Last night, the Edmonton Oilers trounced the Flames 5-2 in the Heritage Classic. Aside from a having two 5 on 3's in the first period (Edmonton scored a goal immediately after one) and some possession time in the second period but no real tough chances against, it was a game entirely controlled by the Oilers. Overall the team played the kind of game that fans expected to see from them every night.
The Calgary Flames have been brutal all season as have the Oilers so while beating a provincial rival is great, it doesn't matter much if they cannot replicate that level of play again and again. The Oilers finished October 2-5-1. That is a horrendous record that keeps them among the bottom teams of the NHL. They need to go on a four game winning streak just to get over .500. The Oilers don't play again until Thursday when they host the Dallas Stars. Their practices over these days off need to be high intensity practices that replicate the way they just played. These days off should also be good for Connor McDavid and Mattias Ekholm, both of whom are recovering from injuries and are not at 100%.
Some general thoughts on the state of this team.
Evander Kane started the season looking unbelievably lacklustre, and seeming to think that his spot in the lineup was guaranteed. He was demoted to the third line for a game and jumped back into the top six only because of the McDavid injury.
Against the Flames, Kane finally used all of the tools at his disposal that make him a strong addition to the top six. Kane had 6 shots on net, 6 hits and was up in the faces of Flames players every step of the way. Kane's "What is anybody here going to do?" quote was hilarious but also showcased the swagger and confidence he brings to the team. If Kane wants to keep getting the top six gravy minutes he needs to be playing that way every night.
I was surprised to see that the goal that was eventually credited to Vincent Desharnais was his first career NHL goal. Desharnais has been one of the only consistent defenders on the Oilers blueline this season, being defensively conscious and physical without putting himself out of position. I would like to see his ice-time elevated.
Still not seeing anything from Philip Broberg. He skates well and has mobility but I'm not seeing any strong instincts from the kid. He isn't ever really out of position but I also don't ever see him making a strong play to strip a puck from a player, or put much pressure on someone to take away a shooting lane. I would like to see him in an elevated role with Ekholm for a time but there also isn't anything I've seen that makes me think the coach should give him that chance.
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THE BOTTOM SIX
The Oilers once again have a bottom six problem as there is just no support offensively from that group. Erne, Janmark, Holloway, McLeod, and Brown all have 0 points on the season after the 8 games. Ryan has one assist, which came on Evander Kane's empty net goal last night.
Ryan McLeod does some great things defensively but his offensive instincts haven't seemed to bloomed yet. Despite talking through training camp about how much more he wants to shoot, we have not yet seen it coalesce. McLeod has a measly 5 shots on net through 8 games. Less than Erne, Janmark, and Ryan despite averaging more minutes a game than any of them.
Holloway has 12 shots through 8 games and has been aggressive on the forecheck. While he has had some shots, he hasn't given himself many real scoring chances. He had a breakaway against the Flames and just couldn't elevate the puck at all, giving Markstrom a pretty easy save.
Connor Brown is a real concern now for this team. While Brown has started playing better, he remains pointless and has dropped out of the top six, a role he was expected to play in. It's important to remember, Connor Brown has a bonus that kicks in after he has played 10 games. If he plays a 10th game, the Oilers are on the books for a 3.2 million dollar cap hit next season, regardless of if Brown signs. The cap is going up after this season and wasting that space is awful managing by Ken Holland. Unless Brown has a phenomenal game against the Stars, the team needs to send him down to the AHL.
I like Derek Ryan as a 12/13 forward because of his defensive ability and roster flexibility (right shot centre/winger) but Erne and Janmark need to be swapped out of the lineup today. Erne is a placeholder at best on this roster. He isn't overly physical, he isn't blocking shots, and he has zero offensive skill. Erne and Ryan have played 33 minutes together and been outshot 10-17. In the 32 minutes Ryan has played away from Erne his line has outchanced the opponent 15-14.
Janmark has always been a coach's pet for Woodcroft for reasons that escape me. There is nothing he does particularly well in either zone yet Woodcroft has trusted him as one of the Oilers top penalty killers again this season (the Oilers have allowed the second most PP goals against this season). Janmark didn't play against the Flames, and may have a shoulder injury but the team clearly did not miss him.
Right now, a top six group of McDavid, Draisaitl, RNH, Hyman, Kane, and likely Foegele appears to be the play. I want to see Gagner and Lavoie called up soon to try and inject something into this bottom six. Gagner can kill penalties and Lavoie is a shooter. Lavoie has 4 goals through the first 5 games of the AHL season and Gagner has 5 points in 3 games.
If you want to get creative, I would run this.
Foegele-McDavid-Hyman Kane-Draisaitl-Lavoie Holloway-RNH-Brown Gagner-McLeod-Ryan
Use your centre depth and run some pairs: McDavid-Hyman, Draisaitl-Kane, RNH-Holloway, McLeod-Ryan