<p>I keep reading online about how the Edmonton Oilers struggled with their new defensive tweaks in <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2023/10/11/gdb-1-0-wrap-up-oilers-get-embarrassed-in-8-1-season-opening-loss-to-the-canucks/">game one</a> and that it was a major part of the reason they lost.</p>
<p>This couldn&#8217;t be further from the truth.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The Oilers got pumped because they didn&#8217;t match the work ethic of the Canucks. But the defensive zone tweaks played no factor in any of the goals.</p>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="69k5j">
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="69k5j-0-0"><span data-offset-key="69k5j-0-0">1. Off the rush, Petterson saucer pass to the net, Garland dekes and scores.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="eia29">
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="eia29-0-0"><span data-offset-key="eia29-0-0">2. VAN dumps in, Bouchard loses a puck battle in the corner, and Miller finds Boeser open in the low slot, and he scores.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="9jsug">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="mlen" data-offset-key="9jsug-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="9jsug-0-0"><span data-offset-key="9jsug-0-0">3. Campbell makes two saves off the rush before the third rebound got tapped home.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="2tm8l">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="mlen" data-offset-key="2tm8l-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2tm8l-0-0"><span data-offset-key="2tm8l-0-0">4. PP goal. Nothing about zone defence. Lucky bounce of Boeser&#8217;s leg.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="4ecjd">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="mlen" data-offset-key="4ecjd-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="4ecjd-0-0"><span data-offset-key="4ecjd-0-0">5. PP goal. Long point shot.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="3cvif">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="mlen" data-offset-key="3cvif-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3cvif-0-0"><span data-offset-key="3cvif-0-0">6. VAN wins the faceoff, goes D to D, point shot hits skate in front, Boeser taps home.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="ai2f3">
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="ai2f3-0-0"><span data-offset-key="ai2f3-0-0">7. PP goal. Miller from the top of the circle.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="6g67v">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="mlen" data-offset-key="6g67v-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6g67v-0-0"><span data-offset-key="6g67v-0-0">8. Off the rush, 2-on-1 with McLeod back pressure, pass across does not get completed, but Joshua bangs home rebound.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<h2 data-offset-key="6g67v-0-0"><strong>O-zone and D-zone Time.</strong></h2>
<div data-offset-key="6g67v-0-0">
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<p><span data-offset-key="avaf6-0-0">Edmonton had the puck in O-zone more than Van and they had significantly more puck possession time. Stats via SportLogiq:</span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="6c83i">
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6c83i-0-0"><span data-offset-key="6c83i-0-0">5&#215;5 Puck in the O-Zone: EDM 19:32, VAN 15:39</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="1h6sr">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="mlen" data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0"><span data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0">5&#215;5 Puck possession in the O-Zone: EDM 6:43, VAN 3:26</span></div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0"></div>
</div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0">Here is a breakdown of the puck possession at even strength by period, in case you think the Oilers had more when the game was out of hand.</div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0">1st period: EDM 1:49&#8230;VAN 1:28</div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0">2nd period: EDM 3:08&#8230; VAN :56<br />
3rd period: EDM 1:48&#8230; VAN 1:02</div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0"></div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0">The Canucks rarely had sustained pressure in the Oilers zone. Three goals came off the rush 5&#215;5, one on a dump in where Bouchard lost a battle and the other off a lost face off where the shot hit a skate and went to Boeser.</div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0"></div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0">Vancouver didn&#8217;t hem the Oilers in their zone for long periods. Edmonton didn&#8217;t struggle with understanding their D-zone coverage. The only goal on which you could maybe say they did struggle was the second goal, where Boeser found the soft spot near the bottom of the circle.</div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0"></div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0">The Oilers didn&#8217;t play well, but the new defensive tweaks didn&#8217;t cause them to give up a touchdown and two-point conversion.</div>

I keep reading online about how the Edmonton Oilers struggled with their new defensive tweaks in <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2023/10/11/gdb-1-0-wrap-up-oilers-get-embarrassed-in-8-1-season-opening-loss-to-the-canucks/">game one</a> and that it was a major part of the reason they lost.

