Game 46 2022-23: Kraken at Oilers

by Lowetide

Will Evander Kane play tonight? I believe the answer is yes. Markus Niemelainen was sent down yesterday and the team can LTIR Kailer Yamamoto today in order to get Kane on to the roster while being cap compliant. That should mean Devin Shore, Derek Ryan and Mattias Janmark remain on the roster.

It should also buy time for Warren Foegele or Jesse Puljujarvi, who are certainly options to get cap room via trade. What will the team look like tonight with Kane in the lineup?

THE ATHLETIC!

WHAT TO EXPECT IN JANUARY

  • At home to: SEA, NYI, COL (Expected 1-1-1) (Actual 1-1-1)
  • On the road to: LAK, ANA, SJS, VEG (Expected 3-1-0) (Actual 3-1-0)
  • At home to: SEA, TBAY (Expected 0-1-1) (Actual 0-0-0)
  • On the road to: VAN (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
  • At home to: CBJ, CHI (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
  • January expected result: 7-3-2, 16 points in 12 games
  • January actual result: 4-2-1, 9 points in 7 games
  • December results: 7-6-2, 16 points in 15 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: 24-18-3, 51 points in 45 games

I do not have the Oilers winning tonight, rather getting a Bettman. The losses in the division last night (Vegas, Seattle, Calgary) set up nicely should Edmonton win the game. It’s a home contest, the Oilers are 10-11-2 at home so it’s uncertain we’ll see the freewheeling road team this evening.

POSSIBLE ROSTER, LINES AND PAIRINGS TONIGHT

There’s about $375,000 before the cap ceiling and 22 players on the roster. I think this is merely prolonging the Puljujarvi or Foegele deal, but Kane can make it on to the roster and we’ll see if he delivers at previous levels. I’m interested in seeing how much playing time Vincent Desharnais plays, and how much he plays with Darnell Nurse.

WHY SO DOWN ON THE OILERS?

I think the Oilers, this season, have something to prove now. After the strong playoff run last spring, the expectation was a push for the division title. Things didn’t go well early, and the coaching staff has been forced to scramble to find solutions in goal and on defence.

The forwards are a mixed bag, or rather a group of high achievers (97, 29, 93, Zach Hyman, Klim Kostin, Evander Kane), with a very small middle group (Mattias Janmark, Kailer Yamamoto, Ryan McLeod, Derek Ryan) followed by a large group who need to post more offense (Dylan Holloway, Warren Foegele, Jesse Puljujarvi, Devin Shore) if they’re expecting to be part of another playoff spring.

I think there’s a trade at the deadline for a LH defenseman, with a slight possibility of a RH instead. I also think Philip Broberg can change some minds before the deadline in terms of the quality of defenseman acquired. I think this team needs to go on a run, and maybe it’s right now, but until we see some daylight between the Oilers and the No. 9 spot in the western conference, a “so what?” approach is wise.

This team can play tight defense, but attention to detail at home has been inconsistent. Back passes to the opposition, missed assignments, soft goals, weird deflections, on it goes. I think this year’s model has a bit to show us before we can suggest they are the equal of last year’s team. Some of that may return tonight if Kane does in fact play, he is the definition of swagger. I’m not saying this is a bad team, I am saying this team is less special than the spring 2022 group until further notice. Tonight is another test.

How will we know if this year’s team is approaching last year? Lots of easy ways, but I pay close attention to five-on-five outscoring. I often use centers as proxy. For example, here’s the Jay Woodcroft Oilers in 2021-22, five-on-five goal share per center:

  • Connor McDavid 35-20 (64 pct)
  • Leon Draisaitl 26-19 (58 pct)
  • McDavid & Draisaitl 4-3 (57 pct)
  • Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 12-12 (50 pct)
  • Ryan McLeod 7-9 (44 pct)
  • Derek Ryan 6-5 (55 pct)
  • The rest 3-5 (38 pct)

There’s some high-end quality here, and a nice middle ground too. Some wobble around Ryan McLeod, and the rest (Devin Shore, Brad Malone, Derick Brassard) but that was a team you could go to war with and win series. Now, this year, same drill.

