Sometimes you have to give the other man his due. the Vegas Golden Knights played a precise game against Edmonton Oilers last night, delivering exceptional goals that highlighted just how much skill plays in the desert. The home team couldn’t match it, and fell into bad habits (I would like to take the stretch pass and fire it into the sun) It’s a three-way race for the Pacific now, and the Golden Knights looked like the better bet last night. Pleae read this.
The Oilers have some injury worries now, or perhaps it is best to say more injury worries. No Leon, no Zach Hyman? That’s a big part of the roster unable to play. This may not end as hoped.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN APRIL
- At home to: CHI, VEG (Expected 1-0-1) 1-0-1
- On the road to: UTA, SJS, LAK (Expected 2-1-0)
- At home to: COL, VAN (Expected 1-1-0)
- Expected Record: 4-2-1
- Actual Record: 1-1-0
- Season Record: 39-29-9, 87 points in 77 games
The road trip should give us the answer in the Pacific race, and with Hyman’s return uncertain (Oilers estimates about injury timelines are not reliable) it isn’t out of the question for the Oilers to hit a losing streak and fall to third in the division. Basically comes down to what team you’d like to see the Oilers play? Anaheim, Vegas or Utah is an interesting group.
- Jones-Henrique-Lazar 8:18, 5-3 shots, 90X, 2-0 HDSC
- Savoie-McDavid-Roslovic 6:09, 8-3 shots, 1-0 goals, 50X, 3-3 HDSC
- Nuge-McDavid-Savoie 6:33, 3-3 shots, 37X
- Podkolzin-Dickinson-Kapanen 6:09, 2-4 shots, 46X, 0-2 HDSC
I’m liking Adam Henrique’s game of late, and his makeshift line with Max Jones and Curtis Lazar impressed in this one. Now, you’re not going to win a game that sees this unit shine compared to others, but I do believe each man in that group can bring something to this team. The McDavid line with Savoie and Roslovic bruned bright, doubt we see it again. Podkolzin should have been on the McDavid line to my eye, and Nuge isn’t bringing much in the way of offense at five-on-five. He’ll need to turn that around with Draisaitl and Hyman out.
- Nurse-Murphy 15;57, 10-9 shots, 34X, 1-4 HDSC
- Ekholm-Bouchard 14:15, 12-7 shots, 1-0 goals, 61X, 4-3 HDSC
- Walman-Emberson 8:13, 3-5 shots, 0-2 goals, 32X, 0-2 HDSC
- Connor Ingram 28 of 33, .848
I have assumed the reason Coffey is running Nurse-Murphy more than the top pair is nagging injuries, and that’s fair if true. Otherwise, it doesn’t make any sense. The third pair had a tough night. I agree with the pairings and suspect we’ll see proper usage once the playoffs arrive. Still, curious deployment in such a big game. Connor Ingram did not have a fab night, three of the goals were things of beauty.
Edmonton Oilers sign college forward Owen Michaels, more signings appear imminent
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7171725/2026/04/05/edmonton-oilers-owen-michaels-ncaa-signings/
👍
Interesting – For me, those numbers presuppose a middle six role in the AHL and a 4th line role in the NHL if he pops but likely a tweener – have heard other accounts (from those that watch and know way more than me of the same).
I hope I (and they) are wrong but I put Michaels’ a tier below Quinn Hutson and I consider Hutson a tweener.
How dare you besmirch the Pissani-In-Waiting!
or go ahead and besmirch. Don’t recall the actual Fernando getting much love before the cup run.
Besmirching with the hope to eat much crow!
Yeah, I’m a bit surprised that they chose him as their cap-space holder. Big payday for a guy who likely won’t produce enough to be a regular in the NHL. Especially when Hobey Baker finalist TJ Hughes is still available. And when you look at mid-late first rounded Will Horcoff, on the same Michigan squad, Hughes’ offensive numbers were far better in his freshman and sophomore seasons.
I’ll also say that Michaels doesn’t need to produce much to be a very good 4C who leads your PK. Still, get talent above all else. You can always deal it for role players if need be.
I think Hutson will make it as a middle six NHLer though. Last year, he didn’t look out of place in a couple games. This year, he looked like he deserved to be there. More than either Savoie or Howard at the time.
Tonight did Edm Def pairs 11gm check not broken into Qual of comp.
(vary between bottom & top was .350 win%).
2.2 5×5 GA/60
Ekholm/bouchard .55 5×5 GA/gm
Nurse/Murphy .55 5×5 GA/gm
Wallman/Emberson .28 5×5 Ga/gm
Forba 33% chance of winning WC, SC series
allow 0.12 PK & PP gA/gm
Murphy/Nurse .18 PKGA/gm
Ekholm/Bouchard .18 PKGA/60
Near end of season we are at a point we’re “So you are saying their is a chance, is not a Dumb& Dumber moment.”
but a better than 25% probability.
