GDB 23.0: SMOKE ON THE WATER

7 years ago

The Edmonton Oilers are 12-8-2 after 22 games in this NHL season and have a real chance to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Fans are either nervous, very nervous or have been placed in stasis until spring—after all this time, every win matters. Too much. This afternoon, the gathering of OilersNation will see cheering, screaming, yelling and exactly one mountain of worry. Only 60 more games to go!

CONNOR MCDAVID DRIVES THE RESULTS

There are all kinds of ways we can prove the statement above, but let’s start with the boxcars. Here are the Oilers scorers (and goalie numbers) over the past 10 games:

Connor McDavid 10gp, 5-10-15
Leon Draisaitl 10gp, 4-5-9

Jordan Eberle 10gp, 4-5-9
Milan Lucic 10gp, 1-6-7
Oscar Klefbom 10gp, 3-3-6
Patrick Maroon 10gp, 2-3-5
Jesse Puljujarvi 8gp, 0-4-4
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 10gp, 2-2-4
Anton Slepyshev 8gp, 1-2-3
Tyler Pitlick 10gp, 3-0-3
Drake Caggiula 4gp, 0-2-2
Matt Benning 10gp, 0-2-2
Andrej Sekera 10gp, 2-0-2
Adam Larsson 10gp, 1-1-2
Matt Hendricks 3gp, 0-1-1
Darnell Nurse 10gp, 1-0-1
Cam Talbot 8gp, 2.63 .915
Jonas Gustavsson 2gp, 2.54 .896
Source

McDavid has been joined in the last 10 games by Leon and Eberle, and the young Swedish blue Oscar Klefbom as offensive drivers—we await the Nuge, Milan Lucic and I am keenly interested in the youngster Drake Caggiula.

THREE SCORING LINES

Just as unicorns, free love and binge drinking with no hangovers are fantastical ideas without being factually true, the idea of three scoring lines is something some of us discuss from time to time in regard to these Oilers.

The best way to start is with pairs: Lucic—McDavid, Pouliot—Nuge, Maroon—Leon, and then fill in the blanks (this season, blanks are represented by RW). There just isn’t enough really, even if Jordan Eberle and Jesse Puljujarvi were filling the net (and they are not).

And here comes Drake Caggiula. There is a lot that goes into a successful rookie season, but this young man has two things going for him: An opportunity and a skill set. I cannot say he has done enough to establish himself or dash his chances in early games, only that the young man is intriguing and now has a bit of a push with LD on the third line—a trio that needs to pummel the soft parade into a fine white powder. He may get another chance today. Godspeed, young man. Fill the net.

LINEUPS

Oilers

Todd McLellan hinted yesterday that Matt Hendricks would be back in the lineup today but gave no indication as to who would be coming out. One can only guess at this point as the actual lineup likely won’t be set until game time. The lineup above comes from the line rushes at yesterday’s practice, courtesy of Reid Wilkins.

Coyotes

Lineups (subject to change) courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com

NOTES

McDavid has a four-game point scoring streak going now, and in those four games he is 5-4-9. He has a tendency to be brilliant early and late, as we saw in Phoenix on Friday.
Are we absolutely sure that goal didn’t go in during regulation?
The Oilers are not strong on Sundays. Seriously. Bad day for them historically.
Arizona coach Dave Tippett would throw marbles on the ice if he could, or steelies, in an effort to slow down offense. Expect another porridge game unless the Oilers can get up by a three spot early—and that seems unlikely.
There is a long streak involving the Coyotes getting at least one point in their games against Edmonton. I am not going to mention the length of the streak. Maybe if we ignore it, the blasted thing will go away.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

Oliver Ekman-Larsson: “We know that we don’t have the skill to play that type of game, so we have to outwork them. I think that’s why we’ve been successful against them.” Source

What in the h-e-double-hockey-sticks does that mean? If you are Todd McLellan, do you use this quote to motivate your men today? Hole-eee.

TONIGHT

GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers score first! but soon after Coyotes’ coach Dave Tippett goes all Jigglypuff and the Oilers fall asleep. 2-1 Coyotes after one.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The second period becomes mind numbing, and people begin to tour the building as a defense against going insane from watching sawdust hockey.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Connor McDavid. The young captain says to hell with this noise, scores two and the home fans go home playing air guitar to Ritchie Blackmore’s brilliant solo.