January 14, 2020 /

2019/20 Edmonton Oilers GM 48: Predators @ Oilers – 3P2W – Kassian/Tkachuk Fallout

Can you believe how good that hockey game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames was the other night? It has been quite a while since we’ve seen the intensity revved up that high in the Battle of Alberta. I’m talking decades possibly. We had highlight-reel goals, massive open-ice body checks, a scrum that made national headlines, and some ridiculous goaltending. As a fan of hockey, what more could you have asked for?

More on Zack Kassian/Matthew Tkachuk later.

Edmonton’s next opponents are the Nashville Predators and it would be prudent for the Oilers to re-focus and lock their targeting systems on the Preds right now because they’re going to need all of that concentration not to take the men from Music City lightly even though they’ve been having a down year. Even more so for the reason that since the Predators fired Peter Laviolette and hired John Hynes, they’ve not lost and find themselves a mere four points behind the Oilers in the wildcard race.

A win for Edmonton would mean a spot back in the Pacific Division’s top three but that might only be temporary if the other teams they’re competing with also win. So it’s quite imperative that the Oilers pick up points in this game and the next one against Arizona before they begin their annual bye-week.

Kassian/Tkachuk

Before I get into my thoughts on this, I want to give fans of the Calgary Flames an opportunity to read something that will help justify their opinion and Matthew Tkachuk’s actions. Click here for that.

So Zack is going to be sitting two games for protecting himself because the league and its officials couldn’t be bothered but isn’t it interesting that the NHL’s Department of Player Safety only game Kassian two games thus setting up a mid-week hockey game that normally would go unnoticed in parts of North America not named Alberta. Now, everybody will be tuning in to see what Mr. Kassian has in store for Matthew Tkachuk… Clever decision George but will the refs let them play or decide that they won’t be embarrassed… Again.

Have you seen the list of ex-NHLers that have come out in support of Kassian?

Now, what’s happened here is that the league has said that it’s okay with players running around making hits like Tkachuk did in that game and to be honest if that’s really the decision, then I’m all for him. I’d love to see the return of the big hit, but you cannot punish a man for sticking up for himself if you’re letting the other players run him.

I talked to a current NHLer about this and he basically told me that that game was insane but he loves the way Tkachuk plays. I asked a gentleman who played for the Oilers but is retired now about this whole debacle and he mentioned that you can never make a player like Tkachuk go away and that’s why you target the Gaudreaus. He added that sometimes it’s not so easy to turn on the nasty and become the aggressor all of a sudden. Likened it to running up an escalator in that you might make some progress but you’ll never get ahead and it’s more effective just to start the game with that plan than to try and play catch up.

Matt Tkachuk has put his teammates in a very precarious position. They now have to watch their backs on the ice at all times because Edmonton is going to make it a priority to chip away at them until Keith’s boy decides he’s all grown up and can do the right thing when the bell is rung. There are going to be some long nights ahead for Calgary’s goalies, Johnny Gaudreau, and Sean Monohan, Oliver Kylington and Rasmus Andersson and they’ll be able to thank their Tkachucky Cheese for that. The other thing that’s going to happen is that the spotlight that is on him is going to grow a bit brighter each time he does something like this and eventually they’ll tell him to stop or it’ll be a 41-game suspension…

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The Next Ten Games (41-50)

