The Edmonton Oilers took care of business in Chicago last night, the Blackhawks without the top of the roster and it showed. I liked several performances, beyond the usual suspects. Connor Ingram was top flight in goal, and the fourth line delivered a rare gem on the evening. A quick turnaround for tonight’s game, you can never be sure of a back to back and Nashville is coming on strong just like Brenda Lee.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN JANUARY
- At home to: Flyers, Preds (Expected 1-0-1) 1-1-0
- On the road to: Jets (Expected 1-0-0) 1-0-0
- At home to: Kings (Expected 1-0-0) 0-0-1
- On the road to: Blackhawks, Preds (Expected 1-1-0) 1-0-0
- At home to: NYI (Expected 0-0-1)
- On the road to: Canucks (Expected 1-0-0)
- At home to: Blues, Devils, Penguins, Caps (Expected 2-1-1)
- At home to: Ducks, Sharks, Wild (Expected 1-1-1)
- Expected Record: 8-3-4, 20 points in 15 games
- Actual Record: 3-1-1, seven points in five games
- Season Record: 23-16-7, 53 points in 46 games
Edmonton is in a good spot for January now, even better with a win tonight. There’s a big home stretch coming at the end of the month, you’d like to see the team well on the way to 70 points by the end of the month.
- Nuge-McDavid-Hyman 12:37, 8-6 shots, 2-0 goals, 53X 5-2 HDSC
- Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Kapanen 12:24, 8-7 shots, 1-1 goals, 56X, 4-2 HDSC
- Mangiapane-Roslovic-Savoie 9:01, 5-5 shots, 49X, 4-3 HDSC
- Frederic-Lazar-Janmark 6:19, 6-2 shots, 65 X, 2-1 HDSC
The top two lines did what you would expect on a night when the clean air was abundant. If you throw in Evan Bouchard and the top six, that is in fact your scoring summary. I want to linger just a moment to shine a light on some frazzled veterans who took advantage of opportunity. Andrew Mangiapane had four hits and blocked a shot; Trent Frederic had three shots, two HDSC, created some rebounds and won two of three in the dot; Jack Roslovic, who has been quieter of late, had four high-danger chances. We haven’t done the round up of centers and five-on-five outscoring for a little while, here are the numbers
- McDavid-Draisaitl 249 mins, 15-14 goals (52 pct)
- Connor McDavid 528 mins, 28-25 (53 pct)
- Leon Draiaitl 506 mins, 31-21 (60 pct)
- The rest 1009 mins, 20-47 (30 pct)
I think we’ve hammered the forwards involved on the third and fourth lines senseless, but continue to wonder what Kris Knoblauch is doing about it. Against Chicago, running Andrew Mangiapane on the third line isn’t going to hurt much, but I’m hopeful the team runs Ike Howard there tonight. Howard and Savoie are both under 1.00 points-game at five-on-five, and aren’t strong enough defensively to warrant that kind of popgun offense.
Knoblauch’s rookie forwards since arriving as coach include Savoie (7-8-15 in 50 gmaes with Edmonton), Howard (2-1-3 in 21 games), James Hamblin (31, 2-1-3), Connor Clattenburg (5, 1-0-1), Quinn Hutson (6, 1-0-1) and Raphael Lavoie (7, 0-0-0). So, Knoblauch has given out 120 games to rookie forwards. Assuming 12 forwards in all of Knoblauch’s 197 regular-season games with the team, that’s 120 of a possilble 2,364 games, or five percent. How many rookies have played an entire game in a feature role? It’s a low, low number. Edmonton is trying to win Stanley, but also needs value contracts, less year-over-year turnover and more speed plus skill. I think there should be some concern here.
I’m thrilled at the Quinn Hutson signing. That’s a tell in my opinion. He’s going to play in the NHL and right soon. My guess is he’ll be the recall when Mangiapane is dealt.
- Ekholm-Bouchard 16:13, 14-9 shots, 2-0 goals, 64X, 9-3 HDSC
- Nurse-Emberson 15:24, 6-8 shots, 0-1 goals, 49X, 4-3 HDSC
- Stastney-Regula 11:30, 5-5 shots, 53X, 4-3 HDSC
- Connor Ingram 29 of 39, .967SP.