NHL
@NHL
Players with 21- point-per-game seasons: Sidney Crosby.
End of list.
and another coming ………………..
Summarizing!
Lewandowski incurred zero soup as the Blades lost in OT. Game 7 tomorrow in Edmonton.
He did throw a massive open ice hit….
1:55 mark:
https://chl.ca/whl/video/edmonton-oil-kings-at-saskatoon-blades-game-6-2026-whl-playoff-highlights
The Oilers share the NHL’s third best record in the last 10 games.
Bettman point genius – Gary is sleeping well these days with 1/2 the league stuck in parity purgatory
It’s a business first – parity creates more interest in non-traditional markets, which increases revenue and grows the fanbase. I doubt they ever change things.
Yep.
10 teams in the WC are still jockeying for a playoff spot with only 3 atop the Central locked in.
5 EC teams are comfortable with another 6 still scrambling.
We get it. At least, i get it. Still dont have to like it. I find it super lame.
The Oilers have accumulated zero loser points in the last 10 games
My post was simply pointing out that the the Oilers have been one of the best teams in the league point wise in the most recent stretch which doesn’t line up with the doom and gloom due to a loss.
Some of us are perpetually glass-half-full kinda fans 🤷♂️
in engaging in a friendly debate with the folks saying we should fire Knob and hire Cassidy, i came upon Stu’s stats from rhat series. He was a .944 save % against Vegas. .924 against Dallas in 2025.
All after getting pulled because he sucked against LA. Say what you will about the Stu man, he sure could string together some games when he was on. And for only 2.6M.
Hiring Cassidy would be my first choice as well.
No one would be more motivated to beat Vegas. No one would be more knowledgeable about the players on the team; their weaknesses and their strengths.
I know the team *might* beat Vegas under Knoblauch, but I think they’d have a better chance under Cassidy.
If VEG ends up knocking out the Oil it will be a study in contrasts regarding upper management decisions about the coach.
Knoblauch beat Cassidy in 5 games last year though, i dont know why people think he is the saviour
I’d also submit Gerrard Gallant would have an axe to grind in that regard, not to mention Florida *spits.
How’s he making out today after Silvos was in net for a Pens victory yesterday?
Silovs is in net again today and they made an emergency callup a couple hours before the game. Stu took a puck off the curved glass yesterday while sitting on the bench, it caught him close to his left eye, and he was ruled out today.
Florida is experiencing The Revenge of the Geezers this weekend. Malkin and Karlsson yesterday. Crosbly today.
I would not be surprised if we see a Revenge of the Geezers tour this April, May, and June.
I thought he might have been sick a puck near the eye sounds worse.
For those advocating Cassidy, take a deep dive into his dismissal. There weee some real problems between coach and players. Playing Marner at C all year wasn’t a wise choice either.
Nonsense.
Marner was shifted to centre in January because the VGK were short on centres.
Eichel, Karlsson, Howden, and Hertl have all missed time with injury.
And Marner continues to play centre (very successfully) under Torts.
On a recent SDPN podcast, their crew unearthed an podcast interview with George McPhee where he said that Marner at centre was an organizational decision, and not a whim decision. Eichel, Marner, Karlsson at centre still be their plan going forward.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdayYerspZU
37 minutes in.
Skinner was a good fit for this Oilers team, for several reasons:
-one of Oilers winningest goalies ever (WIN%, among fastest to 100 wins), regular season
-one of the winningest goalies in the league, playoffs
-super bounce-back stats
-took losses and goals against and goalie-haters with a shrug and a smile
-took responsibility for his part of the game (even when the team was regularly hanging him out to dry).
I’m following Penguins media, and it’s great to see the fan, pundit, and team appreciation for what he brings to the game.
Looking at how the roster has been handled and the chaotic line blendering, I’m advocating for a coaching change now or at the end of the season.
I know Knoblauch was put in a bad situation to start with Hyman out. With so many new faces, he was asked by management to integrate Howard or Tomasek or Hutson or Savoie or Samanski at different points in the year with only Savoie really carving out a solid role. All throughout the season, the team played as less than the sum of it’s parts and it is reflected by the fact that we only had two winning streaks going over 2 games.
Beyond the lack of chemistry, the on-ice tactics needed a major revamp with the Coffey needing to come in to point out and tweak the outlet strategy that hasn’t worked all year.
Some people might lay this at the feet of goaltending but I think some of the defensive lapses that sewered the confidence of the goalies was a direct result of the addled systems play that the coaches keep preaching. There’s only so much a netminder can do facing multiple odd man rushes when the team in front keeps making turnovers at the blue lines trying to force stretch passes to covered forwards.
I have felt this frustration building and now I have no faith that KK can find the solutions in the 5 remaining games.
