This is Luna. She was so unimpressed with the second period performance by the Edmonton Oilers last night she left the room. Luna entered the small bathroom off the master bedroom, jumped up on the window sill, and stayed there until the third period began. I think Luna, in her own way, showed exceptional analytical ability. The Oilers won the game, lost a player to injury and endured Luna’s disdain. All that matters is a win. Seriously.
The play of the game started with a Leon Draisaitl burst past two Ducks at the blue line (the word Ducks fails miserably in describing the amount of skill and effort required to break through the wall) and then two passes (Draisaitl to Vasily Podkolzin, Podkolzin to Kasper Kapanen) plus a great shot (Kapanen) for the winner.
The second period was ghastly, like another team was playing in Oilers uniforms. Kris Knoblauch shuffled lines, which is basically busy work but it may help with his anxiety, and the team lost Adam Henrique to a freak injury. The McDavid line couldn’t get untracked, the fourth line did good work, the third line scored (Jason DIckinson scored twice, as did Kapanen) and Connor Ingram played well.
The Ducks are good. Three more like that one and they’ll be pan-seared good.
- Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Kapanen 12:39, 12-4 shots, 2-0 goals, 71 X, 5-0 HDSC
- Savoie-McDavid-Hyman 10:03, 3-2 shots, 61X, 2-1 HDSC
- Nuge-Dickinson-Roslovic 4:40, 1-3 shots, 1-1 goals, 31X, 1-1 HDSC
- Nuge-McDavid-Hyman 3:03, 1-0 shots, 65X
- Dach-Henrique-Frederic 2:42, 2-1 shots, 25X
- Dach-Dickinson-Frederic 2:10, 0-1 shots, 0X
- Nurse-Murphy 17:04, 11-10 shots, 1-1 goals, 49X, 3-2 HDSC
- Ekholm-Bouchard 16:27, 6-4 shots, 48X, 2-2 HDSC
- Walman-Emberson 9:39, 5-4 shots, 1-0 goals, 5-4 HDSC
- Connor Murphy 25 of 28, .893, 3GA versus 3.31 expected
- All numbers via Natural Stat Trick
A lot to unpack here, it was a high event game the Ducks dictated for long stretches. The Draisaitl line was splendid, that’s an incredible set of numbers. Pure dominance. On the other hand, the McDavid line, while delivering a solid effort, was unable to score and didn’t get many shots on goal.
Knoblauch checked down from the unit after a time, one wonders if we’ll see Ryan Nugent-Hopkins back on the No. 1 line for Game 2. Nuge-McDavid-Hyman did get three minutes together, I think DIckinson’s performance is the only thing stopping the coach from trashing the third line. I could see Nuge-McDavid-Hyman and Savoie-Dickinson-Roslovic for Game 2.
The energy line didn’t see much action for a long time in the second, the injury to Henrique and the long change seemed to impact. Need more Dach-Frederic in Game 2.
Nurse-Murphy played the most five-on-five, 3-11 offensive-defensive zone starts and took on the Anaheim feature lines often. The duo does not outlet pass well. but were paired with the Draisiatl line and had success. I don’t know, honestly. I know they should have a puck passer on this pairing, but the results have been quality. I think maybe the Hockey Gods have blessed this pairing.
Ekholm-Bouchard were effective, but not in the way one would like when playing with the McDavid line and against the Tim Washe trio. Need more from the McDavid line and this tandem.
Walman-Emberson played the least and were on the ice for the most HDSC’s, so there you go. Luck be a lady tonight.
Connor Ingram made some outstanding stops in a madcap game with those young Ducks forwards buzzing like a Canada Goose terrorizing a strip mall. I’m liking Ingram. Sign the man.
On the Lowdown today, we’lll have the round table yutes as they once again attempt to end my broadcast career with strange phrases and obscure numbers. I’ll hang in there and old man them for two hours, you need to listen and send help if things get bad. Lots of Oilers talk and some baseball too. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and YouTube.
Too man thinking about the bad 2nd period and skipping the part where the 3rd period happened.
Playoff Leo fresh off an injury bullied 2 Ducks (Carlsson and Lacombe, ask DSF for their measurables) then Podz did a blue collar Edmonton hard work thing and Kappy was Johnny on the spot.
Senneke was -2, Lacombe (26 minutes!) was also in photo for both Kappy goals. They beat some very good hockey players and at times made them look silly (Gudas, Radko).