This couldn't be further from the truth.



The Oilers got pumped because they didn't match the work ethic of the Canucks. But the defensive zone tweaks played no factor in any of the goals.
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="69k5j">
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="69k5j-0-0"><span data-offset-key="69k5j-0-0">1. Off the rush, Petterson saucer pass to the net, Garland dekes and scores.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="eia29">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="mlen" data-offset-key="eia29-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="eia29-0-0"><span data-offset-key="eia29-0-0">2. VAN dumps in, Bouchard loses a puck battle in the corner, and Miller finds Boeser open in the low slot, and he scores.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="9jsug">
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="9jsug-0-0"><span data-offset-key="9jsug-0-0">3. Campbell makes two saves off the rush before the third rebound got tapped home.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="2tm8l">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="mlen" data-offset-key="2tm8l-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2tm8l-0-0"><span data-offset-key="2tm8l-0-0">4. PP goal. Nothing about zone defence. Lucky bounce of Boeser's leg.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="4ecjd">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="mlen" data-offset-key="4ecjd-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="4ecjd-0-0"><span data-offset-key="4ecjd-0-0">5. PP goal. Long point shot.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="3cvif">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="mlen" data-offset-key="3cvif-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3cvif-0-0"><span data-offset-key="3cvif-0-0">6. VAN wins the faceoff, goes D to D, point shot hits skate in front, Boeser taps home.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="ai2f3">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="mlen" data-offset-key="ai2f3-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="ai2f3-0-0"><span data-offset-key="ai2f3-0-0">7. PP goal. Miller from the top of the circle.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="6g67v">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="mlen" data-offset-key="6g67v-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6g67v-0-0"><span data-offset-key="6g67v-0-0">8. Off the rush, 2-on-1 with McLeod back pressure, pass across does not get completed, but Joshua bangs home rebound.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<h2 data-offset-key="6g67v-0-0"><strong>O-zone and D-zone Time.</strong></h2>
<div data-offset-key="6g67v-0-0">
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="avaf6">
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="avaf6-0-0">

<span data-offset-key="avaf6-0-0">Edmonton had the puck in O-zone more than Van and they had significantly more puck possession time. Stats via SportLogiq:</span>

</div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="6c83i">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="mlen" data-offset-key="6c83i-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6c83i-0-0"><span data-offset-key="6c83i-0-0">5x5 Puck in the O-Zone: EDM 19:32, VAN 15:39</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-rbd-draggable-context-id="9" data-rbd-draggable-id="1h6sr">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="mlen" data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0">
<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0"><span data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0">5x5 Puck possession in the O-Zone: EDM 6:43, VAN 3:26</span></div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0"></div>
</div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0">Here is a breakdown of the puck possession at even strength by period, in case you think the Oilers had more when the game was out of hand.</div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0">1st period: EDM 1:49...VAN 1:28</div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0">2nd period: EDM 3:08... VAN :56
3rd period: EDM 1:48... VAN 1:02</div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0"></div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0">The Canucks rarely had sustained pressure in the Oilers zone. Three goals came off the rush 5x5, one on a dump in where Bouchard lost a battle and the other off a lost face off where the shot hit a skate and went to Boeser.</div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0"></div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0">Vancouver didn't hem the Oilers in their zone for long periods. Edmonton didn't struggle with understanding their D-zone coverage. The only goal on which you could maybe say they did struggle was the second goal, where Boeser found the soft spot near the bottom of the circle.</div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0"></div>
<div data-offset-key="1h6sr-0-0">The Oilers didn't play well, but the new defensive tweaks didn't cause them to give up a touchdown and two-point conversion.</div>

D-Zone coverage wasn’t the Oilers’ issue in game one

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