  • vs. Calgary Flames (19-15-5) – The Oilers should be bitter as hell coming back from the Christmas break and looking for retribution. In terms of gf/ga on the year, the Flames are -12 and Edmonton could feast on that. The Oilers have taken two of the past three contests. (WIN) LOSS
  • vs. New York Rangers (17-15-4) – Edmonton will get its first look at 2019 2nd overall pick Kaapo Kakko and welcome back former Oiler, Ryan Strome. This should be a scheduled win for Edmonton as the Rangers aren’t anything special this year. The Oilers have won three on the trot vs. the Rags. (WIN) WIN
  • @ Buffalo Sabres (17-14-7) – Generally, over the years the Oilers have had pretty good luck in Buffalo, but this year Jack Eichel is a man possessed and last time Rasmus Dahlin was out of the lineup. If Dahlin is back in for this game, he’ll add a significant threat. I like Edmonton’s chances here though. (WIN)  OT LOSS
  • @ Boston Bruins (22-7-9) – The Bruins went into the Christmas break on a bit of a slump going 2-4-4 in their previous ten. This is going to be a challenge for the Oilers to win even when Boston is at their worst and there’s no better team to bust a slump against than Edmonton, right? (LOSS) WIN
  • @ Toronto Maple Leafs (20-14-4) – Toronto’s confidence was sky high before baby Jesus’ bday, but guess who comes to play each time he’s back home. That’s right, Connor McDavid. It will take a complete team effort for the Oilers to beat their nemesis, Freddy Andersen, though as he’s really had Edmonton’s number. (OT LOSS) WIN
  • @ Montreal Canadiens (18-13-6) – I really enjoyed Edmonton’s performance against the Habs in their earlier match. If the Oilers can replicate that, I don’t see why a win is out of the question. (WIN) WIN
  • @ Calgary Flames (19-15-5) – Round two! Ding. Ding. In Calgary, I think the Flames might be able to muster up a win here. (LOSS) LOSS
  • vs. Nashville Predators (18-12-6) – Is Pekka Rinne in net? If so, I’ll give this one to the Oilers. If it’s Saros, the Preds have a much better chance of success. They’ve been an interesting team to watch this year and are playing in a tough division. Their 42pts at the break had them in 3rd last in the Central… (WIN)
  • vs. Arizona Coyotes (21-14-4) – Hallsy’s back and if the Oilers would like to go that extra mile, they could show him how much of a powerhouse they plan to be next season by wiping the floor with Arizona, but it’ll be a tough game. Arizona is a lot deeper than the Oilers and their netminding has been much better. This needs to be a game where Edmonton’s defense shines. (OT LOSS)
  • vs. Calgary Flames (19-15-5) – Coming off of a 10-day break, Mikko Koskinen and the Oilers will be well-rested. In theory, they should be as ready as they’re ever going to be to take on their inter-province rivals. (WIN)

(Standings as of December 26th, 2019)

Three Players to Watch for the Predators

  • #59 Roman Josi – In Nashville’s last ten matches, Josi has SIXTEEN points… Safe to say, he’s a scoring threat that Edmonton should watch carefully.
  • #15 Craig Smith – Six goals in his last ten games. He was a perfect candidate to acquire earlier in the season when he was shooting blanks. Now he’s scoring goals left and right and the price has increased.
  • #33 Viktor Arvidsson – I really love watching this little guy play. He’s like a Swedish Brendan Gallagher but with a better shot. He’s not been as healthy or effective this season, but he’s always one to keep an eye out for given he doesn’t offer you much choice in the matter.

Three Players to Watch for the Oilers

  • #15 Josh Archibald – I reckon that Archie will take Kassian’s spot on the top line to begin with. He offers the speed and tenacity in the corners that will be absent w/o Kass. He’s also got six points in his last ten performances.
  • #18 James Neal – Three goals in his last five games and he’s facing a former club. Does that work for current Oilers? I mean, can they turn it on against a team they played for in the past? I feel like it only works for skaters that leave the Oilers though…
  • #74 Ethan Bear – He’s had a couple of off-days recently and Edmonton needs him to get back to form. The Predators have threats on all four lines, so it won’t matter who he’s lined up against. His work is cut out for him (and his partner…).

The lines below will change undoubtedly with Kassian’s paper suspension in effect. Either Patrick Russell or Jujhar Khaira will come back in to shore up the forwards unless Coach Tippett wants to go seven defensemen but I think that’s unlikely. Personally, I hope Russell makes it back in but I’d understand if they decided to insert Khaira given his previous role on the PK. Mike Smith will be back between the pipes.

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CategoriesArmchair GM Beer League Hero Edmonton Oilers NHL

TagsEdmonton Oilers Matthew Tkachuk Nashville Predators NHL Zack Kassian

Beer League Hero Written by:

I'm the Beer League Hero! I am from Camrose, Alberta but I make my home in Taipei City, Taiwan. I've been through the ups and downs and the highs and the Lowes, the Bonsignores and the McDavids, the Sathers and the Eakins but I'll never leave my Oilers, no matter what! They're with me until the end and then some. GO OILERS GO!