The Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks are connected by multiple player transactions over the years, but the four deals above (over a year or so) had a great impact on both teams. The Pronger trade you know about, but you may have forgotten then-GM Kevin Lowe having to trade with the New York Islanders in order to recover his own third-round pick. It was made necessary because the Oilers had plans to add big winger Dustin Penner. It was a time of celebration in California, unrest in northern Alberta.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Inside Oilers’ Philip Broberg’s progress as an NHL defenceman
- New DNB: Connor McDavid questions NHL rules, Darnell Nurse’s gaffes prove costly in Oilers loss
- Lowetide: Ranking Oilers GM Ken Holland’s 5 best trades in Edmonton
- DNB: If the Oilers can trade Jesse Puljujarvi, where is he likely to end up?
- Lowetide: Will Oilers pro scouts help identify quality at the deadline?
- Lowetide: How Edmonton Oilers winger Jesse Puljujarvi is redefining his role
- DNB: The Oilers don’t need someone like Zack Kassian. They need more efforts like this
- DNB: Stuart Skinner has been the Oilers’ saviour — and that’s not a good thing
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2022
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers avert disaster with strong finish to November
- DNB: Oilers GM Ken Holland Q&A: Can the team be improved? If so, how?
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers’ Jack Campbell will be better, but can he be a true No. 1?
- Lowetide: Oilers rookie Stuart Skinner is chasing history
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers reasonable expectations for every player in 2022-23
WHAT TO EXPECT IN DECEMBER
- On the road to: MIN (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
- At home to: MTL, WAS, ARI, MIN (Expected 3-1-0) (Actual 3-1-0)
- On the road to: MIN, NAS (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 1-1-0)
- At home to: STL, ANA (Expected 1-0-1) (Actual 0-0-1)
- On the road to: NAS, DAL (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: VAN (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: CAL, SEA (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- At home to: WPG (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- December expected result: 9-5-1, 19 points in 15 games
- December actual result: 4-3-1, nine points in eight games
- November results: 7-7-0, 14 points in 14 games
- October results: 6-3-0, 12 points in 9 games
- Oilers in 2022-23: 17-13-1, 35 points in 31 games
The St. Louis Blues took two points from the Calgary Flames last night, so the northern Alberta team has a little breathing room. Edmonton is in third place in the Pacific Division in winning percentage and have a chance to get more clearance over the remaining December games. A win tonight would give the Oilers 37 points in 32 games, that’s a 95-point pace and a playoff berth.
DUCKS AND OILERS
This century there have been several moments when Anaheim and Edmonton crossed paths. The Ducks had some success with former Oilers picks Brad Winchester and Andrew Cogliano, The two swapped NHL defensemen (Lubo Visnovsky for Ryan Whitney) in 2010, and the Oilers grabbed Patrick Maroon right at the 2016 deadline. The two teams met in the second round of the 2017 playoffs, it was a classic the Oilers pushed right to the edge but could not win.
MID-SEASON TRADES
The Oilers recalled defenseman Markus Niemelainen last night, setting off spider senses across Oilers nation. The NHL roster currently houses eight blue, and that’s unusual. Some say Niemelainen was recalled because the Bakersfield Condors have too many defensemen, but that’s a terrible reason to recall a player who isn’t going to play.
The reasons Niemelainen is in the NHL today could run the gamut. Edmonton might have an unreported injury to a starter, with the big Finn ‘next man up’ on the recall list. The Oilers may have decided to sit Broberg for a game or two. It’s extremely unlikely, but a trade could be in the cards if there’s something out there currently.
Trades do happen at this time of year, but not to Ken Holland. In his time with the Detroit Red Wings, the only notable deal came in the fall of 2001 and was in fact re-acquiring a former Red Wing who had signed elsewhere.
The Oilers franchise has made many deals in the Oct-Dec time frame, and contemplated more. One such rumoured deal came in late October of 1983. Edmonton had yet to win Stanley (it would come the following spring) and coach-GM Glen Sather was fretting over the team’s inability to suppress offense. Despite a 7-1-1 record through nine games, and an incredible goals-for total of 51, Slats had a furrowed brow over the 39 goals surrendered.
