Today’s cover photo is 2017 verbal from me that appeared on this blog. Jordan Eberle would get traded in the summer, so my spidey senses were tingling for a reason. I was wrong about the search for McDavid’s Kurri, though. The Oilers found him early and Leon Draisaitl remains the best possible linemate for the captain. I call them the Glimmer Twins, we argue constantly about splitting them up (because splitting them up is the best idea) but when they play together at five-on-five or on the power play it’s instant chem.
The Oilers are on a nice run now, with the defense and goaltending part of the solution. Just because we don’t talk about Calvin Pickard doesn’t mean his value should be diminished. Pickard has turned the goaltending in Edmonton into a non-issue. When was the last time that happened?
The defense had some early chaos, predictable in a game with Mark Stone. He can turn a hockey game inside out all by his lonesome. However, the defense made quality plays defensively, and the outlet passing (often from John Klingberg, who is making Stan Bowman look sharp) was a key for Edmonton in last night’s game.
The Glimmer Twins were fire, and Corey Perry is finding a way to make that line better with his experience and brilliance around the net. Zach Hyman’s goal was a great shot from range, fantastic moment for Oilers fans.
I want to mention Connor Brown, who is emerging as a must-sign for the summer. My goodness he’s making himself useful in multiple ways, and reminding us that overreacting to short-term is not a winning formula.
I also want to take a moment to marvel at the passing of these Oilers. Not just the defense, but the entire roster has enough skill to send silky passes on the fly and hit tape. Music!
Last night, for me, was a classic game and is a hopeful sign for this team. This team is on a roll. How high can they fly? Can they reach the sky?
Lowdown at noon will cover the Oilers-Knights game and look at the entire NHL playoff situation. Our feature guest is Kevin McCurdy, who offers great insight into the Oilers games with an analytics view. We’ll talk about the passing, and Pickard’s impact on the team. Declan Krueger will be talking NBA playoffs, wild times for the Pacers and the Knicks. I’m at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section here and on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly. We can be heard at sports1440.ca; iHeartRadio, Radioplayer Canada, it’s available post-show on apple and spotify, and we tweet it out on X.
I know you got to be good to be lucky and vice versa, but hopefully that horseshoe falls out of Rantanen’s butt before round 3
Good grief…Rantanen with 3 tonight…and counting.
Now up to 8 goals in the playoffs.
Rantanen feels that he has something prove it seems! Best he vents his frustrations on WPG.
If he keeps it up you could almost mention him in the same breath as the likes of Connor, Leon, Bouch, and Zach
Panthers best before date expired.
Play like this in last years final Oilers have 6 cups.
Well, they kind of did for three out of the seven games.
Two surprises for me in these playoffs have been Colorado and Florida being not quite as ready as I expected. Florida tonight, losing to Toronto was a real surprise to me. They looked out of sync, not making many passes.
Marchand looked terrible if Toronto makes it out of the east I’m blaming that transaction for rupturing the important balance of hate.
Vegas strikes me as a talented mature team that delivers a repeatable game.
This is valuable and the way you put up steady numbers and gain first place in the division. They play slow but generally mistake free and they capitalize. They represent a narrow bandwidth of highs and lows.
As mentioned here many times, The Oilers are a different type of team with a very broad bandwidth. High highs, low lows. Thanks to LT
At times they display sporadic play, multiple mistakes, and questionable defensive coverage.
Despite saying all this, it looks to me that when the Oilers are playing at their best, they are way more than Vegas can handle. If feels like they picked a nice time of the year to start peaking.
I hope Vegas repeats their game from last night!
So I thought it was politics and religion that we are not allowed to discuss.
I note the posts on mammoths and dire wolves has been deleted.
May I ask why this censorship on a topic no one was upset about?
I have no idea, but cloning is still contentious to some people! That said, if I could get a clone, I think I would pass. I don’t think I could live with myself…😜
It was deleted because the thread on cloning was started by HH. I believe that any post that gets to 11 dislikes gets automatically deleted by the system regardless of topic along with any replies to that post (ie the whole thread under that post). HH’s reputation of many deliberately inflammatory posts gets a lot of his posts deleted regardless of the tone of the specific post in question.
That’s a shame. He does bring some interesting things around on occasion.
Yeah weird. I just came back to check if anyone had looked at the colorado mammoths jerseys from.NLL.
What a great turnaround by this team over the last 6 games. I have to say, I was far from confident when the playoffs began, and especially after the first couple of games vs LA. Now they look like a completely different team out there. The additions of Klingberg, Kane, Frederic have been outstanding. Pretty much all the forwards that I was frustrated with for most of the year have flipped the switch. Hyman, RNH, Brown, Henrique, Janmark. Even Arvidsson has carved out a real role on that fourth line with Podz. The energy they have brought the last few games has been a real difference maker out there.
I have watched this team since the year they were swept by the Islanders in the final, so have seen all the ups and downs of the franchise. This iteration is just different. You can never count them out of a game, series, or season. LT has talked about the huge variance between ceiling and floor for this team, and he nails it with that observation imo. The team can and was playing bad enough to make almost any fan give up on them. Then, just when they are surely left for dead, they rise from the ashes and look absolutely unbeatable.
It’s been a crazy ride so far and now my mind believes they do have 11 more wins in them this spring. LFGoil!!
I was at game 1 Smith won them the series that game. Billy put on a clinic like I haven’t seen since he not only shut them out but he got into everyone’s heads including the players, coaches and spectators. We were the superior team but Islanders had the veterans that knew how to win.
We haven’t won three Cups (these days, who has?), but I’m starting to think we’re developing that kind of veteran team that can bring the playoff intangibles.
It’s surprising how everyone is getting more relaxed with a steady eddy goaltender. We have the type of team that we don’t need the goaltender to win it for us just need goaltending not to lose it for us.
That’s awesome you were at that game. I hated the Islanders but had to respect them. The likes of any Nystrom, Goring, Gillies, Potvin was a major pain in the ass to play against. Trottier was no picnic either and you mentioned Billy Smith. Then they had maybe the best goal scorer ever sniping at will.
