Evan Bouchard had an expected goal share of 55 percent last night at five-on-five, and was 1-4 goals. He handcuffed McDavid with an impossible pass at the blue line, he was jailbreak on another play at the Pens blue line, left to wave lanterns at the runaway train. He’s a fantastic defenseman, but he won’t reach his performance ceiling unless there is some recognition of possible danger. I hope that maturation arrives for him. I think Connor McDavid does, too.
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) 1-0-1
- At home to: NYI (Expected 0-0-1) 0-1-0
- On the road to: Canucks (Expected 1-0-0) 1-0-0
- At home to: Blues, Devils, Penguins, Caps (Expected 2-1-1) 1-2-0
- At home to: Ducks, Sharks, Wild (Expected 1-1-1)
- Expected Record: 8-3-4, 20 points in 15 games
- Actual Record: 5-4-2, 12 points in 11 games
- Season Record: 25-19-8, 58 points in 52 games
No idea why I keep thinking these Oilers will make it easy on themselves, they. never. do. The eastern conference teams pack a wallop, that should be a concern for management and coaching staff since the final will involve the best one.
- Nuge-McDavid-Hyman 12:43, 8-5 shots, 0-2 goals, 45X, 3-5 HDSC
- Howard-Roslovic-Savoie 7:21, 4-3 shots, 1-0 goals, 54X, 0-1 HDSC
- Mangiapane-Draisaitl-Podkolzin 6:42, 4-0 shots, 97X, 2-0 HDSC
- Janmark-Frederic-Lazar 5:28, 2-0 shots, 76X, 1-0 HDSC
Oilers lost this game in the first three minutes, so none of the numbers are reliable in the way a close game would be, so filter these totals through that lens. Matt Savoie scored a nice goal, he’s scoring 1.89 points-60 since January 1. That’s a nice turn at the halfway pole and here’s hoping he can keep it going. Bouchard transported the puck expertly and sent a nice pass to Savoie on the play, such an electric defenseman.
Connor McDavid has some tells when he is putting pressure on himself, we saw the attempts to stickhandle through five guys many times but there was no burger in sight. Sometimes dumping the puck in is a better way. I was thrilled to see Leon Draisaitl play but he must have been exhausted. Andrew Mangiapane on his line must surely have been a showcase, but I was happy to see the veteran get the opportunity. Zach Hyman had four HDSC’s and that motor never stops.
- Ekholm-Bouchard 16:19, 10-6 shots, 1-3 goals, 57X, 4-5 HDSC
- Nurse-Emberson 14:43, 4-2 shots, 0-1 goals, 26X
- Walman-Stastney 10:19, 9-3 shots, 60X, 2-3 HDSC
- Tristan Jarry stopped 16 of 22, .727SP
There were five individual points handed out last night, three of those went to defensemen. There were coverage issues involving the forwards (who was Anthony Mantha’s man? looked like Andrew Mangiapane to me) but I think it’s fair to say the top two pairings were not at their best.
Tristan Jarry will get stapled by many for this effort, but the first three goals featured a coverage miss, a turnover at the blue line resulting in a breakaway and a gorgeous tip from the high high slot I blame on no one. So, Jarry might be the guy waking up today and wondering what the hell he’s gotten himself into, as these Oilers abandon their post like ringing a bell.
I think my main takeaway from a game like last night is that expecting this team to win against an eastern conference club in the final is wishful. Attention to detail just isn’t there. I’d say maybe someday, but what if someday never comes?
On the Lowdown today, we’ll give you every opportunity to express your opinion on these Oilers and what may come. We’ll talk NFL playoffs, MLB moves this week and the CFL draft. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube. See you on the radio!
What should the Edmonton Oilers do now about their goaltender depth chart?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6991785/2026/01/23/oilers-edmonton-goalies-depth-chart-news/
The Oilers went in to camp with
G1 Skinner
G2 Pickard
G3 Tomkins
They went in to camp comfortable with Matt Tomkins as 3G.
Bowman made the perfect acquisition for Ingram with the knowledge that he’d start as 4G but, after working to get his game back, he very well could battle for 2G and maybe even 1G.
Since then the Oilers have upgrade 1G and upgraded 2G and now Pickard is 3G with Tomkins at 4G and a new name in the conversation, a 24-year old Connor Ungar on a season long heater as 5G.
I like Calvin Pickard as a person and he’s given this org everything he has over a number of years – generally being “OK” with some big games here and there. With that said it is 100% clear that he is a distant 3G, behind Jarry and Ingram and the hope is he never plays another game with the Oilers because there are two guys well ahead of him.
Yes, I understand, they are keeping him on the roster because there are deserpate teams that would claim him on waivers and they like him as insurance in case of an injury.
Insurance is great, we all pay for it in various forms. In this instance the Oilers cannot afford the insurance, the $1MM hit to their cap. It caused issues earlier in the week forcing them to play short a forward (two for a 1/3 of the game).
The Oilers have less than zero cap space – Henrique will be healthy and activated and they don’t have cap space for that. Disposing of Mang clean would only provide the cap space to activate Henrique without gutting the rester of the roster – it does not provide any real cap space for adding.
The Oilers know that Pickard needs to be moved off the roster at some point – that point should have been prior to this week.
They need to get over their feature of a potential injury.
They have two healthy potential starting goalies and lets move forward.
If Jarry is out, well, Ingram can be a legit starter for a period, he’s had success in that role before.
They went in to camp with Tomkins as 3G and that would be the worst case scenario (if Pickard s claimed).