Ingram made timely saves at key moments. That’s been a rarity around these parts.
How great was Walman last night?!!!
Wow!
A zone exit savant
That rifle to Dickinson was all world. Jaw dropping feed. Earlier gave an aerial pass to Podz for a break.
No wonder the Ducks slew foot(ed?) him. And then he got a penalty. Because Bettman.
Henrique out for G2.
Big chanceski for Samanski.
Hope they give him all the time he needs
Rico ruled out for tomorrow.
I read the 100+ comments but no one pointed out in LT’s post that Connor Murphy saved 25 of 28 shots for a .893 average. That’s pretty good for a guy who doesn’t usually play goalie! Just teasing. Love your work, LT!
I was going to post about it at 731am my time, felt it was rude though lol
Savoie welcome to the playoffs. As OP has said since time immemorial he usually takes a while to adjust to each level.
Playoffs is a brand new level, he’ll find his way, maybe on a different line for a while because 97 can’t be made a non-factor for long.
Damn you Jay Woodcroft and your sassy stances.
I think it is hilarious that we spent years and tens of millions of dollars in free agency trying to find wingers for Drai and have found two perfect ones in Podz, who cost a 4th and KAPANEN who was a waiver claim.
Hats off to Stan and to Knob for embracing it. Kappy in particular to me is absolutely electric in playoffs. Love his celebrations
When McDavid was drafted I thought he’d be able to raise mediocre players up a level. Doesn’t seem to be the case. Good on Drai!
Bowman doesn’t deserve credit. They were basically free players.
Mangiapane was a free player too, but I’m sure that one does count on the Bowman ledger.
There are lots of free players available every year. I’m very critical of bowman for the mang signing.
I’m very impressed with many of his other free targets and give him credit for those.
He’s done a fantastic job acquiring players that can fill a role. With little or no acquisition cost.
I’m glad we won last night. But let’s hear it for less entertainment and more blowouts by the good guys. I way, way prefer that. Easier on the ticker
I just want to thank you LT, for all you do here and for Oiler fans in general. There are all kinds of personalities on this blog and you’ve provided a space for everyone. I hope the team has another long run into June again with the best results this time!
If the team can’t solve the swarm 2, 29, 97 system organically, the 97-29 combo is going to get some time, I think. Can’t flood all three with pressure.
Not an ideal outcome, but it’ll partly be a response to 97 not being the same player without an outlet capable of taking the bodies of him. Gretzky would find the open man but McDavid plays a very different game built on speed and quick movement in the open ice. Part of 29’s value is naturally buying him that open ice.
The pplay with Drai relatively static is a great example of why the sum is greater than the parts.
They seem to have gameplanned specifically for McDavid, not surprisingly. Basically every time he tries to bring the ouck over the blue line there’s 3 guys lined up to shut him down. I don’t know what the answer is, I’m assuming either finding a way to get it to someone else coming through the neutral zone or maybe just dumping amd chasing. Constantly trying to break a 1 on 3 is a losing proposition, even for McDavid. That said, Draisaitl showed that breaking a 1 on 2 isn’t impossible, so maybe McDavid just needs to ask him for some pointers
Chip and charge, indeed. Hyman can get there and cause disruption, with Savoie as F2 and 97 F3 high covering a lot of ice. Better odds of OZ possession than McD going 1 on 3… also less chance of a dangerous counter-attack.
It was 1 game my guy, this team adjusts. KK spot deployed them together but stuck to the spine and was rewarded with a great L2 and L3 when L1 wasn’t jiving.
We’ve been begging for that for exactly 1 forever. It was real and spectacular. We won without 97, that’s gotta be terrifying for the opponent no?
A few notes from last night.
All the Oiler’s learned something about the Ducks, still won the game and will now dominate ALL THREE periods on Wednesday.
The eye test was pretty poor on Nurse for me. Him and Murphy defend well, but I noticed a couple times where Nurse exited the zone with possession, failed to hit his man with a clean pass, retreated with the puck, made a D to D pass to Murphy off the boards behind the net at the first sign of pressure, the forechecker gets to murphy and ties it up, and all of a sudden Anaheim is set up in our zone. There’s got to be a better play than the bounce off the boards, but it still seems to be the go-to reaction for him and it kills possession most of the time.
Not a Nurse hater, he transported the puck very well and had some nice looks on net, I just see his inability to make the first pass or handle the forecheck as glaring weaknesses that other teams will capitalize on.
