You’ll be able to’t choose a workforce when it doesn’t get any goaltending, and that was the case because the Oilers misplaced 6-2 in Seattle on a tough evening for farmhand netminder Olivier Rodrigue.
Edmonton outshot the Kraken 30-23 — 23-16 over the past 40 minutes through which all eight objectives had been scored — however Rodrigue left them, needing seven to win on an evening he’ll need to overlook, because the Oilers pre-season report falls to 3-4 with one recreation left to play — Friday in Vancouver.
When you watched intently, nevertheless, you noticed components starting to fall into line for Edmonton. The facility play was extra organized, the penalty kill went an ideal four-for-four, and the Oilers regarded extra like themselves, having greater than their share of the sport regardless of the ultimate rating.
The workforce will head to Vancouver for a team-building train on Thursday — the annual pickleball event — and conclude their pre-season (fortunately) in opposition to the Canucks on Friday evening.
Right here’s what we noticed in Seattle:
Travis Dermott — The previous Maple Leaf is and not using a contract (on a PTO), however he’s giving the Oilers pause along with his efficiency at camp. He’s a little bit of a tweener — small, however not a giant factors producer, very like Troy Stecher — however he scored as soon as and went to the online successfully in Seattle. The query is that if Dermott can defend effectively sufficient to steal a job from both Josh Brown or Stecher, with one pre-season recreation left to play.
Olivier Rodrigue — At 24, Rodrigue is six seasons previous his draft yr and nonetheless hasn’t performed in an NHL recreation. He was beneath common on this one, permitting 4 objectives on 5 second-period photographs for Seattle. He’s a pleasant American League goalie, and can share the pipes in Bakersfield with Collin Delia this season.
The Energy play — The Oilers power-play unit went one-for-five, however had by far its greatest possessions of the pre-season. They squandered 1:02 of five-on-three time, and though the general image was an more and more acquainted one, the objective gentle solely went on as soon as when Leon Draisaitl completed a pleasant passing play for his first of the pre-season. It’s near being the unit we’ve develop into accustomed too, and we’d predict that the second unit will get extra time this season than in years previous.
The Second Line — This was their greatest evening of the pre-season, however like the facility play, there may be nonetheless loads of room to enhance. Draisaitl is Draisaitl. Viktor Arvidsson’s recreation is simple to understand — he’s a employee bee with a lot braveness and many expertise. It’s Jeff Skinner who’s the query mark up to now, because the left-winger hasn’t had many moments this fall. He’s been quiet, with by far the furthest distance to journey of the three, no query, earlier than the video games start to depend.
Noah Philp — Each recreation he’s performed, he’s been good. To the purpose the place it’s arduous to see anybody else being the thirteenth ahead when the rosters are introduced on Monday afternoon — if certainly the Oilers carry 13 forwards. Philp had a few good scoring probabilities in 10:17 of ice time, and received 5 of seven faceoffs, after getting into the sport at simply lower than 60 per cent this fall.
Brownie Factors
Josh Brown spent 2:51 on the penalty kill Wednesday, because the Oilers PK unit was excellent. He’ll get consideration for the highest six based mostly on his measurement and talent to assist that unit.
“We misplaced a variety of parts up entrance (Warren Foegele and Ryan McLeod) but in addition on the suitable facet of the defence (Cody Ceci and Vincent Desharnais). That’s a giant a part of (Brown’s) DNA,” mentioned Knoblauch. “We’ve received (Ty) Emberson, whom we really feel assured can kill, and (Brett) Kulak did much more of that within the playoffs after not doing a lot in common season. We’ve additionally talked of Bouchard performing some penalty-killing, so we’ll wait and see.”
Arvidsson blocked a few photographs on the PK as effectively, and appears like he’ll greater than fill in for Foegele or McLeod.
Pickin’ and Grinnin’
Backup goalie Calvin Pickard was practising with the non-game gamers Wednesday, and feels like he’ll be good to go as Skinner’s backup when the season begins subsequent Wednesday. He would possibly even get some work in Vancouver Friday, after being pushed into his web body in a collision between teammate Noah Philp and Seattle’s Yanni Gourde on Monday.
“Fairly large collision, however all issues thought of, I’m fairly comfortable the best way I’m feeling the previous couple of days,” mentioned Pickard, who has performed simply 42:37 within the pre-season. “I don’t know if it’s a priority. Final yr I performed one (pre-season) recreation however received off to a very good begin to common season. Mentally I’m in a great spot.
“There was some rust there however all people’s coping with it.”
