Welcome, friends, to yet another Saturday edition of the GDB as our beloved Edmonton Oilers get themselves set for a matchup against the New York Islanders. Is today the day the Oilers right the ship? We’re only a few hours from finding out.
Getting set for today’s game was all kinds of frustrating for me. I was looking at the fancy stats, records, and doing the usual prep that goes into writing the GDB but I actually found myself getting angry during the process. Instead of prepping or minds and livers for a playoff run, we’re looking at selling off assets and getting set for the draft lottery again, which is a spot I never would have dreamed about in year four of Connor McDavid’s career. How the Islanders lost their best player in the offseason but are still managing to sit atop of their division is beyond me. Why are they able to lose their best guy and still manage to stay relevant while the Oilers aren’t able to pull their heads from their asses with the best player on the planet in their lineup on a nightly basis? It doesn’t make sense. It’s like Lou Lamoriello made a pact with Satan that ensured the Islanders wouldn’t be affected by Tavares bailing on them and they’re riding the dark wave right into the playoffs.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s endlessly irritating to be a fan of an organization that was gifted so many top prospects over the decade of darkness and have them piss it all away. How many times can one team get things wrong before significant changes are actually made it order to right the ship? How much of Connor McDavid’s time do they really think they can waste before he gets pissed off enough to make the call to his agent that we’re all dreading? Obviously, these are questions that we don’t have the answers to and today’s game likely won’t make things any clearer regardless of the outcome, but I’m honestly at a loss for words as to what we should do or think anymore. Yeah, we can talk about the Oilers needing to get a good start and find some balanced scoring for the 58th time this season, but would it really matter? Would it change anything?
Looking ahead at today’s game, all I really care about is that we get entertained. I don’t know if that means I’m accepting ELPH again or if the bar is just really that low right now, but all I want for us is to be able to enjoy the hockey game. Is that really too much to ask?
NUMBERS
| OILERS | ISLANDERS | |
| RECORD | 24-28-5 | 34-17-6 |
| WIN/LOSS STREAK | L3 | W1 |
| LAST 10 GAMES | 1-7-2 | 6-2-2 |
| GOALS FOR | 161 | 164 |
| GOALS AGAINST | 190 | 136 |
| POWER PLAY | 22.1 | 15.9 |
| PENALTY KILL | 75.7 | 80.3 |
| AVG. SHOTS/FOR | 29.1 | 28.7 |
| AVG. SHOTS/AGAINST | 31.3 | 30.5 |
| TEAM SAVE% | .900 | .929 |
| CORSI FOR% | 48.41 | 48.17 |
| PDO | 98.96 | 102.58 |
| TEAM SHOOTING% | 7.5 | 8.77 |
| EXPECTED GOALS FOR% | 47.2 | 51.53 |
Numbers courtesy of Corsica (fancies at 5×5)
LINEUPS…
Oilers
Draisaitl – McDavid – Kassian
Khaira – RNH – Puljujarvi
Lucic – Malone – Chiasson
Rieder – Cave – Rattie
Klefbom – Larsson
Nurse – Russell
Gravel – Petrovic
Koskinen
Late last night, the Edmonton Oilers traded Cam Talbot to Philadelphia in exchange for Anthony Stolarz, completing a trade that we’d all been expecting for some time now. Personally, I actually thought that Talbot would play in today’s game before the Oilers made the move but, at the end of the day, there wasn’t much point in waiting if they felt it was time to move on. With this move, the Oilers will now have the space needed to recall Andrej Sekera from his conditioning stint without having to make any other moves to get cap compliant.
Islanders
Lee – Nelson – Eberle
Kuhnhackl – Barzal – Bailey
Beauvillier – Filppula – Komarov
Martin – Cizikas – Clutterbuck
Leddy – Boychuk
Pelech – Pulock
Toews – Mayfield
Greiss
The interesting thing about the Islanders is that they’re getting their scoring by committee. They don’t really have any guys that are putting up points in droves like the Oilers do with Draisaitl and McDavid but they are getting a little bit from a lot of guys. To put it another way, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ 52 points would be leading the Islanders if he played for them (Barzal has 49), but the obvious difference is that they have nine players with more 20+ points whereas the Oilers only have five.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING…
Saturday night, the Islanders complete its home schedule of games played at Barclays Center against the Edmonton Oilers. It, in fact, might be the last home game the team ever plays in the building. Moving to Brooklyn did save the team in a sense — they finally did win a playoff series — but the relationship between the team, its fans, and the building always seemed to be filled with turmoil. The crazy thing is, the Islanders have actually been really good inside Barclays from when they first arrived — 77-47-18. Saturday, depending on the decision of postseason games, should be the last time the Isles take the ice in Kings County. It would make sense for everyone involved with the franchise.