Not to mention Tomkins his coming off back to back shutouts – he stole both games.
Not to mention, who the hell knows what this season long heater by Connor Ungar means – maybe its real.
There are times in leadership when doing nothing is worse than making the potentially wrong move. Trading Pickard to receive an asset and free up space on the roster has the potential to go wrong, but it is a calculated risk that helps the team in the present. Making that move and using that asset to help move Mangipane just helps in many ways. I’m not sure where the prevaricating is coming from on this, when the org has the best goalie depth I can remember.
Came here to post exactly this. You’ve got 2 x 1As in the NHL right now and 2 hot AHL Gs to support in a position that is voodoo.
Getting an extra roster spot to see what Jaraventie is all about would also go a long way into future planning this roster and potentially not losing him to Europe
Patience. It is not the lack of the last roster spot causing losses. The teams still doesn’t have identity, and this causes uncertainty. In net, they must be cautious. Plus, we can’t see inside the room.
I do love your points about strength of goaltending in the minors.
We don’t know what we don’t know but being forced to play 11 forwards, and then down to 10 for 1/3 of the game on Tuesday very well could have cost a point or two.
A Samanski or a Hutson or a Jarventie or a Jones or a Hamblin very well could have made a play that would have made a difference in that game
As I said in my comment to the article, when the team is “engaged” (for me, playing the proverbial 200-ft game, as a six-man unit) any NHL goalie can be the starter. When the team isn’t “engaged,” woe to any & all who stand in the crease, alone, embattled.
My “ludicrous” suggestion before last night’s gawd-awful embarrassment by the team of their goalie, while he had some trade value: trade Jarry to free Cap space. But before they do that, figure whatever it was that changed after the Nov 25 shellacking by the Stars. (In the games from then until Xmas the team won, and all the goalies looked good (Skinner the best at .943 SV% 5v5). They defaulted to awful for a few games after Xmas, and again this week. )
What happened after Nov 25, LT? A change took place prior to the goalie trade. The change lasted until Xmas. To my mind, and to the numbers, THIS is only question Oilerville should be pondering. Hint: it’s not about the goalies.
Of course a goalie is likely to play better behind a team playing well in front – that applies from Jeff Delaurier to Dominic Hasek.
At the same time that does not mean that all goalies are equal and do not matter – some goalies are better than others and Tristan Jarry is better than Calvin Pickard and Matt Tomkins.
Yes, Jarry makes more money but, playing the last number of years behind an, adequate at best, d-group in Pittsburg has shown he is worth the cap hit.
Maybe you’re right. As I’ve said before, my appraisal of whether that trade is worth it will be made in June, should the team get there.
One thing I’m pretty sure of it’s unlikely any goalie rescues this club when it’s playing terribly. And I’m pretty sure no goalie wins this team a Cup when they play as they have Oct-Nov 25, Dec 26-Jan3, Jan 20-?
The bigger question, to my mind, is this: What happened after Nov 25 for this team? And, to follow: Can they do it again? Is it replicable, this play that made every goalie look good, that made all in Oilerville believe the “goalie problem has been solved?”
I fear the noise around goaltending obscures what I believe is a bigger problem, one that’s haunted this club since Games 5&6 SCF 2025.
Blah – that shot was going wide, hit Protas and right there for an easy goal – back luck.
Max Jones stopped on a penalty shot.
That’s the third pass in the o-zone back to the point that misses and relieves the pressure.
Still waiting for Savoie’s offence to materialize, but I love his play off of the puck.
He does have goals in back to back games and 3 points in the last two games….
Mangiapane scored in back to back games to start the year. Need to see if he continues production.
Draisaitl pass to Nurse can’t connect. McDavid bobbles slightly and then his pass to Bouchard can’t connect. Early moments but the Oilers still seem off. It’s the old saying about moving the puck crisply is how you play fast.
Knights wins 6-3
Ducks win 4-2
Sharks win 3-1
Ducks now second in the Pacific.
Sharks 3 points behind the Oilers with 2 games in hand.
LA lurking with 3 games in hand.
Utah on a heater and heavily favoured to best the Predators tomorrow.
On my.
Time to wave the white flag it seems.
The Barbarians are at the gates.
The rebuilders have rebullt.
This entire post is nothing but baiting but LT will do nothing.
Yup, your right, the season is over for Edmonton.
Might as well stop watching hockey the rest of the season, they don’t have a chance…
NHL
@NHL
Macklin Celebrini became the second-youngest active player to reach 50 career goals with his first goal in tonight’s game! https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/svg/1f988.svg
Who is he behind? Sidney Crosby.
https://x.com/NHL/status/2014906270323503265?s=20
Condors pressing, lots of chances, but can’t tie it up.
They then get sloppy in the d-zone with multiple failed clears and a slot shot is topped in.
3-1 Eagles (shots 35-17).
Condors starting to find their game in the 2nd half of the 2nd period – a huge battle shift by the fourth line and Kepen bangs one in.
2-1 Eagles with 3:33 left in the 2nd.
Samanski sets up D’Amato for a SH breakaway, stopped. Samanski then cuts off the breakout on the same Eagles PP, out-battles 2 Eagles to get to the net and rings one off the post – great SH shift by Samanski. Can’t buy one though.
Young Sharks fan just got rich.
NHL Public Relations reposted
NHL
@NHL
Yeah, this is a special moment. https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/svg/2764.svg
https://x.com/NHL/status/2014906270323503265?s=20
(click for video)
Eagles just bombarding the Condors and, finally, Tomkins beaten high from a mid slot snipe.
2-0.
