Oilers at Flames, G12 2024-25

Alas, the gales of November did not come early. Kris Knoblauch and his coaching staff managed to hoist up the John B’s sail, and to see how the mainsail set. Not the powerful start all hoped for, but close enough to jazz. Question: Was the final game against Nashville high-octane Leon plus adrenalin, or is this a repeatable game?

The Athletic article today is about Matthew Savoie and Roby Jarventie. It is here.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN NOVEMBER

• On the road to: CAL (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• At home to: NJD, VEG (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• On the road to: VAN (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• At home to: NYI, NAS (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• On the road to: TOR, MTL, OTT (Expected 1-2-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• At home to: MIN, NYR (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• On the road to: UTA, COL (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• Overall expected result: 8-5-0, 16 points in 13 games
• November results:
• Oilers in 2024-25: 5-5-1, 11 points in 11 games

The Oilers have a reasonable schedule in November, though much tougher than the October slate. I’ve learned that this team often plays down to competition and leaves points behind early in the season. Once the calendar turns, we’ll see more consistent play.

For now, I do think this Oilers team will deliver a handsome return for November. If I’m correct, Edmonton will end November with a record of 13-10-1, 27 points in 24 games. That projects to 92 points for the year. Need to improve on that in the months to come, but there is still some wobble on the current roster.

Things I’m watching for in November: A more settled second pairing. The coaching staff is running a rotation with Darnell Nurse that includes Troy Stecher, Brett Kulak, Travis Dermott, Ty Emberson, Mattias Ekholm, Evan Bouchard, Chris Hajt and Bob Falkenberg. They need to find a solution and run that one pairing for 20 games. I know there’s going to be a deal at the deadline, but what if that deadline acquisiton gets hurt? Find an actual roster solution. It matters.

I’m also interested in Stuart Skinner’s rounding into form. Skinner has strong supporters and strong non supporters, but the Oilers have to be practical about their young starter. The organization has invested many playoff games in this young player, and he has backstopped the team to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. That experience has value. I’m convinced Skinner is a key and am most interested in what kind of improvement we see in his play over the next 10 starts.

Knoblauch has several new players on the roster, and it’s tough to unlock every player at once. It looks like Viktor Arvidsson is there now, and with that I would like to see Jeff Skinner get a push. Skinner has played well for the Oilers, mostly away from the glimmer twins. Time to get him on a super nova skill line and to get some power-play minutes for this player.

Ty Emberson and Vasily Podkolzin are settling in, I’d like to see them get consistent playing time over the next 30 games. Edmonton may need to make more than one move at the deadline, and recent history tells us the Oilers management group is capable of fading a player (Philip Broberg) while also turning to a player in a last second panic when Plan A (Vincent Desharnais) falters.

The Oilers have a better record now that they did a year ago. It’s reasonable to expect we’ll see more Emberson and less Dermott, and maybe we’ll see some Matthew Savoie and Roby Jarventie too as time goes by.

A calmer entry into November this year is a welcome respite from the chaos and the cold north wind we were feeling last year has given way to more hopeful skies. Oilers fans can hope for a strong November, then a long December with reason to believe on New Year’s Day.