Exactly what I saw. His poor decisions got the team hemmed in at least twice when a clear should of happened.
The Oilers took a game to reintegrate three guys (Hyman against Van doesn’t really count), Bouch had a rough 7 minutes and they still held the edge in all the metrics that matter.
The Ducks aren’t that good. Like Vancouver two years ago they are popgun on offense so you have to watch your P’s and Q’s, but they easily get hemmed in. They make mistakes, they don’t cover well, they have a hard time maintaining through the neutral zone. Entertaining but not that good.
And they took an absolute beating last night. Troy Terry got crunched at least five times by my count, same to be said for McTavish, Killorn, Carlson, Hines, Mintyukov, Gudas, all got ran and ran and ran.
McDavid will be just peachy next game. Nuge needs to wake up or he’s playing in a new town next fall. Getting tired of him sucking the life out of everyone he plays with the last two months.
I would say that game also reintegrated Ingram into what the playoffs are like. He looked off, and I wonder if it’s because he was nervous about getting his first playoff game win.
Ingram made some clutch saves to preserve the win in the final minutes.
Absolutely. I’m not saying he was bad, just that he was looking like he was overplaying at times as finn_fann pointed out.
I agree with you. Ingram made great saves off the first shot, but it seemed like he was overplaying them. As long as we clean up all the rebounds it’s ok, but hopefully he settles in a bit more
Nuge needs to bury the open net that he missed on. I would like to see more shots from the point take away Dostal eyes.
Anyone wanna take one guess who’s dead last in goals saved above expected?
https://x.com/moneypuckdotcom/status/2046560359293599960?s=46
Ron Tugnut
Darren puppa
Rrrrrred Light Racicot!
Want to hear the flip side of that coin? From Dan Kingerski, a Penguins beat writer and columnist:
And
https://pittsburghhockeynow.com/3-pittsburgh-penguins-thoughts-playoff-effects-on-future-goaltender-decision/
Until the day he faces the Oilers for the final I am going to be happy for whatever success Stew manages to create for himself in Pittsburgh. If only that slouch Crosby would start buckling the twine at the other end and take advantage of the great goaltending he’s playing in front of.
I don’t need a beat writer to give me the eye test.
Suffered through that in Edmonton the last 2.5 years
The Flyers 2nd goal last night was largely due to Pittsburgh doing… whatever this is:
https://www.reddit.com/r/NHLcirclejerk/s/JUkrZmXMWR
McDavid should have a coach in his face with video, showing how the Ducks were sending 3 defenders as soon as he entered the zone, and how badly he handled it.
They are vulnerable because of this – McDavid really only has to beat one man or make a pass to a by-definition open teammate…but he can’t stop up or slow down like he’s used to.
A little alarming that this adjustment wasn’t made by anyone in-game.
I would to see him buttonhook and find Bouchard-EkholmWalman coming in late with a blast with Hyman-Savoie can be a human vacuum.
Good grief.
McDavid knows this and I would think he would be able to adjust without specific video and teaching, no?
He has had all season but seems to try to take them all on by himself most of the time
He also ran away with the Art Ross while apparently being a lesser version of himself.
and ended up with close to 140 points.
So why does he keep doing it then if he knows and is able to adjust?
No, he did the same thing against the Panthers. He has a tendency to try to overdo it in big games. It’s like Hero Ball in the NBA. When it works, you are on Sportscenter. When it doesn’t, you’re completely ineffective.
Curlock predicted the game in his tactical preview. I commented that the Oilers struggle with puck pressure, and haven’t found a way to beat it other than stretch passes. They fall apart and make the other team look like contenders no matter who it is. The Ducks are talented, but they have plenty of wobble in their game
It bugs me that Knoblauch hasn’t found an answer for a team this veteran and skilled to their one achilles heel. Or maybe that he can’t coach them into doing what they need to. When you watch other games, other good teams don’t have as much trouble dealing with high puck pressure or aggressive fore checks. They can break out. The Oilers make things look hard
Who specifically is good at breaking out against a suffocating forecheck?
Literally no team has beaten that the last 2 years so wondering where all these other teams have been hiding.
They dominated the first, got dominated the 2nd, did enough in the 3rd (against an egregious 4 back Anaheim trap, Cali teams man).
“The Oilers make things look hard” That they do, but listen to every Oiler player and coach say yeah, this team is pretty damn good. They were highly complimentary before the series began. I think we should be too, despite the goading of 1 guy.