TONIGHT…
Game Day Prediction: The Oilers battle hard, get some big saves, but ultimately fall by a 4-3 score.
Obvious Game Day Prediction: Jordan Eberle scores because why wouldn’t he?
Not-So-Obvious Game Day Prediction: When asked what is going on with the Edmonton Oilers, Lou Lamoriello talked about the Oilers’ willingness to let their players grow facial hair. In Lou’s opinion, the patchy beards some of the boys are rocking are a problem and he would raise heck if this was his team. CLEAN SHAVEN FACES ONLY, BRAH!
Source: NHL, Official Game Page, 2/16/2019 – 9:00 am MT
Lucic, Broadziak , Kassian! Do it, just, DO IT, aaargh, Do it!
Waive Brodziak and put Khaira in!!!
Rieder Gagner Rattie, smurf line, Let’s Go!
I’d love to see this hapless Oil team bring back Zack Stortini & Robbie Schremp to finally complete this rebuild … 🙂
So you’re a troll then
BM I think you need to start making side bets if you want to have fun watching the games. Like how many player interviews will just be asking, what its like playing with Conner? How many times the wingers will leave the zone while thier D are still battling for the puck? Or if Hitch plays PJ more, or nails him to the bench for unsportsmanlike agent conduct?
I think you might be right. Prop bets on everything!
I’ll bet the Oilers lose again tonight. As always.
The payout on that bet must be super low
I would be happy if our bottom 6 could start scoring by “committee”, or just put forth an effort to try.
At this point, Hitch needs to forget about trying to grind out wins, the season is gone.
Try and make it as much fun for the players as possible. Losing 4-3 is better than 2-1
For the last decade, the Oilers have been a low scoring team, that in its self is mind boggling?
Teams with way less talent every year score more than the Oiler’s, let the season play out and then fire everyone.
The owner of this team should be ashamed, I’m guessing he doesn’t care, even a little. To him its a business. He should not be at the draft
Tampa lucked out because they got an owner who cared and hired the right people, same for Vegas. Sadly the Oiler’s owner has been using this team as a hobby that allows him to hang out with the boys on the bus, sad.
How about Katz and his carousel of idols leave Edmonton with his “assets” and banners. Edmonton will take the new Seattle team and ownership. Our simple ask is that you free McDavid from his Oiler shackles and he stays with the City. Now don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
One point out of dead last in the conference and 2nd to dead last in the league. DOD 2.0 and how much are tickets for next year??? This rink should be as empty as the Florida Panthers, but maybe Oiler fans like losing too???
1 point out of second last place in the league the question is can we catch Ottawa for last place?
Almost ridiculous the lack of scoring behind Drai and Connor is there anyone who can score? and to imagine Pete is sitting at home still being paid for this debacle.
Interesting read https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/talbot-trade-signals-oilers-focus-clearing-salary/sn-amp/
Elliot Friedman just tweeted that the Oilers are looking to get Sam Gagner back lol
Spooner for gags is a wash from a cap perspective I would do that in a heartbeat.
To be charitable one-third of the Oil line-up perform at a minor league level. Multiple millions of dollars invested in a few players and this is what thousands of fans pay hundreds of dollars per person for every home game.
Sam Gagner
I’m starting to warm up to this Gretzky guy. I think he’s his own man.
Maybe he can do something off the ice that his bro did on the ice…WIN!
I hope you are right.
I wd bring Sam back in a heartbeat. If he scores 1 goal it will be one more Reider couldn’t. Make it happen.
If I were the coach, I’d initiate shooting accuracy contests with prizes, trophies and bragging rights.
Most of these guys can only raise the puck directly into a goalie’s torso. Last night Cave, Rattie and Chiasson all had decent chances, but couldn’t bury it. Shooting drills, shooting drills and more shooting drills.
Not sure why we are doing a re-run on “back to the future”, but at this stage nothing surprises me. Gagner could not be worse than Brodziak so I’m good with this move.
Now that Poopy Cam is not in the dressing room the Oilers will come out with a lot more pep in their step.
Solid performance, Solid victory.
Kassian is going to rock Eberle on his thong.
Dude if you think Cam was “locker room cancer” you’re dead wrong
Which one of us here works for the Oilganization?
Sam our saviour!!! … Eight point night!
Looking forward to seeing one of our boys tune up Clutterbuck tonight.
https://youtu.be/pvAhRcUofDk
Greatest Sam movie quote!! Lay your Vengance!!!
Come on Don’t Cherry! The Carolina post game cellies are quite entertaining! Only happens when they win! … The Oilers don’t have an after game celly at home … Can’t win at home! But for the few games that they have won at home I’d enjoy that celly! …. You go Carolina you go!
The beatings continue! Nine days to sell out!
Coyotes win Coyotes win!!