The top pairing is absolute brilliance right now, I wish it was the finals. Evan Bouchard appears to be doing an “FU tour” after the Olympic snub. I like Nurse-Emberson, although the GA was a muddle. I’m hoping Nurse-Walman has a real good time when Jake returns soon. I never take the injury time line seriously from the Oilers. It’s just words. I do take five-on-five save percentage seriously, and here are the Oilers goalies this season:
- Tristan Jarry .904 in three games
- Connor Ingram .901 in seven games
- Stuart Skinner .892 in 23 games
- Calvin Pickard .877 in 16 games
I think Connor Ingram has earned a spot on the Oilers roster, and sending him down means deploying a less than optimal version of the team. Stan Bowman likely thinks otherwise.
On the Lowdown today, it’s the roundtable with me and three guys from Reservoir Dogs. Declan Krueger, Donovan Paulson and Josh Fenwick will fire verbal cannons at me for two hours on various subjects. That will include the Oilers last night and tonight, the Ingram situation, the NFL playoff picture and Bo Bichette’s next MLB team. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
So, two individuals who post here often got into a squabble on last night’s gdt. Both have been timed out, and the time out will last one year. Please don’t post things that are political, religious or in any way divisive. This is supposed to be fun! Thanks.
“or in any way divisive”
Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson was a good trade.
TWO YEARS! 🙂
Omg I was going to post this haha
#16 & #33 for Reinhart …. Might get me 5 years
Don’t think that one is decisive though – everyone hates that one and the majority from day 1.
No that would be life!
Ryan spooner was a hidden gem that is the trade tree linage best example of upcycling to maximize assets in oiler’s history.
Ty Rattie was a 50 goal scorer, if Edmonton let him play more then 14 games in 2017-18
Ken Holland said he will take the ban … and throw in a 2nd
Peter Pocklington was just misunderstood. Did I do that right?
Seems legit
In hindsight Bennett may have been a better pick
If pineapple on pizza is wrong, you don’t want to know how I use papaya or mangoes on pizza either.
Oh and Yakupov could have been saved if the Oilers management had any balls.
“If Rieder scored more goals, we’d probably be in the playoffs”
Not often I agree w Staples, but can’t find a word out of place in the Cult’s critique of Knobloch’s roster and deployment decisions in Nashville.
Adds to my sense that the whole world is shaking its head at recent KK calls. More than a few head scratchers.
Testing
I’ve never seen a coach under utilize a player as bad as KK is with Roslovic.
Gregor covered this earlier on ON, but McDavid now is the 8th most productive point streaker in history, while this is the 21st most productive streak all time. Gretzky has 11 more productive runs alone, Lemieux and Yzerman combine for 5 more, then 4 individual streaks:
Gretzky: 153, 108, 76, 66, 64, 63, 57, 55, 51, 48, 47
Lemieux: 103, 59, 51
Yzerman: 65, 50
Lafleur: 61
Trottier: 55
Coffey: 55
Crosby: 50
McDavid: 46
First mistake was made when the coach decided to scratch Lazar to rip apart the 4th line that had been gaining momentum as a trio and to play Mangiapane again. Howard for Mang was right there.
The next, well, that was the full team mindset that they would skill and half-ass their way to victory – talk about trying to skate through layers and making high risk plays in the neutral and defensive zone – for a full 63 minutes
Was at the game, team looked gassed in the 3rd. Jarry got them to OT with some really good saves when they were needed most. Team was very careless all night with the puck – too many behind the back passes, too many back passes.
88 had one good shift, and that was it. I can’t understand why the coach is sitting Lazar now. He solidifies the 4th line with tenacious play. 10 was getting to more pucks tonight but does not accomplish much. 29-42-92 was the best line all night 5×5.
They did a great job ragging the Preds, they were gassed. Circle back, switch out 2 guys, leave 97 for a bday point or something. You can’t convince me Kapanen or Savoie or Roslovic or Nuge wouldnt have the boots to burn what was left.
That was selfish imo.
I fully agree that there needs to be more creative player deployment in OT but who is being selfish? Aren’t 29 and 97 following the coaches strategy.
I thought KK was outcoached in the OT by Brunette. Teams are starting to play 2 d-men against 97-29 and they could not get any clear space in the o-zone.