A fantastic look at the emerging hockey culture in Germany that includes Dallas Eakins prominently.
https://open.substack.com/pub/azhockeyinsider/p/the-nhl-is-betting-on-germany-the?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Wow. Thanks. Many interesting things here, but this one stood out as something for Canada to pay attention to:
“In terms of future growth, Fowler said Germany has, “the best infrastructure, by far in Europe, from top to bottom, as far as the arenas go,” but the model by which German teams develop younger players may also be an advantage over the more expensive and therefore less inclusive Canadian and American models.”
Sounds like a pretty great gig Hes got over there. Im sure that arena is stocked with veggie and fruit platters too. Good for him, and keep sending us guys!
The Oilers signing of Josh Samanski seemed from a phone call to the org from Eakins providing the intel on the young center – I will not besmirch Eakins in the near term.
nor will I, definitely won’t be making any comments about donuts or the swarm
Last night was frustrating. We looked to be in it after the 1st period and then everything fell apart. It happens though.
In more positive news, Florida ousted 9-4 by pittsburgh was a nice silver lining for the night. May it be the start of an annual tradition for many more years to come!
Florida Panthers players out for the season with injury:
Alexander Barkov
Aaron Ekblad
Sam Reinhart
Brad Marchand
Anton Lundell
Evan Rodrigues
Niko Mikkola
Jonah Gadjovich
Uvis Balinskis
Don’t get too excited.
No age curves to be concerned with, or is that reserved for Oilers players only?
If your asking the question, you already know the answer.
Pretty sure aging curves apply to all teams.
BTW the Oilers have a slightly higher average age than Florida.
Jets are the oldest.
I’m sure the Oilers would look very similar if they were eliminated.
Who would they sit?
Drai
Hyman
Ekholm
Nuge
Walman
Emberson
to start
Now do 3 more to be “very similar”.
Reading is hard.
A three-peat to the final with 2 Cups very little offseason to heal. Once they knew they weren’t making the playoffs they shut players down and know they’ll tank for a top 5 pick. That some smart general managing as Florida will make another 3 or 4 runs before the decade is finished.
Currently picking 7th with a chance to move up.
Yep they’ll all be back, bigger and better. Might even have Proportional Extra Dimensions.
Fibonacci sequence confirmed: each take worse than the last, but somehow predictable.
Words to live by Mr. Moneypuck
Pretty shrewd choice by DeBoer. elite #1G, elite #1D, in place. Decent forwards and prospect pool.
True
Shaeffer may be the d version of Mcdavid. Maybe better than makar (although not better than Bouchard)
He’s such an easy guy to cheer for.
Once he puts some meat on his bones I can foresee the 2nd coming of Denis Potvin. Denis was very underrated a huge reason the Islanders won 4 Cups.
I didn’t look at it that way. Interesting.
Deboer had a loaded SJ, VGS & Dall teams …. Islanders aren’t that, so will be a test.
I do think he is an Elite Coach.
The Islanders have a loaded prospect pool.
Remember that, in addition to Schaefer, they had 2 more 1st round picks last season.
LD Schaefer – 1st overall
RW Victor Eklund – 16th – 6P in 4GP with Bridgeport AHL
LD Kashawn Aitcheson – 17th – 28G 70P Barrie Colts.
LW Cole Eiserman – 20th overall 2024, BU – Just signed and also playing in Bridgeport
Topping the list is C Calum Ritchie who was a first round pick of Colorado traded to the Islanders in the Brock Nelson acquisition. 12G and 28P in 62 games with the Islanders this season.
Scott Wheeler has them ranked 12th in the NHL.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7101461/2026/03/29/new-york-islanders-nhl-prospect-rankings-2026/
De Boer will have a lot to work with in future seasons.
Player A “top lister” NYI
3 years OHL
61GP, 12G, 28P, -13 (-3 team)
FO: 36%, CF: 44.5%, GF: 37.8%, XG: 41.7%, OZ: 60%
Player B “NHL tweener” EDM
3 yeard OHL
1 Year AHL
77GP, 15G, 33P, +4 (+15 team)
FO: 40%, CF: 49.5%, GF: 51.4%, XG: 49.4%, OZ: 59.77
The top lister not suprising is much larger so as is common less size adjustment expectedly in play for cases of when game translates fully in successful versions.
Colorado trades late 1st rounders
You: those picks generally not worth as much…often they don’t avtually pan out as odds crash by that point
Non oiler team gets these draft follows
TOP OF LIST!!!
Life…and first round picks…are like a box of chocolates.
I agree he’s also not that bright throwing his franchise goalie that’s signed forever under the bus. The moment he railed on his netminder he was fired 5 minutes later. All he had to do was say Edmonton played well and capitalized on opportunities blah blah blah and he keeps his job.
Sometimes, and especially when the disappointment is so fresh and funky, it’s easier to blame the goalie.
