This season has a chance to be one for the ages, as memorable as any in team history. This could be Connor McDavid’s Stanley Cup season, and that would be a major story. This could be McDavid’s final season in Edmonton and that too would be a major story. Every great book has a brilliant opening line. Tonight’s game is Chapter One, Page One. Please read this.
PROJECTED LINEUP
- Podkolzin-McDavid-Draisaitl
- Hyman-Nuge-Kapanen
- Formenton-Dach-Joseph
- Howard-Michaels-Frederic
- Ekholm-Bouchard
- Walman-Murphy
- Shea-Mukhamadullin
- Jarry, Levi
I can see a switch during the game to get Draisaitl in the middle at some point. The Vancouver Canucks aren’t a murderer’s row, but the Oilers third and fourth lines have centers with little experience at the NHL level at the position. It just makes sense Babcock will check down if the Dach and Michaels lines are getting caved.
I would like to talk a little about Owen Michaels. We don’t really know about him, but Mike Babcock loves him. His verbal is extremely positive. Now, we haven’t seen Michaels enough to draw conclusions, but it wouldn’t be the first time an Oilers coach took a liking to a player who wasn’t able to deliver in the situations presented. Toby Petersen is a famous example from the past, as is Lennart Petrell.
Michaels at five-on-five during preseason: 46 minutes, 4 shots, 2HDSC, 4 giveaways, 4 blocked shots, 19 wins, 23 losses in the dot. On ice: 47 pct shots, 0-1 goals, 35X goals, 2.88 X-GA 60. I don’t think we should be talking about what Josh Samanski didn’t do, but should be having a chat about why Leon remains on the wing.
Just because an NHL coach makes a decision doesn’t mean it can’t be questioned, and I do think this is kind of an obvious case of being stubborn. Jason Dickinson is out, Nuge is playing on the second line, Colton Dach is on the third line and Michaels is about to see his first NHL shift.
If the Oilers look addled in the first period tonight, Babcock must check down and run the lines in a more suitable fashion. I don’t believe that statement should in any way be controversial.
On the other hand, Michaels is 24 years old and older than Colton Dach and Ike Howard. His time is now, and maybe he can win faceoffs against NHL centers. He did have a good offensive season a couple of years ago, and he doesn’t have to score 15 goals to be effective on the fourth line. His NHL equivalency is 25 points in 84 games.
Stan Bowman knows a lot about this fellow, and that is good (it’s his job to know about good free agents) and possibly bad (Oilers general managers and coaches have been known to play favourites) but overall we’re going to have to wait and see. I think Samanski is a better fit, but Babcock clearly likes Michaels. Dickinson will be back soon.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN OCTOBER
- At home to: Vancouver (Expected 1-0)
- On the road: Vancouver (Expected 1-0)
- At home to: Seattle (Expected 1-0)
- On the road to: Anaheim, San Jose, Los Angeles (1-1-1)
- At home to: Mammoth (1-0)
- On the road to: Mammoth (0-1)
- At home to: Minnesota, Carolina, Toronto, Detroit, Calgary (3-2)
- On the road to: New York Islanders (1-0)
- Expected Record: 9-4-1, 19 points in 14 games
- Actual Record: 0-0-0
I think the Oilers win tonight, my only concerns are Connor Murphy (his wheels won’t turn) and the third and fourth centers. The Glimmer Twins and Evan Bouchard shall overcome. Goalies need to stop all the routine ones and maybe a couple of difficult chances, too.
BAKERSFIELD CONDORS ROSTER
- Goalies: Matt Tomkins, Connor Ungar, Samuel Jonsson, Nathan Day
- Left Defense: Damien Carfagna, Riley Stillman, Tomas Cibulka,
- Right Defense: Josh Brown, Beau Akey, Zach Bookman, Samuel Sjolund
- Center: Josh Samanski, Viljami Marjala, Tucker Robertson, William Nicholl
- Left Wing: Eduards Tralmaks, Connor Clattenburg, Daniel D’Amato, Ethan Keppen, Jack Kopacka
- Right Wing: Quinn Hutson, Seth Griffith, Rhett Pitlick, Aku Raty, James Stefan, Brady Stonehouse, Simon Tassy
Among the names listed here, I think the recalls are obvious and the guys who will get left behind are also clear.
