Edmonton Oilers Pregame Thoughts

Before I criticize the team for doing an impression of last season, I’m going to congratulate a couple of milestones that were reached this past weekend. Saturday night was Brett Kulak’s 500th NHL game. That same night, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins recorded his 700th NHL point. And don’t forget Jeff Skinner scoring his first goal on his new team.

When the Edmonton Oilers are on their game, they’re solid parts of the team. After three games, however, it doesn’t feel like that. They have trouble scoring, they have trouble playing defense, and the goalies behind them have trouble stopping pucks. I wouldn’t have ever expected the first point to be an issue. Connor Brown hit the post on breakaway, fine; it happens. But what kind of team doesn’t get a shot on net after a 4v1 develops? For a team that wanted to move on from last season, they’re starting the exact same way they did last season. I normally don’t like to write about the referees in any game, because every fanbase has the same complaints about them. But I had PTSD with the acts of goalie interference on Sunday night. It cost Corey Perry the first of 2 disallowed goals. But before the first period ended, Stuart Skinner was slashed behind his net on the back of his leg that isn’t protected, and that wasn’t called for a penalty.

That’s not an excuse, though. We’re only three games in, and I’ll stand by that. But as I’ve stated in previous articles, it’s still pretty baffling that they can’t learn from past seasons and improve some of their mental challenges; such as being able to start on time. Some of Edmonton’s best players and leaders need to hold themselves accountable as well. This is the last of a four-game homestand that they started the season with, at least end it on some sort of high note. The keys to the game are…

Penalty Kill: The Oilers went 3/3 on the PK against the Flames. Before that, either Oilers goalie had yet to make a PK save. Pretty embarrassing, but maybe that’s one moral victory they can bring to tonight.

Russian Rookie: The Philadelphia Flyers drafted 19-year-old forward Matvei Mitchkov 7th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft. He was projected to be that draft class’s second most skilled prospect after Connor Bedard, perhaps even more skilled. But the five teams picking after Chicago were concerned with whether or not he’d have to stay a couple more seasons in his home country, Russia, before finally playing in the NHL. Those concerns were put to rest this month. How will this anticipated rookie’s first NHL season look?

Charge: It’s not just something the home team chants before a faceoff is taken, the Flyers have defensemen Nick Seeler and Ryan Ellis on Injured Reserved. A team that has scored only 3 goals so far should keep attacking Philadelphia’s blue line whenever their top pairing isn’t on the ice.