And made sure to sign in the East to avoid the Oil.
can tbe oilers win 3 out 5 to end the season with 93 points? is 91 points enough? id feel better with a few wins to close out the season
Since the Oilers are all in and don’t care about the future I’m thinking maybe they should have fired Knoblauch and hired Deboer.
I was not optimistic about this season but could have seen them in the west finals. The Knights may have beaten them to the punch and could ride the new coach bounce far, certainly past the Oilers with the refs always in their pocket.
“…don’t care about the future…”
That’s not what I see. I see a GM restocking the farm, for the future. I see a coach managing this year (get to the playoffs, try different looks on lines and pairs, cultivate youth, try a season-long parade of new faces) and building capacity for future playoff runs.
Then you’re not looking. They are clearly going all in and sacrificing the future.
Please explain “sacrificing the future.” Aside from second round picks traded (at best, bets on NHL players 2-5 years into the future), what futures has the organization sacrificed since GM SB was hired?
ps. I’m not trying to be dense. I’m interested in learning from people who are smarter than me, who are seeing things I’m missing.
They traded a first to get Dickinson and off load magpie. Are you even watching? A first last year for Walman?
I am. Maybe not as keenly as you. But here’s what I’m seeing w the examples you’ve given.
Dickinson: Yes, a 2027 first (the “futures”) to offload the Mangiapane contract (Cap recoup of approx $3.5M for “now” and “near future” – until end of 26-27 season). In return, Dickinson (at half salary = $2.125M) for this year (the “now”), plus Dach a 2021 second round pick who may or may not be an NHL or AHL player in the near future (something a 2027 late first round pick may or may not be). Looks to me like a “now” and possibly “near future” play.
Walman: A low first round 2026 pick (“futures”) for a D who has provided “now” (2025 playoffs, and in 2025-26 regular season. Signed for the “near and medium future” (2034?).
I’m not seeing the “selling the future”catastrophe. I’m seeing bets placed on known “now” and “near and medium future” talents, over unknown and undeveloped possible draft talent. At the same, active back-filling of the “near and medium future” talent pool via college and Euro signings.
This looks, to my uneducated eye, like smart asset development and management, especially when the star talent is in the “now” and “near future” window. But I may be way off base. Lmk.
I disagree, all reactionary moves that set them back. Firsts can and should be spent better. Not to mention letting former first round picks go unmatched to offer sheets.
This is a ridiculous conversation.
I don’t think even Oiler management would argue that they have pissed away their youth for years now. They have been obviously all in, damn the future for a while now.
Why is it ridiculous?
Because others don’t agree with your opinion on what the return for a first round pick needs to be.
I was (and am) just fine with the 1st round picks in the Ekholm and Walman deals – you don’t agreement – doesn’t make it ridiculous to discuss.
Some might consider your discussion points around McDavid prior to him signing his extension ridiculous, right?
Also, what’s with all the quotation marks? Are you not making the point? Or are you referring to someone else’s posts that I don’t see?
Quotes can be used for reasons other than actually quoting someone. They can also be used for emphasis, generally to emphasize a specific term. I am sure “the reverand” is not quoting mystery hidden posts.
I’m used to italics for emphasis but my response was snide. I find the constant use of them in his posts annoying at best and patronizing at worst. The original post was a throwaway shot, deserved shot, at the Oiler management for the last few years. Not a lure for discussion from posters who have no intention of looking at things without their oiler coloured glasses.
Damn! You’ve found me out! Quoting from The Mysterious Hidden Books of Managing for Hockey Success in the Age of McJesus…
(Excuse me for being so irreverent.)
Dear Anon, you started the discussion. I *don’t* (that’s for emphasis) think your discussion of “now” and “future” (that’s to identify the time frames o they don’t get lost in the sentences) is ridiculous: whether the successive mgt teams since the coming of McJesus do or don’t care about the future is something fans, and especially fans who want to see long term success, do care about.
Given how much milk has been spilled since the arrival of McD, is there anything this mgt group could do in the “now” (as of today, April 5, 2026) that would demonstrate to you they care about the “future?” Or is too late for anything but pointing fingers and gnashing teeth?
I can read and comprehend English. Thanks
There is nothing they can do, I’ve watched him operate for the last 15 years.
I’m not even against trading picks. Just not for what they buy for them.
They traded two picks this season, one being a 2nd round pick 3 drafts away.
They traded zero prospects this season.
Every gm stocks the cupboards. They are doing it the only way available since they have sacrificed their futures fore 4th liners and depth defensemen.
ROY fired with 4 games remaining ……
…And DeBoer takes o’er.
Well, we missed that opportunity
DeBoer was not coming here. The situation is too dependent on the GM. No draft picks. No prospects…well a lot of maybe prospects. No goaltender. Cap and NMC constrained. Aging team. Top heavy roster.
One cannot coach “naturally”, with so many factors outside of the normal bounds, constraining you.