Summarizing! (Part Un)
Bauer Berry (!) scored his 2nd goal of the season and added an assist.
Lewandowski and Nicholl each picked up an assist in extra-time wins.
Wakely was denied soup.
Fischer did not dress.
Lafreniere’s match is in progress.
Summarizing! (Part Zwei)
Lafreniere scored his 26th goal and added two helpers while winning 10 of 18 draws (55.6%). He was named 2nd star for his efforts.
Tomkins stops 19 of 20 in the first period – Eagles dominate and outshoot the Condors 20-5.
I would target Sam Steel on St.L … good 3rd / 4th line guy with experience
Steel always makes me think of Cave for some reason RIP. Tweeners at around the same time?
Akey’ outlet pass is picked off on the half boards – tick, tack, toe and the shoutout streak is over 4 minutes in to the first.
1-0 Eagles.
First time Condors have trailed in 6 games.
Curtis Pashelka
@CurtisPashelka
·
3h
Tonight’s the final Sharks’ home game before the Olympic break. Scouts from MIN, WPG, VAN, TB, NJ and DAL are credentialed. Rangers are sellers, Sharks might still be looking.
What are the Nucks up to?
Selling the farm.
I see the CCR reference was mentioned.
I also got Roseanne Cash and Chuck Berry.
I’m a bit tired of pinning losses on individual plays or players.
This team has terribly underperformed. They do have a lot of intradivision games, where they generally have done well. But there is no consistency in performance or even game plan, and even making the playoffs is no longer a guarantee during a home trip where they are playing teams on B2Bs.
I do still tend to believe it is the coach’s role to get the most of the team, and that this simply has not happened. I don’t have the solutions, but that’s not my job.
The other way to look at this is when I continually see McDavid looking frustrated after a loss, one could say he’s 1) got the wrong attitude and isn’t a good leader, 2) frustrated with himself and/or his teammates, or 3) disappointed that the blueprint isn’t working.
I will never subscribe to 1) (I am also a sore loser and that’s not a bad quality in the sport’s highest league when your whole focus is on winning), I believe 2) happens but is mostly limited to self-criticism (another reason why I don’t believe 1), but I think 3) is becoming increasingly likely. Another reason to be concerned with this coaching staff
I don’t know who the leader is off ice. If there isn’t really one because Perry and Kane left, well that’s not ok. It should be the core. Maybe not Connor of he’s not cut out for it, but then Drai Nurse Ek Nuge
Connor losing his cool maybe works, I don’t know. MacKinnon is supposedly pretty hot headed. Someone has to set the standard and demand it, and have the chops to do it
It doesn’t seem to be happening, and often Drai Connor Nurse and Nuge are the ones messing up, less so Ek. I think they should sharpen up, stick to the system and Connor and Drai not try to go solo and use the guys on the ice
Tomkins with the start tonight.
We are all excited about Ungar’s run but Tomkin is clearly well ahead of Ungar on the organizational depth chart.
He could even see some games in the NHL this season but hopefully not.
Almost as if the org is signalling that he’d better be in game shape in case a trade and/or injury should occur up north in the near future.
Yup – and he’s earned the respect with his recent play – back to back shutouts.
The Condors defence, wth the like of Dineen and Leppanen is:
Cargragna/Akey
Stillman/Brown
Millman/Feist
You’d think the Oilers had forgotten their name. You’re the OILERS. You don’t have to let off the gas pedal. You have an infinite supply of fuel.
I’m not so concerned.
I think the emergence of Podkolzin and Savoie are really big stories. Roslovic — by eye — seems more engaged and noticeable as a 3C. Howard is thisclose to putting it together.
I think this team is a PDO heater away from going on a big run.
Wondering if the Flyers fade enough if they’d trade Owen Tippett.
26, Right shot, 6’1, 209. Good for around 20 a year, on pace for 25, leads the team in shots (2.53 per game). Year 2 of an 8 year with 6.2 per year. In a couple years i think that looks neat.
He has 12 of his 15 this year at even strength. Averages 13+ a night.
He is 2nd to 97 in bursts over 35km+ and is in the top 7 in 32-35 bursts. He’s quick.
2nd on the team in hits with 89. He can forecheck and or separate man from puck.
Puckpedia has him slightly losing against elites mostly due to atrocious save percentage (Philly has bad goaltending too!) per WoodMoney.
No idea the cost because I don’t want that to wash out the idea but of note: His 10 team No-trade doesn’t kick in until next year.
I think that’s a potential ‘not small’ quick, decently physical winger to go for who could help the team do better at evens for a long time.
The price would be alot but I don’t believe egregious.
Great call. Tippett the Younger would be a fine target.
When he got traded from FLA to PHI it was another one of those moments where I groaned inside and wondered why taking a shot on a buy low candidate that could grow with the core wasn’t in the cards for EDM.
why would Philly trade him?
Because I think he’s a good candidate for trade and everyone’s available for the right price. Walman wasn’t available until he was. I don’t pretend to know why, but i’d call. And then I’d call again.
Robert Thomas is 26 and available in St.Louis, similar mold but would be more expensive as an RC (and in $). Why would the Blues trade him? Those are extremely rare.
There is a reason Woodcroft still has not been hired, and that is he was not truly viewed as a head coach by the league. I think if Knoblauch was fired I also do not see him being re-hired.
These were/are riding their talent. Don’t judge them by top end talent, judge them by how well the less talented are doing and contributing.
And I do not see the present assistant minions doing much of anything.
Oilers need some fire. A coach who takes losing personal. A leader and driver who has been there, knows what it takes.
