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RNH Resurgence A Huge Boost For Oilers

January 17, 2020, 1:17 PM ET [28 Comments]
Sean Maloughney
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Through almost four months of NHL hockey played this season, the Edmonton Oilers have had a positive record through three of those months, with the exception being December. October and November were won mainly due to a strong duo of Draisaitl and McDavid running the show, along with some great goaltending from both Koskinen and Smith.

The wheels fell off in December as the McDavid/Draisaitl combo were not only not scoring, but were a detriment when they were on the ice together. Edmonton's two best forwards weren't getting it done and the defense and goaltending struggled as a result. That duo has been split and January has seen a return to the Oilers maintaining above a .500 point pace once more.

Right now the best line for the Edmonton Oilers has been the Draisaitl, Yamamoto, and Nugent-Hopkins trio and while many have discussed Draisaitl being the second player this season to reach 70 points (McDavid being the first), and how much better Yamamoto looks than his previous stints, I think people are seriously under-praising the work of RNH.

From the beginning of October to the end of November, Nuge played 24 games for the Oilers. In those contests RNH went 5-11-16 which over a full season would equal roughly 55 points. Those are fine numbers for a second line centre.

Concerns were warranted with #93 for a couple reasons; only 5 goals in 24 games was on the low side and only 2 of those goals were scored at 5 on 5. In fact, 9 of the 16 points RNH had in the first two months of the season were scored on the powerplay.

Through those first two months, RNH was playing alongside mainly James Neal and Alex Chiasson and clearly not playing with elite talent but the fault wasn't only his linemates. Nuge was not dangerous at 5 on 5 and played too much of a perimeter game.

Near the end of November it was revealed that Nuge had some kind of hand issue he had been struggling with for an unspecified amount of time and so he missed the next 6 games to have it dealt with.

Fast-forward from December 8th to the present and Nugent-Hopkins has 15 points through 17 games with his goals (8) surpassing his assists (7). Even more importantly only 2 of those goals have been on the PP while the other 6 have all been 5 on 5 goals. Since December 31st, no one on the Oilers have scored more goals than RNH.

The combination of a healthy body, much better linemates, and not having to deal with the burden of being the defensive centre on the line have all played a big impact in RNH's resurgence. After multiple occasions where the two seemed to lack any real chemistry, Draisatl and RNH are both finding the back of the net together and it is giving Edmonton a deadly line that does not have Connor McDavid on it.

The next step will be for Ken Holland to find another true top 6 winger that can play alongside Connor McDavid and give the team two dangerous lines at 5 on 5.

Thanks for reading!
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