Cam Talbot will make his 19th start this evening, tying him for most in the NHL with Toronto’s Frederik Andersen. Unlike last season, Talbot has struggled to find consistency in his game.
In 204 games he has averaged a .920sv%, but this season he’s only finished five games with a .920sv% or better.
He had an opening night shutout versus the Flames, a .968 at Chicago (stopping 30 of 31), he made 42 saves on 44 shots (.955) in an OTL in Pittsburgh, stopped 36 of 37 (.973) in Brooklyn and posted a .941sv% (32 of 34) in a 3-2 OT win in New Jersey.
In his past two games he has allowed ten goals on 60 shots, and made two gaffes on the first two goals to spot both St.Louis and Dallas a 1-0 lead. The Oilers need their starting goalie to find his game. What is missing this year?
I spoke with Kevin Woodley from In Goal Magazine yesterday on my show. Woodley has been on the ice with many NHL goalies the past few years, and talks to NHL goalie coaches frequently. He is very good at discussing the technical aspects of goaltending. He shared this about Talbot.
“What made him so good was his ability to beat plays to the next position, most often on his skates and be set, square and ready to go. The phrase we used to hear from Benoit Allaire when he was with the Rangers, ‘Beat the pass, solve the equation.’
“When you watch him (Talbot) moving now, he is either behind, in terms of when the pass is made and getting to that spot. We have talked about it a lot on low, high plays or coming off the wall where he is still down in the reverse VH off the post and then slow coming out of it. Or arguably down it in too long and that delays the movement,” said Woodley
“Part of that can be tied to more lateral puck movement, in terms of things that are being allowed, the sort of permissive nature of their (Oilers) defensive play early, not all of it, but some of it, and once a goalie doesn’t trust that, in terms of your reads and beating plays on your skates, it can become a bit of a downward spiral,” continued Woodley.
Talbot hasn’t forgotten how to be an effective goaltender, but if your technique is off, just a bit, like Woodley explained, many goalies can suddenly look average. Confidence is a massive factor for any player, and I don’t think there is any doubt Talbot is not playing with the same attitude he had last year. He made saves look easy. We’ve seen that in spurts this season, but not as often as last year, or even from December 2015 to April 2016.
Lately, the early bad goals have really hurt. The Oilers don’t have enough firepower right now to outscore mistakes, especially ones from behind the net.
“The irony of the goal from below the goal line versus Dallas is that is what they hammered John Gibson on in the Anaheim series. That is the sloppiness in a play coming down the wing and getting caught outside your post and that is something they specifically targeted on Gibson in the playoffs. That is not something we are used to seeing from Talbot,” said Woodley.
Talbot is capable of more. He’s shown it throughout his career, and he needs to find his game and find it quickly. I’d argue that after Connor McDavid, Talbot could be the Oilers most important player. He is better than he’s played, but he needs to find his game quickly.
Of the 24 goalies who have started 14 or more games, only Craig Anderson(.899) has a lower sv% than Talbot. Ben Bishop is tied with him for 22nd. Talbot can be better and the Oilers need to him to be starting tonight.
LINEUP
Oilers
Maroon-McDavid-Caggiula
Lucic-RNH-Draisaitl
Cammalleri-Strome-Puljujarvi
Khaira-Letestu-Kassian
Nurse-Larsson
Klefbom-Benning
Russell-Gryba
Talbot
I don’t agree with the notion that Connor McDavid is the main reason the Oilers are losing. He is producing. Now, does he need to protect puck better and not turn it over at offensive blueline, leading to odd-man rushes? Yes, but that is about it. He’ll fix that, but it isn’t the main reason they are losing. It is okay to suggest he can improve that one aspect, but let’s not make it anything more than that.
Oilers need to play more north-south tonight, less east-west. The Blues ate them up in the final two periods last Thursday, when the Oilers stubbornly kept trying to go side-to-side. The Blues stripped pucks and forced numerous turnovers. To beat the Blues the Oilers need to go straight ahead.