Many games I watch. A lot goes into whether a team wins or not, so that the panthers won 2 Cups is irrelevant to my point. For example the Hurricanes have been at the mercy of goaltending and a lack of top end finishers for years, team play hasn’t been a big issue
The Ducks have talent. They also aren’t a hard fore checking team, as Curlock pointed out they run a 1-2-2 which is more about clogging the neutral zone. They do pressure the puck carrier and try to outnumber at times. The Oilers struggle with that more than they should as I see it
Your mileage may vary, but to me when you have 3 world class players, one an all time player right now, it’s not the same as a being regular team. You have a massive advantage. Like the 80’s team, who beat some really good teams with good and great players, but not Gretzky and Messier. To me they haven’t been able to capitalize on it as they might
You didn’t answer his question. You talked around it. What does Carolina have to do with anything?
Why when pressed do you never actual respond to what’s being asked?
I’m not trying to antagonize at all but the Panthers had the best forecheck in the league and rode it to 2 cups. How is that not relevant to you saying other teams don’t have trouble dealing with pressure? It is what actual real examples of champions have. Should I have said puck pressure? Split the hairs it’s the same thing just add zones.
If all these teams could easily deal with the cup champion’s high pressure, they would have. Carolina does the same thing to great success. The best teams make you make mistakes. The best way to do that is take away your time. That is the foundation of hockey. Knoblauch can’t think faster for them, I really don’t believe this is on him. If they fail to adjust (they didn’t last game) then blame him all you want.
Did you notice that the Ducks changed things up in the second period.
They adopted a much harder forecheck in the Oilers zone and it worked.
After being outshot 14-4 in the first, they began to send multiple forecheckers into the zone and created numerous turnovers resulting in a total of 17 Oiler giveaways.
The shot clock also turned as the Ducks outshot the Oilers 25-20 in the final 2 periods.
Who won?
He does make a valid point. The ducks got eviscerated sitting back in the first, and then started to be much more active on the forecheck. Even Jack and Louie pointed it out.
That said, I believe a good chunk of it was also score effects and the oilers thenselves getting complacent and sitting back. I would assume they will have a plan for that next game, but it does seem like our D outside of 14, 2 and 96 struggle to get past the forecheck.
He doesn’t make points. That’s the point. There is no truthful intention, it’s what will cause the most negative reaction.
Either have fun with him or ignore him but don’t take it seriously.
I think the Ducks adjusted, that’s about it. They have a good team and a good coach.
It really is the human condition to remember negative more. The third period happened, they broke the 4 man trap then had L2 make another great play to take the win. That was a good playoff game where they got punched back and figured it out.
2/10
Lmao. Reminds me of winning 2015 lottery – DSF says they can’t afford to keep everyone now!!
Come troll after losses you wet napkin. No one cares.
The Ducks were outscored 2-0 in the third period.
Great write-up LT, and really great commentary overall this morning.
What worried me a bit yesterday was how pre-game and period 1, the building and the team were electric. The fans were loud, the team was crashing and banging, it felt like the game could have been a runaway.
That quick goal in the second not only seemed to deflate the team, but the building too. By the time it was 2-2, which is still a tie game, the building came across like a library on TV and the team stopped skating, crashing and banging.
It was like the whole city collectively just puckered up with anxiety and the fans and players were holding their breath thinking “here we go again”. It wasn’t until the third when the team seemed to loosen up a bit again, the fans got back into it, and bang – we walk away with the W.
I am glad the team pulled out the win and reminded themselves (and our fans) that they have historically proven to be a VERY resilient team. They are never out of it.
I noticed this too. Hear me out. Look at it from a fan watching this year’s Oilers. The team hasn’t been consistent this year, except in small doses, leading to doubts about resiliency. Maybe last night’s win, and how they won, will be the start of some confidence in the team’s resiliency….
Oh, I don’t blame the fans one bit. You should have heard me cursing at the TV in the second period… lol.
We need 15 more wins either Ingram or Jarry need to go on a heater. Edmonton is hard on Goalies but it’s not a graveyard. Maybe Ingram will thrive and feed off the crowd. This is a life changing moment he’s in a contract year adding his name on the Cup would look so good on his resume. .
Ingram provided the goaltending last night that the team needs to win the cup.