Oilers play soft. Oilers make repetitive mistakes. Oilers play favourites for short term gain to detriment of long term winning.
The roster has talent. The defence should be excellent. They play below their potential.
All this has to stop.
Get some intensity already coach. Soft, calm, nice. – meet Florida or Tampa Bay
Jackson – the Oilers were and are peaking, it was not the time for Rookie coaches.
He was hired by Q to be an assistant coach in Anaheim.
If a team, any team, in any sport, continues to make game losing mistakes over and over, and continue uncorrected, who is responsible?
On a positive note, TOI in the 3rd period was reduced for the Big 4 on F.
Player TOI by period, game total, season average
McDavid 8:32, 7:27, 4:57, 20:56, 22:54
Draisatl 7:21, 7:25, 4:31, 19:17, 22:01
RNH 6:02, 7:44, 4:49, 18:35, 19:07
Hyman 6:51, 6:54, 4:42, 18:27, 20:06
The Bottom 6 mostly saw healthy increases in the 3rd compared to the first two periods.
Now, some of that may be because the Oilers didn’t get any PP time in the 3rd, but I’m hoping it’s because Knoblauch realized the Big 4 weren’t getting much done so he should give more opportunity to the Bottom 6. Yes, Draisatl had a game that the analytics liked, but he didn’t look good.
The Oilers were down 6-1 early in the 3rd period.
Pointless to keep running out the big dogs in a game that was already lost.
There’s the real answer.
Im wondering if the element that this team misses from Kane, Perry was not just the message they could send to the other teams but the message they brought to their own team .If this team had played this way last year with Kane and Perry on the bench one or both of them would have been in a few oiler faces.
SB and KK got rid of that element over the summer replacing them with passive aggressive players like Frederick and Mangiapone and Im wondering if that was a mistake . The 80’s Olers had a few of those folks in Messier and others that could and would be just as tough on the lazy’s on their team as the opposition . We are missing that element his year
This is not a young group; surely there are larger issues if the leaders on this team are not willing to do this.
Yes it was a mistake. Team already was soft, this year other teams make fun of them with “easy to play against” comments being made.
Kane wasn’t on the bench at all last year during the regular season and I also don’t see Kane fitting the description you put out above – in fact, Kane was the person getting told to stop turning the puck over in the neutral zone and to stop taking sloppy stick inflation penalties……
This is true, but deflects from the point. When it was Kane doing it, it was Perry who stepped up. That type of voice is missing.
Connor and particularly Leon are calm, stable, and deliver with repetitive efficiency That’s rare. I think Nurse also takes this persona without the delivery. Nuge is quiet. Bouch, well he is epitome of laid back. Hyman and Elholm are also quiet efficiency. And that’s your Captain plus support group.
It is very hard to run at the absolute top of your game day in, day out, without some fire. Most players need a boost. And when they lag they do hear about it.
This team doesn’t get it from the coach. So it has to come from the players, or not at all. On this team, leadership players are more refined, which works great until the going gets tough. I agree they could use some fire, some voices to motivate and hold accountability from within.
I was replying simply to provide my opinion that Kane wasn’t an example of this type of leadership, the opposite if anything.
I don’t think this name has been mentioned much but Michael Bunting from the Predators would be an interesting LW addition to the team if they fall out of it. Doesn’t PK but can put up some points with skill
I’ve never been a bunting fan but in a few games I’ve watched this year he has been very effective in a secondary role. A huge upgrade on mangipaines spot.
If you wanted to see the roster go younger there was going to be growing pains. Lots of veteran turnover as well.
A handful of nights a year your stars lay whoppers in the same game.
It was over in 38 seconds. Once in forty years, crap happens.
On the positive.
The offensive plays Bouchard is making right now are incredible. Like high end first line forward level plays. Shots, passes, deaks, timing, he’s rolling right now. He could drive offense for a 3rd line.
Jake Walman is sneaky good and Nurse has fully stopped the bleeding. The PK is a threat to score.
Nice to see Savoie respond with a goal after a teachable moment on the 4th against. Move your feet young man! One foot pushes don’t cut it when you need to close.
Two more weeks then a nice break.
Bravo! 👏
There’s a rumour afloat that the Kraken may make Shane Wright available. He was the 4th overall pick in 2022, a R shot centre, 6′ / 192 lbs, with a very low cap hit. Could he be a 3rd line C?
Who knows but PuckIQ has him as decentish against lower comp, but he sucks at face offs
but OP told me faceoffs are not a good thing to bring up when discussing centers.
I said being good at face-offs is not determinative of being able to play the position well.
Sekeres and Price
@sekeresandprice
The Seattle Kraken are dangling Shane Wright and they are looking for a top 6 winger in return. Should the Canucks make a play for the young centre?
It’s on TSN today. More than a rumor
After significant amount of good money spent on trash and a long drive back to Calgary I have determined we should trade Bouchard and Mangiapanne for Elias Petterson (the expensive one)! I’m happy to have Walman (or RH version) play Evan’s minutes
So you’ve decided to make the team so much worse?
Pettersson is very good defensively
The Canucks could play Bouchard at forward.
Mangiapane is improvement by absence.
Surely you’re not serious.
Mangiapane could be moved in many other ways
Elias has an atrocious contract. Even Canucks websites suggest they will have to retain at least 3 million a year for half a decade just to trade him, and that’s for someone willing to take a chance.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/nhl-team-reveals-money-canucks-retain-pettersson-trade-report
At best, he’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who is half the price.