  • Connor McDavid 18-18 (50 pct)
  • Leon Draisaitl 18-22 (45 pct)
  • McDavid & Draisaitl 19-15 (56 pct)
  • Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 20-15 (57 pct)
  • Ryan McLeod 10-12 (46 pct)
  • Derek Ryan 6-6 (50 pct)
  • The rest 2-3 (40 pct)

The Oilers high-end numbers from last season are gone, and in fact the five-on-five performances by solo McDavid and solo Draisaitl are alarming. Why? Goaltending, luck, miscues, but also style of play and lack of attention to detail. It’s not something you can blame one player or thing for, but it’s a collective indifference that shows up with blind passes, late shifts, that ridiculous stretch pass that sometimes results in icing and always results in loss of possession. This is serious stuff. The Oilers have a chance to win Stanley, but only if the tools are used properly. I think “so what?” is a completely rational spot on the shore line to observe this team.

LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON

We’ll get you all set for game day on TSN 1260, 10-2 today. Tom Gazzola will update us from the rink on Evander Kane and more, we’ll review the Dallas-Tampa Bay NFL game last night and look forward to the weekend. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon! Scott Wheeler has an item on Paul Coffey, just came down. It is here.

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Sierra

Nurse is a moron for fighting Perry

John Chambers

Besides the superstar Kucherov, there are a multitude of players selected in the 2011 draft who are top-line, All-Star caliber players. Like, loads of them!

As our boy Nuge is having a career season, it’s fun to look back on his peers (the 93’s) and compare. Nugey is:
-5th in points
-6th in points per game
-1st in games played

Where he ranks head-and-shoulders above the rest is his value going into his 30’s relative to his contract.
At $5.1M The Oilers have a steal of a bargain on a core player in his prime.

Huberdeau has been elite the past few years, but his $11M x 8 is looking like a travesty. Gaudreau is a shade under $9M until he’s almost 37, Zibanejad a fair $8.5M, JT Miller a problematic $8M through 2031, while Scheifele will undoubtedly command a salary in the $10-$11M range on his next deal.

Only Landeskog screams “team-friendly deal” at $7M, although we’ll monitor his health.

There are lesser players making similar money to RNH, but I’d be hard pressed to choose Couturier, Palat, Ryan Strome, or Brandon Saad over him.

Loved the Nuge pick in June of 2011, and still love it today.

Bag of Pucks

RE the wailing and wringing of hands over Puljujarvi’s healthy scratch.

“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.”

Munny 2.0

Your Regular Late Tuesday Night comment…

1) Foegele is Hyman, Hyman is Foegele. I don’t know how tonight’s goals could have proven it more. Hyman is what Foggy can get to, if he puts his mind to it. And I’m sure that’s why the Oilers acquired him. That type of player is always undervalued due to the lack of natural hand talent, and accordingly take some time to arrive. I don’t know if Foegele’s brain is a big as Hyman’s and whether he can build himself a motor that’s there every night like Hyman’s motor, but we shall see.

Pretty impressive the effect of the healthy scratches that 7-11 creates though, huh?

2) Lots of radio comments about Broberg having settled down Bouchard’s game. I think it is more than that. Bouchard has looked way more mean around his own net these last couple of games and I don’t think we can attribute that to his partner. Although, similar to the HS remark above, there’s another defenceman in town competing for ice time and he just so happens to play a little physical, so…

Broberg, btw, in this last nine game stretch is 12-3 GF-GA, best on the team. He is +59 for Corsi, second only to Boosh at +69. He also has the best HDCF% on the team during that stretch. Easy minutes, but that’s what you want to see… a young player eating up easy minutes as he starts his pro. He’s never going back to Bako.

And man what a beauty hit on Larsson.

3) Speaking of Larsson, Adam Larsson is clearly the most important skater for the Kraken. Many of us suspected he had hidden offensive talent and prayed it would late-bloom here, but it was not to be. I’m happy for the success he’s having, but jealous too. Man what a player. That stare down with McDavid was epic.

