The Edmonton Oilers arrive in Vancouver after an impressive home opener. Connor McDavid’s epic performance, including what might be the goal of the year, still shines bright as one of the top stories in the NHL. Cam Talbot and the defense looked calm, cool and collected, the top line was unstoppable and the rest of the group held their own against a very good Calgary Flames team. Early days, but this young season is a feel good for Oilers fans, perhaps building on the strong playoff performance of last spring.
We have a long way to go in order to know this team well enough to make sweeping statements, but there are outside pressures that may also come into play. Entering the season, Edmonton’s questions include things like:
- Will Kailer Yamamoto nail down the 2R spot, or be replaced by Anton Slepyshev?
- How long will Jesse Puljujarvi stay in Bakersfield?
- Is Yohann Auvitu a strong fit at 7D?
- Will Andrej Sekera return before Christmas and will he be close to 100 percent soon after he gets back to the NHL?
Ideally, Peter Chiarelli and Todd McLellan have all kinds of time to make decisions on these things and get a good answer on Sekera. Nine games of Yamamoto perhaps solves 2R, or maybe one of Slepyshev or Puljujarvi answers the bell. Maybe Yohann Auvitu sparks the power play (one of the few items we could call out from Game One, although that’s wildly unfair based on small sample size) in a big way and the 7D issue is asked and answered.
LAS VEGAS
I keep coming back to Las Vegas. The Golden Knights won last night in their franchise debut, looks like Vegas fans are going to enjoy a fun ride this winter. The team remains wildly out of balance, with nine defensemen on the roster while their best one (Shea Theodore) is in the minors.
This can’t stand, man.
The Golden Knights also have a brilliant veteran winger in James Neal, he of the two goals last night for the club. Although Neal is a massive part of the current team, general manager George McPhee will be shopping veterans for youth all year and perhaps there’s a deal to be made.
The equation for Peter Chiarelli is a difficult one to figure out. Does he run with the department of youth up front and bet on Gryba/Auvitu getting the Oilers over the bridge to a healthy Andrej Sekera?
Or is there a “James Neal and Nate Schmidt to the Edmonton Oilers for…….” trade that can be made in the near future? I understand chemistry and not messing with success, but the Edmonton Oilers are pursuing Stanley and that’s serious business.
A point to ponder.
LINEUPS
Oilers
Maroon – McDavid – Draisaitl
Lucic – Nugent-Hopkins – Kassian
Caggiula – Strome – Jokinen
Khaira – Letestu – Pakarinen
Klefbom – Larsson
Russell – Benning
Nurse – Gryba
Talbot
Brossoit
It will be interesting to see if Kassian stays on the fourth line or if he move up to take some at-bats in Yamamoto’s place with Milan Lucic and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. *****UPDATE****** Jack Michaels just tweeted that Yamamoto won’t be in the lineup tonight.
Canucks
Sedin – Sedin – Vanek
Baertschi – Horvat – Ericksson
Gagner – Burmistrov – Boeser
Granlund – Sutter – Dorsett
Edler – Tanev
Del Zotto – Gudbranson
Hutton – Stecher
Markstrom
Lineups (subject to change) courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
From CanucksArmy.com:
- ALWAYS90FOUR: I love the Canucks –I really do — but this Oilers team looks dangerous, and this could be a season where no team has an answer for Connor McDavid. His end-to-ender on Wednesday was a thing of beauty and reminded some of a player that once tore up the Pacific Coliseum. Vancouver is probably going to lose their opener, but they just don’t have the firepower to keep Edmonton at bay. Source
TONIGHT
![](https://i0.wp.com/dev1.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/gdb1.jpg?resize=480%2C606&ssl=1)
GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Canucks begin the game with great determination and play a physical, ‘in your face’ style against Edmonton. The Oilers have the horses, and score a beautiful power-play goal (Leon to 97 for the shot, Lucic cashes rebound) for a 1-0 score after 20.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Canucks score twice, both with the man advantage, and both by Sam Gagner. Edmonton scores just once, a Zack Kassian breakaway that sees the puck cross the line one zillionth of a second before time expires. Bob Costas and his slide rule are called in to make the final judgment on the goal.
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The third period is all Oilers, with Connor McDavid, Ryan Strome and Leon Draisaitl scoring goals. The Canucks start running around in the third, leading to several fights. Sam Gagner and Zack Kassian stand together during the final bout (Nurse versus some guy) and chuckle about the past. Final score: Edmonton 5, Canucks 2.
GDB BROUGHT TO YOU BY SHERBROOKE LIQUOR
Take home a growler, a crowler, a sixer, a mixer, whatever. Sherbrooke Liquor. Where’s Your Beer?
Source: Edmonton Oilers, Official Team Site, 10/07/2017, 11:15am MST
Same old. Loss to Canucks demonstrates this Oilers team is overrated.
Hahahahahaha
Sigh….This Oilers team is overrated
Come on and kick them comucks a$$, the hell is going on?!
Lol looks like Canucks are outworking Oilers…..Talbot pulled. McDavid a ghost…… LOL
Karma is a *****!!! Hahahaha told you guys after game 1! Lololol. Keep talkin trash oilersnation!
Hmm trolls only seem to come out when the oil are losing. Funny none of them were around on Wednesday.
Also if your gonna troll be funny be creative don’t use the same old tired lines and angles.
Are you calling me a troll loudmouth?
