The Edmonton Oilers have a four-point lead with a game in hand versus Vegas Golden Knights, who are the only visible threat to winning the division. Edmonton hasn’t finished atop a division since 1987. I was 25! Please read this.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN NOVEMBER
On the road: NYR, NJD (Expected 1-1-0) 1-0-0
At home to: ANA, VAN, NYR, PHI (Expected 3-1-0)
On the road to: TOR, PHI, FLA, TBAY, CAR, STL (2-3-1)
At home to: VEG, SEA (1-0-1)
On the road to: SEA (1-0-0)
Expected Record: 8-5-2, 18 points in 15 games
Actual Record: 11-2-2, 24 points in 15 games
I assume the Golden Knights will acquire Nikita Kucherov in the coming days, because of course they will. Edmonton is getting healthy, and it’s possible three scoring lines emerge (although a scoring winger probably needs to be added). So far this season, the top nine contributing forwards via five-on-five points-60 are:
- Connor McDavid 4.48
- Leon Draisaitl 3.36
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 2.11
- Jason Dickinson 1.84
- Alex Formenton 1.74
- Mathieu Joseph 1.66
- Vasily Podkolzin 1.6
- Ike Howard 1.2
- Owen Micharls 1.07
How much regression do you see in these numbers? Certainly the top five names won’t end the season with those totals. Fair? On the other hand, Colton Dach (0.86), Kasperi Kapanen (0.6) and Trent Frederic (0.51) should regress in the good way. Add in Zach Hyman and Matt Savoie, and find a way to use Ike Howard with a skill centre, and you are within range of three scoring lines. Next step: three outscoring lines. Here’s what I would eventually like to see (assuming Babcock keeps the Glimmer Twins together);
- Draisaitl-McDavid-Hyman
- Dach-Nuge-Savoie
- Podkolzin-O’Reilly-Joseph
- Frederic-Dickinson-Kapanen/Formenton
Speed, size, skill and two-way acumen included on all lines and enough youth to project some progression year-over-year for names like Dach, Podkolzin and Savoie. Michaels gets some time in Bakersfield, Howard thrives in Nashville.
On the Lowdown today, our feature guest will be Shawn Belle at 1pm. The round table returns, verbally recreating the climactic scene from the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
Nuge 7 games 4 goals 5 assists 9 points. On pace for only 89 points
Might finally break 50!
I know this is a no politics site (but yea!)
It’s like watching the Canucks play the Flames. It would be better if both sides could lose.
Both sides lose…
So who wins bright guy?
The Proletariat
*touches nose*
They need to modify rules on those ot’s
Like reverse 2 line off-side
yes – an ‘over and back’ rule or a shot clock once you enter the offensive zone
Shot clock…. sir, this is a Wendy’s!
We deal with lines in this sport.
Easy, cross the red line, can’t go back.
The WHL is already trialing no-return OT this season.
Five out of 6 points in NY and still have not lost on the road in regulation. You take that every day of the week and move on.
Needs are getting clearer – 2nd pair RHD and 4th line RHC. If Shea and Murphy are the 3rd pair in the playoffs that is excellent. I like the young C but he needs time and plenty of reps in the AHL. Any thoughts on targets?
Agree 100% on the 2RD- been saying that since they signed Kris Russell to that 4 year deal almost a decade ago
I like Emberson and Murphy but it’s not enough
I think they’ll acquire another forward though
Tbh, oilers very lucky to get a point tonight. That is a top 4 team in the eastern conference and fhe oilers sawed them off for 2 periods while getting obliterated in the middle frame. Concerning
The second period has been a problem all year. On the other hand, they are starting the game on time and closing out games as well. Long way to go, but the team looks to be in a better place than they were a year ago.
This team continues to surprise. Underlying numbers still aren’t pretty, but heck, 5 out 6 points in NY needs to be appreciated. Jarry as well, this game would have been 6-3 if he’d had a poor game.
Loved the Nuge contributions on his big night.
Still a minutes distribution problem, still a Walman problem. Tomorrow’s problem.
Home for rest.
Levi outduelling Wallstedt earlier in the season?
Jarry going toe to toe with Helly at the end of the NY road trip?
This is by far my favorite episode of the Twilight Zone.
Crap. I hate shoutouts too. Bit of a let down in the second. If they could have sustained… oh well next time
Jarry gets an extra dessert. Best game as an Oiler?