Tonelli was also one hell of a pain. Mike Bossy didn’t play the 1st game that game broke everyone’s heart. 98% of patrons leaving the arena left seething with hatred for the Islanders but mainly for the villain Billy Smith.
Great post – you sum up how I’m feeling too. I’m not counting my Cups before they’re minted, but I do think we have a real shot.
On the eve of the playoffs, most observers put us in the third tier of playoff teams. I now think we’re in the top tier (with probably Dallas and Florida). This team has a high ceiling.
And a low floor. Not a team for the faint of heart!
I don’t think we’ve seen peak Oilers yet I think Pickard keeps improving on his game situation saves. Frederic-Henrique-Brown Kane -Nuge-Hyman which line is going to be the hero’s Thursday?
Only saw the highlights but (I) I do not agree that Drai’s goal was lucky – banking a falling puck on the volley off the back of the goalie was fantastic, and (ii) not one comment in the thread on the PK – this is our Achilles heel. I still wonder where we might be if Byfield had not cleared the puck with seconds left of game 4.Small margins!
Burnaby PoHo said he didn’t want to pay Rantanen because having 3 highly paid guys and not having a surrounding cast wasn’t gonna get it done.
Doesn’t he know the cap is skyrocketing?
Guess the choice is, would you rather have 1 Rantanen at 12 million or 2 unproven middle six forwards making 6.5 million each?
I mean, he’ll probably get Necas, whose numbers this year were comparable to Rantanen’s, for $3M less. And I’m sure he was worried about being able to re-sign Makar.
And how much was Rantanen being zoomed by MacKinnon?
Dallas could also offer Rantanen a tax-free income.
Rantanen had driven a VERY hard bargain the previous time around. When he started with a high offer this time, I think Macfarland said that he wasn’t going to put up with it a second time. (It also sends a healthy negotiating message to the rest of the team, which helps to keep salaries down.)
After Rantanen’s 11 points in Games 5/6/7, culminating in one of hockey’s greatest FU’s in the third period of Game 7, it’s easy to say COL made a bad move. But at the time, I could understand the decision, and it still might hold up in the long run.
Elliotte Friedman speculating on how Colorado might spend its $8.7 million in cap space.
MacKinnon and Crosby will be spending time together at the World Championships and Friedman suggests Nate could take the opportunity to work on Sid to join him in Colorado.
Crosby’s cap hit is, coincidentally, $8.7 million.
Wouldn’t that be something.
Crosby will immediately be management for the team he’s been so loyal to his whole career no way he’s not retiring a Penquin.
Never say never…it has happened before…Ray Bourque comes to mind.
Thing that might affect things is Mike Sullivan leaving and the Penguins being so old…13 players in their 30s next season.
While I agree it’s unlikely, the fact that Sid is playing at the Worlds indicates he still has a competitive streak that will never be satisfied in Pittsburgh.
Congrats to Mcdavid for entering the top 50 all time playoff points club
Only Gretz has reached 90 assists faster.
Maxim Shabanov is an undersized 24 year old winger currently leading Traktor to the KHL finals against Berezkin’s Lokomotiv. He has 9 goals, 18 points and +16 in 16 playoff games, after posting 65, 23-44-67 +17 in the regular season (3rd in the league). His contract is up on the 31st… it will be interesting to see if he signs with an NHL team this summer.
Sounds like a replacement for the third round pick we sent to Calgary.
Completely in favor of adding skill from over the pond. We need more youth.
After so much time spent plowing ahead with Traktor, do you think he’d just bail?
I think that would depend on a host of factors including wealth, politics and the hockey dream he has.
I would gladly take the McDavid-Leon line breaking even with Eichel-Stone. Batman and Robin do not need to be the star attraction every game. Bowman has built a 4 line club that has D-Men that can transport the puck quickly just like the Blackhawks heyday.
I agree with the saw off, but make no mistake they’re the star attraction every game.
Bruce I know your tuning in. Who was the last Oiler Goalie to win 5 games in a row?
I believe it would be Dwayne Roloson between game 3 of rd 2 (San Jose) and game 3 of the conference final (Anaheim) in 2006.
A seven game playoff win streak.
I though they said Grant Fuhr was the only other goaltender to win five in a row during the playoffs.
Fuhr was the last to start 5-0, Roli was last to win 5 in a row.
Plenty of folks are predicting Vegas will turn up their play next game and somehow play a better game. Turn up what though? They handily won the Pacific, just won their 1st round series, have home ice advantage in this round… you’d think they were pretty pumped and prepared to take on the 3rd place Oilers, truly motivated to win big. They played their game yesterday, in their style, with their fans loud and proud.
Then our Oilers came to town, showed up and shut them down… the team, the fans, the game. VGK have nothing else to give, short of a shut-out from Hill. Our Oilers have continued to get healthier and continued to improve their on-ice play. It turns out, these play-off Oilers are a very difficult team to play against.
The first game is usually a feeling out process. Vegas will make adjustments, so too might Edmonton although they may just want to replicate the same game. VGK will respond, it will be a chess match.
I’m not sure I can fully agree.
How many times have we thought our Oilers would bring their best for what we considered an important or special game and, well, they didn’t?
Some times teams struggle and don’t play nearly as well as they can, as individuals or as a group.
We’ve seen teams get dominated in one playoff game and then dominate two nights later – countless time.
I’m shocked at the floor the Knights showed and I don’t think their top game can match the Oilers top game but I fully expect them to be able to play better.
Agreed. Vegas will be desperate to avoid a sweep in their barn. It n owuld leave them having to win 4 games, at least 2 games in our barn…
Well I saw them (VGK) playing with all the game they could muster. They are old and slow, soon to be vanquished. As long as Picks can maintain this current level of puck stopping (and he appears to even be improving each game, with confidence growing) we will be moving on to round 3. I have faith that our coaches, Connor, and Leon will keep our guys motivated, and playing top level 2-way hockey, no slouches, no passengers.