Bouchard’s playoff performances have been akin to that of Paul Coffey.
Paul Coffey or a doubly overpriced RNH? This is a real hard decision….
Ugh.
I can only imagine the frustration of driving there & back, spending muchos dineros on seats, and having to watch that game. (We got lucky, had tickets for the 6-0 win in Vancouver). That would sour my mood & thinking, to be sure!
But Bouchard is magic (with all that comes with it, ie bad spells). He holds some of the keys to Stanley with this team.
And Petterson… a very, very, very expensive reclamation project. Take Mangiapane and retain 80% of Petey’s salary?
Looks like Holloway may be pulling a Frederic and coming back too early – he’s returned to STL for an MRI on his high ankle sprain.
Ugh.
Now that’s a player with an injury history – I still would have invested the 2 million/season as an RFA, but long term contracts would have me worried as a GM
Still thinking about whatever Paul Coffey brought to the coaching staff.
And why exactly there was “conflict”?
I heard he wanted to reduce McD and drai’s minutes. He also wanted to play Howard more in the top 6.
Also he thought nurse should be on the third pair.
He also wanted to change the breakout to be more connected.
Coffey also wanted to try Howard in drai’s pp spot sometimes and wanted to give pp 2 more time.
I also heard he would trade Pickard and try jarvantie or Samanski on the third line.
He even suggested that Nuge should be third line center.
This is really funny!
From the little I read there was a disagreement regarding the utility of keeping Kane, but only saw it mentioned once so could definitely be wrong.
If Bowman was playing Yahtzee he might as well keep his two 6 ‘s and throw the rest back into the dice shaker for the trade deadline. Seems like this every year.
If it’s the same every year, at what point does it become a usage issue, not a personnel issue?
Any beyond the big 4 get no PP time, minimal o-zone starts, and benched if the game is close .
What hope do they possibly have when consistently being miscast in roles.
Hope the Blender is out for practice
No practice – day off.
Wow – Bouchard had a tough game defensively last night (some great stuff on the attack mind you) but this is, in my opinion, harsh and not 100% representative.
I do fault Bouchard on the 1st goal, he slid left to held the strong side 2 on 1 which left the 3rd attacker on his right with a clear lane to the net – The only reason can think of is thought, or their defensive rush structure required, the forward who was right there to take the 3rd forward to the net.
On the “jailbreak”, Bouchard was doing what they pay him to do, join the rush when Connor McDavid has the puck in flight with full control – McDavid with a terrible turnover was the cause of that breakaway.
That was not an impossible pass, not at all. I acknowledge it was not a great pass and I mentioned that last night but it is a pass McDavid can, and generally does, handle and McDavid could have made a safe play and one-time dumped it down low given it was not easy to handle.
The above puts all blame on Bouchard when McDavid was likely even worse than Bouchard last night.
My take on Bouchard was mild. Wait until Godot gets here!
I have a missing persons report drafted for Bouchard already.
“I think Connor McDavid does, too.”
yelling at the bench something like “pass the puck tape to tape boys” would have me tending to agree.
I missed the Pens game. To me it seemed asinine to start Jarry twice in a row with only one day rest in between give his recent injury and Ingram’s recent shutout.
Kinda like press boxing a guy who scored in the previous game?
Plus, it felt like the Pens really had his number – I’m sure they remembered all his tendencies in practice and used those to their advantage on the clear breaks. Jarry does not normally look that poor against shooters one on one, but last night the first two goals felt like guys who knew where to put it on him.
Except, no one was saying this the first time Jarry faced the Pens right after the trade. That may be why he got this game, right or wrong, because he was in the net back in December in Pittsburgh for the win. I would have personally gone Ingram as well, because Jarry is still coming off injury and I think it’s always a bit risky for goalies playing their old teams soon after a trade or signing.
That’s my thinking too. Sure, the story sounds good, Goalie battles former team! But the insider knowledge seems too much of a risk. Focus on winning, not writing a story.
I was surprised and thought that Ingram would get the start but the organization sees Jarry as the 1A and Ingram as the 1B – notwithstanding the fact that I think Ingram can flip that.
In that regard, they are trying to ramp Jarry up as the 1A would get 2/3 or 3/5 or whatever the split might be.
Jarry’s injury should be a non-factor. He got hurt, he took the time to recover and rehab and I presume is 100% from that injury. If not, he shouldn’t be playing.
He’s cleared, he’s played, its presumed he’s 100% – that prior injury should be a non-factor in game starter splits and a not factor when making the decision on Pickard (which has to have been made – lets get on with it).
Count me as one who would have thought Ingram would get the start as well for all the reasons you and others have posted along with the fact that Jarry gave up 4 in the last game vs. Pittsburgh.
It’s been mentioned a few times that the ice has been bad at Roger’s. Does anyone have any real info on this? It’s a new building (that has had a few years to work the kinks out) so why would we not have top quality ice? It’s not like it’s 95% humidity and +30C????
The visiting teams have been loving the ice.
Some teams dont need good ice….in fact, some teams enjoy crappy ice.
To my eye, the Devils were fumbling and stumbling along with the Oilers on Tuesday (though they were not sleepwalking through the first 40).
Someone said something about the league requiring them to open the”curtains” around the lower bowl? Literally zero clue I live in Halifax. But saw that somewhere.
I won’t be surprised when Knoblauch isn’t behind the bench when NHL hockey resumes after the Olympics.
He’s lost the room, McDavid is suffocated with pressure, knows unless he’s magical the rest of the group won’t respond.
If that’s the case, can the coach because he’s turned them all into cheerleaders. That’s their role and it stinks.
