The Oilers since removing Schultz and adding a few pieces at the deadline have really started to look good. Well, they’ve at least started to look better.
Edmonton has now won 3 games in a row and played 5 games in a row of tight checking hockey. They were still outmatched against LA and Anaheim, but that’s kind of expected. I’ve been much more pleased with the kinds of efforts they’ve been giving. Edmonton has been playing an honest brand of hockey and I like it.
What’s more, you’re starting to see the roster take shape to what Chiarelli stated he wanted when he took the job over. He wanted this team to get bigger, tougher. He added two forwards this year in particular who showed up in the last game to put a big checkmark beside that box.
Edmonton with Kassian and Maroon in the top 9 is much more imposing physically that it had been to start the year. With Pouliot playing a greasy kind of forechecking game on the McDavid line, the three keep an element of skill with varying degrees of nastiness on all three of the top lines. A healthy Oiler forward lineup right now probably looks like this:
Hall Draisaitl Maroon Pouliot McDavid Yakupov Kassian RNH Eberle Korpikoski Letestu Hendricks
The Hall line is big and fast. The McDavid line is ridiculously fast. The RNH line is basically Edmonton’s top line from last year but with Kassian doing jerk things. The Letestu line is finally playing at their right depth. Hendricks plays a rough game.
It’s baby steps, but that forward group is a lot tougher to play against that the one that started the season in Edmonton. You can see something taking shape there. If the defense starts to take form with steps forward from Nurse and a couple new additions then we’re really starting to make progress.
Against Philly Kassian took some late penalties after coming to Hall’s defense. It was the 2nd time Oiler players came to Hall’s defense in that game. Gudas was throwing wild punches at Hall and Kassian took offense. Before that it was Pardy and Maroon laying waste to the Flyers. As sad as it is to say, that’s not normal for the Oilers to do. You couldn’t help but notice it. Edmonton had weight to throw around and were doing exactly that.
If that’s what a Chiarelli team looks like then I’m on board.
LINEUP
Let’s assume the same team but with Brossoit in net.
Hall Draisaitl Maroon Yakupov McDavid Eberle Korpikoski Letestu Kassian Hendricks Lander Pakarinen
Sekera Fayne Nurse Clendening Pardy Davidson
Brossoit
OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME
1) Real Chemistry. I don’t care what anybody says. Nail Yakupov has real chemistry with Connor McDavid and everyone else is just a pretender. It was yet another strong night from Yak (who finished with the highest CF% among Oiler forwards) on McDavid’s wing. He had 5 shots, scored a goal, and continues to make solid plays in his own zone that lead to breakouts. What I like about Yak with McDavid is that if he’s sprung he uses his speed, but when he has the puck high in the defensive zone he’s looking for McDavid. Yak scores at 2.76 P/60 when he’s with McDavid. Given his contract and what it would likely cost to extend him after next season, he could be a value player if this chemistry is more than a mirage.
2) What a Maroon. Pat Maroon scored a goal and looked like the monster he was billed as. He started the night on the 3rd line and his physicality was evident immediately. Twice last night two Flyer forwards tried to knock him down at the same time. Both times he man-handled the Flyers and didn’t budge an inch. For Oiler fans who have wanted the team to get bigger. Well it got bigger. Maroon was promoted to the top line and all of a sudden the offensive game inside him woke up. He scored by bulling his way to the blue paint. He said afterwards that he’s a big man who wants to play a strong game and use his soft hands to help out offensively. He talked the talk and walked the walk last night. If he can keep that up with Hall and Drai then this is going to be a beautiful marriage.
3) Ell Bee. While statistical wisdom dictates that goalies perform worse on back to backs than otherwise normal starts, Talbot has bucked that trend recently. He looked very good back to back against the Kings and Ducks, even in losses. However, even though Talbot picked up a shutout in last night’s game, the Oilers are giving Laurent Brossoit the start tonight. LB has appeared in just 2 NHL games before he was given the job as the backup. Both starts were incredible, but he earned the role by playing his way up from the AHL. He’s picked up a regulation loss and an OT loss, the Oilers need to get this kid his first career W. Tonight might as well be the night.
Puck drops tonight at 5PM Mountain Time on Sportsnet West. Game On!
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