He needed to do something. Red Fisher of The Montreal Gazette reported the Canadiens and Oilers were talking deal, with Paul Coffey heading to Montreal for big center Doug Wickenheiser and defenseman Gilbert Delorme. Fisher also hinted at a deal that would eventually go down: Wickenheiser, Delorme and Greg Paslawski to St. Louis Blues for Perry Turnbull in late December of 1983 (less than two months later).
Sather would address his team’s needs in December. He did get a center, but not Wickenheiser. Slats sent talented young forward Tom Roulston (5-7-12 in 24 games at the time, and on his way to a second 40-point season in a row) to the Pittsburgh Penguins for gigantic pivot Kevin McClelland (2-4-6 in 24 games with Pittsburgh, and three games with the AHL Baltimore Skipjacks). It was a fantastic deal for Edmonton, McClelland scoring a massive goal in the Stanley Cup Final (Game One’s only goal) as the Oilers went on to win the Stanley Cup.
This year’s Oilers are not yet complete on the blue line, my own feeling is the next 30 games will be audition time for Philip Broberg. A quick check of the Oilers defense shows most of the group is in a reasonable range of expectations compared to the same period one year ago. Here are the five-on-five totals for 2022-23:
- Darnell Nurse (26-27 49.1 pct)
- Cody Ceci (19-20 48.7 pct)
- Brett Kulak (22-20 52.4 pct)
- Tyson Barrie (25-18 58.1 pct)
- Evan Bouchard (13-26 33.3 pct)
- Markus Niemelainen (5-4 55.6 pct)
- Ryan Murray (5-9 35.7 pct)
- Philip Broberg (3-6 33.3 pct)
The only outliers in the group are Tyson Barrie (well clear in goal differential) and Evan Bouchard (in the ditch despite strong possession numbers). The two players who could be vulnerable to trade (in my opinion) are Evan Bouchard and Philip Broberg. I don’t believe Ken Holland would trade Bouchard under any circumstances, and he drafted Broberg. However, there’s a clear need and the GM will add a defenseman at some point over the next two-plus months. Maybe it’s now? Here are the numbers from 2021-22, five-on-five, after 31 games:
- Darnell Nurse (18-21 46.2)
- Cody Ceci (18-26 40.9)
- Duncan Keith (19-20 48.7)
- Evan Bouchard (24-25 49.0)
- Tyson Barrie (21-22 48.4)
- Kris Russell (11-9 55.0)
- Slater Koekkoek (8-8 50.0)
- Philip Broberg (2-9 18.2)
- William Lagesson (4-4 50.0)
- Markus Niemelainen (1-3 25.0)
- Dmitri Samorukov (0-2)
Evan Bouchard’s year-over-year stands out, as does Barrie’s goal differential, but other than that it’s about the same. Of course, the coach got fired in February so let’s review what we’re looking at here. I do believe the Kulak-Barrie tandem has traction and should stay together. I’d like to see Nurse-Bouchard for an extended period. It might not work, but the two men have areas of strength the other does not count as a strong positive. Over the last two-plus seasons, the two men have played together 605 minutes and have an expected goal share of 58 percent.
Rishaug on his pod says lower body for Broberg and “may have been seen in a walking boot”. Sigh.
Don’t know if this has been posted here: Hartikainen with the craziest shootout attempt I’ve ever seen.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IPevXMMEVQ0
That would have been a Festivus miracle had he pulled it off. As it was, that was a helluva move.
Draisaitl played 27 minutes against the -hapless -Ducks.
In the middle of December
That alone tells you how much trouble this team is in…..
wtf coach?
Ryan: A bit more on Chariot vs. Edmundson now that I have time.
They played together for the Canadiens in 20-21 and 21-22. Both missed chunks of time with injury, and of course Chariot was traded at the deadline last year. But how did they compare? Totalling the two seasons they were both with the Canadiens:
Chariot did play more, as you mentioned.
Chariot —– 95GP 22:47/game (17:53 5v5, 0:52 PP, 3:00 PK)
Edmundson 79GP 19:54/game (16:53 5v5, 0:06 PP, 2:20 PK)
Usage (%TOI vs. elites) was very similar, though Chariot was the top option.
Chariot —– 1st at 49.5 in 20-21, 1st at 35.7 in 21-22
Edmundson 4th at 46.4 in 20-21, 3rd at 34.2 in 21-22
5v5 on ice results favour Edmundson slightly (against almost identical comp).
