2023-24 Game 18: Oilers at Hurricanes

by Lowetide

If you aren’t old enough to remember, the 1980’s Oilers were hated across the NHL. Consider this piece from the Sunday, January 11, 1987 edition of the Calgary Herald: “There was a time, not so long ago, when the Oilers ruled the NHL the way King Kong ruled New York. But when the Flames brought all of Oilerdom to its knees in last year’s Smythe Division final, everything changed. When the Flames burned them, and burned them badly, the Oilers lost a little of everything: their Stanley Cup hopes, their mystique, their invincibility and much of their game plan.

That night the Oilers would beat the Flames (two points from Gretzky and two from Messier) and the team would win the third Stanley in team history that spring.

THE ATHLETIC!

WHAT TO EXPECT IN NOVEMBER

  • At home to: DAL, NAS (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-2-0)
  • On the road to: VAN, SJS, SEA (Expected 1-1-1) (Actual 1-2-0)
  • At home to: NYI, SEA (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
  • On the road to: TBY, FLA, CAR, WAS (Expected 1-3-0) (Actual 0-2-0)
  • At home to: ANA, VEG (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
  • On the road to: WPG (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
  • Overall expected result: 7-6-1, 15 points in 14 games
  • Actual November results: 3-6-0, 6 points in 9 games
  • Oilers in 2023-24: 5-11-1, 11 points in 17 games

There are five games left in the month, and I have the team going 3-2-0. I think that’s aggressive based on what we’ve seen (I make the predictions before the start of the month) in recent days. I think 1-3-0 for this road trip may land close enough to be a leaner, but it’s possible we see 2-3-0 through month’s end. That would put the Oilers 7-14-1 after 22 games. Absolute anathema.

THE CONDORS

Plenty to talk about after last night’s game. First, the Oilers need a RH shot with a quick release for the power play. Raphael Lavoie has four power-play goals in six games for the Bakersfield Condors this season. If Jeff Jackson is as smart as fans hope he is, then recalling Lavoie today will have more value than activating Mattias Janmark. It won’t happen, but it shows the Oilers remain old line thinkers on important roster issues. The sweet and brief period where Jay Woodcroft had the courage of his convictions about the AHL kids will be remembered by this observer for a long time. It was so very good.

Jack Campbell was the big story last night, 30 saves and a shutout well earned. It was the first sign of recovery I’ve seen, some of you sophisticated fans may have picked up a smile or wave in previous games. I’d say that several of those saves were tough and the game was tense from A to Z. I have zero idea if he’ll ever play for the Oilers again. He played well last night.

Xavier Bourgault had no shots but several good passes and turned over pucks like ringing a bell. The organization is not using him in a feature role and so I’m not sure we’re going to see a lot of offence, but he can play. His style is very much similar to Kailer Yamamoto. He scoffs pucks from carriers like my friend Diane Smart stole chips from the bowling alley in Maidstone when I was a kid.

Cameron Wright is on an AHL deal and my word he had a night for Bakersfield. He had seven shots on goal, at least a couple that were high danger and showed up in a positive way all over the ice. I don’t know him at all really, but will look for him from now on.

TONIGHT

I don’t really know what to tell you, beyond the fact Edmonton’s defensive coverage has addled moments and they are common enough to lose games all by their lonesome. The goaltending hasn’t been good enough either, and Edmonton’s five-on-five goal share (43 pct) trails expected goal share (56 pct) by enough there should be an investigation. The penalty kill is as appropriate as the dance scenes of my youth from the Pig & Whistle and the power play can go to hell.

If you’re looking for signs of a better future, look for a Connor McDavid goal, a power-play goal, good performances from Connor Brown, Ryan McLeod and Mattias Ekholm and a sturdy performance from Stuart Skinner. Carolina is no easy out, friends.

