Not the best week for the copper blue and orange, not how a fan would like to start the season with a six-game home stand, but there were some positives to look at. As funny as it is to keep seeing Brett Kulak trip on ice, leading to breakaways, it is impressive that he’s the only Oilers defenseman not to be on the ice for a 5v5 goal against. Jack Campbell’s stats don’t look ideal, but he has been relatively sharp in the last two games since his stinker against the Flames. He made big saves against Carolina, despite allowing four goals. And against the Blues, he kept his team in that game. It’s just that the team in front couldn’t break through the tight-checking, boring defensive game that people hate sitting through, but that ultimately helps win you a championship. Before both of those games, against Buffalo, they peppered Edmonton native Eric Comrie with 48 shots but couldn’t bury grade-A chances, whereas the Sabres could, including a pretty goal by Tage Thompson, last year’s 38 goal scorer. Unfortunate news for rookie Dylan Holloway happened during the week. He got struck by Sabres defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin and is out day-to-day. Hence the 11-7 system that the Oilers have been icing. Philip Broberg has not been playing in the AHL due to an injury. This week’s opponents are…
Monday, October 24th at 6 pm VS Pittsburgh Penguins
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the McDavid and Draisaitl of old, close off Edmonton’s six-game homestand. We love Connor and Leon; of course, the talent is ridiculously visible. However, ask them the difference between them and the Pens duo, and they will humbly bring up the Stanley Cup rings they want to wear. That’s always what it comes down to in every superstar’s mind. When these teams met at Rogers Place last season, Zach Hyman scored a hat-trick up until the third goal was reviewed and taken away. You have to feel bad for those who threw a hat on the ice at night. A win and a Hyman hat-trick do-over would sound nice.
Wednesday, October 26th at 6 pm VS St. Louis Blues
Please don’t be as dull as this past Saturday. Please?
Thursday, October 27th at 8:30 pm VS Chicago Blackhawks
From Crosby and Malkin to Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Another future Hall of Fame duo with the Cups to boot. Oilers fans have heard rumors about the team possibly being interested in acquiring one of these two. And so, of course, they’ll probably score on the Oilers, and we’ll moan on Twitter about needing to trade for them now. I’ve alluded to playing a full 60 minutes, the Hawks have won their last two games after erasing deficits. No lead is safe, and the Oilers need to remember that and just keep playing sound hockey if they feel they’re getting too comfortable.
Saturday, October 29th at 10 pm VS Calgary Flames
A Battle of Alberta rematch, the second of only three games this season between the rivals. I ask for the second time… Why, Bettman, why? Dan Vladar was stellar for the Flames in the first bout. Jokingly, not playing Jacob Markstrom against Edmonton may end up being their key to success.