I have little doubt the Oilers can win the series, and likely will – I just don’t agree that Vegas can’t, or won’t, play better.
If I was in our locker room speaking to our team, I would definitely be taking your guarded position. I’m just sitting on my couch prognosticating.
4-1 5v5 goals EDM
1-0 PP goals VGK
3-2 PP opportunities VGK
Imagine if the Oilers had buried Connor Brown in the minors after 9 games last year in order to save his bonus payment (and cap overage for this season)?
Works out to $5M over two years, correct?
I don’t know if that’s a value contract per se, but he’s exactly the kind of veteran bottom-six winger you want right now.
Janmark got 3X$1.45. Brown would be a little higher than that, I think.
Klingberg had some moments in the first period and his footspeed/change of direction without the puck isn’t ideal, but what a player. Coming back from the injury/surgery he had, and looking as bad as he did in Toronto.
Arguably was the Oilers 2nd best (if not best) defender last night. Walman is a good partner for him as well, hats off to the coaching staff for finding a way to maximize their respective skillsets.
I hope Ekholm can come back in the 3rd or 4th rounds of the playoffs. But when that happens, I still wouldn’t break up Walman and Klingberg. If that means Ekholm on 3rd pairing while he gets up to speed, and then swapping him with Nurse when Ekholm *is* up to speed, fine.
Ek Bouch
Kling Wal
Doc Stetch
No way I put Stetcher in over Kulak!
Kulak is a beast in the playoffs he definitely turns up the intensity.
ha sorry of course kulak my brain agreed so much I thought I’d already added him
Ekholm/Bouchard
Nurse/Kulak
Walman/Klingberg
That would an ELITE d-group if Klingberg holds current level of play and Ek is healthy.
agreed
I believe that this team can outscore their mistakes. So thought I would look into that and see if there is some validity to that statement.
GF Oilers 2025 Playoffs
4+: 5 / 1 loss
3-: 2
GF Oilers 2024 Playoffs
4+: 11 / 2 losses
3-: 14
GF Oilers 2023 Playoffs
4+: 7 / 1 loss
3-: 5
GF Oilers 2022 Playoffs
4+: 11 / 4 losses
3-: 5
The ‘win-rate’ for the last 4 years is better than 76% when the Oilers score 4+. Looking at the last 3-years, the ‘win-rate’ jumps to over 82%.
The data suggests that this Oilers team will win at least 3/4 of the games in which it scores 4+ goals.
Goal differential be dammed (sp to pass AI bot)! Score at least 4 every game boys and bring home the SC.
They brought it up during the intermission the puck handling of Pickard they showed like 10 instances of Pickard making the life of his D-Men and Forwards easier. This is huge as Vegas will have to change it up as the dump in is not working at all. It’s obvious the Oil players love this and have full confidence in Pickards passing abilities. Even Mcdavid waved off a short safe pass with Pickard then going longer to Leon and then a short pass to McDavid springboarding him at warped speed.
I hadn’t considered this but Skinner gave up a couple last playoffs because he doesn’t have great puck skills
This is huge in my opinion as Vegas dumped it in more last night than the entire L.A series. Jake Allen must of brought the importance of this to the viewer as Hrudey would never say anything positive unless he’s forced to. Why is Hrudey there he looks sick he’s always grouchy when the Oilers win. What happened to the woman on the panel I value their opinion more than Hrudey bias hatred for the Oil.
The sportsnet intermission is unwatchable, absolute disservice to the sport.
completely agree….old tired blood. McLean, Hrudy have to go….the woman you mention is so good she now does ESPN and Amazon colour.
Kevin and Elliott are worth enduring the others, imo. Also, the woman’s name is Jennifer Botterill and she is pretty great!
One thing I noted on yesterday’s post was that LV actually was outscored at 5v5 in the first round (11-13 I believe). They’re now 12-17 (I think). If the Oilers can stay out of the box and force Vegas to score its goals at 5v5, it’s looking like they could have the edge in the series.
It’s the complete opposite of the 5v5 story during the regular season, when the Oilers were 18th in 5v5 goal differential (-3) and LV was 6th (+29)
Some interesting things happening in 5v5 so far. Of the top 7 teams in GF% at 5v5, 4 are out of the playoffs (From 1-7, STL-TML-MIN-WSH-EDM-COL-NJD) but the bottom two are still in (16-WPG & 15-VGK). However, the Shot Attempt Percentage tells a different story. While of the top 8 teams in SAT% 4 are out, which teams is quite interesting (From 1-8, CAR-COL-EDM-MON-VGK-OTT-WPG-TBL) and again the bottom two teams are still in but two completely different teams (16-WSH & 15-DAL).
I’d say Vegas got “goalied” by MIN in the first round at EV with Filip Gustavsson’s .932 vs Adin Hill’s .875. Pickard’s .905 is middle of the pack and close to his .910 regular season number (Skinner was .903). Adin Hill had a .913 in the regular season though so hopefully he continues to play poorly.
The regular season VGK vs EDM numbers are interesting too. VGK had a 54.3% GF% but a 51.5% SAT% with a Shooting% of 9.0 and Save% of 91.3% while EDM had a 49.6% GF% but a 53.9% SAT% with a Shooting% of 8.0 and Save% of 90.3%.
The stats look fairly even but if you think EDM played below it’s level or in bad luck (and understanding that Kane, Frederic, Klingberg and Walman played a combined 27 games in the regular season) that would line up well against VGK who seem to have played a bit above their level or in a bit of luck and only added Brandon Saad and Reilly Smith.
Very impressive game from the Oilers Defence.
Probably Nurse’s best game of the Playoffs so far.
Bouchard was once again excellent, and that pairing was humming. As I recall G6 against the Kings was also a strong game for the duo?
The initial results of the Bouch-Nurse pairing had me very concerned.