I do think we’ll see a trade. The coaching bounce hasn’t arrived as hoped and part of that could be strength of schedule. Maybe Campbell’s shutout would have changed things if Ken Holland were completely in charge, but my feeling is Jeff Jackson is going to pull the trigger on a deal worthy of bold font that includes a goalie. We wait.

At noon today, Sports 1440, we’ll have a last at a pre-game show. Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal will talk about goaltending, and that includes Skinner, Campbell and Jaroslav Halák. Your comments welcome and we’ll likely hammer home an item or two on the Condors, too. You can reach me in the comments section, @Lowetide on twitter, or text us 1.833.401.1440 directly.

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Scungilli Slushy

The next GM has to stop paying players for outlier production. Fantastic guy in the room or not, over paying hurts everyone’s chances on the team for the main reason they play – to win championships. If guys want cash, make sure you are in a position to trade them, it’s better in the long run

Nurse got paid after a 16 goal season, in 56 games, .285 G/G. His career average taking out the outlier year is .1 G/G which is 8 goals in a year. Add to that the sloppy way in which that deal happened, the stiff trade protection, and the structure, and Holland has hooped them for 6 more seasons. His first year in, playing with players at historic scoring levels or career production, he got 12 goals in 82 games. Nurse is helpful, but more in the 6M range which reflects his actual career overall performance and limitations

Thank goodness Nuge had his outlier season after he was signed, of he might have been paid like Marner

Scungilli Slushy

Nobody and nothing are doing the team any favours right now. The ice maker, the refs, themselves

However, none of that matter if you don’t gift the opponent goals. Focus on the basics, give the goalies a chance to play better. You can’t win them all, but you might win some. It’s captain obvious, but they have to actually start doing it. That’s mostly how the victors are beating them

Jaxon

Oof. This is almost over. They’ll have to go something like 5-2-1 in every 8-game stretch, the rest of they way. Do 5-2-1 eight times in a row and they make the playoffs 40-16-8 for 99 pts.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Going 8-0-0 and 6-2-0 a couple times helps even out those other stretches.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Oilers nation’s Zach thinks they need to go 10-5-1 until New years to have any hope. How do you get there? I see 6 wins if they continue to play like this? And I am being generous because I don’t see them going 0-4 against the Florida teams but of course its possible. I’ll throw in 5 more maybes. And those maybes only exists because of the other maybes in that they get some momentum and confidence out of it. Tall order. If they can play a simple game and get their act together then maybe. Maybe. And thats just to have hope. 

  • @ Washington W
  • vs. Anaheim W
  • @ Winnipeg M?
  • vs. Carolina 
  • vs. Minnesota 
  • vs. New Jersey M?
  • vs. Chicago W
  • vs. Tampa Bay W
  • vs. Florida
  • @ Islanders M?
  • @ New Jersey M?
  • @ Rangers
  • @ Sharks W
  • @ Kings M? 
  • @ Ducks W
Sierra

What does it say about a team when there is no new coach bounce?

Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

Dead on arrival this season.

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

Firing the previous coach was a mistake?

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

Carolina was always going to be the toughest out. They play like Woodcroft had the Oilers playing. So fast, pressure everywhere, everything is a potential scoring chance. Love it. Too bad their players just aren’t quite good enough.

An assistant coach worth his bacon should have warned KK about that pressure system and would suggest keeping steady D-pairs. Maybe run the new pairings against a slower team like the Caps?

Really shouldn’t have pissed away those two winnable games in Florida. Oh well. Mountain is getting steeper and more annoying. But if you look at the out of town scoreboard and then the standings it’s not really K2 or even Everest yet. Terrible luck on the ice but very reasonable luck so far in the standings.

Another winnable game up against the Caps. Very winnable.

It would be swell if the defense didn’t spot the oppo a softie in the first. That would be swell. Oh and could our Goalers make a routine save on a wide angle shot that has no business going in? That too would be swell.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

I think they need to take the next two for me to remain hopeful at all. 7 wins in 20 is still horrible but/and then they would need to do the inverse: 14 wins in the next 20. Going to have to be at least .500 midway and that’s just to be in a spot to keep running hot for quarters 3 and 4.

