GDB 52.0: Best in the West
By Jason Gregor
7 years ago
(Photoshop: @isuckatpicking)
Another game, another battle against a top team, and once again the Oilers are not regarded as underdogs. The first 51 games have drastically altered the league’s perception of Edmonton. Teams respect them, and the Oilers back-to-back victories in Anaheim and San Jose last week have changed their internal expectations.
They believe they can compete with the top teams in the league.
“We have a lot of positive energy going,” said Oscar Klefbom. “I was very proud of our effort in Cali in those two games. They were almost like playoff games and we proved we belong with the top teams. Now we to maintain that discipline and consistency,” continued Klefbom.
I didn’t expect them to sweep the Ducks and Sharks, especially by a combined 8-1 score, but they were deserving of the victories and I’ll admit I look at this team differently than I did in October. I had them as a wildcard team as the start of the season, but over the final 31 games I believe it is realistic to expect them to compete for home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
They will have another tough test tonight against the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Wild, but they’ll catch a huge break with Devan Dubnyk getting the night off. Dubnyk leads starting NHL goalies with a 1.88 GAA and .936sv%. He’ll be the back up tonight and start in Calgary tomorrow. The Wild felt it would be better to give him the extra day off, then play on Wednesday and have two more days off before Saturday’s game in Vancouver.
The Oilers must take advantage of facing Darcy Kuemper. Kuemper’s numbers are terrible playing behind the same Wild team. He has a 3.28 GAA and .901 sv%. The Wild won’t just hand the Oilers the game, but Kuemper’s issues this season have been during sustained pressure. He will play well for long stretches, but when teams apply constant pressure and shots, his crease depth becomes an issue. He ends up playing too deep, he hugs the posts and the goal line, and that’s when he gets in trouble.
Coming off the All-Star break is different than the three-day break the Oilers had last week between games versus Calgary and Anaheim. They were still around each other at the rink, in a hockey mindset. This past weekend the players left the city and got away from the game, which is healthy, but as Mark Letestu explained:
“For me it is getting engaged as quickly as possible,” said Letestu. “Whether it is delivering a hit, taking a hit, getting engaged on a faceoff, there is a tendency to kind of wade your way into games to see how hard it will be, how sloppy the other team might be. To get off on the right foot you need to get involved early, even if it is getting into a little punching match in front of the net to get your emotions back, because you’ve turned your mind and brain off for a few days.
“I think you need to get in someone’s face, and we have guys in this room who will do it. Playing with Kass (Kassian) and Matt (Hendricks), it is kind of unavoidable so I don’t think I should have much of a problem (laughs).” said Letestu.
Head coach Todd McLellan knows about the first game back after a break, and while he said it isn’t as bad as a lengthy Olympic break, he plans on getting four lines involved early and admitted you need to give players a bit longer of a leash to show they are into the game, compared to later this week if a line isn’t going early, and they could get pushed out of the rotation.
The Wild are a fast skating team. They are averaging the third most goals in the NHL (3.29/game), and even with Kuemper in goal they will be another strong test for the Oilers.
LINEUP
Oilers
No changes for the Oilers. The same four lines, defence pairings and goalie as last week.
Wild
The Zucker-Koivu-Granlund line has been very dangerous, especially the two wingers. Zucker and Granlund both skate well and are creative. They have had many highlight reel passing plays this year, and the Oilers need to be alert when defending them this evening.
QUICK HITS
- Darnell Nurse has resumed skating on his own. He’s ahead of schedule, but skating on his own after ankle surgery is much different than taking contact. However, barring any setbacks, it is very possible you could see him return to the lineup earlier than originally expected (March 12th-ish).
- Iiro Pakarinen took part in full practice and he is getting closer to returning. He is a player who would benefit from a conditioning stint in the AHL. Under the current rules if he is sent down on a conditioning stint he would still count against the 23-man roster. It hampers teams and individual players because most teams don’t want to expose a player to waivers to send him down without counting against the 23-man roster. I would like to see a provision put in where players who have been out for two months could be sent down for three games, or seven days, and not count against the roster. It would help the player get back in game shape and help the team. It would be easy to monitor and police, because the player would have been on the IR for two months to qualify.