Chariot —– 47.7 SF%, 46.6 xGF%, 39.9 GF%
Edmundson 51.1 SF%, 48.5 xGF%, 57.5 GF%
All the 5v5 ‘against’ metrics are better for Edmundson as well.
Chariot —– 32.5 SA/60, 2.56 xGA/60, 2.93 GA/60
Edmundson 30.0 SA/60, 2.44 xGA/60, 2.16 GA/60
PK on ice results are basically identical.
Chariot —– 66.3 SA/60, 8.0 xGA/60, 8.6 GA/60
Edmundson 62.8 SA/60, 8.2 xGA/60, 8.4 GA/60
Neither brings any offense
Chariot —– 0.60 P/60 5v5
Edmundson 0.67 P/60 5v5
Edmundson also hits a little more, and takes a bit fewer penalties, FWIW.
So yeah… Being equivalent or a shade better than Chariot doesn’t mean Edmundson is particularly good. Though a smart GM paid a 1st, 4th and prospect for 30 games of Chariot. And another smart (?) GM gave the 31-year-old a 4 x $4.75M, so what do I know?
Anyway, while Edmundson seems like a pretty comparable player, is younger and is under control for another season, I would not endorse the reported/speculated ask (1st + Bourgault).
At the same time, while Edmundson is definitely not a saviour, I do think he’s a legitimate NHLer who can help a team.
Looking at Edmundson’s numbers, they also strike me as very similar to Adam Larsson’s, who I recall you appreciated somewhat. IIRC you weren’t in favour of giving him term at $4M, but you did think he was an important part of the team who’d be difficult to replace.
A few things to unpack.
Florida? I don’t follow them at all. Zito would look a lot smarter if he didn’t have goalie Bob signed at $10m cap until the end of time. This season, they also have $6,5m in buyout cap hit on the books. That’s a lot of dead weight.
In a league with so few transactions, Zito did manage to go out and trade or find a bunch of guys without giving up too much IMO. We certainly could have used a Gustav Forsling at $2.67.
I like the Sam Sam trades. I like the Chucky trade…
Tallon did Bob
I worded that really poorly. I do know that it was talon that left him with that gift.
Defensive rugged d. The one thing is they always look better and seem way more valuable when you play against them. That’s when you notice the things they do (like hit, fight, box out, cross check), but don’t notice the things the can’t do like outlet the puck.
Years ago, in my mind’s eye, it’s a road game against the Islanders. Andy Sutton, man he looked like King F’ing Kong out there. He was just a huge guy running around squashing Oilers like bugs. One shift he put Horcoff on LTIR and I think took out an another Oiler with clean checks.
I remember thinking, man, we could really use a guy like that…
Larsson, yeah that seems about right. My recollection was that I had observed that Larsson was holding the bottom six together, so he would be missed. He kept those minutes quiet on both sides of the ledger. He was paired mostly with the bottom six and infrequently with 29 and 97.
I thought the rumor was that we offered $4.5 x4.
I didn’t mind the player, but didn’t want to pay $4m+ with term at his age, lack of wheels, and complete inability to move the puck. Still left a big hole.
Credit to Larsson, he’s playing a lot of minutes in Seattle.
You brought up Chariot and Edmundson tonight, as well as the smart group in Sunrise.
You seemed to be suggesting that Edmundson is worse than Chariot, and that because Florida paid an absurd price for a Chariot rental that the Oilers shouldn’t acquire Edmundson.
I guess my reply is a long winded way of saying that I think they’re pretty comparable players, and they both have some utility. But that I hope the Oilers don’t pay as much for Edmundson as other teams have for Chariot.
Also relevant I think, is that while the armchair GMs like to slag on this kind of defensive Dman, actual GMs, who are widely regarded as smart, do still acquire them. Zito and Yzerman paid tons (assets and/or salary) for Chariot. Sakic acquired and then re-signed Josh Manson for his age 31 through 34 seasons.
I think Edmundson is a pretty comparable player to those guys. Also younger and with a lower cap hit.
Are you trying to say Holland would be a fool to acquire him at any cost? Not sure at this point where you’re going with this honestly.
Summarizing!
Why yes, Lachance did tally again on the PP, but from distance this time. 16th goal of the season to go along with a game-high 4 SOG.