Incredibly welcome to see the two succeed together. Hopefully they’ve worked out the kinks and it can continue.
And how about John Klingberg? As Hyman said “his hips are moving”!
He and Walman have been fantastic additions.
I think it was Game 5 where that pair had a strong game. Game 5 LA was a similar performance to Game 1 Vegas.
Game 6 they got lit up for two early goals against and didn’t play much together after.
I think.
I want to mention Pods. I know he didn’t get a lot of minutes but it seemed to me he was very noticeable on the forecheck when he was out there. Just wouldn’t give the Knights much space. Hope he scores one (or two!!) to reward his efforts
5 hits for the young guy in about 8 minutes of action.
For me, he’s close to the ideal bottom 6 winger.
If Jesse Puljuarvi wants to make it as an NHL player, Podkolzin should be his north star. Similar players with similar strengths/weaknesses.
Podkolzin has his flaws but his speed, physicality, play without the puck, and 200 foot game are a welcome addition
Podkolzin is low maintenance former high pick that does what’s ask of him and is rewarded by being a everyday player. There’s no drama with Podkolzin I believe Jesse agent derailed Jesse’s career filled his head with nonsense and now his window is almost permanently shut.
Sorry I don’t see the similarities.
price is right.
In the second he hammered a VGK d man (didn’t catch who, maybe McNabb?) against the boards on a dump-in forecheck. The exact type of hit that makes a strong forecheck miserable to play against as a D. LOVE that kind of play from Podz. I also again want to mention that four assists in seven games is pretty solid for a bottom six guy. Hoping he can cash a big one at the right moment.
I doubt they change anything for game two. But they could put Brown & Frederic with McDavid and Podkolzin & Arvidsson back with Leon, keep Kane & Hyman with Nuge and play Henrique with Janmark & Perry, just to mess with their heads.
There were a lot of questions about the Oilers getting past the vaunted Vegas defence. I’m trying not to get too far ahead after 1 game, but I can’t help seeing Connor Brown absolutely turnstile Shea Theodore for the dagger as symbolic.
Let us pray
Vegas will turn it up for game 2. Oil just need to play that style of game, quick outs leading to offensive strikes. Keep steady and Vegas will get super frustrated. Having the depth playing very well and scoring allows 97, 29 and Perry to minimize/outscore hopefully the power/heart of the vegas forward group.
I will fully confess to over reacting after game 2, but not with Brown, moreso Henrique, Arvidsson, Frederic, and J Skinner.
I still will suggest that even with Skinner almost certainly gone, they can’t keep all of the remaining names on this list this summer and stay under the cap. Savoie and maybe Philp need to earn spots without too many roadblocks, as well as some of the new recruits
Well Henrique and Arvidsson are signed for another year with NMCs so they’re probably not going anywhere
I think they could bring back both Frederic and Brown but the smart move is probably to pick one and use that cap $ to extend Bouchard and McDavid.
The only UFAs in the current forward lineup are Brown, Frederic, and Perry, and I think they need to open up a spot for Savoie, he has nothing to prove at the AHL level and they can’t keep blocking him. If Perry retires after this year (hopefully as a cup winner) that makes the decision easy, but realistically I think only 1 of those 3 is back next year.
Savoie is likely a lock and Berezkin hopefully available on an ELC.
I’m not convinced but the likes of Stauff have Tamasek as all but a lock.
The young troops are arriving for the slog of 82 games.
By eye, Oil hitting a lot more in the playoffs v. regular season. As games move into third period and as series move deeper, this wears down opponents F and D. Opp Fs then have a harder time forechecking Oil D, which gives the excellent passers (2 36 96) more time and space to make to Oil F who come back for outlet pass. And since opp D are also worn down from all the hitting, they have a harder time retrieving pucks, getting pucks out, and shutting Oil attacking Fs.
I wonder how much of this was by design from SB and KK.
Winning even strength and hoping refs will put away their whistles is a new one for us.
Also new: not separating McDavid and Draisaitl because they don’t want to break up the second, McDrai-less line!
Kind of feels like we are in bizarro world right now.
Of course I’m oversimplifying, the top line was key to the success, but all they needed to do was to saw off against Eichel/Stone, which they did.
Echo LT’s sentiments on Pickard.
Is it hoping they put them away or resignation + recognition that the Oilers can play well enough to win convincingly even when handcuffed in the name of (manufactured) parity/drama?
7 games in and not once have they had more PPOs than the opponent and not once have they had >3 PPOs. This is in addition to an already skewed call:miss ratio and situational thresholding that continues to be far apart. ‘Missed calls both ways’ is a nonsense/simplistic take and just a false narrative.
7 straight games. Probably another playoff record.
Imagine if the handcuffs came off.
For the first time, I’m actually starting to feel confident about this team. It really is looking like they saved themselves for the playoffs. Perhaps they’ve finally reached the stage of experience and maturity where they’ve learned how to play for the playoffs, not the regular season.
I thought a renewed LA squad would give us a tough time this year. Yet we polished them off with four straight wins. Now we put together an impressively complete G1 win on the road – when does that ever happen? Especially against a Knights team that knows how to win in the playoffs?
Maybe, just maybe, this team is starting to look as good in real life as it does on paper. And all along, I’ve said that on paper, this year’s team looks very good.
We can definitely say that several forwards have upped their intensity and production these last 7 games. 2023-24 was a long season for many of them. Maybe management, trainers, and players deserve some credit for that?
Roll lines and forecheck, this team is cooking.
Kane has turned Hyman into a demon.
Connor Brown is a psychopath.
The 4th line is looking like anything but a 4th line.
Pickard earned that victory with his 3rd period pk work after not seeing the puck for half the game.
Knoblauch has this team playing it’s best hockey in the 3rd period, they’re simply dominate.
I mentioned this late last night about forwards, and others have opined the same about the D. In past week Oilers have picked up 2 top six forwards in Kane and Brown, and a R-shot puck moving D man in Klinger. Unbelievable!