Now some of that could be that they were tired – and it was the 3rd in 4 nights. But they really did not have a lot in the tank at the finish.
I could understand playing Draisaitl and McDavid for almost all of the overtime when the next options were Neal, Kassian, and Lucic, but the Oilers now have plenty of good forwards to throw out in overtime.
When it’s 3 on 3, the worst that can happen is having 3 tired guys on the ice, even if two of them are named McDavid and Draisaitl.
Either KK has to end these selfish bullshit long shifts by 97 and 29 or he needs to be fired. The ending was entirely predictable when they came back out for a 2nd shift after a 30 second rest.
KK doesn’t have the backbone to think outside the box.
Yah they really need to get off the thought that a gassed McBouchDrai is better than a fresh anyone else.
Surely they can ice 2 units:
1st unit- 3 min total
2nd unit- 2 min total
It’s lazy coaching or unreasonable demands from 97 and or 29
1 point seems more than really deserved. Too many giveaways trying to force plays.
Lots of Globetrotting tonight
Preds did a good job of layering, get sticks in lanes, keeping them to the outside.
A 20′ jump shot works in the NBA. Not always in the NHL.
Fire the coach
I think it may be time to rethink the overtime strategy of playing McDavid and Drai and bouch for almost the entire 5 min. It worked great until it didn’t.
No kidding. Remember the good old days when we were money in OT???? Other teams have adapted, we haven’t.
Exactly. It’s a different world with video analysed to the nth degree to find tendencies. I’d try McDavid and Nuge with Bouch, then Drai and Roslovic with Nurse or Walman. Tell them quicker shifts and see what happens.
Connor, Leon and Evan….and ONLY Connor, Leon and Evan are capable in OT of scoring. :).
Bad decision by Tristan Irbe.
Deep pull
Right decision, was too tentative. Clear breakaway otherwise.
Is he 100%? His mobility looked weird
Maybe, but he’d be facing down a breakaway against so? If it had worked he would’ve been a hero.
either that or a 3 on zilch as non of the oilers on the ice were able/going to back check
McDrai awful in OT. 1 vs 3 over and over again.
Was like they wanted to just end it either way asap. If they dont score there is no way they can back track after a 1:50 shift!
2 also with no interest in defending.
Very poor puck management for first 90 sec of ot
It wasn’t any better at the end of OT
Coach, when are you going to start coaching? I mean really doing something to help?
Not low hanging fruit like benching the rookie. What is this style the rookie is learning?
why all the high risk plays? Why the unenthusiastic effort? Why the poor defensive coverage by defence?
try to make a difference already. You are winning only because you have the two top players.
Guys have been going down to AHL and lighting it up, then coming back up, given 8 min ice time and shocker of all shockers aren’t producing. Howards first game back he was confident, zooming around, passing and shooting and it seemed like just a matter of time before he and that line cashed. Now lines get switched up and Howard is playing ‘in between’ out there.
This is a huge problem for the Oilers. You have to be able to coach to get the best out of guys, not the worst.
When was the last coach able to get the best out of our bottom 6?
I think the chance to play with 29 or 97 team draw is a farce.
There’s really only 4 or 5 guys that get to play with them.
The ice time available after the 1st 2 lines and top 2 D is really limited and you’re playing with scrubs. I don’t see a team development approach here
Seems to begin with the preseason approach. They need to decide who is going to have a legit chance to play with skill and then stick with those lines for a bit.. at least through preseason. Play a 4 line game more frequently as well. There has to be more creativity than… we are down a goal, ok let’s play McDavid and Drai together now.
I feel Drais would be less predictable if he didn’t delay/rag the puck every time. There are many quicker options available but he rarely takes them.
Have to say I have been pretty impressed with Kappenan since his return from injury. He has really fit in on the second line. Always considered him to be a bottom 6 energy type player. Hope he can keep playing this way!
Unless 88 is traded he will be watching from the PB next game.
That was a really dumb play by Mang but also a terrible call in a tight game
Nice even up call
what happens when you put a skilled player miscast in a 4th line role. Small tip plays and back passes don’t work unless you are working with guys who think the game the same way. KK doing Howard no favours on the 4th line tonight. He has made 2 pretty egregious plays tonight- one for a goal against and the other missed by a hair
Was that a burst of speed from Frederic?