Wow Roy must of had it out with the higher-ups. Who fires a head coach that’s 11 games over 500 in a playoff spot with a team that’s overachieving up until this 4 game skid. What a cunty way to treat a hall of famer like Roy they should have given him a playoff run. I’ve hated the Islanders going back to 1982. I hope the Islanders don’t make the playoffs and if the do they get bounced in 4-5 games
Lamorello did it twice. And won a Stanley Cup once. The playoffs were slip sliding away for Roy.
With the squad that McLellan has had to work with the last few years in Detroit he’s the one I thought would be shit canned.
It doesn’t make sense to me either. Another case of organizational impatience?
Playoff revenues are a big damn deal to owners.
They don’t have to pay the players.
But Islanders were already headed there… to “more money for owners.”
Ps. But now the owners have to pay for two coaches. The math is beyond me…
Time has been served, bring on the Mammoth.
I’m not so sure. With the way VGK is trending at the moment I’m thinking they may finish first in the Pacific. The Ducks seem to be floundering and the Oilers have some big players resting for the playoffs which isn’t a bad thing at all. My prediction is VGK vs Mammoth & Oilers vs Ducks. Whoever has to play the Avs in the first round is in deep do-do, I’m going with the Sharks.
The Oilers next game is the mammoth I believe.
My mind was way off in the future thinking about first round match ups. Yes the Oilers play the Mammoth. Will you be watching?
Are you not freed from your fast? Maybe they need you back!
The playoffs aren’t a given especially if Hyman and Leon are out for the rest of the season. I knew pounding 30 plus players into the ground would catch up to us. K.K needed to give the bottom 6 an identity and minutes starting from Oct-Nov.
No the playoffs aren’t a given as of yet. I can’t see this Oiler team giving it away even with Draisaitl & Hyman out of the lineup. I remain posittive Edmonton will be a playoff team, you can think whatever you want to think.
The cutline is gonna be +-88. I think they’ll be ok.
If we had Leon-Hyman no sweat. With our squad now we are going to need scoring from unlikely sources. I hope we didn’t shoot our load in that 5 game winning streak.
“We” didnt. Trust us.
A most honorable sacrifice
Maybe you should sit this one out. Just to prove your power. In case we need it for the playoffs.
Dont do this to me 😭
I have to be careful with my tone here as it may come across as negative. For the record I’m quite happy the Oilers grabbed Murphy as this was heading the way of a lost season which cannot happen in a McDavid year, especially one with this easy a path.
Saying all of that as pretext, is there some reason that every analyst and pundit (and most on here) seems to believe that Nurse/Murphy is some game changer?
Isnt this just Nurse/Ceci all over again which was proven beyond any doubt to not be good enough when push comes to shove in the playoffs?
In the last 20 games I’m seeing exactly what I’ve always seen; one spectacular pair and two third pairs that give it all back.
GF%;
I get that they get nasty matchups and zone starts but getting them and handling them are two different things. What are you guys seeing I’m not? What is Coffey seeing? What was your favorite offensive moment for Nurse/Murphy last night?
They have been better recently. Last 7 games they are -1 with around 50% xGF while playing tough minutes.
i agree though this pairing doesn’t make a lot of sense long term without a good puck mover on the pair. I would still like to see Ekholm Murphy and Nurse Bouchard. I don’t think they will ever split up Ekholm and Bouchard though
I look at it like “someone has to do it”
meaning take on the tough zone starts and matchups. I’d be easy if Bouch could play 40 minutes every game.
Walman has been much better and may be able to help more in that area but for me I’d rather sacrifice the nurse pairing leaving the other two for hopefully more positive minutes.
I’m not sure if there’s a better way?
Ps: I tried really hard to remember a good offensive moment from that pairing…. Still trying.
I’m not sure anyone is disagreeing with your general premise, but isn’t the only thing that matters is whether things are better than before the trade? Cause what are the alternatives?
And let’s not forget what forwards they are on the ice with.
Thank you for that catch and let me clarify. This season will be what it will be but if it ends the way I expect it will, this summer they need to fix that second pair once and for all.
Again, I’m not sure many people disagree with your premise that “this summer they need to fix that second pair once and for all.” I will wait for the playoffs to end before overreacting.
That would be my question: How do the 5-man units compare?
Just as we discovered once the goalies were swapped out, it wasn’t a “goalie problem” but a “team playing irresponsibly problem,” maybe the new/old “D-pairings problem” owes much to some (most?) Fs playing with fire?
ps. No obvious gaffes stick out, but when I see McD trying to “do it all, alone” in the O-zone I automatically assume he’s “cheating for offence.”
ps. Leavins posted about Kevin Mcurdy’s new analytics tool, Lineblender. I’m curious if anyone here is finding this useful, esp viz looking at pairings and lines.
https://lineblender.kevinshockeystats.com/?team=EDM
Yes it’s awesome. Way faster and easier to use than NST as you can have a bunch of different combinations up at once instead of having to record/remember and rerun a bunch of them on NST. Like it basically makes every other WOWY tool obsolete IMO
Nurse-Ceci were excellent on the PK during the all time great run it had in the 24 playoffs.