Petrov’s point streak ended despite 4 SOG. Chiasson was also held off the scoresheet.
Savoie has the boots going tonight.
Yup – Savoie and Rodrigue the stars of the first period!
The snowball barrages in this Buffalo v Miami game are hilarious. Bills Mafia hitting the Christmas cheer hard at the tailgate.
This means Tulio is out sick (it also means Savoie starts with Esposito and Kambeitz, not optimal to me).
Ryan Holt
@CondorsHolty
·
27m
Alright let’s try this again!
Same lineup as last night with the exception of Brad Malone in for Dove-McFalls.
Final game in Ontario for the season! Talk to ya in 15 #Condorstown!
Jesse P. – 17-2 Corsi, 12-2 shots, 1-0 goals, 97% expected goals – just under 10 minutes at 5 on 5 (PLAY THE MAN – he was on in the last minute)
Dylan H. 15-2 Coris, 9-2 shots, 1-0 goals, 97 expected goals – just over 11 minutes at 5 on 5- increase but not enough – keep it coming.
I’d put 90% of that on Holloway, he was flying tonight. Jesse was ok.
Might have been Holloway’s best game of the year.
And 11 mins ice time given.
Drai with 27 minutes
Groundhog Day
Having not been able to watch and looking at CoH Player Grades
Drai is a great player. As long as he struggles in the heart of the game (5v5) he is not above critique, or the coaches who have what I see as bizarre ideas of what he can do, and what others can’t do
They play the crap out of him, and he is very often a lazy player on the ice to my eye. His line changes are the worst I have ever noticed, probably because he is soooo lethargic and slow coming off that I do notice. So what message does he send to the others? Leaders lead mostly by example. Do it Leo, take the details serious because they matter especially when the margin for error shrinks
As I see it he does not have the skating to play huge minutes. It is almost certainly why he is what I called ‘lazy’. I don’t think he’s got a lazy attitude issue, but I do think he is pacing himself and that isn’t good. He’s the one always saying how tiring it is to play behind on the board, he’s the one losing 5v5 goal share. And also playing exhausting TOI. There aren’t two ways for a good team. All players to the same expectations. On the best teams the leaders lead in all areas
Connor came out and lead the team in play. Woody has to stop with this idea he’s stated about players wanting to play a lot. Of course they do. Leon would be far better with less TOI IMO. Connor has the legs to do it, and it’s not like Leon is some 2 way stalwart at this point
Maybe they both play less and Woody has a word to Connor about offense starts with defense, and maybe then he will try to less superman heroics and can have fun crushing teams from in front. Leon also needs to buy into less but more effective and needs to play woth more urgency in details, if they want to win a Cup. Yes they score, but the team they lead shits the bed far too frequently for their experience levels at this point, and they are often the culprits still
Nurse is struggling huge, and that’s on Holland for coming in to the season with a D group like this. I am really unimpressed that he doesn’t have the wherewithall to get what he needs. Especially getting taken to the woodshed acquiring mediocre players. Other GMs do get what they need, it isn’t impossible and other teams haven’t always gutted themselves doing it. Or that he saw this as ok, which is far worse, DoD worse
Just ridiculous.
Why?
Lazy?
Can’t skate?
Another thought – it’s not ok for a GM to to do well in some trades, some signings, and then be terrible in others. Who here gets to do that in there work? His job is a job too
That means a wash, and not getting where you want to go. And there is no doubt where that is. These are the Edmonton Oilers – CupS are the only goal, not into participation ribbons
As it stands, everyone loves Zach and Ryan N, but KH did that with egregious years on contract, Nurse. A lot of other deals outside for top players were not at max length
Kulak 4 years. Then we see others sign shorter and often lesser contracts elsewhere
If you tell me now no one wants to come to the Oilers, the Connor Leon Oilers, I’ll tell you put it in your pipe and smoke it. Easiest sell in the league – ‘You’ll put us over the top!!!!!’
Just a point on your Draisaitl critique.
He’s outscored when he’s been on the ice without McDavid each year since Holland arrived until this one.
19-20 57.4%GF
20-21 57.9%GF
21-22 53.8%GF
22-23 40.6%GF
You’re being unbelievably harsh on a guy who had a 56%GF over 200+ games, but has struggled over his last 32.