Also looks like Frederic is becoming more healthy and comfortable with every shift. Henrique is dishing out 4 hit per game playing his best hockey of the season.
I thought Klingberg was cooked, instead he’s the chef!
Forgot about him! Good third line player now, who knows, by SCF he may also be top six.
Making some Lefse last night!
Excellent pass from Kane to Hyman to set up the winner!
Brownie’s face after that end to end? Stone cold. I’m here for it.
LT, I want them mythical Balance photo please. lol. I feel like this incarnation may be the most balanced we have seen since the dynasty days. Photo!!
Well, there’s still the goaltending.
But at F and D, I agree. When Jeff Skinner is your 13F and Troy Stecher is your 8D, that should be Cup-worthy depth.
The Oilers were getting goalied, until they weren’t, right.
The Drai goal was lucky (somewhat, he meant to do that) but Hill played that terribly.
The winning goal was a terrible goal at a bad time – that can’t happen, right.
Didn’t make the big save on the Brown goal when they needed it to keep them in it.
On the other side, Pickard was far from busy but big save on a net front play when it was tied at 2.
Oilers had better goaltending.
We did get lucky on the Leon goal it was the break we needed as it was frustrating watching us hit the post twice on beauty shots by Frederic and Henrique and not get rewarded. I myself thought Frederic-Henrique-Brown were on fire last night.
Hill was reaching behind the net twice for pucks that were going over his head. It struck me as odd the first time, and it cost him big time the second time on the Leon goal. Maybe he’s trying to prevent plays from behind the net? I wonder if that will be a thing we see more of.
For what it’s worth, I don’t put the winning goal on Hill. Hyman waited for the perfect moment when he had a decent screen and made a perfect shot. You probably want him to stop the Brown breakaway.
Hyman’s goal and Stone’s 2nd goal from very similar spots. Like a save at both ends but good/smart shots from both players.
Similar spots, but Hyman waits for the fly-by from Hanifin and uses the screen. Hill definitely picks that up late. Pickard had a clean look at Stone’s shot and got beat.
I just took a look on the goal visualizer and this is not accurate – Hyman’s shot was from the top of circles whereas Stone’s was from the hashmarks – almost twice as close to the net.
Skinner was be eviscerated if he had let in the Hyman shot.
Skinner would have been eviscerated if he would have let the draisaitl goal in as well.
we would have heard “NHL goalies do not let those in”
They were indeed both bad goals on the goalie.
There was luck (and talent) involved in the Drai goal but Hill played that terribly to put himself in that position.
You probably want goalies to stop any breakaway. Doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. That was as high danger a chance as they come
Why the Oilers won: I muted the TV during the 2nd intermission as I was busy doing other things. As the 3rd period started, I was just about to turn on the volume but then Draisaitl scored. My Spidey sense told me to leave the sound off for the rest of the game. I turned the sound back on with 5 seconds left as I felt that the hockey gods would be ok with it by then.
So the Oilers ended up winning and I didn’t have to listen to Jack & Louie.
You’re welcome. 😀
I’ll take Jack & Louie over the ESPN2 commentators any day.
The only thing they could talk about is who scored.
They regurgitated it time and time again.
And Connor McDavid vs Jack Eichel
Terrible broadcasting
Looking forward to Ferraro’s unbiased brilliance in the final.
I was working in the garage with the game on the workbench computer. Listening to 880 when not watching is a good compromise.
Went inside to watch on the big screen just as Downtown Connor Brown wrapped it up.
Agreed. Synched up the TV to 880 Ched and enjoyed the call from Cam Moon and Stauffer’s comments. Very happy to not have to listen to Jack Michael’s this round.
Re-listened to the ESPN2 crew, pretty meh. TNT does much better (and their studio show is outstanding – “Shaq Hyman” made a reappearance last round and it’s been glory ever since.
To Louie’s credit he did accurately state that the phantom goalie interference call on Brown after Drai’s tying goal was bogus.
Very strange timing on that penalty call.
Normally I can’t stand listening to Jack but I thought he was much better in round 1. He seems to have toned it down for the national audience and isn’t talking about random movies and wrestling as much or fawning over Louie. That being said, I much prefer Moon and Stauffer.
I have an honest question: what other things were you busy doing?
I presume this is child responsibilities?
Even last night everytime they brought up Pickard name it’s followed by Skinner will be replacing him at sometime. This really must fuel him even in the post game questions at the podium they talk down to him like he almost doesn’t deserve the moment because he’s just a 33 drifter passing through town.
Did you know he played in Austria and is now in the playoffs. Someone should ask him how that makes him feel.
Is Downtown Connor Brown LT’s mythical Playoff Pisani?
The double minor was weird – no call on the ice, play continued and was only stopped when Hertl stayed down the the refs thought it was a more serious injury. It wasn’t, the ‘play’ was reviewed and the double minor assessed. The wording from the ref was “the call on the ice stands, 4 minutes double minor”. But there was no call on the ice… Oh, and Hurtin’ Hertl was back in under two minutes.
Vegas were backing off us and allowing virtually uncontested ozone entries. Their fore check is fast, but with our fast passes out, this is the way. One thing I noticed was that the Knights had very active sticks in passing lanes. We need to tighten up and maybe fake the pass a little more to keep them honest.
This call was fishy as the Refs had to say there was a orginal call. Was Hertl bleeding apparently he took a deflected puck to the face in warm up was that the cut we seen on his face when the camera showed his mug on the bench. RNH stick looked like it got him higher up by the forehead and not the cheek where we seen a cut. Also not 1 word said about the Hyman high stick that he took I think with around 8 minutes remaining.
The officiating continues to be an embarrassment. There def was no original call. It is actually comical.
I have always liked Hertl as a player. However, that was pure European football antics – which I am guessing he learned in his youth. Also, I could not find a replay that showed a ref with his arm in the air. I call bulls**t on the statement ‘the call on the ice stands’.