Seems to be a pattern with these few shut downs who do well enough on the cycle and PK, but don’t outscore 5v5. You can still win that way.
I much prefer Murphy to Ceci. Ceci is a bit better with the puck, but isn’t suited to the playoffs
Lowtide summed it up with possibly Ekholm nursing a nagging injury which might be why Nurse & Murphy are seeing more ice time for the time being. This probably isn’t a bad thing because it lets them develop more chemistry together before the playoffs. The way I see it these pairings, one through three, are set in stone. They’re going to give it their best that’s for sure. It’s not solely dependent on the defense coming together, it’s more about the team, as a whole, coming together at the right time working with one another in their quest to win it all. Of course no injuries and good luck are a huge factor as well.
There are a few problems with Nurse-Murphy. First, as mentioned above, they’re playing more than the top pair at five-on-five and this is not optimal.
Second, and in an admittedly small sample, they thrive versus mid and low level oppo, but get plundered versus elites:
v elites (57 mins) 39 pct Fenwick, 0-3 goals
v mids (70 mins) 59 pct Fenwick, 2-2 goals
v softs (61 mins) 53 pct Fenwick, 2-1 goals
via Puck IQ (below)
It also shows they’re just rolling three pairs and that’s kind of silly. You HAVE a tremendous top pair, use them. Line match! Come on!
https://puckiq.com/woodwowy?player=8477498&teammate=8476473&season=20252026&from_date=&to_date=
yikes
Walman kilngberg played the most 5×5 min/game together as a pair in playoffs…i found NHL caliber RHD a strange place to justify shaving depth from.
I also would have blown a hole that included howard as part of assets if john carlson was available.
I agree this has been and and still is biggest achilles heel impacting position.
Like minutes per game…what hurts the most?
He had an NMC and wanted to go to Anaheim, that’s why they got so little for him
The likelihood of him wanting to go to Anaheim if also offered a chance to win here would be very, very small.
I’d bet they (stupidly) didn’t even call.
Unless there is a fact you haven’t shared this is baseless speculation and its just as reasonable, in fact maybe even far more likely, that this US born player that played his entire hockey career and lived his entire life in the US (except one season in London) had zero interest in coming to Canada.
This is not only baseless speculation but also false.
Carlson had a 10 team no trade clause and which teams were on it is completely unknown except to him and the Capitals.
What are you on about?
Read my post again – I never posted that as fact but simply as reasonably likely that the player would have preferred Edmonton over Anaheim.
In a recent interview, he said he was traded during the night.
He did NOT choose Anaheim but was not unhappy with the result.
“John Carlson had gone to bed, but his phone kept buzzing while he tried to sleep Thursday night. Eventually, he figured he’d better look at it.
Awaiting him was a phone message from Washington Capitals general manager Chris Patrick, but among the many others was one from Carlson’s cousin, who was out in the middle of the night plowing snow in Massachusetts.
Even he had heard the news before Carlson that the Capitals had traded the 36-year-old defenseman to the Anaheim Ducks”
https://www.nhl.com/news/john-carlson-has-mixed-emotions-after-trade-to-anaheim-ducks-from-washington-capitals
The Ducks sent a conditional 2026 first round pick to Washington to acquire Carlson.
The Oilers could not match that,
Disappointed to lose to Veg on home ice but huge Thanks to the Red Rebuild in the south for not letting us lose any ground.
Im certain Ana is feeling much worse this morning
the moneypuck kiss of death. 20% accuracy over this 5 game stretch. The only one they got right was the loss to the good guys. Fools.
By my eye Ekholm doesn’t look quite right.
Wins are important but so is going into playoffs as healthy as possible. Giving ekholm a bit of time off if he is actually injured would be wise I think.
Walman has been much much better and looks able to take on more minutes with Bouch. Maybe just as simple as putting stashney with ember for a few games to ek some recovery time.
Agreed. Also need to give Regula some reps before playoffs. And maybe have a look at Carfagna?
They won 5 games in a row (played great in 4 of them) and then lost one against a fairly good team, that was desperate and with a hot goalie. Oh well, I won’t catastrophize it – and wouldn’t even if they weren’t without their 2nd and 3rd forwards.
They were even the better team early but couldn’t cash and then leaked and couldn’t recover.
still in first place a couple of days to recover before a 3 game roadie.
Go Oilers.
Getting behind early really caused them to step away from what had been working in the previous 5 games. Vegas got stronger as the game went on, and its bc the Oilers were less disciplined, imo.