Never mind of course that he’s the NHL’s #2 scorer and a PP ace on top of that.
Harsh depends on your expectations. He isn’t running bad luck. he’s playing poorly 5v5
What are the expectations now?
For me these guys need to be pushing hard for a Cup. And what they are doing is far, far from that
It’s typical Oiler fail stuff
You can’t just flip the switch when all of the sudden things get super tight, the refs are even less likely to make a decent call, and 75% of the team hasn’t been integral to the reg season
Teams that win the Cup, outside of freak Blues things, run strong reg season and then heat up even more. Heating up doesn’t mean ‘starting’ to play consistent high end NHL hockey
For sure, the team needs to play better than they have been.
Draisaitl though has been a consistent outscorer at 5v5 (with McDavid or without) for years now. Though all his ‘laziness’ the guy has NOT been losing his goal share outside of these last 30 games.
The whole basis of your critique is basically made up. Unless you think he’s gotten notably more lazy this year, I guess that could explain why the 56% goal share became 41% goal share. I personally really don’t think ‘lazy’ is the answer to the Draisaitl 22-23 GF% question though.
1) Nurse made a lazy and weak play on the boards on a rim and then horribly played a 2 on 2, novice style
2) Nurse cross-checked an opponent in the middle of the ice with the puck nowhere near.
3) Bouchard made a poor pass as last man back which was picked off for a breakaway
4) Bouchard made a shocking defensive zone pass for a giveaway and then unintelligently backed right in to his goalie and screened him entirely.
They lost because of unforced errors – major errors.
They lost because of a goalie. I cannot believe this crap.
Opinions that differ from yours are “crap” – is that what I’m reading?
I can’t believe you are looking over the consistently poor play of core players
I personally would have started Campbell I don’t get the reason or thinking of Woody to start Skinner. It is vital to get Campbell up and running. Skinner is 9-8-1 meanwhile Campbell is 8-6. It’s all about who wins I don’t give a flying shit how its done all that matters is wins. Skinner was half asleep today he’s a big reason we lost today.
I am very surprised Campbell didn’t start this one. Seemed like a no-brainer to me.
Keven Lowe was right.
It’s the fault of the fans.
Was it JP’s fault again?lol The biggest issues ailing this team are humility, a country club culture, and the failure to have a structured defensive attitude away from the puck. Also,what message is Woodcroft sending by not even playing Campbell against the ducks?
Another well deserved result, shots on goal…pfft, stars pissed…pfft, 2 1/2 periods fiddle dee dee hockey…pfft, out coached and top players overworked…pfft, better team won…yup. Ducks stuck with it and came back from a 2 goal deficit to win. Losers played their usual 5 minutes of hair on fire hockey to close with familiar results. When will the Oilers learn about 60 minutes and 200 feet, trending flatlined.
When were the Ducks down by a two goal deficit?
Ha!
JP, I’m thinking about Edmundson, our rumored trade target.
What could go wrong with trading for a big rugged d from the Canadiens who has a reputation for playing well defensively?
<shoves Ben Chariot back into the locker room.>
By all accounts, the Chariot trade was a laughably poor trade by a smart group in Sunrise.
<checks notes>
Chariot was a 23.5 minutes per night defenseman on the Canadiens last season.
Where was Edmundson? 5th at 19 and a half minutes.
Both are left shots.
hmm.
Yes, Florida paid a 1st, 4th and a prospect (2020 3rd rounder) for the Chariot rental.
Chariot did play more than Edmundson, though Edmundson’s results were better in the lesser minutes.
I think Edmundson can help the Oilers as a 2nd pair-ish LD that does some things other Oilers D don’t do much of. I think I’ve stated before I’d expect him to be a different style, but similar quality D as Kulak.
So while I think he could help the Oilers I have no illusions about him being a high end defender, and I’ve also stated before that the reported ask from Montreal (1st and quality prospect) is too much.
Hopefully Holland doesn’t pay that. And that smart group in Sunrise may have relinquished the ‘smart’ descriptor on deadline day this past February. Do you still consider them a smart group?
Duck’s won with their brilliant special teams.
Bye Bye Broberg.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlSVDvNHLPs
Broberg was scratched due to an injury sustained yesterday.