On the Lowdown today (noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube), our feature guest will be Shawn Belle. I’ll ask about his NHL debut (versus Dom Hasek, no less) and about what Owen Michaels might be thinking about today. We also have the round table, the sports show that allows three young hyenas to chase an old zebra for two hours. One can’t look away, but it ruins lunch.
First, let’s take a breath. Game 1. 5 main guys out and one last minute big loss in Nuge who affects all game states. And this game is mostly goaltending. Hard to play a structured low event game in front of THAT! Always playing from behind is hard. And their guy in the pipes made many ten bell saves. Lots to work on but much of it is giving Levi a chance..
Looking at natural stat trick, the expected goals for were about 3-1 us. Seems about right! Again, mostly goaltending.
Messy game. Looked like an X game.
Bouchard had a night
D was pourous
Pods was great ( shooting lots)
Jarry was terrible, not good for his confidence I am thinking , which sucks. Not sure where he goes from this point on.
Team definitely looked faster
Injuries are definitely an issue
Howard needs to be on that top line . Kid needs a passer and the bottom 2 C men are not playmakers. He is wasted on the 3rd or 4th line.
Formington offered nothing on that top line .
Levi up next game and this team needs to tighten up defensively. Besides more speed overall they didn’t look much different from last year.
Formenton set up the Oilers second goal with great board work driving through the hit by Oleksiak and getting the puck on 97s stick.
Edmonton Oilers to Mike Babcock, “We’re not locked in with you. You’re locked in here with us!”
As Gaz so eloquently stated earlier, this was all too familiar.
Counting the second half of last year and how he looked this game, is Evan Bouchard currently the best player in the NHL?
He could win an Art Ross this season.
If McDavid was on, Bouchard probably finishes with at least 8 points tonight. I’m not kidding. He was on another level.
Checked all the usual boxes tonight:
Goaltending a big worry
D with bad reads
Stretch pass!
2 min PP shift with not enough pucks to net
Weak freebies from the globetrotters just over opposition blue
Awful PK
Jailbreak hope plays in OT
Can MB really break these horses? I want to see 2006 Red Wings puck managemnt – I don’t think these horses can or are willing to do it
Mike Babcock around 430am when it dawns on him what he’s up against LoL
The Babcock presser touches on the above script
media member:.. we’ve been watching this type of game for the last number of years….
Babcock interupts the questioning: I haven’t (chuckles)
I’ll try to post a link to the presser when I have some time to dig it up- Babcock was calm but had some unflattering comments
I like that Babs didn’t bother pumping anyone’s tires. The Oilers should crush teams like the Canucks, and his comments in the post game presser reflect how I feel about them losing tonight.
Yes, I only caught snippets on Sportsnet post game – he was somewhat dismissive of the question about Jarry’s “not being at his best tonight” …that was obvious, but I don’t want to get into that now (or something along those line)
The link should be up shortly, I’ll post it when it’s available
https://www.nhl.com/oilers/video/post-raw-mike-babcock-09-29-26-6405943144112
Babcock post game
Tonight was an indication we have serious work to do
Starting McDavid and Drai together in OT might not be such a good idea with Nuge and Dickinson out of the lineup.
Probably could have gone Podz and Drai then McD and Kappy?
Exactly what I was thinking.
And what was he doing with that threesome on the ice for the game winning goal? Good grief.
Podz and Bouch played great and we can thank them for stealing that point. Enough has been & will be said about Jarry, I was hopeful when he made a couple clutch saves in the 3rd and in OT. Good on him for dealing with the media right after the game, but I look forward to watching Levi Thursday night.
Lost in all this is Kevin Lankinen had a hell of a game, even with being tagged with 5 GA. This should have been at least an 8-3 win for the Oil, but it wasn’t. Lots to work on. It’s good to have a reality check right off the start I guess.