Whatever the coaches game plans are, it doesn’t seem to register with anyone anymore.
He should have given bottom 6 more responsibility to start the year. K.K has created a team with 4-5 puck hogs that are tired every 3rd game.
Really good point. When you over-rely on a few guys – who let’s face it are not in their mid 20’s but are anywhere from 29-33, and you play a compressed schedule, it makes it very difficult to put a streak together over a long season.
They’re good enough to pull themelves out of a funk but the regular season is a marathon not a sprint and the coach is treating each game like it’s the 400 relay.
The usage of Howard is baffling. This kid is a fast learner and can score on NHL goaltending yet he is given a more or less checking role. Why are they developing him this way? He should have been on PP1 when Leon was absent. That’s why I loved Sather he always immediately put a newcomer in a position to succeed. Sometimes it worked out other times not so much. Sather never buried talent like they’re doing to Howard at the moment.
Makes you wonder why they even traded for the guy…
Exactly if you’re going to use Howard improperly why make the trade in the first place. Will see how Tampa uses O’Reilly next year. I say he’s on the Tampa club after Christmas and he’ll be there full time 3rd line Centre within 2 years
He could be on the roster after Christmas as a rookie pro and he could be a full time 3C within 2 years of turning pro
Howard’s on the Oilers after Christmas in his rookie pro season (and most of the time prior to Chrsitmas) and he s likely to be a top 6 winger by within 2 years of turning pro.
Its weird that you require Howard to develop and arrive faster than you SOR.
1) What makes you think he is a fast learner. I mean, maybe he is, probably, but do you have any actual information for that statement?
2) Howard has not been in a checking role at all – he’s generally been with Savoie and Roslovic – certainly not a checking line.
3) Savoie has managed 2G/1A in the last two games.
4) I agree about the Leon replacement on the PP.
1) Hobey Baker winner. 2) Immediately shredding the AHL. What more do you need to see before you put him in a position to succeed? The role they’re using Howard in right now would be better served using Clattenburg who would open up space for the two smaller linemates in Savoie-Roslovic. There’s a reason why we are only 6 games over and I believe it’s from overplaying certain players.
I’ve never been against putting him in a position to succeed and have always opined that my preference is for him to be in the top 6 while on the roster and advocated for him to be the Drai replacement on the PP – so ONCE AGAIN, you have a COMPLETE misguided interpretation of what I’ve posted,
My 1st point was asking for why you think he’s a “fast learner” – nothing you responded is relevant to that statement.
Its the breakouts which have me perplexed. I watch other teams use a controlled exit strategy which moves it up the ice efficiently, tape to tape, side to side. Then the Oilers get it, wait behind the net and look for the long break pass into the neutral zone, often as a tip into the other end. For a team that relies on possession, cycling and keep away from the other team, the offensive game does not seem suited to that style.
The coach has lost the room is one of the most over-used statements in hockey.
So, did this occur between Monday and Thursday? I mean, was the room lost when they won 6-0 and 5-0 on the weekend?
Eastern conference teams (the good ones) play playoff hockey all season. They don’t have to flip a switch in April
These issues start at the top. Not being willing to do what it will take to win. Starting with playing sound basic hockey. There are some games where the fancy stuff won’t fly, and you have to take what is there, not force something that so far hasn’t gotten the job done
Statements like this are almost always massively exaggerated and not true.
I mean, was Tampa playing playoff hockey in December when they had both a 4 game losing streak (including being shutout in back to back games) and a 3 game losing streak.
I’m not saying the Oilers are a true contender right now or anything like this but statements like the above are just not true.
It’s an opinion, just like yours is. Mine is based on what I see when watching eastern teams. I think it’s more like what playoff hockey looks like
11 of 15 teams in PTS% currently are from the east. 7 of the top 10 teams in Hits/60 are eastern. 7 out of the bottom 10 teams are western. The Hits/60 to me shows that they try to play a more grinding playoff style than many western teams
I think part of this is that there are more top offensive players in the west, and that informs style. 7 of the top 10 scorers are west forwards. 6 of 10 top offensive D are western
As for the Lightning, lots of injuries and last 10 are hottest in the NHL at 9-0-1
Actually….13-0-1
I’m not arguing that the east isn’t better than the west but your blanket statement re: eastern contending teams is just not factually correct, whether you have the opinion or not.
Your last line essentially proves it. Tampa is rolling, a clear eastern contending team.
In December they lost 7 or 9 including four in a row (shut out back to back) and three in a row.
To say the eastern conference teams “play playoff hockey” all season long is simply not factual – they all have have slumps and I’m sure they game didn’t look great within those slumps.
A team can play playoff hockey and still lose, right?
This belies your lack of knowledge about the TBL season.
They have exactly FOUR players who have played all 48 games this season…
Not only have they had to deal with numerous injuries to key players but their top goal scorer has been out for an extended period and both members of the top D pairing have missed 30 games.
The Athletic published its new Power Rankings today…Tampa is #1.
“Look, we all know who the best team in the league is. It’s still the Avalanche. But it gets a little boring having the same team up top every week, so we decided to switch things up during Injury Week.
It helps that the Lightning are on a torrid 13-0-1 run while the Avalanche have lost six of nine.
The Lightning may still be 11 points back of the Avalanche (!), but it’s fair to wonder if they would be that far away without all the injuries they’ve had to deal with. Every core player has missed some time, and the team’s top pair of Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh has missed over half the season.
Every team’s injury excuse is valid — until you look at what the Lightning have dealt with.”
