Oilers Set for Special Teams Battle with Kings, Lavoie Returns to Lineup
Plus, looking back at more midseason grades and Campbell updates.
Welcome to the THW Edmonton Oilers Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Oilers writers.
The Edmonton Oilers will take on the Los Angeles Kings Saturday night, hoping to win the battle of their power play versus the Kings much-improved penalty kill. Raphael Lavoie is back in and there is more talk surrounding the goaltending.
Enjoy the game tonight and now onto the good stuff!
Oilers Record 3rd Straight Win in 5-0 Shutout of Sharks
December 29, 2023 by Brian Swane
The Edmonton Oilers extended their win streak to three games, defeating the San Jose Sharks 5-0 at SAP Center in San Jose on Thursday (Dec. 28). Playing for the first time in six days, they showed no signs of rust, scoring four times in the first period. Evan Bouchard, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Ryan McLeod and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each had a goal for Edmonton, while Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner made 25 saves to notch his fourth career shutout and second this season.
Oilers’ Midseason Report Cards: Evander Kane
December 29, 2023 by Jesse Courville-Lynch
Edmonton Oilers’ forward Evander Kane had high expectations entering the 2023-24 season. He was one of many forwards who were expected to explode offensively and help lift the team into a playoff spot and deep into the playoffs. He has been a solid player, as he has been since joining the team after departing the San Jose Sharks, but he has had some weaknesses this season. The high expectations placed on him haven’t been reached by any means but he has still been producing enough to keep himself in the top nine forward group.
While Kane’s offensive game hasn’t been terrible, his defensive game hasn’t been great. With the Oilers exiting the holiday break having played the Sharks last night, let’s have a look at the offensive and defensive impact of Kane this season, and grade his play in both categories.
Oilers Insider Calls Jack Campbell Signing “Unmitigated Disaster”
December 29, 2023 by Jesse Courville-Lynch
The Edmonton Oilers have been an interesting team to watch this season. They started the season terribly but have since turned it around and have found themselves battling back to the top of the Pacific Division. One member of the Oilers who has made headlines and stood out, not in a positive way, is goaltender Jack Campbell. The Oilers chose to send him down to the minors earlier this season after a horrific start between the pipes, and he hasn’t been able to find his game in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Bakersfield Condors either.
Favorable Upcoming Schedule Will Propel Oilers’ Playoff Chances
December 29, 2023 by Jim Parsons
As the NHL season advances, the race for playoff contention among NHL teams remains hotly contested. Among Canadian teams, there are a few clubs currently in the mix, with the Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets, and Toronto Maple Leafs higher in the standings than everyone else. But, when asked about which Canadian team will come out of the West, one insider had an interesting response.
During a recent episode of OverDrive, the panel had NHL insider Chris Johnston on as a guest. He was asked to pick a Canadian team with the best odds of coming out as Western Conference winners, and he chose the Edmonton Oilers. He noted that he liked what was “under the hood” of the roster, but the upcoming Oilers’ schedule certainly helps.
Oilers vs Kings Pre-Game
After a solid showing against the Sharks, the Edmonton Oilers are trying to pick up a win over a much stronger team in the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night.
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