One of my biggest pet peeves as a sports fan is when the game I’m watching doesn’t feature any scoring. So you can imagine how I must’ve felt watching the Oilers and Jets walk into a shootout that would feature the game’s first “goals”. God! Shoot me now… Especially with the firepower that was being showcased.
On the other hand, if you’re the kind of fan who loves a tightly contested match where the goalies are standing on their heads, this game would’ve been a great one for you! The rare double shutout. More elusive than a Milan Lucic penalty when his team plays the LA Kings.
I’ll say this, I wasn’t prepared for a goaltending duel but I won’t complain that it happened either. Mike Smith was fantastic for 65-minutes and he did everything he could to keep his team in the game, but I’d be willing to bet that he might’ve had some unkind words for his teammates after this one.
For the second game in a row, the Oilers were letting the opposition shoot at will from the most dangerous parts of the ice. Surely, that’s not part of Jim Playfair’s plan. That said, the Jets would’ve done themselves a world of good had they hit the net more often. Edmonton might’ve won the shot battle, but that’s thanks to Winnipeg’s lack of accuracy.
Carl Dahlstrom thought he won it for the Jets in the third frame with his first NHL goal, but the keen eye of Edmonton’s eye in the sky, a gentleman by the name of Jeremy Coupal caught an overzealous Mark Scheifele who’d gone offside and rightfully had Coach Tippett challenge the goal. It’s a good feeling to be winning some of these coach’s challenges, right? I mean, didn’t it feel like they couldn’t win any of them during the McLellan era?
Some are calling for a bottom-six reform, but I can’t see that being in the cards. Khaira, Sheahan, and Russell were a really good line two nights ago but when Tippett reunited Archibald with that line, the Jets ate them alive while Russell flourished with Jurco and Granlund. Sure they’re not scoring, but if you think that adding Sam Gagner to this group is going to spark what little offense these guys are bringing, you’re fooling yourself.
If they want to force the offense from those two lines, they’re going to have to sacrifice something to get it. I’ll let you speculate as to what that could be.
The Caveman Cometh
Colby Cave sure made his presence known in his season debut for the Oilers AHL affiliate vs Stockton. The Heat’s notorious pest Martin Pospisil decided that he’d throw down with Cave and man, was that one of his worst decisions ever.
Colby Cave with the KO in the AHL last night 😳 pic.twitter.com/BTiKJHbsO4
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) October 20, 2019
But just to show he’s not a bad guy, Cave contacted the fallen Pospisil later on via text to see if he was alright. What a guy!
https://twitter.com/mpospisil91/status/1185984922642571264
Game Grades
A – Multiple positive plays offensively and defensively leading to excellent scoring chances for and/or limiting scoring chances against.
B – Positively influenced the game with limited minor or major mistakes that didn’t lead to dangerous scoring chances against.
C – Low event night. Noticed on the roster sheet but not so much on the ice.
D – Limited positive influence while multiple errors lead to multiple goals and/or scoring chances.
F – Ate sh*t. Horrid effort.
Josh Archibald – D – Experienced a painful shot block early on and a painful game of hockey for Archie according to the Corsis. He was on the ice for four shot attempts for and TEN against 5×5. To add to that, Zero scoring chances for and FIVE against at 5×5. Yes, he did throw three official hits and was a pain in the ass for Connor Hellebyck, but I wonder if he sits for a game soon or is swapped with Patrick Russell again?
Tomas Jurco – B – He keeps showing flashes of competence but playing him is a catch 22, right? You could move him up the lineup but he’d be facing much tougher defensemen or you could keep him down the lineup at the cost of lesser skilled linemates. The fancies loved him in his eight minutes on the ice. He had a 100% shot share 5×5, was on the ice for a single attempt against 5×5, and five scoring chances for with zero against 5×5. His line was fantastic by the numbers.
Markus Granlund – B – A much better effort I’ll say. His 50% on the dot was helpful. The 100% shot share 5×5 should please the coaches as well as the one shot attempt against 5×5, five scoring chances for and zero against 5×5. His line was a dangerous one in the final frame even with the Jets driving the play for most of that period.
Matt Benning – C – Tippett really doesn’t trust him farther than he can throw him. Only 9:55 of ice-time even strength and 46-seconds on the PK.
Kris Russell – C – 800 games eh? That’s about 8.43 anti-Russell articles per 60 by my count over the course of his career… AS AN OILER. Say what you will about him, every player he’s played with has his respect and he showed why in this game. He guts it out and sacrifices himself for the greater good. Nearly four minutes killing penalties on the evening… Man! That is tough sledding.
Patrick Russell – B – In ten minutes, he lead the Oilers with four shots 5×5 and was only on the ice for one shot against. He was responsible for five scoring chances for and none against 5×5. He’s playing fantastically right now. Took a big hit from Blake Wheeler but bounced back up like it was nothing. He’s quickly turning into a real favorite of mine. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen someone as good as him on the boards.