Fast Freddy
Downwind?
Geez shoot the darn puck! How many clear shots have we not taken tonight looking for that extra pass!!!!
Good sign for Jarry to get up after that save!
Beauty save
He would have scored if his name was Swinging and not Bunting.
Are you Gene Principe?
The HH curse, still going strong! 🤣
Kuch surging to 0 points tonight or 0.00 P/GP in his last 1 game.
Leo Carlsson just got a goal for the first time in exactly forever. The Ducks collectively wish they didn’t have his endorsement kiss of death
My son and I were driving home from an esso minor hockey tournament game (where had has a nice wraparound to set up the GTG) and we heard Hyman’s PP goal on the radio.
I went home and watched it, then insisted he watch it to see what it takes to score at any league. Vintage Hyman.
Well done to your son!
Thanks! He’s in his hockey sponge phase and he tries to model his game after Zac. He met him last year and he was such a kind person, asking him if it was okay if he could sign his jersey 🙂
Very cool story. Hyman seems like a genuine good guy.
That second Oiler goal is a great example of why Drai loves playing with Podkolzin. That looks like a set Nashville play, with the two wingers driving up the ice. Podkolzin breaks up the lead pass, and then finds Drai in the open ice. Classic finish by Leon, but Podz is the straw stirring the drink on that one.
Can anyone here tell me what the Preds record is when tied after two periods? Im not sure even though Jack M. has flapped it about 79 times this game already….
He is so painful to listen to. We need to make a trade.
Ha ha ha, brilliant!
Ok, that’s my fault.
Plays like that are not going to help,Howard
Hutson may be earning his spot
I’d argue that is an investment in better play from him down the road. I prefer he makes those mistakes on a Tuesday in January, than in April. A good player like him will remember that, and hopefully stop aping what the more veteran guys have been doing all game (playing with fire against a strong forechecking Preds).
Fewer giveaways would be helpful
Choosing difficult over simple is a team trait
High risk/60
Just saw a blind backhand pass from hash to hash in the D zone!
This team defies conventional hockey think
Add in trying to stick handle through 3 guys????
drat.
Howard is gonna want that one back
18 in his office
The Mayor of Nashville is in town flipping burgers with that gigantic paddle.
King Leon!
only a matter of time
Jarry a bit of an adventure tonight. Not surprising after time off. Hopefully team can pull it together for him.
He definitely looks like he’s fighting it.
Why have Howard up if they’re going to play him with two empty uniforms?
Bouch, you realize he was just standing there, all alone in front of Jarry. He was lonely. Why didn’t you keep him company?
I would suggest that man on man would be a very poor strategy on the penalty kill.
Man-to-man is back since Heated Rivalry.
Gotta get away from trying to to stickhandle through layers.
Boy the Preds are good with their sticks
Time to use this exceptional PK for momentum and push hard for the lead.
Nope.
Lots of Oilers standing around in their own end. Move your feet guys!
arggg
Watch Kap on that last zone entry again. He just used the Makar playoff offside play intentionally because Drai was late getting onside.
I had hoped 88 would continue his good play again tonight, but more falling down, losing the puck at the opposing blue and easy give aways. Just play north-south, skate hard and hit, you will see success! Or at least another team willing to trade for you.
At least I now know why Bouch seems so calm.
Gary Bouchard is for sure the most fake sounding name on this Dad trip. Sounds like a fake ID name instead of any real person ever.
As another actual real-life Gary B, I strongly reject this statement. 🤓
2 has never agreed with the last man back make the safe play theory
Nice PP goal followed by more adventure in our zone….
I couldn’t love Hyman more. Such a class act and terrific player. Anyone watch the interview asking dads what else their son might have been (career) if not a hockey player. Zach’s dad told such a great story. Worth a watch if you haven’t seen it, and even more so if you have your own kids!
didnt see it. but sounds great
I was watching that but Stuart was taking so long with that story, had to scroll by….
Yup it was a little long winded answer but worthwhile I thought.
Leon “Mayor of Nashville” Draisaitl with some Perry level filth on Hyman’s goal.