Duck are going to come out next game and try to run & gun with their youthful exuberance, which was how they found some success in their dominant second period. Oilers know all about that style of play because they’ve been their themselves.
I agree. What i don’t think thoes fans got is the team fuels off them when they aren’t winning. It’s fun to cheer when they’re winning but the home advantage is to cheer when they’re losing. If the fans believe, the players believe. It’s been said countless times.
Monday nights are tough tho.
Well there you go IMO Nurse & Murphy didn’t have a very good game. Nurse seemed to be trying to do too much & Murphy was having trouble with the speed of the Ducks. Walman &
Emberson were great IMO.
With the puck? Not good. Not a good penalty either. The defensive side, with some luck, and it all worked out. I think people aren’t giving these young Anaheim players enough credit.
Yes, both good takes. The young Anaheim players are a handful. Like being in a daycare with 20 toddlers scurrying about. Fast, chaotic and unpredictable. Count me out on that being a penalty that should be called, especially in a playoff game. How many times did the Panthers get away with that, or if you watched the Sens/Canes game last night (an excellent tilt), tons of that going on uncalled. Oh well…..officiating is what it is, accept and move on
With a little puck luck, Sennecke could have scored 2 or 3.
He generated 6 SOG while Carlsson had 10 to go along with 1G 1A.
With alil puck luck McDavid could of had 10 points.
With a little puck luck, Draisaitl could have scored 2. With a little puck luck, Podkolzin could have scored. With a little puck luck, Ingram could have scored.
How are your Dys doing again?
Oilers need to make the Ducks defend. Which they did in the first & second periods.
I meant the 1st & 3rd periods.
Good win, but a few things to fix for Wednesday. Hopefully the coaching staff makes the right adjustments.
I wasn’t able to watch the Flyer game how was Skinner? We all watched Vladar and knew he was solid goalie that just needed an opportunity. I think Bowman was going to pull the trigger in the Summer but with Skinner dropping 15-20 and working on his lateral movement he gave both Skinner-Pickard another shot at the Cup with the Oil.
The Flyers are up 2-0 so I could imagine Skinner isn’t making the tough saves.
Skinner is playing very well. The Pens have wasted a fantastic couple of games from him, he has been their best player.
That’s what I’ve read in the Pittsburg press. They’ve been very appreciative of him all season. Given that so much of the position is a confidence game, I’m curious to see how he responds. Tocchet’s Flyers are on a mission.
I guess it’s how look at it. But the Pens lost the first game 3-2 in what could be called a goalie battle and were shutout in the second game. I’m sure Skinner is playing well, it’s just that Vladar is playing better.
I think Bowman gave the two very well liked team mates the chance to redeem themselves. It would have been a pretty hard move to do anything in the summer after making the finals. They didn’t and he replaced them
No Goalie in the Oilers franchise history was given as much rope as Skinner.
The Oilers had no alternative. Yet Stu, while being paid like a backup…i.e. an extreme value contract, took then to two Cup finals.
Pickard is as equally responsible, the guy that the Oilers would put in when Stu would have mid series liquid farts.
Pairing Stu, a high ceiling/low floor guy with Ingram, a high floor guy woukd have been awesome.
It might have been ok if Skinner was backing up Ingram.
Jake Walman having his best game of the season – what a great arrow. I though Emberson made some subtle and skilled plays with the puck in transition – he’s growing and developing still.
Kudos to the coach for giving McDavid/Drai some shift together in the 3rd period but not going with it full time and keeping the regular lines (with some tweaks) flowing.
I thought Savoie, while being quiet, did have a solid game – he made some subtle plays with the puck to get it to McDavid with speed and extended some plays in the offensive zone. I hope they go back to how they started – Nuge wasn’t good on the 1st or 3rd line and its been a LONG time since he was playing good hockey – a bad arrow.
Drai is magnificent and was able to be part hero while not being near his top level – bad games from McDavid, Bouchard, Nuge, Ekholm and the Oilers still win – that’s a big up arrow.
Yeah that’s almost never happened. Credit to this GM.
With Rico getting injured it took Dach & Freddy out of the game somewhat. If Henrique can’t rezoom, than I expect Samanski to jump into the fold. His youthful exuberance might be the tonic against this energetic Duck quad.
Sam has been playing well. Depth is a great thing after years of not enough
I’m looking forward to it!
