The good, the bad, the 2024-25 Edmonton Oilers (so far). The Pittsburgh Penguins of 2015-16 are the only team in Stanley Cup history to begin the season 0-3 and win the cup. Regardless, the Edmonton Oilers did manage to improve their record to 1-3 with an overtime victory vs the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday evening. However, even with the 4-3 victory, their goal differential on the season remains at a pitiful -11. And yes, it is early, but being dead last with a 56.3 penalty kill percentage hurts. Especially so, when last year’s penalty kill from the playoffs was a league leading 94.3%. These are just straight-shooting facts like that of the notorious Dirty Harry. Until now, they have definitely been walking on a tightrope, but there are some positive takeaways. But be patient, and stay tuned for those at towards the end of our chat.
Maybe the Magical Run for the Edmonton Oilers Starts With Win vs Flyers
Last night, the penalty kill fell into that no man’s land of being every which way but loose. To say the bounces aren’t going their way right now, might be an understatement. Matvei Michkov scored his first career-NHL goal on a first period power play. However, it was subjected to a long review, and perhaps those in charge of the review, felt bad about taking away his piece of history. It seemed clear that Michkov pushed on Stuart Skinner’s pad holding tight to the post that resulted in the goal. But, the conclusion remained the same, it was 1-0 Flyers.
Mattias Ekholm Has Unfortunately Been a Cause of Penalty Kill Struggles
Head coach Kris Knoblauch seemed determined to change the fortunes of the penalty kill. He’s been sticking with his main man, Mattias Ekholm, who was out there to start the penalty kills. This was a way of fighting fire with the Firefox. Last night, it seemed to work somewhat at the beginning of the Flyers’ man advantages. However, when the Flyers young Russian struck for a second time on the power play, Ekholm was out there. The one-timer, a no doubter this go ‘round, on the power play, made it 2-0. Furthermore, even on the third Flyer goal, the one that made it 3-2, a Flyer power play had just ended. Once again, it was Ekholm who was at fault. The puck redirected off Ekholm’s stick past the glove side of Skinner. In any case, Ekholm has been out for four shorthanded goals against already on the young season.
Then the Tide Turned
Back to when the score was 2-0, everyone on the Oilers bench knew things were getting desperate. Going down 0-4 on the season could be disastrous. Therefore, they did attempt to mount a comeback. Evan Bouchard was the man to try, with a point shot aimed towards his favourite target, Zach Hyman. Unfortunately, with what was some seemingly incidental contact with the Flyers netminder, Samuel Ersson, it resulted in a no-goal call. Between the Michkov goal and the Bouchard non-goal, Rogers Place was really singing the blues like any old Honkytonk man might. At that point, the Oilers were 4-3 on the season, 4-3 as in disallowed goals were outdueling good ol’ fashioned goals that counted.
However, this point does indicate a changing in the tide. Even as bad as the Oilers results have been thus far, there have been many positives, and many tough battles. Perhaps back to the Winnipeg Jets opening night 6-0 loss, it wasn’t a matter of being outplayed, it was just a lack of execution. When Hyman just misses a tap in, Bouchard fumbles a puck at the blueline, or McDavid makes an easy flip to no-one-in-particular in net-front, but then the Jets go down on the counter-attack, perhaps that all the difference it takes.
There’s a New Sheriff In Town, but He’s also a Nurse
To speak on the positives, the Oilers do have one defender taking on the role of the Enforcer. He has been a positive on the penalty kill and battling hard to protect net-front, and that is Darnell Nurse. In addition, Hyman or Corey Perry have done well dictating play. It being reflected in the plague of disallowed goals, but the good sign is that the Oilers are driving the net. They’re going to the dirty areas, and dropping the mitts if needed. Furthermore, their depth forwards, such as the combo of Adam Henrique and Connor Brown, both scoring last night to help spark the victory, have been a welcoming sign for Edmonton. In case you forgot, it took Brown an unremarkable 55 games to bump the goose-egg last campaign. Therefore, one of the biggest causes of the Oilers struggles last season, and the lack of depth scoring, and what’s clearly worth at least a fistful of dollars, doesn’t appear to be affecting them thus far.
COMEBACK COMPLETE ✅
The @EdmontonOilers pick up the 4-3 victory in @Energizer overtime! 🟠🔵 pic.twitter.com/NRwMS7AYm6
— NHL (@NHL) October 16, 2024
We Came to See the Stars for the Edmonton Oilers vs the Flyers
The last point to mention, is that despite the overall lack of and inconsistent production, still the big guns of Connor ‘Bronco Billy‘ McDavid or Leon ‘Dr. Drai‘ Draisaitl are locked and loaded. The Oilers stars are doing their best impression of the works of the classic Dirty Dozen. Connor McDavid is definitely narrowing-in the rangefinder. After all, he does have some assists to his name, including on the game-tying and game-winning goals from last night. And Draisaitl is the one that finished off the overtime play. When the chips were down, it seems the Oilers best players beat the Flyers best players, and that’s what ultimately made the difference. The Oilers two stars, went from one goal and two assists in the three games previously, to one goal and three assists in the game.
Main Photo Credit: Sam Navarro – USA TODAY Sports
