Does Sidney Crosby have a problem leading his team in Canada? Did the Oilers not understand the Penguins are the rightful owners of the six-goal game this season? Where is the respect for Tristan Jarry, Edmonton’s last goalie to lead a hockey team to a championship in Edmonton?
Jokes aside the Edmonton Oilers took it to the Penguins last night outshooting them 47-35 and out attempting them 64-40 at 5v5. Edmonton finished the game with a 67.03 xGF%. This was not a good start to the western swing of their five-game road trip. The Oilers have some ridiculous high-end talent. What they aren’t known for is their ability to drive play. Before the game their xGF% was hovering in the 44-46 range. Today, they are a respectable 51.9% after drubbing Pittsburgh.
Making matters worse is the fact the Penguins lost 6-3 without Connor McDavid registering a single point, even if McDavid missed a chunk of the game after crashing into the boards. It is still noteworthy but you know you’re pretty good when failing to register a point is news, and not doing so in consecutive games is legitimately surprising. It only happens a handful of times a season for him. The thing with the Oilers is even when McDavid doesn’t find the scoresheet Leon Draisaitl probably will. He finished the night with a goal and two assists.
Sidney Crosby did finish with a goal in the losing cause. He has 11 points in six games so far this year. I’m here for Sid at 35 years old trying to do his best Mario Lemieux 35-year-old impression. Lemieux famously unretired at age 35 after three years off and totally dominated the league with offensive numbers that would make modern players blush, all in the heart of the clutch and grab era. Lemieux played 43 games and finished with 35 goals and 76 points. Sid is currently on a 45 goal and 160-point pace season. This will likely tail off. By how much? We are all going to find out. For now, Crosby’s career high is 120 points.
The Penguins do not have a lot of time to rebound from their poor performance. They are back in action against who I consider the better of the two Alberta teams. The Calgary Flames were able to navigate Matt Tkachuk’s trade demands in a pretty successful way, all things considered. Getting Jonathan Huberdeau and Mackenzie Weegar was really solid given the circumstances. It keeps the Flames contending even with the loss of both Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau. Also helping the cause was signing one of the more sought after free agents in Nazem Kadri. Here is what their lineup looks like courtesy of daily faceoff
The Penguins will have their hands full tonight to avoid their first back to back losses on the year.
Stanley Cup Champion Phil Kessel tied the ironman streak last night. Here is a very good piece about him from the perspective of people from each of his five NHL stops
The legend of Phil Kessel.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) October 25, 2022
Five essays from five people who knew the real Phil in his five NHL stops, including James van Riemsdyk, Nick Bonino and Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker). Really enjoyed this one. Thanks for reading!https://t.co/3sLZQZoQZW
Thanks for reading!