Patrick Maroon is playing at home and hopefully that ignites his game. He had a very good first 12 games, but he has struggled the past eight. He has played a bit more snarly lately, and that could help him get involved in the game more.
Blues
Schwartz-Schenn-Tarasenko
Sobotka-Stastny-Steen
Paajarvi-Sundqvist-Jaskin
Upshall-Brodziak-Thorburn
Edmundson-Pietrangelo
Bouwmeester-Parayko
Dunn-Bortuzzo
Allen
The return of Bouwmeester means Carl Gunnarsson comes out. The Blues have a lot of depth on the blueline and they’ve been very happy with the play of rookie Vince Dunn. He turned 21 in October, and after putting up 45 points in the AHL last year, the Blues love his puck moving and play making skills. And they have the luxury of protecting him in the third pair. Mike Yeo has used him on the second PP unit and played him 15:08/game at even strength.
The Blues have the second most points in the NHL, despite struggling on special teams. Their power play is 26th at 15.9% and their PK is 23rd at 78.3%. Bouwmeester will help their PK. He is a very good penalty killer, but their PP struggles are surprising considering the talent they have and how much confidence their offensive players have at even strength.
Jaden Schwartz leads the NHL in EV points with 22 while Brayden Schenn is fourth with 19. Paul Stastny is on their second line and he is third in the NHL in EV assists with 12. The Oilers need to be alert at even strength tonight or the Blues will skate them out of the rink.
Lineups (subject to change) are courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING…
From St. Louis Game Time:
The Oilers come into Scottrade having lost back to back games to St. Louis and the Dallas Stars. They’re second to last in the Western Conference and aren’t looking like they’re improving much. Connor McDavid is still incredible, but the team’s flat start to the season isn’t getting any better, and his battling a flu bug might put the Oilers in a tight jam tonight.
Tonight’s game is a NBCSN broadcast, presumably so the network can stop denying the United States McDavid. It seems about right that he more than likely won’t be on his A-game tonight, but McDavid even on an off day is dangerous. The rest of the team? Considering that they’re second to last in the NHL in scoring, the Blues probably need to just focus on keeping McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins off of the scoresheet and take care of the scoring on their own. Maybe Bouwmeester can get into the act.
TONIGHT…

GAME DAY PREDICTION: The bleeding continues for the Oilers with a 3-2 loss.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Blues defence contributes a goal and an assist.
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The drought ends for Zack Kassian. He scores his first of the season, but the goal comes off his body, not his stick.
GDB BROUGHT TO YOU BY SHERBROOKE LIQUOR
Take home a growler, a crowler, a sixer, a mixer, whatever. Sherbrooke Liquor. Where’s Your Beer?
Recently by Jason Gregor:
- Game Day Quick Hits: Oilers @ Blues
- Can The Oilers Mirror the Flames?
- Time to Switch The 1st Line
- GDB 19.0: Cammalleri back where it started
- Breaking down the Cammalleri for Jokinen trade
- GDB 18.0: Hello Vegas
Source: Jason Gregor, Verified Twitter Account, 11/21/2017, 1:00pm MST
McLellan will be gone before Christmas. And I’m being nice to him.
If ulcers don’t take him first
Yeah. Probably the same amount of time Eakins lasted.
5 goals vs at 5 on 5
The thing is, if I was an Oiler fan, in addition to being worried about the teams performance I would also have to worry about PC trading away a contributor at below market value to try and fix this….
Lol. This guy thinks there’s oilers contributing lately. ??. There’s only one untouchable on this team imo. And if I’m pc, I’m making a trade as soon as possible. The oilers aren’t even close to where I thought they’d be. Sekera will not save this season. Evander Kane please!! We need goals
Nuge is having a career year. He’s the trade bait and that’s the problem
Oilers are 7-12 with the Nuge having a “career year”. I agree that is a problem. If it takes Nuge to get a goal scorer then I’m ok with that. This team is coming apart at the seams.
So you trash Oiler fans and Oilersnation and then say “we”?
