The Oilers finally exploded offensively in a game to the tune of 8 goals. What I liked about that game was that the Oilers really didn’t let the Golden Knights off the hook. They didn’t take their foot off the gas. Normally in a blowout game, the team in the leads stops playing by the 3rd period, but Edmonton just kept going.
Yes, they were dunking on 4th and 5th string goalies, but in shots and attempts they still finished with a dominant performance from beginning to end. There was a little dip in the 3rd period (they finished the 2nd up 24-12 in shots), but overall it was a great effort from beginning to end in both process and results.
Tonight should see the debut of Mike Cammalleri as an Oiler. Based on the morning skate he should line up on the 3rd line with Strome and Pakarinen. He is going to be expected to contribute offensively, but it will take effort from Strome to be more of a driver than he has been. Cammalleri isn’t as quick as he was when he was a young man and even with a nose for the net, he will need linemates who can get in on the forecheck and get him the puck.
What I like to see is that as a result of Cammalleri coming into the lineup, Drake Caggiula is getting pushed down. The sad reality is that Caggiula is a poor scorer in the NHL and has been for his entire career. He has 8 goals and 12 assists in 70 NHL games. Six of those points are from the Power Play. He’s essentially the new Liam Reddox.
Cammalleri is spotting in on the 2nd unit Power Play and Caggiula’s spot on the 3rd line. Cammalleri since 2014-2015 has still been producing at a very competent 4.2 points per 60 on the Power Play. That rates him around the same as Huberdeau, Schiefele, and Granlund over the same time. We expect that his days on the top unit are over, but with Nuge and Maroon on the 2nd unit, this is still a solid opportunity. And with another potential scorer added to that unit, it should fight for more ice time.
He's 35 years old and injuries have been a concern for a while. We can expect that he wont be as productive as he was even just a couple years ago, but Cammalleri should be a welcome boost to the scoring ability of the bottom six. And worst case scenario, his addition forces players like Caggiula, Khaira, and Pakarinen to perform if they want to keep their ice time.
LINEUP
Khaira is out and apparently injured.
Maroon McDavid Draisaitl Lucic RNH Puljujarvi Cammalleri Strome Pakarinen Caggiula Letestu Kassian
Klefbom Benning Nurse Larsson Auvitu Russell
Talbot OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME
1) Real Goalie. Edmonton did a lot of good things in the game against the Knights. It wasn’t just bad goaltending. However, the team also faced Vegas’ 4th and 5th string goalies. The 4th stringer had a back issue that eventually forced him out of the game and the 5th stringer is a teenager who ought to be playing in Kamloops. Tonight, for whatever struggles he might be facing right now, the Oilers will face a real NHL goaltender. The Oilers hope they face Jake Allen tonight though. He’s been sporting a below average .908 save percentage including 2 stinkers in a row. If they get Carter Hutton, it might be a tougher night for the Oilers because the backup has won all 4 starts he’s made and has been a brick wall.
2) Avoid Singing The Blues. The top line of Tarasenko, Schwartz , and Schenn are absolutely dominant right now. Schwartz leads in points with 24 then Tarasenko and Schenn are tied with 22. I typically hate using traditional plus/minus, but in this case it highlights a potential path to victory for Edmonton. The majority of Blues forwards are even or negative. Those three are plus 14 each. If you shut down the top line (good luck) then you have a really good chance at stopping the Blues. That said, you’re playing with fire when you’re trying to keep top players from scoring. If you cant keep the puck away from them then they will make their own chances.
3) Adrenaline. You see it all the time when players start with new teams. Call it adrenaline, because I will, but those players seem to have an extra jump in their step for a few games. The intensity in their game always seems to fall back with time, but those first few games are dangerous. Mike Cammalleri is in a new town, with unfamiliar teammates, and about to play in a new system. It’s going to be all instinct and for a player who has traditionally been a scorer that likely means he’s going to keep it simple and fire the puck at will. We will see how that plays out on whichever line he finds himself in.
Puck drops tonight at 7PM Mountain Time on Sportsnet West. Game On!
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