want 10!
And by 10, I mean 10 points for 97
5!
Was that not like a 3 minute shift for McDavid where he dominated the flames and looked somewhat fresh at the end of the shift to set up Hyman?
Robots don’t get tired!
Good job, #10.
Bahl’s spent most of the game looking like a panicked koala, arms wrapped around the nearest Oiler.
A better choice than last time for Frederic. He has a haf not bad game so far. It’s Christmas ish, time for positivity.
Has had not a bad game..
I like that point by Louie, another flames d out for 5 mins. Great job by Frederic to take that fight.
Freddy steps up! Bahl is a big dude. Held his own.
Unpopular opinion, but the purposeful take down to end a fight should be an extra 1 or 2min penalty IMO. Dangerous play for multiple reasons