Mt. Denali, though shorter, is the harder climb. Everest wouldn’t be so bad, a steady climb up the standings. Denali will leave your corpse frozen by base camp.

Last edited 1 year ago by Chelios is a Dinosaur
SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

Well they only have to beat enough Western teams to get in and they have lots of chances to do that. As jtblack notes below, it gets very Western in a few weeks. They’ll have to run hot, can’t blow games against Minny, but the opportunity will be there.

Vegas is the toughest out, everyone else in the West has very large holes and will swoon.

Speaking of swoon, what’s up with the Devils?

Chelios is a Dinosaur

I would have predicted the Devils and Bruins to have each others’ records by now.

drglen

The oilers are making a case for the Tier relegation model of English Soccer.

What is the purpose of pro hockey again? Oh right, tax write offs for the wealthy.

Ya, pretty dark.

€√¥£€^$

Stephen’s Supercilium is a weenie

Let’s sink deeper for Celebrini

Then in July toss out the soggy diapers

For a team of actual Stanley snipers

BornInAGretzkyJersey

How do we trade this red paperclip to a blue house?

McSorley33

Still loading up McDrai…..

Leon

CF-30%
SF 16%

GF 0 / GA 3

Keep doing it knobby….league is laughing now.

McSorley33

Against Rod Brindamour makes it even more special ….

Scungilli Slushy

St Louis in their Cup season had O Reilly (Messier type) goalie luck and a good D group not being deployed properly. And players with mental toughness

And a coach taking no crap that the players still liked enough

We don’t

Scungilli Slushy

Holland’s D group is a big part of the problem. Only Bouch and a pre Oiler destroyed Ek can actually move the puck reliably

So a simple pre scout and instructions to players that can actually execute and the Oilers are hooped

Its easy to shut off a team when you know that only 1 D can actually pass and skate on a pair, or one, or neither

If they actually get the puck under control up the ice, there are legion forwards that can’t place the puck properly, or shoot if they get a lane or chance

Most shooting goals are top 1/3 net. Too many sensitive types on the team that get rattled to the core quite easily and lose their deal. Muffin shots and weak attempts. Brain fog passes. Every hard job demands people with the backbone for it, if success is a part of the plan

hunter1909

Me: There’s a game on. It’s already started. Let’s check the score…

4-1 Carolina in the 1st period.

Me: Do I want to watch Oilers mighty yet ultimately failed comeback? of course not. That’s for the lunatics who think last season’s powerplay darlings are going to stage a comeback.

This is no longer a decade of darkness. It’s a generation of despair. At this point there is literally no point in caring about the Edmonton Oilers.

Crazy Pedestrian

So it’s now turned from the “DOD” into “GOD”?

alrighty then… apparently Oiler fans are all now in misery living through the GOD.

teddyturnbuckle

I think at this point the organization has to start thinking about next year. No team ever comes back from 5- 12 -1. Never mind a team with no goalie and one of the the worst D in the nhl. The Oilers D are a joke. Nurse has no gamesmanship and is extremely limited in moving the puck. He drops to his knee way too often and gives a free shot on net. He should be stretching out with that reach getting stick on puck. Now Bouchard is going down like a starfish taking himself out of the play. Ceci hasn’t scored in two years, Kulak is a third pair guy, Ekholm looks like he aged 5 years over the summer and I can’t even talk about how bad Bouchard has been this year. Broberg is like Bambi out there and his arrows are going nowhere. He makes lots of soft plays and gets knocked around in limited minutes. That is the Oilers D.

teddyturnbuckle

Vinny is a 7.

thelongdark

No team with 5 wins through its’ first 18 games has made the playoffs in the NHL’s salary cap era. 

jtblack

so you’re telling me there’s a chance ….