Sure there were positives, but there were serious concerns about systems, flawed veterans and flawed players.
Yes, they outplayed the Canucks for 90% of the game, but it was the Canucks and they still lost. The patience required to play through the early goalie frustration was not there, as usual, leading to an outmatched opponent being opportunistic and capitalizing on every chance, and playing from a hole throughout. This is a game that the Canes don’t lose, because they push through while maintaining structure, the structure Babs was supposed to enforce. Emberson should be ready for use immediately when D are soft on assignments. Forwards are also waiting in the wings.
Jarry was actually at his best in OT. Gord knows I gave him a lot of rope and defended his prior record a lot last season, but he can’t play like this again. As per usual, he didn’t get a lot of help, but the 3-2 goal is saved by an NHL goalie of average skill, it opened the flood gates, and there weren’t enough saves on the good chances to compensate for it. Such is the life of an NHL goalie. If it’s between the ears he is going to be in the AHL asap after Freddy returns. But Levi should start and let’s pray he gets off to a better start
Goals saved above expected = Negative 3.51
I’d put Jarry on waivers as soon as Frederik Andersen joins the game day roster. We all know a 3 man rotation won’t last an 84 game schedule so why wait?
Babs will give him a few more games for sure. He played very well in games, but that said this might throw his confidence right off a cliff
I do appreciate that TO’s loss takes precedent with the broadcast
The good news is there is only one reason they lost tonight. Sure, sloppy play and all, but no team can win with this goaltending.
I was hoping to give Jarry a chance. Much like Campbell three years ago, he burned his bridge in Game 1.
Devon Denim!
That being said, the lineup and play tonight was terrible. I feel bad for Jarry
As I felt bad for Campbell. But an NHL goaltender makes a difficult save sometimes. Jarry made none.
Their guy made loads. Lankinen is, at best, NHL average. That’s all the Oilers need.
My feelings exactly.
Reminded me of Khabibulin Opening Night Game.
Gagner fought Conroy that night. https://youtu.be/lkzftt95pOI?si=8cogZBh7po-dQj8Z
I think we’ve seen enough to know that this is the same team, regardless of new coach or modest personnel changes. 6 goals on 23 shots against ain’t gonna get it done.
Team looked faster
The Oilers allowed more goals tonight than they did all preseason.
McDavid did not have a good game. It was like he had a bad luck charm taped to his back and didn’t get any bounces. Will be interesting to see if he can shake it off and get in a better head space for next game.
He went 3-1 goals at 5 on 5 with two assists.
Because he didn’t rescue the team he didn’t have a good game?
Didn’t LT show their line was 8-1 shots and 2-0 goals after 2?
He didn’t go supernova but his line won without Savoie and he is on pace for 168 pt season.
He was on the ice with the best player on the ice for most of his shifts
Tbh, after the way the game was going, have to be happy with the OT point.
Jarry…woof…
He was looking so good in preseason, but it was too good to be true I guess.
Hopefully Levi doesn’t see how Jarry performed and gets the yips himself.
This has always been Jarry’s MO. He can’t handle the big pressure moments. Glad we got this out of the way quickly, so Babs can lean on Levi hard until Andersen is back. Jarry can then be banished to the pressbox.
They did not play well at all. Jarry not great, but turnovers led to all the Canucks chances.
To be fair I watched some of the other games tonight and it was mostly awful hockey. Oh well, excited to see Levi play a few in a row!
Why do I have to take blood pressure pills again?
This team.
Don’t ever change boys.
If Babs is serious about treating Drai like a man he’ll bench him. No accountability on defence. 97 doing too much, defence a mess.
We are so back! Bouch you are the only one who can go home happy.
Jars should have played his last game as an Oiler. No point in waiting 20 games for that.
Drai was like 85% expected goals at 5 on 5 plus he set up the tying goal.
McDavid was turning pucks over trying to create with no space of numbers.