If McDavid line is quiet, but Draisaitl line is bludgeoning their opponents, I don’t see a problem with it. That’s the entire point of those guys driving their own separate lines isn’t it? Makes the Ducks adjust to try and shut down Draisaitl more, and then things open up for McDavid line to create carnage. All the while riding the depth of the bottom six to at least keep an even slate. Maybe I’m missing something here, but isn’t this current roster dead center level on the elusive “Balance Photo?” There’s no need to panic just because McDavid’s line had a quiet night, because we all know that dam will break on it’s own eventually and he’ll post the easiest looking 3 point night ever. Mind you, I fell asleep at 1:00am on the east coast, which was prior to the third period puck drop.
A win is a win. 15 to go!
Ducks looked to be trying to play defense in the first with bad results. The second saw them taking it to the Oilers, then in the third they got caught trying to defend their lead but couldn’t. Oiler special teams weren’t too special on the night, otherwise the score might have been slightly more lobsided in Edmonton favor.
Don’t go into prevent defence with the Oilers in the playoffs – just ask the Kings. But I was getting the feeling it was working, until Gudas fell and the Oilers scored…..the Oilers didn’t seem to have the jump until then
First game all year Oilers have won where McDavid doesn’t have a point.
He needs to stop forcing it but IT’S A TRAP, I get it.
Oilers win with 97 & 2 looking bad, now that’s refreshing.
‘Happy learned how to putt. Uh ohhh’
Joel Queeneville along with Woody are swarming Connor-Evan-Leon the boys need the grunts who have open ice to do their thing.
This is why I have been saying for ages that they have to learn how to use that against the other team. If you are double teamed someone is open. Gretzky killed the opp getting the puck to those players. Trying to force impossible plays leads to bad things and takes the line mates out of the game
Nuge does not deserve to get promoted. He has been very poor lately. Hope it’s just an injury and not falling off a cliff
Savoie didn’t get enough done in his first playoff game, coach might want to add a veteran. It sure as hell isn’t Roslovic, and the danger is Knoblauch decides the answer is Leon. Nuge isn’t on a line that plays to his strengths currently, I can see the coach making that move.
Problem is Savoie Dickinson Roslovic is a problem
That looks like a line that would take on a lot of water
I think it’ll be Lazar getting the nod for next game Frederic-Lazar Dach. I’m already sick of Jack-Louie-Hrudey-MacLean-Beiska going in and on like the Ducks 4th line is the 2nd coming of the French Connection
There’s no way theyre dressing Lazar over Samanski with the Patty Dach supremacy.
I don’t like to pick on Nuge but hasn’t it been some time since he’s stirred a drink at 5v5?
26 EVP for the entire season.
Ranked #205 in the league.
Who cares? Its the playoffs.
An 82 game sample size is far more informative.
Nuge -9
Kadri -30
How many games did Nuge play for the hapless Flames?
Kadri played 61 and was -27 in those games.
So he’s been a -3 with the Avalanche which over 82 would be a -15.. sheesh.
Kadri of course being signed and spotted in as the Flames premier player, which he lead to being “hapless”
Paid nearly 2 million more per hapless season.
Lol
So, minus 3 on the best team in the league and not producing at 5 on 5?
Yikes.
“How many games did Nuge play for the hapless Flames?”
What do you mean by hapless Flames? You have been saying they would be challenging the Oilers for a playoff spot for years, even after Tkachuk and Gaudreau bailed. Zayne Parekh was supposed to have a Norris and Calder this year and Dustin Wolf was supposed to be shutting everyone out.
82 game sample size showed the Ducks have an uncanny ability to come back from a 2 goal deficit and win. How did that work out for them last night?
Pretty well actually.
They were down 2-0 but came back to take a 3-2 lead.
Hell, even the Edmonton broadcast crew was gushing about the Ducks ability to never be out of a game.
“They were down 2-0 but came back to take a 3-2 lead.”
Then what happened? And how many times did that happen to them in the 82 regular season sample size?
Only when it suits your narrative
what was John Druce’s EVP in the 1989/90 regular season?
answer: no one cares.
Kadri 29 EVP in 77 games
Nuge 26 EVP in 72 games
How can this be?!
I think they should stick with the same line combos. Afterall they still managed the victory. They just need to clean up the turnovers and get their puck possesion game going for three periods, make them defend. They let the Ducks back in the game last night giving them a sense of belief. Oilers need to take that belief away ASAP.
Its not about “promotion” its about trying to find lines that work.