Diablo

The Oilers were down 0-2 by the time I got home from work. Instead of turning on the game, I decided to spend extra time playing with my 2 year old. I tuned into check the score out of morbid curiosity just to find out just how badly they were getting their show run.

Aside from buying the token Oilers merchandise I have never been financially invested in this team as a fan. Emotionally is a different story of course, but that’s easily fixed by rearranging my priorities.

How long will it be before the Tier 1 fans do the same?

Ice Sage

Good call. I enjoyed some Netflix with the missus. Will sleep better for it.

jtblack

it’s 2023 and you have seem to have followed the team through the decade of darkness and still “follow” them after an abysmal start. That is the answer. They will follow forever. That’s what fans do ….

Diablo

Of course I’ll follow … the Oilers are my team. I’ll follow them to the beautiful beyond. I’ll read the comments here on LT and glance at the score board, and watch some highlights. But I’m not going to spend much time tuning in live … instead, I’ll hit the gym and try to get my body fat down to 9-10% and spend more time with my little girl. But watching this season’s team as currently constructed and coached is not worth what little free time I have.

danny

I’ve been a die hard fan for almost 40 years. As a kid I’d fake sleep until 11pm and sneak ITV on in my bedroom to watch Tim Spellisy and the Oilers broadcasts. I’d cross three body parts because one wasn’t enough and two cancelled each other out. I’d go to bed with a sick stomach if they lost.

You’re probably right that I’ll follow them until the day I die, but turning my back on this mess feels much more plausible than it ever has, i understand anyone that does too.

Kurri17

-Firing Woodcroft in favour of Knoblauch was a tremendous unforced error. Woody was imperfect, but proved he could win with this team and had more playoff wins than any Oiler coach since the last time they went to the Finals. In his short tenure he complied an impressive .643 winning percentage with this very team. His team got off to a poor start and he was gone within 13 games, that is all the rope he was given after a WCF appearance only two seasons ago, and consecutive 100 point seasons.

-Knoblauch has changed nothing on the ice and appears to bring similar energy to the team as a deflated balloon. He has no prior NHL experience and was thrust into the fire pit of the NHL. He would probably be better suited as an assistant for awhile longer. The Oilers would do well to swallow their pride and bring Woody back.

-Meanwhile the team wanders aimlessly in the desert, either skating around the perimeter accomplishing nothing, or standing dumbly in the defensive zone watching the opponents blast pucks right through our sieve goaltenders, either of whom might be mistaken for Red Light Racicot.

-Evan Bouchard is indeed the Oilers best draft pick since McDavid way back in 2015. Yet, the Oilers have made their first round selection every year since then except for last year. Let that sink in.

-Holland has tanked the cap, there is no room to bring in any real help that would be a difference maker. His centerpiece goalie is rocking a .873 in the AHL including his recent shutout, and is a $5M caphit until 2027. Holland makes more money this year for that work than many people will ever make in their entire lives.

-Connor Brown is taking up space on the team. He just made his bonus $3.6M caphit for next year in return for his HERCULEAN statline of 12 games played, 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 points, -7.  Woah, slow down there, big guy! Save some scoring for the rest of the boys. Can’t believe we gave up two high energy great teammates in Yamo and Kostin for this dud and another year of Janmark.

-Connor needs to lighten up and smile for once in his life, seriously haven’t seen this guy crack a smile since the Flames series win two years ago. I gets it’s a bad situation but you’re the Captain, show some energy and lead the boys.  You bring the sad face all the time, the team just gets dragged down further.

Rant over.

Zelepukin

can we forfeit the season and swap out all our players and management, like in Scrabble?

hunter1909

I like the good old turn the board over by “accident” approach.

Perhaps the Oilers can work out some kind of equivalent.

Lenny

Bringing back Woodcroft is just so crazy I could see them doing it. What a mess

Boil-in-the-Oil

Sure wish McLeod would occasionally take the puck to the net… or even just shoot more. He’s a great puck thief and he sure looks good skating around with the puck on his stick, amazing controlled possession… but he won’t ever score if he doesn’t get the puck to the net. He needs to shoot or pass to someone in front of the net.

thelongdark

The Oilers have 11 points after 18 games this season. Only once during the Decade of Darkness did the Oilers have fewer than 12 points after 18 games.