When it comes to replays for a missed high stick I thought the rule was it’s either a major call or it’s no penalty. This is why they backpedaled with the on ice call stands. If the Oilers benefited in this manner the whole intermission would be calling this out that Vegas got jobbed.
Good call on the “very active sticks.” It was a strong motif w the Vegans all night. I don’t remember it costing the Oilers a goal defensively, but it consistently cost them offensive opportunities. Impressive.
Linesmen can call high sticking penalties but don’t blow the play dead like referees. All four officials huddled and, presumably, one of the linesman advised he saw the high stick and that was the call on the ice.
As OP said the linesman can make the call but can’t call the play dead. As for the review. The rules are for a double minor it can be reviewed to see if it was friendly fire or not.
DOUBLE MINOR FOR HIGH-STICKING: Referees will have the ability to conduct an on-ice video review to confirm (or not) their original call on the ice, and, in particular, whether the stick causing the apparent injury was actually the stick of the Player being penalized. The Referee’s review of all High-Sticking/Double-Minor Penalties will be discretionary and not mandatory and will be conducted without consultation with the NHL Situation Room.
How can the Mammoth put out a logo in 2025 that doesn’t demonstrate any advancement graphically in any way from the Nashville Predators in 1998?
Also, please: stop using shading to attempt to represent depth in sports logos. Its a lazy shortcut attempt to communicate graphical density but it cheapens in the overall effect because its is not a landscape watercolour or an oil painting. You are not working with enough visual information for depth to enter into your communication hierarchy.
Look at much more successful figurative logos like the Penguins. Complete flatness, but way more information is communicated because it understands itself as a 2D representation and understands how visual information should be composed. It cares for its lines, everything is intentional. And as such it is a dense image that tells a story and still operates to create a strong identity.
The Mammoth logo takes a generic beast-head à la the Wild or Preds, adds some shading, and calls it a day.
Anyway visual culture reflects the state of our society and I won’t go any further or it will become a political post!
The Dead Elephants. The Prowlin’ Pachyderms. The Mighty Mastodons. 🦣🦣🦣
Just speaking as someone with many underemployed designer friends whose talent, creativity, and historical knowledge is constantly undermined.
I am embarassed to say that it took me wayyyy too long to realize the Wild logo was also a bear head. For that I appreciate their logo design more.
The mammoth logo though more obviously looks like a mammoth head, but then it has some mountains on it.
It looks like a generic logo that they made for NHL games to choose from when you want to make your own team.
I feel like the Wild logo is only ever really appreciated for all the easter eggs.
But does it do its job well? In that sense I don’t think so.
I will take the Northstars Jersey 10 times out of 10 over the Wild’s jersey. And that jersey is very simple.
Very well put. My 2 is ‘boring and predictable’
Nice post – I actually would like to hear more.
I agree that the logo harkens back to the 1990s, especially the Predators. (I actually do like the Wild logo.) This one feels like a junior logo, except without the ridiculous cartoony elements.
Other than the nod to the mountains on the top left, it’s awfully blasé.
I thought I would like Utah’s colours too. But they have not grown on me at all. Seattle’s colours are similar and yet somehow 100X better.
The name “Mammoth” is pretty weak, too. Yeti would have been better, and they should have paid the cost to make it happen.
But I maintain that the one and only correct moniker for Utah was the Utah Phoenix. Rising from the ashes of Bettman’s disaster and heading up (in fact, straight up on the map).
In my desire for utter hockey conquest, I hope the Oilers rag doll the
MammariesMammoth in perpetuity for their boring name and logoI have a background in design but honestly if I share more of my opinion I will have to get political. But I would recommend:
John Berger, Ways of Seeing
Ed Tufte, The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
William Bunge, The Nuclear War Atlas
If they don’t skate onto the ice each game to Fleetwood Mac’s “Tusk”, they are beyond foolish.
https://youtu.be/ATMR5ettHz8?si=SRI6ksimlrISHUjr
Wooly Bully
Southbound Pachyderm
Elephant – Tame Impala
Cage the Elephant
Wolfgang Van Halen
LT’s all-time favourite.
https://x.com/Lowetide/status/1871967500503802003
The Mammoth eye is barely recognizable as an eye. Contrast that with the Kraken, where the eye really makes the entire logo.
IMO, the Kraken logo and colours are a masterpiece. It manages to convey 1920s “S” class (a nod to the Seattle Millionaires) while also looking incredibly menacing without even having to try hard (like a WHL/OHL logo does, and usually fails.)
I’m disturb they’re not the Mammoths, so the ECHL logo doesn’t surprise me.
Boys on What Chaos! doing a good job surrounding this lame and bland branding.
The new Utah logo does give some very “create-a-team-in-EA-Sports-NHL25” vibes. And Lewis Grant’s comment about the eye is on point, too – that little pop of red in the Kraken logo is sooooo striking.
“Mammoth”, singular? Do all the players merge together to form one mammoth like Voltron?
It symbolizes “one team, all in, all Utah” I think is what I just heard?
Herd?
I hadn’t until just now.
Youre right, about undervalued designers. Your intense dislike of their design feels a bit overstated.
I worked as a designer, art director, creative director across a 20 year career in the industry. It took me less than 2 years after switching to Software Development to eclipse my highest salary in my creative career.
Alot of what you say is mainly a reflection of your personal taste. I can’t agree that it’s objectively bad or that the shading is a sign of societal collapse. It’s probably not my cup of tea either, but I wouldn’t warn a customer against selecting it. For the category, it’s fine. And it’s probably more important to be fine, than chasing uniqueness or taste.
We could probably have an interesting conversation about the role of branding and by extension the nature of graphic literacy in public. Undoubtedly the market will have one thing to say about art and graphics even as expertise contradicts this. Nothing new here.
And yes I do dislike it — I dislike it because its so boring and meant to pass focus group testing. And to be clear my background is in landscape, but that’s also why I love Tufte, Bunge, and Berger who I mention above: I think they are excellent entry points into understanding visual media as an expression of the societies it comes from, and the Mammoth branding just speaks to a very safe, corporate inevitability. That’s very hard to cheer for.
