The Oilers should be 2-0-0 this week after two games.
Somehow the Oilers managed to score five goals against Tampa Bay unfortunately three of them were on themselves.
Honestly, I have never seen something like that while watching hockey. Maybe one of the pucks go off the defender and in, sure that happens.
But THREE times? That’s witchcraft right there. It’s a damn shame too because I thought the Oilers outplayed the Lightning in that game.
The Oilers have four games this week, including one tonight against the red hot Florida Panthers, who have won 11 in a row.
Edmonton Oilers Three Stars
3. Justin Schultz (!?!). Yeah, this one is surprising considering that Justin Schultz is Tom Poti 2.0 in the eyes of Oilers fans. He’s the whipping boy of the team. That said, the whipping boy looked pretty solid these last few games, He’s looked slightly better in his own zone and has rebounded since his awful game against Calgary on the 27th of December. He was solid against the Lightning, earning the second star for the night by having a goal and five shots.
2. Andrej Sekera. Chiarelli’s free agent acquisition is starting to look really good right now. He’s the defacto number one defenceman and it would be debatable that he is still that when Klefbom returns. He’s easily the best defenceman on the Edmonton Oilers right now. He’s the type of player who does everything right, but not flashy. He’s not a physical player, it’s not his game, and that drives people crazy. He scored the lone goal in a snoozer against his former team, The Carolina Hurricanes, in Overtime no less. I was thrilled when we signed Sekera and I’m still happy we have him.
1. Cam Talbot. Remember when people were declaring they were done with him after 12 games played? I do. It was silly to proclaim that. He’s been very good for the Oilers and has taken the number one job from Anders Nilsson. Woodguy55 of becauseoilers.com mentioned this after his game against Carolina:
Earlier I stated Talbot put up a .941 in his last 10 games. I was wrong, it was .931. Good on @ReidWilkins for catching it. Math is hard.
— Woodguy (@Woodguy55) January 5, 2016
That’s a starting goalie’s save percentage right there. Ten games isn’t a huge sample size, that’s granted, but it sure is a lot better than saying “I’m done” after twelve games. Talbot is starting yet again against a strong Panthers team and while he took the loss against Tampa Bay, there was no way any of those fluke goals were his fault.
Edmonton Oilers News and Trade Rumors
"We've determined Connor is not physically ready to play between now and then." Coach McLellan on @cmcdavid97's rehab progress
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 9, 2016
That’s too bad, but at least we have a date when McDavid will be returning. Not going to lie, I thought McDavid would be back by next week, but then again, I’m no doctor. I understand and fully support Management’s decision on this injury: there have been far too many times where the Oilers would rush players back from injury and it impacted them negatively. It stinks not having McDavid for another month, but we’ve lived without him for two.
Even worse news was the revelation that Oscar Klefbom would not be back until after the all star break. It’s rough news as fans were expecting a huge boost when both players returned.
Status check on @Klefbom93 from Coach McLellan as well. https://t.co/Mr1vA5fixP
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 9, 2016
One big name that is thrown out there is Kevin Shattenkirk. It was reported earlier that his name is receiving calls and the Oilers for sure should be involved there, but I’m wary of his contract status. There are not many options out there for a Right Handed top four defenceman for the Oilers right now, with Seth Jones recently traded and Hamonic injured. You can bet that Chiarelli would be interested.
Jonathan Drouin requested a trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning. It was revealed via his agent, Allan Walsh on Twitter, but the requested dated back to November. Can’t really blame Drouin here: he wasn’t getting any playing time and was recently sent down to the AHL. I don’t think the Oilers will be runners in this race, but St Louis has been mentioned a few times.
Keith Yandle is not talking an extension with the Rangers and that makes him a candidate to be traded. Yandle was acquired last year from the Rangers (with Chris Summers and a 4th round pick) for John Moore, Anthony Duclair and a conditional 1st round pick in 2016 and a second round pick in 2015. It was a heavy price.
Around the League
The biggest trade so far this season took place on Wednesday when Seth Jones was traded to Columbus for Ryan Johansen. You just don’t see one for one deals of that magnitude in the NHL anymore!
Earlier that same day, the Los Angeles Kings acquired Vincent Lecalvalier and Luke Schenn . Philadelphia received Jordan Weal and a 3rd round pick in return.
Mike Richards signed with the Washington Capitals on Wednesday as well.
Emerson Etem was traded from the Rangers to the Canucks for Jensen and a 6th round pick in 2016.
Highlights
Lightning and Oilers game
Johansen scored in his first game as a Nashville Predator
Here were some of the best radio calls of the week
The Week Ahead
The Oilers play four times this week including tonight against the Panthers. They have a two game road trip visiting the Coyotes on Tuesday and the Sharks on Thursday, while hosting the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
Three big divisional games, with no McDavid or Klefbom to save them. It’ll be tough.
That’s the week that was. Follow me on Twitter (I changed my Twitter handle recently) and have a good week!
