Welcome to The Week In Review According To Me (TWIRATOME), a regular Monday feature breaking down the week that was for the Edmonton Oilers. Most weeks might take on the feel of autopsy, sifting through symptoms and clues to determine the cause of disaster, but all are worthy of examination before moving forward.
What Happened?
The Oilers bounced back like a Flubber-coated trampoline this week, winning three straight. Edmonton shut down Steven Stamkos and the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, earning a hard-fought 3-2 victory. Ben Scrivens’ heroic third period helped the Oilers secure another 3-2 win on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. Friday night, fueled by momentum and an adoring home crowd, the Oilers overcame a sloppy effort to double up on the downtrodden Carolina Hurricanes, 6-3.
Standings Snapshot
Two things are immediately apparent when looking at the Pacific Division standings. First, the depth of the division is unrivaled, especially when you factor in stronger-than-expected starts by the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks. Second, the Oilers have clawed their way back into shouting distance of playoff contention, which seemed extremely unlikely (if not altogether impossible) after losing their first five games. The key will be keeping their heads above water, averaging at least a point per game.
Best Reason to Freak Out
A three-game winning streak, no matter how gruesome the victories, is a three-game winning streak. That’s nothing to sneeze at. I don’t know about your life, but mine improved exponentially during this recent swing. Food tasted better last week, sleep was more restful, family relationships improved, profanity decreased, and angst subsided. As Trooper sang, we’re here for a good time, not a long time, so have a good time, the sun can’t shine every day. Especially not on this mutt’s butt, and winter is coming.
Week’s Worst Moment
Brett Connolly’s game-tying goal with six minutes remaining in the third period gave us that sinking feeling, the one followed by an ominous gong and pit in your stomach that signals impending doom. No time for love, Dr. Jones. Produced by Edmonton turnovers and defensive breakdowns, the late equalizer could have broken the team’s spirits and started the death spiral. Luckily it didn’t, but it was easily the worst moment of the week for the healthy and happy Oilers, who trailed for less than four minutes all week.
Week’s Best Moment
The best moment came less than three minutes after the worst. Jordan Eberle knocked down a cross-ice outlet pass by Ondrej Palat and fed Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for a game-winning goal that produced equal parts jubilation, amelioration, and mollification. It was swift and beautiful. Nugent-Hopkins’ twine-tickler gave the Oilers their first win of the season, calming the troubled waters and giving a weary fanbase hope that the season wasn’t going to be a complete write-off. There aren’t many goals that can do that.
Special Teams Report
PP: 5/23 – 21.7% (up from 20% last week) PK: 18/24 – 75% (up from 73.7% last week)
The Oilers converted two of eight opportunities last week, as better spacing and puck movement produced effective point shots. One of them (from Nikita Nikitin) found the mark and held up as the game-winner on Wednesday against the Capitals. The penalty kill allowed only one goal. However, the Oilers only found themselves shorthanded five times last week—half as many times as the previous week—which was exceptional. Discipline, while largely ignored, goes a long way toward picking up wins.
Completely Useless Advanced Stat
Martin Marincin’s Corsi Relative: -14.8
Oh my goodness, that’s a horrible number. Not only is it the worst CorsiRel among Oilers defencemen, but it indicates that he probably shouldn’t even be on the team, right? I mean, Marincin’s advanced statistics (team-high 15.5 CorsiRel last season) were one of the primary reasons statheads were outraged that he started the season in Oklahoma City, so shouldn’t this number justify sending him back to the farm? Ask a Corsi dork to explain the numbers and Marincin’s decline and then stand back while you watch their head explode.
Simple Stats
Goaltending Glance
LVP of the Week
You hate to dole out an LVP during a week when the Oilers won three games, but there couldn’t be any greats without goats. Marincin had a decent enough week up until Friday night against the Hurricanes. He was on the ice for all three of Carolina’s goals, and you could point the gnarled finger of blame in his direction on two of them. He still faces growing pains and a learning curve, so we can expect some tough sledding for the 22-year-old Slovak, but he can’t afford to be the worst player on the ice.
MVP of the Week
Scrivens earned the victory versus Washington and outperformed Ben Bishop against Tampa Bay, but Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is the week’s MVP. Edmonton’s first-line centre scored the game-winning goal against the Lightning, notched the game-tying goal to stunt the Capitals’ momentum, and buried an insurance marker to break the Hurricanes. However, he scored those three goals despite recording only four shots on goal last week. One more reason to adopt Nugent-Hopkins’ rightful nickname, “Mr. Efficient.…
Looking Ahead
The Montreal Canadiens come calling tonight in a game that could (without hyperbole) either make or melt the Oilers’ entire season. A fourth straight win sends a strong message of resurgence. A loss, and the media hounds bark away last week’s warm fuzzies. The Nashville Predators roll into Rexall on Wednesday looking to build on their 5-1-2 start, and the Oil should be in tough against a well-rested squad. Edmonton wraps up its seven-game homestand on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks.
ryan.garner@hockeybuzz.com
Happy Monday, folks! Catch up on the #Oilers week that was. TWIRATOME: Oilers Rebound with Three-Game Winning Streak http://t.co/fswbCWQFgV
— Ryan Garner (@RyGarner) October 27, 2014