Jujhar Khaira – C – The advanced metrics did not like his game at all. During his TOI, eleven shot attempts against 5×5, zero scoring chances for and seven scoring chances against 5×5. Woof! He was outmatched by Winnipeg’s more determined skaters. That said, he’s an important part of Edmonton’s PK unit. So, it seems, no matter how poor he is 5×5 or how many extended shifts he gets caught out for, he still has the trust of the coach shorthanded. I’m with the coaches on this one I think. Edmonton’s special teams and goaltending are what’s going to help them reach the post-season. If the bottom-six can tread water, let the top-six fire away.
Riley Sheahan – C – 75% FO% but was on the ice for zero scoring chances for with five against at 5×5. You have to love that faceoff domination but I wondered what would happen with the Oilers not having the last change and my fears were correct. Winnipeg took full advantage and Sheahan’s line simply couldn’t compete.
Brandon Manning – C – He plays an honest game, you got to give him that. But he gets walked all over by anybody with an ounce of skill and that happened once or twice against the Jets. There’s a part of me that wonders if this is a showcase because surely William Lagesson is a better option here.
Oscar Klefbom – B – 27:04 TOI!!! That’s getting into Ryan Suter range, my Lord. He did improve on his giveaways though. In this game, he posted a zero in that category. Oscar is just so solid out there. Against Winnipeg, he got the job done in Niklas Lidstrom-like fashion. Quietly and effectively. Is it not a blessing that we’ve got this guy under contract for four more years at a shade over four million dollars?
Alex Chiasson – C – With as many shots as the Oilers had from the point, you’d have liked to have seen more tips or rebounds tucked home and this is an area of the game where Chiasson thrives. No such luck on this night. If Chiasson can’t find a way to get on the scoresheet, the Oilers might have to make a move to find someone who can. On one hit and not even one shot on net… Not a great showing.
James Neal – B – Neals statline was pretty barren with only a two in the category of shots on goal. Winnipeg did a nice job of keeping Edmonton’s stars to the outside and on more than one occasion the Jets were lucky enough to have gotten away with some illegal tactics to stop the Oilers. A prime example was in OT.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – B – Another game goes by where Nuge is probably the Oilers best 200 foot forward. There was a Jets 2v1 where Nuge busted his ass all the way back through three zones to stop the Winnipeg forward from behind that just showed how amazing he’s playing right now. His work on the cycle has been really impressive too for a guy that’s not 6’4″ and 225lbs. He’s slick and slippery and causes a lot of grief for the opposition. He had 21:21 TOI, three takeaways, three hits, a 50% FO%.
Ethan Bear – B – He’s having himself quite the start to the year eh? Skated 25:31 and only three shots against 5×5 but like Nurse below, the attempted shots on net were much higher (13). According to the Cult of Hockey, Bear played nearly 10 minutes in the third period… That’s nuts! He has to bury those chances when the come to him though. McDavid’s pass from behind the net found Bear for a one-timer in the slot but Hellebuyck saved it.
Darnell Nurse – B – He did a masterful job against the Jets top men, limiting their offense. With 26:23 of TOI, only allowed two shots against 5×5 BUT at the same time, he was on the ice for 15 shot attempts against. So to translate, while he was defending, only two pucks got to Smith but 15 made their way to the net but maybe they missed it or they hit the post. Ended the game with two shots on net, four blocks, and a penalty. To say he was involved in the play is an understatement.
Zack Kassian – C – Had he scored on that odd-man rush with Nuge, that would’ve been it. I think the Oilers would’ve turned on the Jets (ha! puns are awesome!) and taken over the game. Kass has consistently been himself all year. The peaks and valleys in his game have flattened and you know what you’re going to get from him night in and night out. Four more hits for the team’s premier power forward. I love his shot when he has time to let it fly, so I was disappointed when at the end of the game, there was a zero in the shots column.
Leon Draisaitl – B – Man, you would’ve liked to have seen him take a shot on one of those 2v1s with Connor. A mind-boggling 25:31 of TOI. I have no idea what Tippett is doing playing his big boys so much, Does he not trust the rest of his roster or is he looking at some analytics that are telling him that he can ride these boys like Mules? Draisaitl looked absolutely gassed and his 38% FO% as well as the eleven shot attempts for and fourteen against while he was out there hints at that too. However, that pass in OT… Glory be to Leon’s backhand.
Connor McDavid – C – What was going on with his release on those 2-on-1s with Leon? 50% FO%, during his ice time, there were eleven shot attempts for and fifteen against. That’s two subpar games in a row. Maybe it’s time to cut down on the TOI a bit and trust the rest of the roster to do their jobs. Not sure his penalty for slashing was really worth calling. Wheeler had just filled Patrick Russell in along the boards and McDavid was just giving the Jets captain a little tap to let him know how he felt.
Mike Smith – A – What an effort! He was dialed-in and through the Oilers’ PK unit on his back and said, “Shhhhh. Don’t worry boys. I’ll carry you through this warzone.” Man am I happy that the Oilers are getting competent goaltending. They need to bank as many points as possible early this year so that when the inevitable dip comes, it won’t derail their season completely like it has in the past.
Stats courtesy of NHL.com and Natural Stat Trick