What’s your problem? It’s just a game pal. When I say we, I’m referring to the oilers. Not all you bandwagoners.
Ya a group of prima-donnas who don’t get along, Evander Kane should really help that.
Chia, like Bergevin, is a desperate man. And desperate men make bad decisions
Sure but CONSTANTLY losing trades can’t lead to success right?
Not worried about that at all because it really can’t get any worse. Nothing to lose at this point.
There are literally no positive things to say after tonight’s terrible effort.
This is on the players. Which is too bad because it will probably be McLellan that gets fired. Other than Connor you might as well have had the community league’s beer team out there.
I normally try to be upbeat but … well…
yep, they gosh darn by sures look like fanley cup champs. Talk abounds already of drippy trade for extra hockey socks and the tank is on.
Your trolling is about as good as your spelling.
Lmao
Okay that sixth goal was waaaaaayyyyy too easy
Can we trade the arena for a winger?
I turned the game on with 13 minutes left to play. I turned it off again as soon as I saw the score. Garbage.
Then you just missed another goal.
Chiarelli better not sleep a wink tonight.
7 minutes left, down 6 to 1. Why is Connor still in the game. Hot shower and an IV and some rest? Too logical for the brain trust I guess…
This is to good. We want 8.
You got your 8. I actually wanted 10, and I am an Oiler fan. Wake up call. HELLO??? Management??? Telephone call…..
Hahahahahahahaha
Yikes. You guys need a nice long train ride….. brutal
Drysaddle scored, parade must be back on
Tarasenko has a Gordie Howe hat trick and is looking for a real hat trick as well.
Rotf lmao
I feel your joy, from the other side of the spectrum. I am laughing my ass off at my own team.
PLEASE Blues. Make it 10.
With 10 Chiarelli loses his job tomorrow, no?
I don’t care who, but somebody better. Start with Lowe Sr/Jr, MacT/Howson PLUS one of Chia/MacL.
Peewee concept. When you see a shot coming from point, as a d man you would box out the man in front. Larson ? Nurse? ‘Hello? Anyone home? THERE WERE TWO OF YOU IN FRONT OF YOUR OWN NET WITH SCHENN AND NEITHER OF YOU BOTHERED WITH HIM. Someone on this team walk up to a microphone and have the sack to say that you have all quit on each other and the coach. It would be less painful
The effort tonight was abysmal. The team has quit on the coach. They have to get rid of him. They could try making a deal, but Pete will get fleeced again. I said a week ago that Chia needs to do something now. Do it. Don’t wait. Fire Todd McLellan.
Chia should fire himself lol!
Well, I agree, but until then, if he wants any hope of saving his job, he needs to fire Todd.
So funny, last year you guys had him winning coach of the year.
We were wrong. Looks like the Flames have the coach of the year now.
I wouldn’t go that far.
Yeah. It’s a Wtf moment for sure, but something has happened in the room, and the coach has lost the ears of the players. Who knows why, but Todd needs to go.
Chia should trade himself for a smart GM. Or a washing machine, either way.
How can a Milan Lucic goal be the rogers “play of the game”?
Because at that contract, you savour any goals you can get. We’d do the same with Brouwer, but I’m pretty sure he’s still scoreless this year.
will nurse forgive leon, now?
The last time an Oiler d-man took an Oiler forward to the woodshed it was Jason Smith on Mike Comrie. And poor Tommy Salo was never the same person. If there is a Poor Tommy on this team I don’t know who it is…
Wow…what a kick to the nards that was…just brutal. Maybe this will be the smelling salts that rouses them from their stupor…or they will go limp like a sail with no wind…but please Petey C. For the love of all things sacred before you make a trade, run it by someone who doesn’t have their head up their arse…a tele-psychic… the kid who shovels your driveway…a bus driver…just anybody who might have a more informed idea as to how to make an NHL trade.
What did I say to offend you ? Don’t take me too seriously. I’m Just playin wit ya .
Yes…right! You nailed it