- The Wild have 11 players with 22+ points. They have seven forwards with 25 or more points. Zach Parise is eighth among Wild forwards with 22 points. He’s having a terrible offensive season, yet the Wild are still third in offence. If Parise wakes up before the playoffs, the Wild could easily be considered the favourite to represent the West in the Stanley Cup Finals.
- The Wild have dominated teams at 5×5. They are outscoring opponents 111-74. They are third in 5×5 goals for and second in EV goals against. The Oilers are seventh with 100 and GF and 13th in GA at 86. Edmonton needs to be smart, patient and very alert 5×5 tonight.
- The Wild PP sits 10th at 21.5%, while the Oilers are 11th at 21%. They are complete opposites though, as far as success at home versus on the road. The Wild PP is a league-best 28.1% at home, but 24th on the road at 15.5%. The Oilers PP is dominant on the road at 25.6%, but only 16.5% at home.
- The Wild are fifth in PK at 84.2%, but their home PP (85.5%) and road PP (83.2%) are fairly similar. The good news, matchup wise, for the Oilers is their home PP is 85.4%, while they are 79.5% on the road. A good home PK versus a struggling road PP is a paper matchup in Edmonton’s favour.
- Head over to Please go to hockeyhelpskids.com to vote Team NUUUUUUUUUGE to help win $25,000 for our friends at Sport Central. Vote daily & vote often.
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WHAT THEY’RE SAYING…
From Hockey Wilderness
The main reason for Edmonton’s strong first half is clear as day, and there’s really not much left to say about what Connor McDavid is doing for the Oilers that hasn’t already been said. In his second year as a pro, and at just twenty years of age, he is the leading scorer in the entire National Hockey League with 59 points through 51 games, topping the Wild’s leading scorer, Mikael Granlund, by a whopping seventeen points. Watching McDavid play is something truly special, because the guy is a once-per-decade type of player, or perhaps even better. Seeing him get the puck on his stick and immediately be at his top speed (which may be faster than any other player in the league), flying past smooth-skating NHL defensemen, is awe-inspiring, and his elite skill will certainly be on display tonight.
TONIGHT
(Photoshop: @TomKostiuk)
GAME DAY PREDICTION: This isn’t the old Oilers. They won’t get stoned by a struggling back up. Kuemper’s struggles continue as the Oilers win 4-2.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: McDavid reaches 60 points. He was held pointless in the first two meetings versus the Wild on Dec 4th and 9th. He has yet to go three NHL games without a point, and he won’t go three versus the Wild without one.
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Benoit Pouliot spent much of the AS break getting massages on his hands and forearms. He heard how Brent Burns uses a lot of essential oils, and most of his massages included essential oils. Pouliot scores his first goal in 22 games. His goal drought began December 9th versus Minnesota, and it ends against the team who drafted him. The combination of his love of playing the Wild and his new Essential Oils routine results in a goal.
ALBERTA POND HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Alberta Pond Hockey Championships are here for another year and we couldn’t think of a better group of people to join us other than you fine citizens.
We can all remember suiting up with three pairs of pants, two oversized hoodies, and as many socks as your skate would allow to get on the outdoor rink when we were kids just to be able to play on the ODR. Were we crazy? Who in their right mind would want to leave the house when it’s -20 degrees outside to go skate on a frozen pond? I’ll tell you who, WE WOULD! And yes, we are crazy.
That’s why the Alberta Pond Hockey Association is holding another fun tournament at Lac Cardinal, Alberta where we can all be kids again and lose ourselves in the outdoor sport we all grew up playing. The championship is taking place on March 10, 11, & 12 and offers divisions for ALL skill levels.
Find all the info you need including registration at their website (www.albertapondhockey.com) and be sure to check out their Facebook page (@AlbertaPondHockeyAssociation) too.
See you on the pond!
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