I’m a oilers fan. Who hates oilersnation loudmouths like you baud
ur a tool beat it troll boy
Pretty quiet on oilersnation when the oilers are losing. Hmmmm. Fair weather fans much? Hahahahaha
You are truly a hero. Every one should look up to you as a shining example of how to conduct yhemaelves
If you were an Oiler fan you’d know that this site was bumping during the decade of darkness. Do to the change in format many have left the site and have moved to more fan friendly sites were trolls are moderated.
echo chambers
Cmon cam dog. I was Bradleypi those days and getting roasted for sticking up for guys like Jultz and dubnyk. I’m an oiler fan baud. Just not an arrogant *** like you jerks
So Bradley jultz=2cups! is your new nom de guerre.
Ya you bet baud. You still planning the parade?
Not planning any parades just enjoying an entertaining game. Certainly more entertaining than any game the Penguins and Schultz have played so far this season.
Oilers still can’t break HNIC curse
Flames are beating the jets with “the worst defence in the league”! According to Antoncp… where’s that guy that was planning the parade the other night? Classic oilersnation!!
Hey Bradley not a bad goal by Nuge. What do you think?
Loved that goal. But it’s just one of many I’m sure he’ll score. Why do you ask? Classic oilersnation
Vancouver is playing well but the refs suck tonight. Brutal.
Classic oilersnation. Blame someone! Hahaha
Refs had little if anything to do with it terrible first period and van played much better then expected
Really not impressed by Strome so far. Didn’t know much about him prior to the trade and was hoping for more from him. I know it is early but he has been fairly invisible out there.
Nurse and gryba have looked good tonight
Agreed. Our top line isn’t clicking tonight. Canucks have been outworking us.
Our lack of ability in the face off circle is killing us
Not to mention playing down to the level of the opponent. Outworked tonight by a long shot.
Anybody still doubting our back up goaltender? Thought not
Haha! Judging a goalie after half a game! Classic oilersnation! He’s a bonafide starter for sure!!! Haha! You guys make me lol
In my mind this is a game where they shoulduld have split dria and McDavid about half way through. It’s only 2nd game of the year. Some good performances. Nuge looked good nurse was everywhere. Good goaltending after the third goal. We have some positives to take out
I’d like to point out Johnny Hockey has more points than McDavid. LOL
Karma is a *****!! Classic oilersnation should celebrate 1 win more often! Oilers and flames are tied now! You guys are fn voodoo! Talk more trash oilersnation!!! Please !!
Brossoit looked awesome in relief. Who made that trade? Couldn’t be Mac-t could it?
Karma? HUh?……
I don’t think you understand what that word means.
I’ll forgive you though, as your previous posts prove you’re less than intelligent.
Please elaborate? I said the other night that oilersnation should calm their **** and stop bragging about one win or it will bite you jerks in the ass. And I was right. Explain please how I’m not intelligent??????
How were we bit in the ass exactly ? You’re confusing. You don’t make any sense and it’s really hard to follow. Sorry for celebrating a dominating victory. We lost to a hungrier team tonight by ONE goal not three. Hats off to the Canucks they wanted it more
How am I confusing you baud? Or is hockey and superstition confusing you? Classic oilersnation! Dumb*sses! Hahahaha
Yo dont respond to the sad, pathetic loser, he’ll b booted again here real quick
So I take it the season is over now…there’s really no point in playing the next 80 games because the Seattle Flames have our number. I mean they’ve already tied us in points, his shouldn’t happen at such an early point in the season. Time to throw in the towel boys…we’ve been “but in the a**”?? Good luck flames, hope johnny test can “lead” you guys past the golden night star this year???
Oilers aint makin the playoffs – let alone winning a cup – losing to the Canucks LOL
Where were you Wednesday? You have Lots to say today yet we never heard a peep when we beat you for the umpteenth time in a row. Are you really boasting about another team doing what your team couldn’t ?
Brodie and Gaudreau have DOUBLE the points than McDavid and Drasitil.
And your point is……?
His point is oilersnation is a bunch of classless *****bags
The same Brodie that said Mcdavid made look ordinary the other night?
@jultz. Wow dude you have serious inferiority complex.
Look it up if those words are to big for you. May I suggest G-O-O-G-L-E……
I’ve heard of the other 3 but who is this “Brodie” guy…does he play on the flames?
but they didnt get any of those points against the Oil
Your a sad man!! Your team won’t even be in Calgary soon
So – McDavid – 3 pts
Draisaitl – 2 pts
Equals – 5 pts
Double that equals – 10 pts
Brodie and Gaudreau have 4 each that means 8 pts
So . . . . you find math hard – go back to school, become better at math
Hopefully the flames can pass the Canucks in points so we can have a competitive battle of alberta again. I mean the flames are worse than the oilers (they lost) and the oilers are worse than the Canucks(they lost). Because we go by 2 games to predict the playoffs…right? If that’s what you are saying then the flames are finishing behind the oilers
Tough loss, after the quick strike they took the gas off. Need to play 60 minutes shake it off and build on it. Best lessons are from defeats.
No excuses , as Canucks look like a good club again . Yamamoto might have made us better .
That game was heinous, I feel bad for Talbot, those were some soft goals…but that being said; there were failures up and down the lineup..defensive miscues, offense being predictable and telegraphing their plays and just total lack of synch on the first line…made a go of it, but a bad game.
ON contributors: Can we please ignore the trolls and talk hockey? Do not even hit the trash button is my advice. It is getting more and more difficult for fans of BOTH teams to enjoy coming to their “nation” sites. Rivalry is fine, the trolling on both boards is getting old quick.