GordieHoweHatTrick

I keep thinking they’ve hit bottom, but then no, no they haven’t

Ice Sage

Nope, they’ll lose some more, get more listless, the arena will have empty seats and jerseys will hit the ice. There might be a trade or two but that won’t move the needle.

Seen it before but now with little hope for the next 5-10 years.

My (now grown) kids are Oiler fans but my grandkids won’t be.

At this stage, the best I’m hoping for is a ‘Ray Bourque’ Stanley moment in a few years for 97 or 29 where we can say ‘yeah, they learned the ropes in the Oiler development system’!

Sigh.

Last edited 1 year ago by Ice Sage
€√¥£€^$

Silver lining….cheaper tix at end of season and next season?

JimmyV1965

There truly is no accountability with this team. No one has been benched or sat for even a period. No one has called out the players publicly or even raised their voices, or expressed any kind of frustration with the team. This is a team filled with veterans and no one has displayed any leadership. 

SKOilerFan

There’s a big elephant in the room

thelongdark

is it the lack of accountability or something else?

McSorley33

We had this talk in October.

jtblack

The next 13 games the Oilers schedule is pretty tough:
@ WASH
ANA
VGS
@WPG
CAR
MIN
NJ
CHI
T.B.
FLA
@NYI
@NJ
@NYR

….
THEN
@S.J.
@L.A.
@ANA
PHI
OTT
@CHI
@DET
@MTL

The reality is they may be cooked .But if they can some how get 7 wins or more in their next 13; the schedule opens up and is reasonable the rest of the way.

I know it seems hopeless. But it’s not. They do need a TRADE or new COACHING STRATEGY immediately..

I would trade Foegle. that’s Connor’s buddy and it would send a message … prob won’t happen b/c Oilers … but that’s what needs to happen.

8th place in the Conference is Seattle and they are 7-8-5.

as Jim Carrey said. “I’m telling you, there’s a chance”

Ranford.85

We’ve all seen moments in sports that defy logic, pushes the envelope or changes the game.
Every sport has those moments.
For a “Cup favorite” to have a season like this, is something I’ve never seen in any sport.
Has there been a heavy favorite that fell flat on it’s face like this before? I can’t think of one in hockey.
The Oilers this season are truly in a league of their own, which at this point is a tarnish on that classic movie.

jtblack

2019 Blues. Were favorites to win the division. were dead last in early Jan. Coaching change (brought in Berube). rolled the rest of the way and snuck into playoffs. then won Cup.

But to your point, no. it rarely happens that a Cup Favorite or Championship Favorite in any sport, starts this poor. It is absolutely baffling ….

Ice Sage

A few weeks back I laughed off a friend’s (who’s a Dy’s fan) suggestion that Connor had taken his sports betting sponsorship a little too seriously and shorted his own team. It’s preposterous but also would explain things…this is historically extreme if all is being done ‘within the rules’

Scungilli Slushy

This is the house Ken Holland built. For 5M a year

I like the guy, but he has been so far past it, he deserves to be fired now, not quietly faded out

The hubris to take that much salary and make this is….

I don’t want to disrespect him, but it’s BS

He has no feel for the game. His players are poorly balanced and poorly chosen

No coach can fix this now for a cup. But, again they have a tit mouse coach. They have chosen poorly over and over. Bullies, motivaters, new age, on and on

What they need is a personality that can make people do things, regardless of salary, that doesn’t cause them to lose motivation

And teach Connor and Leon how to lead. Maybe Nurse. They are too used to taking the games on their back, and have no answers for when that no longer works

SVR

Draisaitl, Nurse, Campbell for Laine, Werenski, Merzlikins. We get the best player and maybe Laine comes around. money is close. Lots of NMC’s to wade through

Diablo

I’ve been thinking the same thing – some sort of deal which shakes the foundations of both of these teams. That said the best player in that deal is Draisaitl and it’s not even close. One of CBJs high end prospects would need to be coming back – CBJ is DESPERATE for a first line centre … have been for a long time… If they were to add Fantilli or Jiricek, you’d have to think hard about blowing up the current Oilers core.

