The Oil finally broke through and got scoring from all over their roster against the Devils. It was a convincing performance that looked like someone played a game from last season. They had the swagger and the scoring that goes with it.

McDavid somehow “quietly” had a three assist night, mainly due to the attention given to the Ryan Strome line’s performance. It was easily the best he’s looked as an Oiler. One hopes that the chemistry starting to develop between he, Caggiula, and Jokinen is fostered some more. If that is a line that can find ways to contribute on the regular then this season might have light left at the end of the tunnel.

Islanders media made it abundantly clear that Strome was at his best when he played center. If he can handle that 3rd line then it allows Draisaitl and Nuge to be in their rightful places in the top 6. It very much is crucial for success to continue as we know it for those two. Draisaitl is most impactful on McDavid’s wing and Nuge is wasted when his minutes and linemates are diluted.

It was nice to see Caggiula contribute to a win as well. He has been getting an offensive push for a very long time without any prior performance to back it up. He’s the kind of player that looks like he has more to offer, but often comes up short in the games. It’s that Ryan Jones Syndrome. Caggiula has a shot. He has puck skills. He can skate. But in game situations these traits aren’t combining – at least not with regularity.

Through 67 regular season NHL games, Drake Caggiula is averaging just 1 point per 60 minutes of 5v5 play. That’s 15th of 15 Oiler forwards who have played at least 200 minutes over that time. He is – objectively – the forward least likely to contribute to 5v5 offense on the team. The goal on Friday is a start to his season, but he needs to keep the foot on the gas if he wants to really turn things around.

Depth scoring is going to be the difference between the Oilers turning the ship around and making the playoffs or wasting the last year of McDavid’s ELC. If it doesn’t stick around then this season will be a disaster.

LINEUP

Slepyshev was hurt late in thegame on Friday and is questionable for today. That means Yamamoto is likely to play his 9th game.

Maroon McDavid Draisaitl
Lucic RNH Yamamato
Caggiula Strome Jokinen
Pakarinen Letestu Kassian

Nurse Larsson
Klefbom Benning
Russell Gryba

Talbot

OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME

1) Yamo. The Oilers are most likely going to play rookie Kailer Yamamoto in his 9th game of the season. This is the final game he can play before triggering the countdown on his Entry Level Contract. To date he’s had 3 assists and 0 goals despite 21 shots on net. Yamamoto earned the 9 game look after a very impressive training camp. Frankly, I think he’s got more skill than all the other RWs except Draisiatl, but at this point I would say that sending him back to the WHL would be the best thing for him and the team. Is there a performance he can have that changes my mind or the mind of Oiler management?

2) Russell Dropping. Despite the fact that Peter Chiarelli signed Kris Russell to a hyper-inflated 4 year deal at 4 million dollars per season, it took less than a month for him to drop down to the 3rd pairing. This is a combination of his own poor play not being masked by Sekera and Talbot and the rise of Darnell Nurse finally being acknowledged by the coaching staff. The obvious Cap implications of paying 4M to a 3rd pairing defender aside, the Oilers are better off playing Russell fewer and fewer minutes. A year ago Russell played fewer than 18 minutes just 4 times in 68 games. This season, Russell has played less than 18 minutes 8 times in just 12 games.

3) Marking Mantha. Anthony Mantha isnt the highest scoring Red Wing forward from a points perspective, but he does have the highest goal total with 6 so far this season. He is a bulky 6’5” 225 pounds and making an impact now the way the Red Wings had envisioned when they drafted him in 2013. To go along with an offensive pace that should position him to have a career year, Mantha is also 2nd among the Red Wing forwards in Shot attempt and scoring chance percentage. Right now, you have to believe that he is the most dangerous Red Wing of the bunch.

Puck drops today at 2PM Mountain Time on Sportsnet West. Game On!

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