This team has stinkers, even in the playoffs. It’s infuriating, but they also bounce back the next game.
Between Utah, Anaheim and Vegas, I think I’d prefer the first two. Vegas is ridding the coach bump and that won’t last forever, plus they’re filthy. Gudas does scare me too though.
New coach thump….I hear you and could be totally wrong – as bumps are real – but Tortorella wears out his welcome fast. No one likes to be screamed at and humiliated, especially a guy like Marner (but add me to that, as I had my share of those coaches and they just pissed me off after game or two). If this is a bump, it’ll be flat very soon. He’s a bully, and I hate bullies, so my judgment may be clouded
re Torts & Bumps
I read, in several places, after the fire/hire, that Torts’ bumps were not a thing. This may be the first one. (He may have softened and gotten wiser in his elder years?)
Vegas is relatively healthy at this point of the season and now finally trending in the right direction. But how would they look with two of their top players out of the line up?
I would rather play Anaheim. Young fairly inexperienced team. The reality is Edmonton has a lot of experience now, and we hope that makes the difference in a tight series vs a young team.
Vegas with a new coach – would be a stiff challenge.
Utah is interesting. I know they are getting no love, but they have some gunslingers and a balanced lineup.
Yeah Anaheim woukd be best for sure IMO. They are 23rd in the league in 5v5 goal differential. Utah and Vegas are both very good 5v5 teams
LOL VGK might have their hands full with what could be a surprising Mammoth team.
The only thing about Utah that scares me is the likelyhoid of an absolute beyond ridiculous “growing market share” reffing advantage.
Coin flip in between ANH & VGK…buy VGK is weaselier team and whomever they play 1st round even if they beat VGK will be worse for wear by end.
My order of preference:
UTAH
-> PP 22 PK 17 EDM 42.9%
-> highest ref advantage but not greasy really
-> line depth solid but maybe missing game breaking level talent
ANH
-> PP 23rd, 25th EDM 27.3%
->BIG TIME special team advantage
-> surely LAK esque ref advantage (we are leading they get however many ticky tacky advatanges barring obvious infraction against…some garbage makeup calls at end to make game appear even
-> dostal is goalie who most likely could steal games/series maker difference
VGK
-> PP: 7th PK 6th EDM 18.2% success
-> they far and away stand best chance of neutralizing PP advantage wgich given decreased opportunities is big difference from regular season
-> will somehow get away with some clear obvious penalties that mske zero sense how it wasn’t called. Mcdrai’s hands anx wrist will be targetted surely and undercalled
When it was confirmed Hyman was out yesterday, I said oh no
Overall, I sense he is so underestimated
I’m no numbers guy or Oiler historian. And I’ve heard criticism, fair or not, about the player. Clearly he’s not 97 or 29. But his give a shit meter is off the charts. He drags people to the fight. You know the guy, cause we all know one. He sits in places few want to sit. Different players to be sure, but in Oilers lore Smyth and Hemsky met the same bill in my opinion. And when Smyth walked away because Lowe wouldn’t budge, the heart of the Oilers was ripped out. There are many more we can list. The ones who always volunteered to be in the front row of soldiers advancing on an enemy
They lost last night for many reasons. The puke colored jerseys played well. But it didn’t help that Hyman, the soldier, wasn’t on the ice snd it was a huge blow when he went down in the playoffs last year. Here’s hoping he recovers to line up in the front row when the Oilers advance on an opposing team
To my eye he provides a kind of leadership this group needs. On and off the ice. Workmanlike. Intense on ice, relaxed and smiling off. Is he the heart of this club? They sure missed him in the SCF, and in most of Oct-Nov. So I’d say yes.
Hyman also handles ALOT of media responsibility lightening the load for McDavid, Drai, Nurse.
Excellent point OP. That’s a big big deal. He’s so tenacious on the ice, but a smiling and willing communicator off he ice. He’ll be sought after for either coaching or executive positions after his playing days are over. That can wait, as the team needs a healthy Hyman back soon:)
And handles it responsibly. With humour. The guy is gold.
Hit the nail on the head rev. He oozes heart that others can’t ignore, different than 97, 29 and 2. Not better, just different
The team’s forecheck comes and goes with and without Hyman in the lineup. I’m not mad or surprised about last night’s loss. Let Hyman heal up and be 100% for the start of playoffs. A playoff spot is all but secured and I don’t think it matters who we play in the first round … the Oilers with Leon and Hyman in the lineup are built for playoff hockey.