4) Foegele is Hyman and Kostin is Kassian. Honest Kassian. A harder-working Kassian. Some times as dumb as Kassian in his own end. Might not notice him every night, and it’s tough for that player type to have a nightly impact, but he’s everything we wanted Kassian to be with a better shot and more honest effort. Plus he has the crazy eyes too…

5) Speaking of crazy eyes, Desharnais made some strong plays tonight. He looks a little awkward at times, but he covers huge swathes of ice with every stride and you have to take a cab to get around him. His strength along the boards is a blessing. He might be the Oilers new #7 permanently.

Question is, can he handle the minutes with only 6D in the line-up? Manwood will eventually need to find out. Maybe not this week or next, but before the end of the season would be ideal. It behooves this team to play well enough to create a couple garbage games at the end of the season for such purposes, but they’ve been effing up that mission since October, much like they were costing Holloway ice time.

6) Good to see the team bring some sustain to playing the right way. All season, this has been on the players and it pisses me off they’ve pissed so much of it away. But at least (it appears) they’ve finally pulled their heads out of their asses. Funny how the goalies seem to put in good performances when the team is playing this way. How many odd-man breaks against do you remember in the past week?

It’s little things. 97 gave the puck away along the boards in his own end tonight and he didn’t try to make the error worse by lunging after it, but calmly took two steps back to his defensive position and defended… and nothing came of it.

Draisaitl has been over–passing his ass off this past stretch, but when was the last time you saw him float a high-risk backhand into the middle of the ice with all his teammates going the wrong direction?

There’s more, but it’s late, I gotta crash, so let me just say that was an enjoyable display by the home team for a change. GOilers! Night night, all.

W

Oorah

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

Great post!

Love Bullets 1 and 4 – some teams develop and lose their late round home runs (Giordano, Johnny G), some teams poach their 7th Rounders from capped out teams and set them up to crush career highs into their 30s.

kgo

Everyone should check out 2016 7th round pick Joachim Blichfeld….He’s very unsymmetrical…looks like young version of Sloth from the Goonies.

kgo

Vinny D is such a throwback….inject him directly into my veins!

Funny Bissonness

Vinny on pace for 0-41-41 with 164 PIMs and +62 over 82 games

ArmchairGM

The Oilers are 4-0-0 with Dezzy in the lineup. Coincidence??

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Sticktap @Redbird62 for calling it before the game.

https://lowetide.ca/2023/01/17/game-46-2022-23-kraken-at-oilers/#comment-1182252

Gene: Did it feel like you were out as long as you were, or were you able to get back into the swing of things quickly?

Kane: Let’s put it this way, I felt a lot better tonight than when I came in here last year.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju0rvGUgOqo

Last edited 1 year ago by BornInAGretzkyJersey
hunter1909

lol so cool

Kane appears to have turned THAT corner in his life. Edmonton once more provides a safe haven to chill for an athlete.

Come to think of it, some things that I used to do as a matter of course these days would land me inside a police cell. Antisocial misfit and all of that.

Last edited 1 year ago by hunter1909
Solly

My first wish is to make the playoffs.

My second wish is to play Seattle in the first round. I don’t watch them much but I see them as by far the worst of the western playoff teams. By a lot. No way these guys beat us in a 7-game series…no chance.

My third wish is for a longer season than last year.

And welcome back Evander…holy shit we missed you.

hunter1909

My Oilers wishes:

1 – to beat Boston at their home rink.

2 – to beat Boston in their home rink for a Third time in the Finals.

3 – To keep seeing RNH playing like he’s a First Class NHLer.

honorable mention – Adam Larsson and the Seattle team get success. He looks 100x the player he ever was in Edmonton.

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

And just like that our little Oilers are 3 back of SEA and LA, 5 back of Vegas.

Good game all around.

Keep it rolling Thursday!

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

Hyman now at 50 points and tied with Crosby and Matthews.

