GDB 17.0: Maintain a good start
By Jason Gregor
9 years ago
The Oilers have scored first in eight of their 16 games, however, they’ve only held the lead twice after the first period. Another step in their development — yes they still have a lot of steps — will be learning to build off of a good start.
The Oilers are only 4-3-1 when they score first, tied for 24th worst winning % when scoring first, but the good news is that if they don’t score first, the Ottawa Senators, their opponents this evening, are 27th with a .444 winning % going 4-2-3.
The Oilers need to get hungrier for the next goal. They’ve only had a 2-0 lead twice this season.
They led 2-0 in Vancouver in the second game of the season, but gave up a goal with ten seconds remaining in the first period and then lost in a shootout.
They scored with 19 seconds left in the first frame against Montreal to take a 1-0 lead and then scored again six minutes into the second en route to a 3-0 victory.
They must learn to keep attacking and stay aggressive when they score first. The Senators have also struggled holding onto leads. They’ve also only been ahead 2-0 twice, and both times they won. Paul Maclean spoke last week about his team’s inability to hold onto leads. They’ve scored first in 9 of their 15 games, but only won four of those games.
“We work very hard to score first, but then our work ethic dips after we score it seems. I’ve been very happy with how we have started most games, but we need to continue that once we get a lead,” said Maclean.
Across the league this season, teams that score first are 152-47-34, but the Oilers and Senators have both struggled at keeping the lead.
There are many different components that go into winning, and one of them is learning to play with the lead. The Oilers need to find a killer instinct once they get a lead.
LINEUP
The Oilers will keep the lines the same. There is no reason to switch them until Taylor Hall returns. Hall skated for the 4th straight today and he is getting closer to playing. He doesn’t want to rush back, but Sunday or Wednesday are possible return dates.
Perron and Yakupov work well together. Perron is great at protecting the puck down low, which allows Yakupov to circle around and find openings. When Hall returns, I’d rather move Pouliot to the 3rd line than take Perron away from Yakupov
Eakins reunited Nikitin/Fayne and Ference/Petry in the hopes that will give his defence a more consistent balance. Schultz and Aulie can play together at home, because Eakins gets last change and can protect them better.
I don’t understand why you keep Klefbom and Marincin both here. Send one of them to the minors so they can play. The Oilers pace in practice isn’t high enough for them to benefit more from practicing than playing in the AHL.
It is the same for Draisailt. He would benefit more if the tempo/pace of practice was higher, but the Oilers pace simply isn’t as high as other teams. It is still an issue.
Scrivens played well in relief in Nashville, and it makes sense to start him tonight against Ottawa. He needs to get on a run of good play like he did during the last home stand.
SENS…
You can see the Senators lineup via dailyfaceoff.com.
QUICK HITS…
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I wonder how annoying it would get if I tweeted out every time there was a fight and no one got hurt? I’d assume it would get tiresome, which is exactly how I feel about the anti-fighting crowd
- GDB 16.0: Still searching for a win against the West
- Monday Musings…
- GDB 14.0: Familiar Territory
- GDB 13.0: Unlucky in Boston
- A large Hall to climb
- Injuries, suspension and waivers: Ference out three games
- Ben’s Netminders
I don’t see the pro-fighting crowd writing an article after every fight that doesn’t result in an injury — thank gawd, I might add. Sometimes players get injured. It happens, we get it. McDavid was fed up with being harassed and decided to stand up for himself. I can’t rip him for that. It sucks he got hurt, but how much will it really impact his season or his team?
He is only supposed to be out five to six weeks. The WJC tournament starts 42 days after he injured his hand, so he should be able to play, but if he doesn’t the only one truly impacted by his decision is him. The Otters will still make the playoffs and finish as one of the best teams in the OHL. He will still be the first or second overall pick in the draft.
I’m not trying to change their opinion of fighting, it is obvious they don’t like it. Fine. But if injuries are your main defence, then how come they aren’t writing the same stories about the stupidity of increased blocked shots? How many players get hurt from that? Is it really making the game better watching players, even star players, block shots with ankles, wrists and feet? And if your argument is that someone could die from a fight, remember that players could die from blocking an errant shot as well.
Fighting in junior and the NHL is decreasing, and I’ve always said if fighting drops because players choose not to do it, I’m completely fine with that. Let the players who are impacted directly from fighting decide if it is good or bad.
I don’t need to read another article about why fighting should be banned, or why it should stay. We all know what side most people stand on, but it has reached the point of annoying when both sides try to use a 17 year-old as their foundation as to why it is good or bad.
TONIGHT…
GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers are at home against and eastern team, it is an easy choice to pick them to win. 4-2 Oilers over Ottawa and they improve to 5-0 at home against the east.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers score first, but Ottawa ties it before Edmonton wins the game.
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Yakupov and Eberle score a goal marking the 8th time these two have scored in the same game. The Oilers improve to 8-0 when both of them score in the same game.
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