If not, at least his top two or three.
He certainly has played well. First to admit I thought he was cooked. Happy to be proved wrong!
If the shootout gets to Kapanen, will he break out the Forsberg again?
No. Unless it’s an Anton Forsberg.
Oh I hate shoot outs…..
What a drive by Dach. player.
First Podzkolzin, now Dach. Both burgeoning power forwards. Great adds.
Not sure that playing the puck back to the goalie when the ice is pure scheiße is smart. Both teams have done it so far in OT.
Epic Habs collapse.
They were up against the Jets 4-0 with three minutes left. Lose 5-4 in OT.
Ouch!!!!
Full credit to the Jets, now that’s a great way to break a losing streak!
Well thats a point I didn’t see us getting in the 2 nd!! Might as well get2!!!
You take 5 out of 6 every time on the New York trip…
After that second period getting at least one point out of this game is great, 2 even better.
Its amazing that this team can continue to win games while getting outshot almost every game.
Feels like oil are just hanging on…an awful lot of battles being. Won by NJ.
Hughes reminds me of Phil Housley
What a skater Phil was, smooth. Met him and Theron Fleury once when I was working at a bar in Ottawa called Minglewoods back in the 90s. All I can say to protect the parties was that we ended up on Greber in Gatineau. IYKYK 😏
Long way to go before Mr Housley
Phil Housley and Teemu Selanne were incredible the yearTeemu scored 76. Extremely smooth skater with an outstanding first pass.
What did these guys have at the 2nd break. Great 3rd period.
Looks like some pharmaceutical grade amphetamines, assuming the 80s Oilers Colombian marching powder has gone out of favour
85 has had some tough moments tonight
So has Walman. He looks slow.
Since when is a stick lift slashing?
It’s not, that was a “wtf” call
New Rule: don’t even THINK about checking Jack Hughes
Game on!
too bad they didn’t score 4 seconds earlier. Would have kept the 2nd PP chance going.
The McPoint streak continues!
Drai with a snipe!
Kinda feeling a bit sorry for the Jets, but seeing Colorado getting pummelled not hurting my feeling
After being down 4-0, the Jets scored four goals in the final 2:39 to force OT.
A truly horrid second.
A few posts today about special teams being the difference. Maybe not as foreseen but it holds true.
Super important to get a goal here in first minute. PP has got to get one. Got to find energy. Tank looked really empty. Why does the PK still suck so bad?
Stop taking penalties.
Oilers have a golden opportunity to tie it up in the beginning of the 3rd. Probably won’t get another PP for the rest of the game. Have to make it count.
The dreaded
New York/VegasNew Jersey flu looks like it hit the team in that 2nd period. I think the refs got bored and decided to become the stars of the show in the last 5 minutes.Outshot 16-3 in that period and the Oilers have the momentum heading to the 3rd LoL
Max Jones tripped! Guy is having the game of his life.
This is funny.
Penalties are getting us back in this game.
And the refs have entered the chat
Heroball by Nuge
Brown scores again
Once an Oiler, always an Oiler.
Oilers had nothing going until that PP. maybe it wakes them up?
McDavid still hasn’t gotten a point yet. Gotta keep that point streak going!
About time one of those went our way (penalties and goals)
I’ll take a flukey ah-goal to head into the third down 1 after this abortion of a period
,,,Nuge..!!!!!!!
..game on..!
Nuge gets us back in it!!!!!
Are we allowed to forfeit the rest of the game? Oilers stopped playing after the first. Only fair that Jersey stops playing too.
I take credit for any comeback.
Wheels falling off now…
FFS our PK sucks tonight. Stay out of the GD box.
I’m not a fan of babs pressure/ chase pk
That’s a bad penalty to take when you’re coming off this healthy scratch and then the Devils pouring it on like this. Bad penalty.
Yes back on the bench dumb ass…
oof
..and now another penalty
Well, oilers can’t win them all. But this period has been concerning…
Watching this game live, it’s looked like the oilers started the 2nd period with the mindset of “let’s guarantee ourselves a point and play for OT”
zero offensive pressure, zero forecheck, zero give a shit
For everyone watching this second period with the same concern I have – compare the dump and chase % with the scoring chances/shot% stats.
Live, it looks like the oilers have been playing a 1-3-1/protect a lead shell for the entire period and New Jersey has, to put it bluntly, pushed their crap in.
Yep getting ugly.