New career high in assists.

hunter1909

Fantastic how he is like flying under the radar this season. Allowed to play at a high level naturally.

Even more fantastic – RNH’s emergence as a, NHL star player.

hunter1909

It’s got to be another “must win” game, when you factor the disaster of their record sinking like a rock in the Atlantic ocean should they say, drop their next 2 games.

Beat the Bolts, already. These Eastern teams are mostly paper tigers.

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

They seem to get up for Tampa games. I think they like the challenge/style.

Tough to deny they aren’t rolling a bit right now too.

Should be a good one!

JOFA

Derek Ryan with a nice game. Smart player😊

KnightRain

When I think of Derek Ryan the term “subtle” comes to mind. Sneaky smart.

Chief Inspector

Large hockey brain

kgo

Derek Ryan reminds me of my squash coach in high school. The guy’s knee was destroyed, it was in a brace, he was overweight….but his brain was so big that he could dismantle any young athletic challenger with experience and poise. Ps I’m not saying Ryan is overweight…you get the point.

hunter1909

Hunter1909’s Oilers 30 game season in a season:

10 games in 6-3-1 record.

W

A 2-1 game dressed up as 4-2, good one Jack.

JimmyV1965

I thought it could have easily been 7-1. They missed a lot of AAAA chances. Drai missed two he rarely flubs on.

Last edited 1 year ago by JimmyV1965
Paulie

Team didn’t miss Pujo or Yams at all tonight.

Reja

Who?

cowboy bill

Well they may have scored a goal each if they were playing.

hunter1909

Please name the last time that happened.

cowboy bill

I don’t know ask OP . LOL.

Reja

2016 Hlinka Cup

cowboy bill

Grease is the word.

Ice Sage

Yep, except for 97’s goal, those were all lunch-bucket scores.

SK Oiler Fan

Love Vinny giving the lumber there despite the penalty. He makes the net front unpleasant unlike some of the other defenders

fistycuff

That was a good penalty as any in a 5-2 game with less than 2 min left.

Boil-in-the-Oil

Desharnais is like winning a prize, big, tough, defensive … just what our group needed. What a wonderful call up he’s turning out to be, thank you Bakersfield. How sweet it is to have our AHL team being so productive…lots of evidence of that in tonight’s (and recent) game. The young Dmen are looking stronger every game…it’s such a difficult position to be really good at.

I wasn’t expecting a lot from Kane, he suffered a terrible injury, was out a considerable time, he performed well though. Patience.

Great game, Great win. 4 in a row now, gotta string a bunch together.
GO OILERS, GO!!!

jp

HD chances totally absurd.

19-3 Oilers overall
15-2 at 5v5

cowboy bill

Campbell.935 SV%.

Reja

3 cheers for my man Captain Jack Hurrah. Hurrah. Hurrah. Woody play him till he loses.

Abbeef

Loving Campbell getting going, but Skinnner should get the next game.

Ryan

That’s another quality start.

Material Elvis

Nice win. Could have been a blowout. Shut them down in the third. The team is turning a corner.

Last edited 1 year ago by Material Elvis
jp

That was a fun game!

Back to back wins against Vegas and Seattle? I’ll take it.

Paulie

We’re back, BAY-BEE!!!!

KnightRain

What a great road game at home!!!

Prairie_Sentinel

I’m liking this Desharnais kid more and more – bit of a throwback, no free real estate when you’re around him.

delooper

Tall gator.

KnightRain

That fits perfectly!

jp

What’s Gator in French?

jp

Alligator = Alligator

Christ.

delooper

Gator.

KnightRain

Bahahahaha!

cowboy bill

Le Gateur .

KnightRain

Grande Gator?

Material Elvis

Le Gator.

Dee Dee

mordeur d’entrejambe

Reja

Blacque Jacque Shellacque.

cowboy bill

Holloway still looks like a boy playing with men. That will change sometime soon.

delooper

But a big and enthusiastic boy that can skate.

