Game Day Notes: Edmonton Oilers at Boston Bruins
By Lowetide
6 years agoThe Edmonton Oilers arrive in Boston today with about 30 percent of the season complete. If we were to write a country song about this campaign, I’d recommend stealing the line “the money ran out and the engine blew” or “are we rolling downhill like a snowball headed for hell?” but your mileage may vary. Are there any positives? Let’s see what we can find.
NOTES
- Connor McDavid is tied for No. 8 in league scoring.
- Connor McDavid is tied for No. 5 in even-strength scoring.
- Leon Draisaitl is tied for No. 16 in even-strength scoring.
- Leon Draisaitl is No. 19 in 5×5/60 scoring.
- The Oilers are No. 7 in shots per game.
- The Oilers are No. 2 in Corsi for 5×5.
- The Oilers are No. 4 in Shots for percentage.
- The Oilers lead the league in trade rumours.
Okay, that last one is a negative but the others are positive. There is talent on this Edmonton Oilers team and they are not headed for another 10 years of darkness. However, that fact does absolutely nothing for Oilers fans today, as you watch another season float away.
The subject at hand that has the most importance is “where do we go from here?” and I expect your view has a lot to do with the things you see and the numbers you value. I keep expecting this team to correct, there are indicators that suggest it is likely. However, the actual games recently (certainly St. Louis and Buffalo) offer very little for the observer to hold up as hopeful.
I think we’re reaching a pressure point for the season, where something may happen to shock the team (and fan base). It could be a coaching change, a management shuffle or it could be a substantial trade. I’m not sure any of these things is advisable and wonder if Mr. Katz will look to one of his front office lieutenants to lead the way. My suspicion is Bob Nicholson may be earning his money and then some right now. We wait.
QUICK HITS
- A year ago, the Oilers swept the season series with Boston, beating them both on the road and at home. The Oilers have had some success against the Bruins lately, beating them in five straight games.
- The Oilers have lost three of four games on this road trip, posting an awful goal differential of -10 through four games.
- The Bruins come into today’s game riding a four game winning streak. They’ve beaten the Kings, Sharks, Devils, and Penguins on this current run.
- Drake Caggiula has heated since riding shotgun with Connor McDavid. The former North Dakota man has registered three goals in his last four games.
- Yohann Auvitu has points in his last three games (1G, 3A) and has been effective at moving the puck from the back end.
- The Bruins have run into some injury trouble of late. They could be without all of Adam McQuaid (broken fibula), David Backes (colon surgery), Anders Bjork (undisclosed), and Brad Marchand (undisclosed).
GAME DAY QUESTIONS
- How will Cam Talbot respond after missing the last game with the flu?
- How will Mike Cammalleri perform playing alongside Connor McDavid?
- Will Todd McLellan keep the three centremen separated for the entire 60 minutes?
- Which Oilers team will show up? The one that dominated the Red Wings, or the one that was embarrassed by the Buffalo Sabres?
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Source: NHL, Official Game Page, 11/26/2017, 10:00am MST
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