So yeah I dislike it, but you’re putting words in my mouth about “societal collapse” and the intensity of my distaste. Something like the Blackhawks logo, for instance, while more graphically appealing, does objectively reflect a worse society than the one we are in now, and that’s probably where I’ll have to leave it.
So, a lot of us justified the Oilers crappy (for them) regular season saying that they were just holding back for the playoffs. That argument now appears to have some validity. However, the same needs to be done during the playoffs to ensure the boys are as rested as possible for the SCF.
Last night KK played Bouch 26:27 and Emberson 6:43, the coach has to find a way to lower Bouch’s TOI. If that means bringing in Stecher then so be it. Different PK assignments would have to be instituted but that is what coaches are for. DO NOT overplay Bouch (and to a lesser extent Nurse) until you have to in the SCF.
Emberson is an inexperienced player, but if this is how they trust him, move on this summer. You need 4 lines and 3 pairs, especially if you go deep in playoffs each year
You also need defensive depth. Remember how many years we longed for a roster full of “actual NHL players”? Emberson is an actual NHL player.
He isn’t yet. Right now he isn’t trusted to play 5v5 when it counts, so he’s a tweener still
I was on board when Stan got him, but I am starting to wonder if he has the unfortunate set of traits that means he won’t ever truly establish, like Stecher
He’s not great with the puck by many takes on him, he’s an average skater, he plays a physical style, but while he’s not short (but shorter than average for a D these days) he’s under 200 lbs, so nobody is worried about getting hit by him, and he will probably start to wear down
If they are keeping Kulak around, which I think they will, he needs a bigger partner. Maybe that’s Regula who is a strong physical and big defender who doesn’t chop the puck square at least in the A and can skate. I prefer that. I would keep Ember around, but he may not want to be a 7-8
Troy Stecher has played 560 NHL regular season games.
Move on? Aside from Podz, he’s the youngest player on the team and in his first full NHL season and first playoffs games. He just signed 2-years at a cap hit of $1.3MM.
I would suggest letting the cheap player continue to develop and increase his role.
4 minutes on the PP skews it. He’s the only D on it. There’s also the old adage that a Dman could play all night if they’re in the ozone the whole time. In any case:
5v5 it went:
Bouch – 20:10
Klingberg- 19:25
Nurse -19:21
Kulak-18:40
Walman- 16:52
Emberson 4:49
Agreed Emberson getting more icetime would be ideal but it’s fairly evenly distributed in the heart of the game. Doubt Ekholm comes back but that should even it out more.
Fair but I would note that Bouch is only up 40 seconds per game over where he was for the 25 games last playoffs (and about 2 minutes more per game than he was on the regular season).
To be honest, I think Bouch could play more – he seems tireless out there and part of that is his style of play – he’s not wasting energy skating all over the ice 100 miles an hour.
I only saw the highlights (east coast start time sucks), but Klingberg was all over them! I think he’s exactly the D that Kevin Lowe was trying to land when acquiring the Visvovsky’s, Whitney’s and Pitkanin’s of the world. Just about 20 years too late! What a luxury it would be to get Ekholm back!
Ek-Bouch
Nurse-Walman
Kulak-Klingberg
Balance? Finally?
Balance is close with those pairings, but I still like lefty-righty. The way Nurse-Klingberg played last night, coach could have a 3rd pairing of Kulak-Walman – wow!
Ek-Bouch
Nurse-Kulak | Walman-Klingberg
I’m not even sure which is the 2nd and 3rd pairing.
That would be a powerhouse D. (However, I’m not optimistic that Ekholm will be back before Fall.)
Very impressed w/ Wallman – Klingberg this am.
They did one hell of job, fetching pucks sent in deep and moving it along quickly.
The numbers may not reflect it, but I did like the giving Kulak – Bouch some icetime together and rotating the D a little bit. The players responded well to the change as well.
Now the reffing. The Brown penalty was terrrible and nearly changed the outcome of the game. Idk how the league can continue like this. I don’t believe they should be reviewing every penalty, but in some cases the refs should have discretion to see it again.
The Brown penalty was a direct result of the Bennett collision with Stolarz who’s ralphing on the bench made the league take notice of any goaltender collisions. You can see the Refs arm go up immediately as soon as Brown bumps into Hill even though the Ref seen as clear as day the push by the Vegas D-Man
Fair enough; we don’t want a Roloson repeat.
That said, he was pushed in. It was appalling.
It’s time for the owners and their POHO’s and GM’s of Canadian teams to grow some pairs. That is what will change things, and they are signing the big cheques for the league. Money talks. After a bunch of BS games they should be lighting up the switchboard in New York and demanding competence and fairness
Gary says it’s fine, we fans see it’s not and there have been a bunch of analytical looks at it to reference. I don’t dislike him as a human, but as the head honcho I am well sick of him and his corporate and ‘money is all’ crap that diminishes such a great game and league
And I’m not left leaning or anti business. That’s how bad it has become
I knew we would get the split now it’s time to go for the jugular. Especially with the Knights top scorer and team leader on D injured. All the fretting over home ice and now it looks like we’re settling in and playing a simple game on the road as our two best games have come back to back on the road.
Pickard made a big save with the score 2-2 on the PK during that bogus Brown interference call. Vegas didn’t have many shots but they had some nice looks where they just missed the net. I credit Pickard for taking away angles and forcing the Knights to try to pick the corners and in doing so missing the net.
I’ll keep saying it, this team is full of players that play better in the playoffs, and more such players are merging.
For me, the only player who has regressed from the regular season is Nurse.
He did ok last night though
Wow what a great game by Frederic he has a heavy shot and like I said when the trade was made he opens up ice for his linemates and poof he himself gets good scoring chances. This was a really smart trade bowman must of known he’s really warm to the idea of resigning. This man has 20-25 goal seasons as a quiet power forward written all over him.