Did Kap deserve to be promoted to the 2nd line prior to last night. I would say Kap and Nuge were likely the two most disappointing players over the last month.
I go back to Savoie at 1LW tomorrow but “deserve” doesn’t factor in at this point.
That top line of Savoie-McDavid-Hyman works, so does that fourth line of Dach-Samanski-Freddy. The other two lines did all the scoring in game one, so they work.
They have four lines that work. Keep it simple.
Great to get the win. Game was so typical Oilers. Get up early, think it’s going to be easy and everyone wants to score so they get lazy, start cheating.
The play of the entire 1st line was disappointing. Awesome that lines 2 and 3 stepped up.
Can’t wait for Wednesday!
3 Stars Dickerson-Kapanen-Walman honourable mention to Podkolzin as well as Ekholm who had the original tricky shot on the 3-3 goal. Ekholm was also a hero saving a goal on the Granlund shot with 14 seconds remaining.
Nothing for Leon? Jesus, that’s a swing and a miss by the people naming the three stars.
Leon busting through the Ducks D reminded me of Frank-Pete Mahovlich. I also had a flashback of Glenn Anderson when Leon’s arms were flailing. Leon getting 2 points after being out so long was impressive but not surprising. I’m so glad we have Leon for another 7 years and maybe longer. Leon is a lifer he’ll finish his playing career in Edmonton and then he’ll transition into Coach then G.M.
That was my favorite play that whole game. Magnificent.
As I watched it, I thought he was just going to run through whoever was in front of him as he was getting frustrated…. as the Oilers barely had a pulse, or at least it seemed they had been lulled into a trance of sorts by the Ducks prevent D….it was a cool feeling watching it, as I was wondering, who is going to wake them up….well Big Leon did
Ahhh… You had me at Pete. Just got my new good luck charm: Habs #20 jersey, currently being animated by Slafkovsky, but heavily imbued with Little M vibes. Wore it last night.
LFG Oilers!
Go Habs go!
Oh Canada!
They won the game with 97 doing too much (and therefore doing nothing) and Bouch getting pinched a couple times.
Can’t wait to see the adjustments. Depth!
Samanski, knock knock.
What a strange game. Some stunningly good performances and then a bunch that “fail” vs expectations.
I thought all of the wingers were bad-to-awful except Podz and Kap who were beyond good. Hyman stunk. Nuge stunk. Savoie was invisible. Roslovic did nothing. Dach was very quiet. Freddy was louder but loses so many puck battles.
At center, McDavid was ghastly. Leon was excellent. Dickinson, I mean c’mon. I wasn’t expecting two goals this playoffs. Rico hurt.
On defense Bouchard stunk. Walman was other worldly. Nurse was very good but dumb. Murphy got walked but was ok. Ekholm was solid but also got walked a bit. Emberson hardly played IiRC.
So it honestly depends on how you look at it.
Oilers got 4 goals from Dickie and Kapi and barely won vs Oilers got nothing from97/2/93/22/18 and still won.
Dach did have 8 hits in 8 minutes…..
Happy they won but unless DIckinson is our John Druce or Kris Kontos I’m still in the trade was atrocious camp. Same with Wallman and Jarry trades.
This is it though. Last chance before we pay for Bowman’s bad deals in spades. Go Oilers.
you must be right, both Wallman and Dickinson had horrible games last night…
Not saying the did. Just that the assets are badly spent.
how are the assets badly spent if these guys perform well (or extremely well…) in the playoffs ? Isn’t that what’s all about ? Sorry but I am having trouble to understand your logic here (and particularly the word atrocious)
Because there is no long term thinking.
Take a couple firsts and a prospect, trade it for Robert Thomas or someone else who comes available.
Don’t overpay the Fredricks, Rico’s etc and you might not be waiting for Connor to leave right now.
Don’t trade your assets for replacement level or below replacement level players.
How long do banners fly in the rafters
Not sure I’m getting your point but if it’s that I will have to eat crow I will happily do so.
Doesn’t mean I will give Bowman the credit though.
Got it now. Long term thinking…the gist of the post remains the same imo.
all those ships have sailed. upshot is Oil have now reset the foundation more or less, and don’t have to be so desperate with their acquisitions moving forward.
I realize this but unless they win I will die on this hill. I will give credit when it’s due but they could still win and have a bad gm.
Robert Thomas wasn’t traded though. Neither was Binnington. Neither was anyone else worthy of multiple first round picks. Dickinson is definitely above replacement level, particularly due to his specialist toolkit.