VERY happy that it wasn’t a healthy scratch but, injured, again?
Sigh….
Made out of Klefbomium?
Same glass factor as Kelfbom the man is hypochondriac. They’ll be given(Hollands) the usual same lame excuses as they have with J.P. This team needs a wake-up call.
This is where GMs separate themselves
If you can get a really good D for him (plus maybe), or right shot face off C with some offense (that isn’t too old) , and you assess that he seems injury prone, you have to seriously consider making that bet
The Oilers can’t afford another first rounder fizzling out. Or second rounder, they are supposed to be the blood transfusion to sustained success
I remember being in dressing rooms after losses against teams we should have crushed.
A lot of silence, punctuated by sailor language.
im shopping at WEM, and have heard multiple people passing by laughing at our “shitty team”
You mean Canucks and Flames fans? Because that would make sense.
Nope, they were wearing oilers gear. (Unless they were wearing them ironically ??)
Felt like DOD vibes how everyone (including myself) just expected the Oilers to suck, and laughed about it.
Not a great feeling to be honest.
Might I suggest Safeway, where people have less time to laugh at the Oilers.
I never really got that mad at losing, seeing as we were Ponoka’s “D” team and we sucked the hind banana most games.
Sounds like petulant rock stars hiding in dressing rooms lmao
Brightest light from today’s game was the play of Holloway.
and yet he only played around 12 min……the faith in this coaching staff’s decisions is starting to fade…
It faded for me months ago.
Same old, same old.
They are not showing the ability to grow the group. Key to everything
No the only thing they know is the blender…..
Bouch and nurse, supposedly our two best D at direct fault for 3 GA today….yikes
That’s one way of looking at it. Rather superficial though.
Which Duck defensemen were directly at fault for the three goals that the Oilers managed to score ?
6 mins into the first, kulak takes a one timer from the point, and Drai has a pissy fit because he wasn’t fed the puck…he didn’t even charge in for the loose rebound. I love Drai, but that’s no beuno
It’s the children’s fault.
I think we were the better team by far. They win that game 19 out of 20 times. And Skinner was excellent despite 4 goals on 17 shots.
As LT has said numerous times, single moments kill. Bouchard giveaway leads to breakaway. Bouchard screens Skinner for goal. Nurse fails to clear puck. Nurse takes stupid, egregious penalty.
I thought Nurse was better today. I think he was the primary culprit on the first two goals, but there’s plenty of blame to go around on those.
You buried your own lede.
Nurse was the primary culprit, by far, on the first 2 goals – against a pathetic Ducks team.
Here’s a new Prediction from the Death March™ team:
BOTH games coming up are now Must Win.
thank you for your cooperation.
Wait, did you change the name back??
Our D is struuuuggggling right now.
More like …it’s broken
I wasn’t able to watch, but see the Oilers outshot almost 3-1.
Would it be fair to say that goaltending would be the main headline had the other guy been in net?
Didn’t show up for two periods and lost on self-inflicted wounds. Their goalie was magnificent but the Oilers lost this. Squandered the points tonight as badly as they did against the Blues.
Atleast they got a point against the Blues.
The Oilers did some dumb things, too.
Well they got out goalied in this one . Or did they just get bouched . I don’t know which ?
2nd goal was on Skinner. The rest were on Nurse and Bouchard.
Oilers first goal was a gift as well.
The PP opportunity on the second goal was an unnecessary cross-check by Nurse – it wasn’t massive but its exactly what the league has been cracking down on this season – as expressed.
Thanks all, will have a look at the goals later.
Dostal was very good – a couple 5-bell saves.
At the same time, it wasn’t goaltending that lost this game, it was major mistakes made by the Oilers – really, only two of them (Nurse and Bouch) but 6 between them leading to the goals.
I watched the goals now.
You all are being terribly charitable to Skinner IMO (which is fine, he’s earned the goodwill). But I’m certain that if Campbell had been in net today he’d be being roasted this evening.
I thought goals 2 and 4 were on Skinner more than any other Oiler.
Nurse’s turnover on goal 1 wasn’t so bad but he did handle the rest of the play terribly. So yeah, Nurse on that one for sure.
Goal 2, sure it was Nurse’s penalty, but it was also an un-tipped point shot that went in. Presumably screened, but certainly Skinner could/would have had that 8 or 9 times out of 10.
