Hey y’all! Welcome back for another season of Edmonton Oilers hockey! I’m BLH and I’ll be giving you the skinny on today’s game!
If you’re new here and are wondering what 3P2W means, well, it stands for Three Players to Watch and seeing I’m as lazy as I am, I figured we’d shorten it to 3P2W.
So with that out of the way, let’s talk a little bit about what’s been going on lately in the Oilogospehere and then get into the player’s I’ve put under the spotlight for tonight’s matchup!
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Random Pontifications
- Can anybody tell me how Brady Tkachuk got his suspension lifted for fighting in the last five minutes of the Sens game against Buffalo the other night yet Darnell Nurse couldn’t escape it in the playoffs last year even though Nic Hague was asking for it? I mean, how many times is the NHL going to screw the Oilers over like this.
- Normally if your team is facing the backup goalie you feel pretty good about your chances but Jonathan Quick (1-0-0, 0.70 GAA, .964 SV%) might be starting tonight as Shesterkin went vs. Calgary in their last game out and he’s got some sizzling stats to start the year.
- The Oilers need to get their PK sorted right quick because the Rangers are scoring on 30% of theirs so far this year. Something tells me that they will continue their hot hand with the man advantage tonight. What do you think the over/under is on how many too many men penalties Edmonton will take this evening?
- I love the makeup of New Yorks defense. It’s full of some mean sons of bitches like Ryan Lindgren, Jacob Trouba, and Braden Schneider but also there’s K’Andre Miller (who’s already better than Darnell Nurse, IMO) and Adam Fox. Having former Oiler Erik Gustafsson on the third pair and to help out on the PP doesn’t hurt either.
- Breakout turnovers… This is what Jay Woodcroft is blaming for all the goals against. His defense’s inability to break the puck out of their own zone is killing them. But is that really a surprise with who’s back there seeing as Evan Bouchard is the only one (out of seven blueliners) who is adept at passing.
- The group is chalked full of transporters or stay-at-home dmen though. Nurse, Kulak, Broberg, they could skate the puck out if need be. Ekholm, Desharnais, Ceci, they’re defensive dmen.
- So what is the plan here? What about more of a build-up breakout? More short, low-risk passes to get into the opposition’s end. Is the rink big enough to implement that sort of soccer-style zone exit?
- I’m just saying, if you don’t have any good passers to pass the puck with, why would you task them with making high-risk passes? Eliminate the risk, FFS! Play smart.
- What happens if the Oilers get to November with one win? Could they conceivably turf another coach? Surely they’d make some trades first, wouldn’t they? Or is the draw of having Joel Quenneville simply too much to resist?
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Three Players to Watch for the (team)
- #10 Artemi Panarin (3g 5a 8pts) – The Breadman has 17pts in 15 career games vs. the Oilers and I don’t see that stopping tonight.
- #20 Chris Kreider (5g 1a 6pt) – In 16 matches vs Edmonton he’s scored a goal in half of those. There’s a chance he could have a field day against the likes of Cody Ceci or Evan Bouchard with the power he brings to the game no less his speed and shot.
- #23 Adam Fox (1g 5a 6pts) – No goals in his six games vs. the Oilers so far since he joined the NHL, but he’s racked up 8pts in those half-dozen games. He’ll get his name on the scoresheet tonight I’ll predict.
Three Players to Watch for the Oilers
- #29 Leon Draisaitl (4g 7a 11pts) – Edmonton needs the 2nd best player in the world to show up tonight. Spend less time in the penalty box and more time using those frustrations to fill the Rangers’ net and be the defensive stalwart that he’s all hyped up to be. (18pts in 16 games vs. NYR)
- #37 Warren Foegele (3g 1a 4pts) – McLovin’ is on one helluva run here. Good for him. I didn’t think he’d thrive in the top-six, so, egg on my face. I think if he’s matched up against Kaapo Kakko or Alexis Lafreniere, there’s a chance he’ll be able to do well against them. (4g in 12 games vs. NYR)
- #55 Dylan Holloway (0g 0a 0pts) – Holloway has 11 shots on goal, nearly double that of Mattias Janmark who is on the top line. I don’t know what more this kid has to do to let his coach know that he’s ready for a promotion but Woodcroft has to try him up there at some point, no? Fun fact: Holloway leads all forwards with four blocks and by my eye, not the easy ones either… (1g in 1 game vs. NYR)
The Next Twelve Games (#2-#13)
- 10/14 vs. Canucks – I think the Oilers will take 2/2 vs. Vancouver to start the year. (W)
- (4-3 LOSS)
- 10/17 @. Predators – The Pred don’t scare me. Their roster is in shambles. Poor Jusse Saros and Roman Josi. (W)
- (6-1 WIN)
- 10/19 @ Flyers – Their forward group looks entertaining but they’ve got nobody on defense. (W)
- (4-1 LOSS)
- 10/21 vs. Winnipeg – The Jets are always a tough out. I like their chances. (L)
- (3-2 OTL)
- 10/24 @ Wild – Minny isn’t as good as they used to be but still very solid. (W)
- (7-4 L)
- 10/26 vs. Rangers – I like NY’s defense and goaltending here. (L)
- 10/29 vs.Flames – Calgary is going to surprise a few this year. (L)
- 11/2 vs. Stars – This will be a very tight game. (W)
- 11/4 vs. Predators – Leon will continue to light the Preds up. (W)
- 11/6 @ Canucks – I’ll take Edmonton for a third time here, Alex. (W)
- 11/9 @ Sharks – I don’t even recognize half the names on SJ’s roster… (W)
- 11/11 @ Kraken – I like Seattle’s roster. Well-rounded. (L)
(predictions made 10/11/2023)