I respect any player that can break his stick over his own helmet….
I’m all for re-signing Frederic if the terms are reasonable and, for all I know, its in the works, but I’m not sure how anything we see on the ice gives fodder that Bowman must have known he’d be open to re-signing….?
Agents have a way of getting their message across for their client within the CBA rules.
Sure but that’s not a relevant statement.
What is happening on the ice or that you’ve seen to suggest there is all but a deal in place?
There very well could be but Frederic giving a good 12 minutes per games doesn’t really suggest anything.
I don’t understand what connection you are making to his play and re-signing.
That first game was Knobby saying ‘okay, beat our best with your best’, And Vegas had an excellent night essentially sawing off.
Some other poster mentioned that if Eichel (and Stone and Karlsson) are spending all their time defending 97 (and doing a pretty bang up job), that means he isn’t killing us and I couldn’t agree more.
Selke level performance and it still wasn’t enough. I expect Cassidy to roll the dice (har) to find clean air for him if that happens again. He’s their driver. You might just have to take your chance hoping the other lines can contain while Eichel outscores.
If anyone has the Eichel line matching I need to see it. Believe it was 16 minutes after 2 periods.
It is also not sustainable. Eichel chased McDavid all night. That has to be completely exhausting. It may not happen exactly that way every night but if the team is playing like this more often than not, teams other first lines will, at best, be too exhausted to create offense, and, at worst, too exhausted to sustain high-level defense throughout the series- the dam should burst at some point.
Vegas is a one line team. And if that line is chasing Mcdavid that is ok with me
Hard not to be positive after the last 3 games. The FEEL of the team seems so much better. Championship vibes if you will. It shocking the value a well-timed save can provide.
This team seems to be coming together and all the bets that didn’t pan out during the regular season seem to be turning into gold before our eyes. Post-season alchemy if you will.
They keep playing like this and it just might be their time.
What a difference 2 weeks makes. Thanks Jim Hiller! Your challenge in game 3 seemed to right the Oiler’s listless ship.
Post season alchemy nails it. Depth pickups are buzzing right now. Klingberg, Frederic, Walman, heck even Arvidsson and Podkolzin have been generating some quality chances (4 apples for the latter ain’t too bad).
The craziest part of the Oilers depth right now might be the fact they have a 30 point guy who is two seasons removed from an 82 pt season riding the press box pony.
Have a sense of wonder how this roster we haven’t seen before has come together. And that we haven’t even seen their very best yet. Wonderful, wonderful.
Thank you Quinton Byfield for not making the same play and getting that puck out late in game 4.
As long as the other lines are contributing in some way, why would you EVER split up the Glimmer Twins. Individually they are Rock Stars, together they are Transcendent
At times, they can over pass and only look for each other. The reason to split them, if it happens will be different than ever before- so one of them can get some clean air away from the other team’s top line. BUT the danger is the other lines are making hay right now, so the Glimmer twins get to take on all the top lines and give the other lines the opportunity to outscore, which is happening in real time, for the first time (to this level).
The reason is because Eichel seems to be able to shut down McDavid. Why have him shut down Draisaitl too?
Hey, you might get a Talk is Cheap out of one of them.
This team, in this iteration, has the greatest possibility of sustaining the current level of play. McDavid was flying but not killing himself in the comeback. Drai too- there were times this year, and in playoffs past that both those guys knew they were carrying the entire team- not now.
The Brown goal looked like Vegas was gassed. They were skating with cement bricks on their feet. This happens when there are 4 lines keeping you in your defensive end of the rink for 2 entire periods, line after line, shift after shift.
Each of our 4 lines are also really connected right now with d able to close the gap because forwards are back pressuring- this makes all the difference for our defense especially. I didn’t notice Nurse last game on the negative side of the ledger and that is good from him. I sure noticed Klingberg, Walman and Bouch though- passes to get it from defense to offense in a right hurry. Golden!
I get the feeling watching Vegas last night is their defense was sorely missing Pietrangelo. I know he’s not the superman #1 D of yesteryears but he’s still a major piece of their d corp and pushed a lot more top comp minutes onto Theodore.
He’s the Nurse of their group (better but bear with me). Munching lots of minutes, not all of them quality but enough that it helps everyone else out.
Watching with some friends last night. We are down 2-0 and one guy says, ‘next goal wins’. We all agreed and then Perry scores. It appears that the team believes as well.
No lead is safe against this Oiler team!
I predicted Oilers in 6. Well, the remaining five (5) games in that prediction may include 2 wins over the Stars.
“I also want to take a moment to marvel at the passing of these Oilers.”
There was a sequence with the 4th line where they strung together i think 5 or 6 passes in a row, pressured at every point, and it was tape to tape and stopped in the Vegas end.
That’s how you set up shifts and get momentum like they did. Stone even admitted they strung a bunch of shifts together and they were mostly stuck defending the whole time.
What a game last night. 5 in a row! Oilers a rolling now and look like a Stanley Cup favorite. I’m seeing whole team buy in on the defensive side. If Vegas loses tomorrow they are done.
If Pickard and Brown keep playing like this it wont be long before they have their own songs on Dusty’s channel.
Their Brown song is hilarious, kind of a relic from his scoreless regular season last year, but it sounded pretty good this morning. He’s sure feeling it now, huh?
Do you have a link to the song? I am not getting the reference… and enquiring minds want to know!
Always tough to nail down causation with this kind of thing but I would give some kudos to Coach K for what I think was benching Perry briefly after he starfished on the second Stone goal. Kane played with 29 and 97 the following shift, and lo and behold Perry scored shortly after getting put back on the line.
Coach and Veteran working in tandem to show everyone how accountability works. Helps when you have a first line of Hart winners to demo.
I think it’s a minutes thing. Knoblauch knows Perry can’t play as many minutes as McDavid and Draisaitl so he rotates Kane/Hyman/Brown in that spot at times. IIRC it’s happened in every game since the new alignment.
It is working!