He’s important for sure, a big thing is he stays on mission when the chips are down. The team can be so flighty, they seem to need an on ice example. I think of MacKinnon talking about line consistency and ‘routes’, knowing how a line mate will go after their assignment
When under pressure they lose structure and get disconnected which compounds problems. Then more individual attempts to do something, snowball effect. Connor seemed disconnected from the team. Being able to watch hockey is great, but I find it hard to watch them play so far below their potential
Several players have made comments after Connor’s Cooper praise that were not unclear about that they aren’t completely clear about what they are supposed and he doing. Why? They sure seem to lose the plot under pressure. Look great if the other team doesn’t press that hard, look disorganized when they do
I think, as said, a healthy and engaged 29 and Hyman balance the scales and would even go further and say the Oilers would have won last night had both been healthy and played
Vegas came in and the coach had them ready. They pressed us very hard I. Our own end which caused some turnovers and the little dump pass to the middle was a very ineffective breakout that our coach did not adjust to.
Hart made saves and Ingram didn’t.
The pp is absolutely horrendous. Sure Drai is out , but man you have to get that working. No clue how to and obviously they don’t either.
Just me LT but I didn’t like Henrique’s game last night. ( he was very good the game before) Playing a team like Vegas that is coached to be on you instantly is not a good type of D for him to play against. He is to slow for it. Nuge cannot be on the top line anymore once they are healthy. Not even sure he should be on the #1 pp anymore once healthy.
Hey. They won 5 in a row with solid D and goaltending, hard forechecking and hitting and quick breakouts. Those were all non apparent last night.
McDavid was seriously on fire and trying to do it all on his own in the 3rd it seemed last night. Just wasn’t enough.
We are still in 1st place and I think Anaheim is definitely trending down. They have lost 5 in a row now and in a funk.
Need to come out on fire Tuesday night and smoke the Big Hairy Elephants.
I would luv to see us finish 1st, but for sure 2nd. Whoever Vegas plays in round one will get worked over and it will be a tough greasy series. Hoping it’s Vegas vs Anaheim lol.
I believe they have today off and a full practise tom.
The pp should get the entire practise. Try some new combos please.
Put a big guy in front in Hyman’s spot. Try Freddy, Jones or Pods. It has to get going. If you score on one of the 2 1st pp’s last night it might be a different game. It really is pathetic right now.
I hope everyone has a happy Easter
Happy Easter. Same as it ever was. They lose it under sustained pressure. They try to avoid it, stretch pass and hail Mary plays. Seems to me you have to face it head on. Battle inch for inch, match intensity, and hope the talent gets something out of that
Florida teams have success doing what they do and we saw a similar game last night. Other teams aren’t willing to do the grind and battle. The Canes maybe but don’t have the talent to get through. It’s the coach knowing what to do and the players being willing to play that hard. Anybody can
This is the Oilers Achilles and #1 challenge.
It is. I am disappointed they still haven’t gotten past that, and for me it’s squarely on the coaches. Coaches can lose the team over time, it’s rare that someone stays for years and the level keeps up like Tampa. But even this season there are a lot of of examples of how coaching makes a difference
Some say it’s mostly on the players to execute. Even if that’s true, it means any coach can do the Xs and Os, so the coach doesn’t matter enough to not change them out to get a bump. Lindy Ruff, Bowness etc getting more out of largely the same players
I don’t know if Cassidy is right for the Oilers, but he’ll probably be gone and stuck with Knoblauch again. How they play doesn’t look right to me, not being a systems expert I don’t know the solutions, but I’ve watched enough hockey to know when things are humming and when it’s more lucky than good and repeatable. Having 3 elites hides a lot of sins, like an elite goalie can
Notice they have ( or at least last night) been using the high lob out of the Zone when they panic? Several last night. Better than giving it up in the zone. But Vegas was way faster on the puck last night.
The lob yes is better than D zone time, but if your forwards aren’t puck hounds that win battles it’s straight back in. Seems like they can’t get all the ducks in a row and keep them there
That was probably the Knights best game all season, where as the Oil was leaking.
True, but like how score effects distort the view, you have to factor in that when they are off they make teams look better than they are, and goalies. So often the other team looks like normal their next game, not nearly as good as against the Oilers
It’s ok to give Vegas a false sense of security. They can win against Edmonton when Leon & Zach are out of the line up. Woo-Hoo.
Agreed CB, give me a healthy Hyman and 29, and last night would be a different story. I’m glad they’re healing up, and they better not come back too soon. I wouldn’t say Tortorella was a difference maker, the Oilers were just a bit flat and outplayed. Seems to me LV was a tad more desperate
Prospectoon!
Indeed, David Lewandowski — the lone CHL’er left — and the Blades are on the verge of dethroning the Kings of Oil. Sassytoon leads their series 3-2 with Game 6 in the Gateway to Dundurn.
Lewandowski is simply having a wonderful
Christmastimepostseason, leading the team with six points (2G, 4A).Shall the Blades move on, or will it go to Game 7 on the morrow? The answer shall be known once the puck drops at 2 p.m. St. Isidore time.
Thanks! Lewandowski sure seems like a great pick. He was the only player on their team that was above a point per game this year too. Pretty great for a 6’2 4th round pick.