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

Jay Woodcroft never once had McDavid and Draisaitl putting up this kind of horror show

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/game.php?season=20232024&game=20279&view=limited

McDavid -25% Rel at 5v5
Draisaitl -30% Rel 5v5

Nvm that it’s been happening every game since the coaching change.

Fire Knoblauch, Coffey and Jackson tonight and re-hire Woodcroft and Manson. Tell Katz to stay the f**k away from his 80s drinking buddies.

Dustylegnd

It’s Nicholson pulling the strings … he has Katz’s trust … Nicholson is a master of politics … a regular Keyser Soze.. seriously he is the 2nd constant all through this shit show … connect the dots

MADOIL

Can we find a better D than Des, please? The feel good story is fine but we are not going win anything (even regular season games) with Des and Bouch on the team. Bouch at laest has some offensive chops but not sure what Des brings to the team except penalty kill. So can we afford to have a penalty kill specialist and a PP speacialit in Des and Bouch when the majority of the game is plaed 5 on 5? The Jarvis go around Des today is a case in point of how slow he is. Also, how come we are never able to clear the puck from our D zone even when there is no pressure on the D? Tonight we had Ek, Nurse, Des turnover the puck and we go back on the scrambly mode….man will this stop?
Also, Skinner’s body language does not bode well for a starter. He may need a reset but how is that possible? Seems like a dark interminable tunnel with no sign of light..Sigh!

kgo

Our Dman depth chart is out of whack.

In my opinion, only Ekholm and Kulak are properly slotted as 2LD and 3LD.

Nurse isn’t a 1LD despite his athletic talents,

Bouch isn’t a 1RD, he’s barely a 2RD at the moment.

Ceci isn’t a 2RD on a championship team, he’s a solid 3RD and doesn’t do anything at an elite level.

Desi isn’t a top 6D, I’m sorry, I love the guy, but he’s a 7D at best right now.

Broberg is an AHLer, the game hasn’t slowed down for him yet.

As ridiculous as the option was, getting Karlsson would have slotted everyone into proper place, despite mortgaging the next decade.

godot10

They don’t let Broberg into the game. He is coming off the bench cold all the time. We saw last year that he is at worst a good 3rd pairing D.

Munny 2.0

It’s not setting him up for success. Either play him or don’t dress hm. I know part of the issue was they were down early, but still,got to give him some regular ice.

BlockedShot

I agree that Broberg is an AHL defenseman. He is backing into his opportunity rather than just taking it. Where’s the fire in his belly?

OriginalPouzar

I though he was quite noticeable last night – a couple good shifts – some pretty good fire for his 3 minutes.

Hockey Project

For the first time in… well, I can’t think of how many years. I really can’t… I turned off the game after the 1st period ended, and I don’t regret it.

Boil-in-the-Oil

Thought we were playing the Hurricanes. Turned out we were playing the well coached Carolina Divers… made the officials look truly absurd.

Last edited 1 year ago by Boil-in-the-Oil
Munny 2.0

That was a much better period than the second. Perhaps the most important aspect of that is the fact KK was able to get them out of their in-game funk and show up for the 3rd.

But that doesn’t mean he’s pulled them out of their in-season funk.

He has to get them to commit to playing a 1-0, 2-1 game. Once they’ve demonstrated they can play a tight, close, smart game they can open it up from there. But they need to re-discover that baseline.

Tarkus

Summarizing!

Lachance was held soupless.

Day got torched anew, allowing 6 goals (including 5 in the first) on 18 SOG in a loss.