Goal 3 was obviously on the picked off Bouchard pass, no question there.
Goal 4 was 95% on Skinner I thought. That was an un-screened shot from distance and a bad angle. I didn’t think Bouchard’s pass to Nuge was that bad either. It hit Nuge’s stick, if Nuge had taken it cleanly it was out of the zone. That play kept the puck in the zone obviously, but it was some time before the low danger shot got past Skinner as well.
I only watched the goals obviously, but I feel like LT said it best (“The Oilers did some dumb things, too.”). The Oilers did do some dumb things. 2 of the goals were off real rough Nurse/Bouchard plays. But better goaltending could also have won that game since 2 of the goals Anaheim scored were on eminently stoppable shots.
Given that the scoring chances were 38-8 and the HD scoring chances were 20-1 in the last 40 minutes, I also have trouble believing the Oilers didn’t show up until the 3rd.
‘Single moments’ are really kicking their ass lately though. And an ugly loss no matter how you break it down.
On goal 4, Bouchard completely screened Skinner… may as well been wearing a Ducks jersey.
Yeah I see on additional replays there looked like a screen. That’s still an incredibly low danger shot that ended up in the back of the net.
I also didn’t think Bouch was any more to blame than Nuge on the initial turnover.
Scored first – check
completely outplay opponent – check
almost triple the opponent in shots – check
somehow still lose the game – check
Absolute disgrace. Lost to one of the very worst teams in such a fashion…This team is nowhere near being a contender. They look more like a bubble playoff team. Even the Leafs waxed the Ducks 7-0 just the other night.
Lost to one of the worst teams in the league playing their 3rd string goalie. I guess it could be worse, at least they didn’t lose playing against their Zamboni driver. That’s the only positive thing I can say now…
Oilers convinced the Blues not to sell and gave the 4 guys watching the ducks at 1pm on a Saturday to feel hope.
Hockey is great because it doesn’t matter how good you are if you stink for a moment it matters. Otherwise dominant game but 2 brain farts.
The brainfarts is a consistent part of Oilers hockey.
They aren’t 22nd in goals against by accident. This team consistently shows lack of attention to the defensive side of the game. Going on about 40 years now……
Is a brain fart a brain fart if they’re this reliable?
Does a brain fart smell ?😎
3 actually.
If you gift an NHL team 3 goals you are probably not winning the game.
This defense is currently off the rails.
Even more:
2 by Nurse on first goal – poor/lazy board play and then terrible 2 on 2 defence.
Unnecessary penalty by Nurse for the PPG.
Brain fart by Bouch on the 3rd goal.
Shocking pass by Bouch on the 4th goal and then the screen.
That would aggregate to six in my books.
All the heroics cannot save cheating for offense lollygagging at the blueline.
It’s a choice from the top down. There’s a reason why you see memes of McAvid and Rai. There is no D.
I agree, Bouchard’s lollygagging led directly to 2 goals against today.
A skater (not the goalie) covering the puck in his own crease is still a penalty shot, correct? Or did Dostal end up with that puck? I’m so confused right now, for multiple reasons.
The puck was under Kulikov . But he didn’t cover it with his glove. You’d have to check the rule book on that. They usually make it up as they go along anyway.
Oilers gave Dostal a chance to lock in down in the 3rd – should never have needed to fight to come back, etc.
Man this team
Why can’t the Oilers do that ?
Way to go Oilers!
That’s a fucking atrocious loss.
Tough game to watch after they blew the last game. Anaheim looks like a team oilers fans watched for years.
what a mess
jesus
Broberg out of the lineup. Bouchard broken again.
Another AHL goalie playing out of his mind against the Oil. Seems to happen a lot this year.
Bingo!
That Anaheim coach is a miracle worker. 3rd string goalie in net as well….
That’s a strange dig…
Speaking as a third tier fan…
At this rate other teams will start saying Oilers are fun to play against like during the generation of Darkness.
Oilers Players: “We suck. We need to get better”
Oilers management: “Don’t worry we stink every year at this time. No one will notice”
Oilers Players(confused): “Alright”
The shot totals tell the story. This team refuses to play defense. Take care of your own end and you win this game 99/100 times.
I like to use the scoreboard as a starting point.
When I called it a “must win” game people scoffed.