David

I’m a big Nurse fan. That play there drives me crazy. That’s always going to be an icing. Make a play.

norm2015

nurse has Lot of hope and prayer style plays

SK Oiler Fan

Oilers net front hasn’t been that painful to hang out in all year. Well done

cowboy bill

Hey there’s Connor & Leon on the bench.

Dee Dee

I’m firing the Bandwagon back up!

godot10

Broberg is +4. He fixes all of Bouchard’s warts. And the madding crowd still wants Zegras.

Paulie

He has the speed and reach to make lots of quick smart plays. Calm too, no panic in his game lately.

KnightRain

I’ve noticed his speed more than a few time tonight. Just makes it so much easier that he can just accelerate and get to pucks clean. He’s jumped into the rush a few time but no joy. It will come, though.

Material Elvis

His positioning is way better. It seems like he has stopped thinking about rushing the puck and just being a solid defender, which he is becoming rapidly. Add a defensively capable Desharnais and what a difference.

Dee Dee

I was in the stands at Rexall shouting his name when the Oilers could have drafted Shane Doan.

This one hurts only a little less.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Decent night for a guy lacking in hockey-IQ, according to some.

Now do it again.

Chief Inspector

+10 in his last seven games

KnightRain

That stat speaks volumes about how far he’s come since his earlier stint. Sheltered? Yes. But killing it while learning on the job. Points will follow.

Paulie

Kane up to 7 shots.

Paulie

Did anyone catch the shot earlier of Kane with his arm around Kulak? Little things like that are neat to see.

Material Elvis

I don’t think Evander was ready for the McDavid pass. Still shaking off the rust.

KnightRain

But, like Louie said, he was in the right place. Goal scorers find those spots. He’ll get it going.

Material Elvis

He’ll get going plus he’ll be fresh for the playoffs.

Material Elvis

Looks like Campbell changed his glove. The new one is mostly white.

BornInAGretzkyJersey

That’s what I saw too, thanks for the confirmation.

kgo

Great Catch!!!

cowboy bill

There’s the glove.

Prairie_Sentinel

Starting to come together boys…..starting to come together. McLeod with the dagger!

Material Elvis

Nice goal by McLeod-Holloway-Hyman. Great zone exit prior to the goal.

jp

Been a while for McLeod.

Good to see, and Holloway keeps contributing.

Gerta Rauss

2 assists for Holloway tonight

Tarkus

Holloway’s first multipoint NHL game.

KnightRain

BOOM!!! McLeod doesn’t fly by and is rewarded!!!

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Highlander!

Psyche

There can be only one!

Tye

TBH, I’d trade for, or sign his brother if he was available…

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Maybe it’s just me, but looks like Soup changed his glove to the away coloured one.

SK Oiler Fan

I’ve lost track of non nhl goals allowed by Campbell this year. 10? Half to a weak glove? Then he’ll look fine for 3 periods. Baffling

Can you imagine if he was a rookie goalie? He’d be in the echl

jp

Been a while since we saw one though. And he’s got a lot of history as a quality NHL goalie.

He’s still .923 on the night and with a 2 goal lead. I’ll have no complaints unless he allows another stinker.

Edit: now a 3 goal lead.

Last edited 1 year ago by jp
MushedPeas

His glove is strong except when it ain’t.

Dee Dee

Fuhr sure let a lot of stinkers in the ole five hole and he was a hall of famer.

Selective memory robs me of the last goalie who just left, he didn’t have a glove either.

Shane

Fantastic movement by the PP

Kert

Did Tolvanen just out-Nurse Nurse? Wow.

Tarkus

The best is still Patrik Laine’s own goal.

dangilitis

He was just terrified of Lucic and Letestu bearing down on him

KnightRain

Good shifts after the goal against!!! Live the response!!!

Paulie

That goal was better than Nurse’s.

Prairie_Sentinel

And the own goals are even for the night

BornInAGretzkyJersey

Goals like that will take a Tolvanen on the SEAmen’s morale.

Tarkus

Tolvanen stays hot! Even scoring on his own team!