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6993373/2026/01/23/nhl-power-rankings-lightning/
Remember how much desperation the organization pretended to show when McDavid was waffling about signing? It’s time to start acting like they’re aware the clock is ticking. New Jersey healthy scratched Dougie beacuse their season was unacceptable yet their points % is on par with ours and they didn’t have their best player for a month or two. If the Oilers were in the East they’d be in big trouble. We know the west will even that up so some teams are about to get blazing hot. Stop treating the playoffs like a fait accompli.
Winning is the only thing that will keep McDavid here. Even if Connor pushes against it they need to start making the hard decisions.
You wanna win and keep McDavid or be known as the good guys whose good nature can be taken advantage of. Think players won’t sign? Bullshit. The players that would be upset by this stuff aren’t the killers you need to win with.
I also think you move out Pickard now.
If you can’t trade Mangiapane send him to the minors the guy looks defeated and like he isn’t even trying .
Frederic, not sure about the IR. He played very well for 4-5 games then back to really bad the last 2.
Nurse isn’t going anywhere
Henrique wouldn’t move his clause earlier and not sure he would now. Not sure anyone would want him
Janmark is a very good pk guy but offers nothing on that 4th line IMO. He doesn’t hit much and creates NO offense. If they need some $. He may have to be moved.
Bowman is going to have to get real creative it looks like.
This team is small and light
Small and light can work if it comes with a nasty temperament and full on drive. The problem to me is the team is too nice overall. They need more Jerk/60. Way more. Like the good old days
I like it. It’s pro, not amateur sports. Everyone will be fine at the end of the day
Brutal, but mostly seems right to me. Maybe use a little finesse to achieve the objectives, but I think most of these are moves that need to be made
I agree with all this except why not try Nurse at LW?
Because he has terrible offensive instincts. Watch him when he gets a pass at the blue. He sends soft shots into the goalie, often when there is no screen. He is worse when he gets down low and has to pass. Normally offensive sorties die on his stick, unless the puck carroms around and the forwards can retrieve it.
His strength is board battles, skating the puck and providing an alternate exit player on the weak side.
Highs and Lows.
Ceiling and Floor, as LT states.
Far too many lows vs highs.
This is a frustrating team.
This team is what it is. They might win a first round series but they do not have it this year after 50+ games that’s apparent.
The lessons of the last two years don’t seem to be sinking in.
Soccer is not hockey and Real Madrid is not the Edmonton Oilers. But I suspect coaching principles can probably cross-pollinate across sports.
I believe Knoblauch used the Carlo Ancelotti approach, to excellent effect in 2 consecutive trips to the Cup. Put your star players out there as much as possible, and coach them as little as possible, understanding that star players need freedom and less structure to truly shine.
I am not sure that approach is working for this team any longer, and on days when 97, 29 7 2 are not up for it, it feels like a zero percent chance that the Oilers will win that game.
I don’t know why countless models of forwards on this team continue to fly the zone but it continues to be a problem.
Knoblauch isn’t responsible for roster construction but the bottom 9 forwards, and I’ll include Nuge here, simply aren’t getting it done.
This team has no identity, no energy, no forechecking, no hitting. They are soft.
I do realize the entire team turns it up for the playoffs and they could very easily be an 8th seed and go the Finals. But it sure felt more like a possibility the 2 previous seasons.
I’m not sure there is a better HC out there right now, but I don’t like how the team is coached. Knob doesn’t like hitting for the sake of hitting, Knob wants players to block a lot of shots
There sure have been a lot of guys hurt doing that this season. It’s in nuance. It’s important to reduce shots against, and interfere with them, but if that’s the ask teach them how to do it better and make sure the defensive structure supports it
Playing goalie and getting nailed is dumb. So is screening the goalie and deflecting into your own net. Podz is the only forward I’ve seen do it right. He gets in the lane and up quickly and the shot doesn’t happen a lot of the time, or is too rushed, no block needed
I don’t see (and MacT has said this) that the coaches have found a system that works with this group. Or maybe this core. That’s the main job. You can dream up whatever you want and have your favourite things, but if it doesn’t fit that’s a big fail
Maurice has a bunch of dummies and formerly defense optional forwards so he has a really simple system
Gallant and Nelson come to mind, among the more famous options not currently behind a bench. I’d also consider convincing Adam Oates to join in an associate role.
He would want a change to their attack I’m pretty sure from his comments
For sure. And Oates could hold court with the attention of the players too.
Maybe promote Gator from the Oil Kings to run the defense and teach them how to protect the slot.
If they’re going to have someone who’s mild as the HC they need someone to play bad cop as an assistant/associate. A guy they respect who can hold them to account, and someone like Gator would be well suited to such a role.
I’ve never thought of Gator. Great idea, if he can handle the transition game they want. But definitely someone to consider, they need something different. Maybe he could get Nurse up a level
The Oil Kings seem to be doing well during his tenure, currently 30-9-5 in 44GP, good for a 0.739 pts%.
Can’t claim to know much about their defensive schemes or so on but that’s a strong record and he’s got experience in coaching at the WHL, AHL and NHL (assistant) levels.
I’d love Oates, but I doubt he would come, especially in an associate role. He’s one of the most brilliant hockey men out there, but he’s also headstrong and doesn’t seem to play well with others (not much has changed since his holdouts in St. Louis). From what I’ve heard, he prefers to be a hired one-on-one coach for individual players than a team coach. And good on him for knowing that about himself.
https://www.oatessportsgroup.com/
Yeah, I’m familiar with all that. Still. Dare to dream.