Prospecting takes a break until Friday.

Bulging Twine

Hyman excellent

thought Broberg has shown more confidence last couple games but a soft play behind the net and he barely played after

godot10

Ceci and McLeod were more to blame on that goal.

Broberg was rubbed out by the forward. The 2nd Carolina forward beat Ceci to the loose puck. McLeod lost a puck battle with the 3rd forward, and then left the forward unmarked..

Broberg was boxed in when the then got the puck. He probably should have eaten it, but he tried to clear it through the Carolina forward that had him blocked in.

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

Hahahahahaha

Butter Boy Broberg strikes again with his super hard top pairing play.

godot10

https://x.com/JeffMarek/status/1727489849639190718?s=20

Watch it. Ceci and McLeod own more of the blame than Broberg.

Bulging Twine

Ceci also overskated the play in front of the net, leaving his mark

McSorley33

Butter soft play behind the net.

He had on his stick, twice

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

By fancies Knoblauch is a standard deviation worse than Woodcroft.

Coffey coaching the defense has made them worse. To nobodies surprise.

Firing Woodcroft to hire these two goons was truly one of the dumbest things we’ve ever seen. Whoever advocated for it should be fired.

Kurri17

I totally agree. Everything Jeff Jackson and co. have done to date has sent this team reeling backward.

KnightRain

That’s the most frustrating thing about this team…they show you glimpses of what could be…
It breaks your heart but you just keep coming back cuz someday…maybe…hopefully…

godot10

Score effects.

who

Maybe some score effects, but I’m going to give the coach some credit for finally getting the lines figured out in the 3rd period. That was optimum deployment. Best I’ve seen McDavid play all year.
Now they just need to trade Kulak or send Broberg down. Make a decision and stick to it.

winchester

It’s insulting to Broberg and Hamlin to get shift of scraps

winchester

Let’s give Bouchard some credit tonight. He is fantastic for these offensive presses.

teddyturnbuckle

Bouchard was good in the end there.

godot10

The game is 60 minutes, and the job of the defenseman is in both ends of the ice.

813.52Ran

All you can do is laugh.

Crazy Pedestrian

What are you talking about? The Oilers are right on track for that first overall!

813.52Ran

True that.

winston

There’s no way NHL want to see oilers select another first overall, will be rigged to ensure this doesn’t happen. TBH..this organization doesn’t deserve it.

Funny Bissonness

Pickard has been good.

Bulging Twine

ya, like last game, good but let in one under his arm that he should have had

Bulging Twine

oh ya, it was called back for offsides

KnightRain

Missed 4 real penalty’s by canes already. Coulda called maybe 7? But it’s getting scary out there so call Connor for a guy flopping.

Scungilli Slushy

That should have been embellishment but Connor was high with his cross check

They allow it lower down which is also stupid

Pretendergast

NHL reffing at its finest. They need a forensic audit.

jtblack

Score effects. it’s a thing,

Effort looks great and good for them. But there is a reason the term “score effects” exist.

Carolina is coasting.

Munny 2.0

Carolina looks more like they’re barely hanging on.

jtblack

hung on for a 6-3 win

winchester

There are no wingers to pass to, they left the zone, as they are so poised to. That plan not working

Munny 2.0

Some very strong shifts again. Night and day from last period. Good for them. Got their heads out of their asses.

Pretendergast

Buried in front of the net and the stripes see nothing.

As is tradition. Can’t let Nuge breathe on someone tho he’s the dirty one.

Munny 2.0

Good time ofr an ad. Rest up the big dawgs

ArmchairGM

Nuge – McDavid – Hyman.

As it was written.

Munny 2.0

Omigod a powerplay.

Bulging Twine

This Carolina colour commentator is excellent
Tripp Tracy?

Munny 2.0

Rewarded. Zac attack part 2

KnightRain

BOOM!!! Hyman has no quit!!!

Munny 2.0

Keep this up and good things will happen

OriginalPouzar

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