The only player even remotely close to your description that was traded this year was Hughes, and even if we had kept every 1st round pick since 2010, we wouldn’t have had the players and resources to trade for him.
Hughes was not staying in Canada anyway, but your point is valid, we did not that assets to land him.
Examples, he may be traded in the summer. Rantanan last deadline. If they hadn’t blown their wad early on Arvidson, Skinner(barf) Henrique etc.
The facts don’t line up with what you are saying
How do? I’m obviously playing revisionist.
I’m saying that we shouldn’t have made a number of these deals when they were made and struck on a bigger fish and now we have wasted assets on plugs or replacement level players like Walman and Dickinson.
Management wasting assets made it impossible to make good moves on bigger fish. Rantanan if you want a different example.
We know what you’re trying to say. There’s no reason to explain yourself.
There is no world where the 31st overall pick traded for Jake Walman signed for under $4MM for another year is a bad trade – no world.
Yes, we know, unless Robert Thomas is coming back (apparently half retained to fit him in), the 24-32 draft pick is off limits, right?
The Oil’s have an awful tendency, and it’s mind blowing they still do this both within a game and or witthin a season (ie mulitiple games..)
play great and structured then get success, then decide oh, it’s going to be easy, let’s skill it up, get some poitns have some fun. That generally means the LONG stretch passes, having too many players above the puck; too many leaving zone. Inevitably this leads to icings or dzone turnovers, and quick strike goals as a result. It’s truly maddening they can’t get this out of their game.
Overall though solid game. It’s clear the Ducks gameplan was to outnumber McDavid everywhere, and it kinda worked. I’m sure 97 will figure it out, but overall, I think the Oil are fortunate for the win. Also need to figure out how to handle Ducks 4th line, which was an issue all night for the Oilers.
The Ducks are a problem already and will be for the next 10 years if they can pay everyone and keep insulating them with some vets.
They will have zero issues paying everyone since their cap situation is extremely tidy.
Granlund has another 2 years left while Kreider and Killorn have one more season.
They will have to make some decisions on D with all of Trouba, Gudas and J. Carlson on expiring deals but the Ducks have an embarrassment of riches in young. almost ready for primetime D prospects.
They just need to add Nurse to settle things on their back end. Shouldn’t cost them more than a top prospect.
I expect all of Carlson, Trouba and perhaps Gudas to return on short term deals.
With LaCombe already locked up at 1LD until 2034, I expect the priority will be to find a long term solution at 1RD.
They have 3 internal candidates along with Trouba and Carlson in the interim.
Pavel Mintyukov is already set at 2LD so Darnell Nurse need not apply.
The Kings also had an embarrassment of riches in young, almost ready for primetime prospects. So did New Jersey (still do), but it’s getting closer to them not realizing all of that potential with a Stanley Cup. It’s not as simple as having the prospects, or even having prospects who become NHL regulars.
Ya, we mentioned that to him yesterday – the list of 8-10 “blue-chip prospects” he listed, not a single one has lived up to his projection, including Quinton Byfield.
He somehow cited Rob Blake being the issue when, in reality, it was him over-rating everything non-Oiler.
Of course, it’s not easy but suggesting they can’t afford to pay them is patent nonsense.
The Ducks have already integrated Jackson LaCombe, Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke, Mason McTavish, Pavel Mintyukov, Tim Washe and Ian Moore from their recent drafts.
Are you of the opinion they don’t know what they’re doing with drafting and developing young players?
As for the Kings…Rob Blake succumbed to ownership pressure and spit the bit with the PLD trade.
“It’s worth noting” that for Mason McTavish, you have been saying for years he was poised to take leaps forward. Yet, he was healthy scratched this season, and producing less this year compared to previous years, despite being on a better Ducks team.
It’s almost as if young talented players aren’t guaranteed to trend upwards each year, which you don’t seem to realize yet.
“Are you of the opinion they don’t know what they’re doing with drafting and developing young players?”
I remember when Ty Smith started playing on the Devils, and you said he was projected to put up 60 points or something over a whole 82 game season while asking “Do you think they are screwing up his development?”
You never learn, do you?
Ducks owned the puck during the second period. Oilers can’t score if they don’t have the puck. Oilers need to own the puck and score. Oilers score two in the first and two in the third, Ducks scored three in the second. Go figure.