They should hire him as a consultant to fix their ongoing 5v5 scoring issues. This group should be a dominant team in all game states
Nuge, Podkolzin, Roslovic are definitely contributing to team success.
Not enough, to me. Podz has impressed, I agree with that, and injuries are an issue as well.
Very accurate post Mr Rock.
McDavid looks pooped . Period. He actually looked a little pooped last game as well. Is he playing too much ? Hell ya he is. Drai looked like he had missed a few games and had a bit of jet lag. The D was terrible and had a really bad game. Goalie cant let in 6.
Toss it out the window and be better Sat.
This coach needs some help from his GM for sure. The Oilers have too many small and light guys in the lineup. The D needs an actual player to be a beast in front of the net and it would be nice if both Nurse and The Viking played that way as well.
McDavid , at least at the Olympics should not be playing the minutes he is here. Be surprised if he sees any pm minutes , but you never know. But still he is not getting any break in the season this year at all. The way the Oilers are going he is going to be played a ton after the Olympics as the Oilers may be fighting for a playoff spot. Who knows. Let’s hope we see a better rounded lineup for Sat, where they don’t have to go to 6 forwards to catch up.
Bowman needs to get these guys some help up front and in the rear.
Not sure when and how that happens.
I watched the first few minutes, then turned it off. This team isn’t that good, is it coaching? They can’t show up most nights and have more losses than wins. Cap hell with contracts like Nurse and Freddy. Unless they somehow find a goalie who’s top 5 in the league, the Cup window is a faraway dream of what could have been. Defense and winger depth leave a lot to be desired.
I watched the first period then drifted off to watch tennis and bball. It was pretty evident team was really out of sync. Earlier in the season I was excited to think our D core was going to be really solid once Walman returned. That has not happened on a consistent basis. Bouch continues to have too many brain fog defensive lapses. We can all agree on his offensive talents but on nights like last he gives up way more than he creates. Nurses erratic play and poor decision making continues to hurt the team. On many nights Eckholm looks old and slow. Walman still seems to be struggling a bit with his defensive game. The only D that seems to show up most nights is Emberson. After a promising start Stasteny has shown wobble as has Regula. Unless this group finds it’s game we aren’t going far in the playoffs (assuming we make them!) Definitely a shame when you have two of the best forwards in the game….
I watched the first and part of the second. Gave up after goal #4 as you knew they weren’t coming back.
Some of what’s going on is regular season fatigue and a team that thinks it can turn it on/off because it knows the playoffs are what counts (especially vets).
And Drai could not have been sharp after a 9.5 hour flight.
But the coach’s constant line tinkering I think also hurts here because there simply is no chemistry when he’s changing things – forget every game (which he does) but every period. How many times have people far more knowledgeable than me (MacT, Rob Brown) said it’s debiliating, it’s giving guys excuses for their play? It strips away their accountability.
Everyone on the team is culpable. And I know, you have games in a season where you crap the bed, but this team came back to a nice homestand and is frittering a chance to bank points away and that’s concerning. I can live with the Savoie’s, Howard’s, Emberson’s and Stastney’s because they’re getting needed at bats and will be better (or are getting better in front of our eyes). The rest, no so.
I didn’t watch any of it, so I can’t comment.
Things are going to be moving very quickly with the olympic roster freeze and the trade deadline not long after. I’m starting to think Bowman should be sitting out all the madness. I don’t think he has the assets or cap space space to make the magnitude of move that will make this team a serious contender this year. Maybe hold onto the few trade pieces we have until next year. The Bakersfield crew will all likely look better (more valuable) by then, Howard and Savoie won’t be rookies, etc.
I’d rather see them take a more calculated approach to next year’s strategy than just grasping for this year’s because they feel like they need to because the clock is ticking on McDavid’s contract. Mistakes this year could set them back next year too, and I just don’t see this team getting any further than a conference finals appearance as the absolute best best case scenario.
Sounds defeatist, but I think the priority in the next few months should be to get out of the Mangipane contract (difficult) and Frederic contract (almost impossible) without losing too many assets.
I don’t think it’s defeatist to not blow all our assets this year chasing a cup. Just planning to do so next year instead. The roster, as is, should make the playoffs comfortably.
You hear talk of teams playing so hard and improving so much that the GM owes it to the room to make a move and bring in help. I see teams like Buffalo, Detroit, Pittsburgh and maybe the Islanders in that boat. I don’t see Edmonton there right now.
He definitely doesn’t have the cap space.
As mentioned in the thread last night, McDavids anger was not directed at Bouchard or himself. He’s getting frustrated with the ice. Two games in a row he couldn’t handle the puck.
I was at the Devils game. The ice was noticeably terrible, and though the Oilers were sleepwalking through the game until the 3rd, my friend and I were trying to understand how Edmonton in January could have subpar ice.
That could have a lot to do with fatigue as well
Only Pittsburgh played the night before!
Yes, your opinion on this was mentioned last night.
As far as I can tell, as much as it was mentioned, no-one agreed with the opinion that it was the ice.
I don’t believe it was the ice – I don’t know what’s in his head but that seems extremely unlikely to me.
God KT include the whole quote…
“Our puck play has been bad. Really, really bad. Not really connecting on passes, sloppy, bouncing whatever it is and it looks slow and clunky.”
Both teams are skating on the same ice.
it affects some teams more than others
Pink Floyd off the top and a CCR reference to close another mellifluous post. Bravo.
Be nice if these chaps kept an ear out for the starting gun… otherwise one day in April, they won’t even be there… better learn fast, better learn young.