This in from Bob Stauffer of the Oilers radio network, the lines from the Edmonton Oilers practice today, essentially the same lines as we saw in the 5-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, the stinkiest loss of the year for the Edmonton team.
RNH-McDavid-Hyman
Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Arvidsson
Janmark-Henrique-Brown
Perry-Ryan-Kapanen
J. Skinner
Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Stecher
Kulak-Emberson
S. Skinner
Pickard
My take
1. If there was ever a time for a big shift in the lines was Monday’s practice not it? Not only did the Oilers blow a lead to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, they lost a 3-1 lead to one of the NHL’s weakest teams on Sunday losing 5-3 to the Ducks.
Anaheim had 18 Grade A shots to just nine for the Oilers. Los Angeles also had 16 Grade A shots, evidence of Edmonton falling face down on defence in the two games. This is a team that gives up only 11 Grade A shots against per game on average.
At the same time, Edmonton’s first line of McDavid, Hyman and RNH were pretty much offensive duds in both games, while the fourth line has been drowning for some time, not providing the OIlers with the energy or defensive play the team needs.
2. Jeff Skinner was benched against the Ducks. That makes sense. When we look at his two-way play at even strength, we can see why this is the case. He’s tied with RNH for being the leakiest Oilers forward on defence, both of them making 1.17 mistakes on Grade A shots per game, an unacceptably high number for a winger. But with RNH also playing just OK even strength hockey, why not give Skinner that shot on the top line he’s barely gotten all year?
It seems to me McDavid and Hyman could use a sniper on their wing, see how that works. Agree or disagree?
3. The top line created next to no offence at even strength in the two California games. McDavid usually creates about three or four Grade A shots per game at even strength, but he was in on just three of them at even strength in the two games combined, not one of them in combination with Hyman or RNH. They’re not clicking right now. Why not shake up that top line? For all the time RNH gets with McDavid, he’s not making much of it at even strength.
On the downside, Skinner has played 50 even strength minutes with McDavid and the Oilers have been outscored one goals for to seven goals against. That’s not exactly an encouraging stat when it comes to bumping up Skinner to the top line. At the same time, it’s an awfully small sample size. Before the Oil give up on Skinner, I’d be curious to see him get another 50 minutes with McDavid, see if they can turn things around.
Another bet might be to go with McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the top line. In 186 minutes, they’re 16 goals for, seven against.
4. As for the fourth line, it provides almost zilch in the way of physical play and Ryan’s two-way game has been sliding for year to year to year. Is a change not in order there yet?
5. On defence, after playing so well for almost two months,Darnell Nurse has been in a mini-slump the last four or five games. He had his worst game of the year against the Ducks. Not sure what options the Oilers have on defence right now, but going with Nurse and Brett Kulak on the second-pairing full-time might work.
At the Cult of Hockey
McCURDY: Game grades in stinker loss to Ducks
STAPLES: Did the Oilers loss against L.A. teach the team a few specific lessons
Staples on politics
Naheed Nenshi (finally) rules out an Alberta consumer carbon tax
