Hey y’all! Welcome back for another season of Edmonton Oilers hockey! I’m BLH and I’ll be giving you the skinny on today’s game!
If you’re new here and are wondering what 3P2W means, well, it stands for Three Players to Watch and seeing I’m as lazy as I am, I figured we’d shorten it to 3P2W.
So with that out of the way, let’s talk a little bit about what’s been going on lately in the Oilogospehere and then get into the player’s I’ve put under the spotlight for today’s matchup!
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Random Pontifications
In the heart of NHL’s desolation, the Edmonton Oilers trudge wearily toward yet another battle, their pursuit of hope a mere illusion. Last season’s echoes of greatness have faded into a cacophony of defeat, painting a grim portrait of a team lost in a labyrinth of losses. Even the valiant efforts of Sam Gagner, a lone beacon in the darkness, fail to dispel the pervasive hopelessness that shrouds the Oilers.
Once celebrated for their offensive might, the Oilers now stand as a pitiful spectacle, their defensive frailties laid bare for all to witness. McDavid and Draisaitl, once titans, now resemble mere mortals in the face of relentless onslaughts and a woeful save percentage. The locker room exudes an eerie calm, a facade masking the bitter acceptance that has settled in like a festering wound. Evander Kane’s rallying cries echo hollowly, drowned out by the deafening silence of resignation. The injury to Connor Brown serves as a cruel reminder of the team’s misfortunes, casting a looming shadow over their already shattered spirit.
The @EdmontonOilers are not done yet with moves @EdmontonOilers have had some talk with @NYRangers and talks should resume this weekend…….as per Garfield
— Tracy Lane (@TreenasOil) November 4, 2023
Raphaël Lavoie’s call-up feels like a desperate attempt to salvage a sinking ship. Despite his AHL success, it’s hard not to see this move as a mere band-aid on a gaping wound. Replacing the ineffective Connor Brown, Lavoie might bring temporary excitement, but can he truly mend the deeply-rooted issues plaguing the team? The third-line gamble seems like a feeble attempt to inject life into a lackluster roster. In a season marred by disappointment, Lavoie’s promotion appears more like a grim reminder of the team’s unraveling than a genuine solution to their woes. The Oilers cling to hope, but in this relentless cycle of despair, even the most optimistic glimmers fade into darkness.
In the gloomy saga of the Edmonton Oilers, defenseman Philip Broberg becomes a casualty of the team’s lack of accountability and vision. Hindered by minimal ice time and an ambiguous role, Broberg’s plight highlights the coaching staff and GM’s failure in fostering his development. The Oilers’ decision to exile him to the AHL reeks of desperation, an admission of their own ineptitude in nurturing young talent. Former player Jason Strudwick’s skepticism mirrors the prevailing sentiment, emphasizing the team’s utter confusion regarding Broberg’s potential. Amidst this murky landscape, Broberg’s demotion echoes the broader organizational failure, epitomizing the Oilers’ dire state of affairs and their glaring inability to harness and cultivate promising players for a team drowning in disappointment.
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Three Players to Watch for the (team)
- #82 Tommy Novak (5g 2a 7pts) – This guy has burst onto the scene this season and has positioned himself as the Preds no.2 center. Along with wingers Kiefer Sherwood and Luke Evangelista have combined for 17points in Nashville’s last five games. Their fast, physical, and skilled. They have the potential to give Edmonton’s swiss cheese defense and goaltending some trouble.
- #10 Colton Sissons (5g 1a 6pts) – Now, this is what you want from a 3C. Sissons is very much a throwback player in that he’s going to make life very difficult for the opposition physically. He’s got no qualms getting into the muck and his five goals on the year is a reflection of that high-end work ethic.
- #59 Roman Josi (2g 4a 7pts) – Josi’s hit his stride here production-wise. He’s on a PPG pace in his last five matches. He’s the kind of defenseman that can dismantle another team from his own end with his elite vision and playmaking ability and with the way the Oilers are playing defensively, he very well could ruin Edmonton’s day on his own. Especially when he’s got an all-star winger in Filip Forsberg sitting on 1 goal for the year…
Three Players to Watch for the Oilers
- #62 Raphael Lavoie (0g 0a 0pts) – The clamoring from the media and fanbase finally paid off. Now, I’ve always said that Lavoie is a better skating version of Alex Chiasson. Meaning he’s a big guy with an amazing shot but so bloody inconsistent. The other thing is, he’s not a mean player. He’s got the size and he’ll engage from time to time (check out his scrap in the clip below), but he’s not a banger. I don’t know if he’ll get a lot of TOI as the Woodcroft’s got Gagner up on the 2nd line with Nuge and Kane as well ass Foegele is back to the 3rd line with Holloway and McLeod. So, he’ll be lining up with Derek Ryan on the 4th line but on the bright side, he’ll have one of 97, 29, or 93 as his center. i
- #91 Evander Kane (3g 5a 8pts) – Ever since that comment on HNIC Kane’s been on fire. One could argue he’s been the Oilers’ best player since then. So I bet he’s probably wondering when the rest of his teammates are going to follow suit. A guy like this can only play that sort of style for so long before he realizes his efforts aren’t being appreciated.
- #93 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2g 6a 8pts) – Two assists in his last five games… He’s slowed down considerably. Maybe having Gagner and Kane on his line will light a fire under his ass.
The Next Twelve Games (#2-#13)
- 10/14 vs. Canucks – I think the Oilers will take 2/2 vs. Vancouver to start the year. (W)
- (4-3 LOSS)
- 10/17 @. Predators – The Pred don’t scare me. Their roster is in shambles. Poor Jusse Saros and Roman Josi. (W)
- (6-1 WIN)
- 10/19 @ Flyers – Their forward group looks entertaining but they’ve got nobody on defense. (W)
- (4-1 LOSS)
- 10/21 vs. Winnipeg – The Jets are always a tough out. I like their chances. (L)
- (3-2 OTL)
- 10/24 @ Wild – Minny isn’t as good as they used to be but still very solid. (W)
- (7-4 LOSS)
- 10/26 vs. Rangers – I like NY’s defense and goaltending here. (L)
- (3-0 LOSS)
- 10/29 vs.Flames – Calgary is going to surprise a few this year. (L)
- (5-2 WIN)
- 11/2 vs. Stars – This will be a very tight game. (W)
- (4-3 Loss)
- 11/4 vs. Predators – Leon will continue to light the Preds up. (W)
- 11/6 @ Canucks – I’ll take Edmonton for a third time here, Alex. (W)
- 11/9 @ Sharks – I don’t even recognize half the names on SJ’s roster… (W)
- 11/11 @ Kraken – I like Seattle’s roster. Well-rounded. (L)
(predictions made 10/11/2023)