Re: McD, 100%… be tries to do too much, it’s real and spectacular when it works but everyone has figured out that swarming him is playing the odds in their favor. He needs to defer more, especially on zone entries to keep the other team at least a little bit honest.
I didn’t say he played bad. He was MIA the few times he had to mark a man. Watch in OT as he fails to mark anyone and Jarry of all people bails him out. It was hardly all his fault but he talked the big talk. Thats going right on my video tomorrow morning saying what absolutely cannot happen from our leaders in the big moments.
And yet you pull the Taylor Hall defence on 97? For shame.
Drai’s line out shot the Canucks 15-3 with Drai on the ice.
You’re right. He rarely has to check a man but when he does he doesn’t.
Drai is my favorite current Oiler, and top 5 all time, my number one quibble I have with his game is kinda two things that tend to go hand in hand, his penchant for taking too long of shifts and when he does go off it is often far too nonchalant and lackadaisiical, it drives me nuts.
Apparently Babcock has identified this and hopefully holds him accountable enough that he stops.
On the 5 on 5 goal against that Drai was on the ice for, I see him checking a man.
He got from up the ice back in the play to pickup his man.
Jarry gets beat clean 5-hole on a shot from the half wall, with three Canucks against three Oilers.
Jarry is cooked, should of been Ekholm out there over 6.
Well that’s too bad. But they earned that point. Looked like it was all over there for a couple of minutes
Awful OT puck management and defending.
He had some flashes but Did not like 97s puck management at all tonight
Also – McDavid was not good. Especially in the big moments.
I’m glad they didn’t win, it should never have been in question
Jarry sucks. I never want to see him in net again.
Well if are taking bets on who Babcock is going to scapegoat Jarry has the clubhouse lead.
It’s well deserved. The Oilers outplayed the Canucks and deserved a better fate. But Jarry was the second best goalie.
It isn’t scapegoating when it is true.
It’s been true for the last four years.
We’re only now allowed to talk about it.
Babs skipped 3 on 3 day
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.
For those not knowing Rush (or French):
The more that things change, the more they stay the same.
Hell of a play by Cotter.
He was as much on the line as possible without taking the penalty that he arguably deserved
Good lord does Jarry suck…holy crap.
And why Shea as the second defenceman?
Ryan Shea just got schooled
No support. Hyman was a liability that entire shift
Kapanen was…..something on that shift as well.
He had a clear lane to chip it out.
Pressure yes but he could have chipped that out.
Couldn’t tell by the camera angle but I’m pretty sure the forwards went full jailbreak and Shea had no outlet as he was getting cut off… great play by Cotter recognzing and taking full advantage.
The usual all or nothing from the forwards – selfish plays
Gross ending to a
greatfrustrating but fun game to watch.Blinks twice
Well well well.
This is the most prepared the Oilers have ever been!
Love seeing Shakir talking with Podz.
Efffff yeah! Way to go Cardiac Kids!
Draisaitl is impossible. And my goodness what a release by Podz.
And despite 95 points last season Bouchard wasn’t even a Norris finalist.
Bouchard is gonna make damn sure he’s not left off the ballot this season lol
lol.
Weird game. It’s had its downs and ups. If Podkhozin scores in overtime that would be a hat trick for him and Bouchard?
Not gonna lie, didn’t see a 3-goal comeback to tie it up with 11min in the 3rd on my bingo card.
Now do they complete the comeback in OT?
If it gets past Leon and Connor and Evan – you need to play Kapanen.
What a ridiculous hockey game. Maybe we DO need a longer preseason.
hahaha. what in the heck
Sweet mercy of all that is good
This team really is a roller coaster.
Unnecessary.
Goalie-sabotage tonight.
Ok, I’m fine with Podz as the Nuge PP replacement tonight…
Great high shot – have to get it up!
Gotta commend Bouchard for having the belief in a 500pt season.
Nuge dreams of one-tenth of that.
They said it couldn’t be done..!!
Podz is going to have a huge season this year.
This team is supposed to be different? It’s the same picture meme