Rig Ramblings is a weekly article looking at what happened in the last seven days surrounding the Oilers, and what lies ahead for the team.
Playoffs? Playoffs? Yes, we are still in the playoff picture folks.
Playoff chances, west and east. pic.twitter.com/3Fdby2RWWx
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) November 24, 2016
The Oilers are projected to make the playoffs!
Despite a stinker against the L.A. Kings, you can thank big wins against the Dallas, Chicago and Colorado for the fact that the Oilers are sticking around. We are now officially a quarter into the season and we are sitting atop the Pacific division with the best goal differential by a longshot (EDM +11, second highest CHI+7). Edmonton is also the highest scoring team in the west potting 65 goals, just ahead of the Blackhawks 62. Four points now separate the Pacific leading Oilers, and Nashville, who holds the final wildcard spot.
Connor McDavid is a bit part in it. While he leads the NHL in scoring, the 19-year old superwonderboy has been a huge driver of the Oilers success this season. Right now, the Oilers have been rolling the same four lines for the last three games.
The decision to have Benoit Pouliot and Mark Letestu sitting in the pressbox is an interesting one. Pouliot has been in a significant scoring slump, going 11 games without recording a point. He has only taken 4 PIM in those games, so people saying that the reason he is out is because of that are wrong.
Letestu has been eaten alive this year analytically, but has managed to done some solid individual production ranking 12th on the Oilers with 1.59 P/60. His benching has allowed for the Oilers to see what Drake Caggiula has to offer and he has shown well putting up two assists in three games. I wonder if we see a change in the lineup for Friday’s game against Arizona.
Maybe we see Caggiula boosted in the lineup to have a shot with Leon Draisaitl.
I wonder about Pouliot in Edmonton. He has been a great secondary scoring player during his stint here, but has been doghoused many times in the past. Putting him in the pressbox for three straight games isn’t going to help him get out of his scoring slump. Why not throw him with McDavid for a game or two? I’m sure he would be able to muster something up with him.
Colorado last night, Arizona on Friday. These two matchups also mark the two games that the Oilers players Dad’s have a chance to come watch live on a roadtrip.
Last night they put on a show, demonstrating a great ability to come back from three one-goal deficits before exploding for four third period goals. Lucic tied a career high for points in game, potting four last night. One goal and three assists might just be what he needed. The big bodied winger is now on pace for 55 points which is above his average point production of 50 points per year.
I like Lucic, and I really like his game. Let’s not forget that he is still only in his 21st game with the Oilers. Woodguy was on TSN1260 with Lowetide this morning and made mention that although his 5v5 production is down, his powerplay production has increased.
Lucic 07-16:
5v5 P/60: 1.99
5v4 P/60: 2.95
Points per 82 games: 50.34
Lucic 16-17:
5v5 P/60: 1.20
5v4 P/60 6.28
Points per 82 games: 54.66
As far as points per game, Lucic is currently projected to outscore his usual pace. As far as I’m concerned, this is a good sign.
He has a lot to bring to the table and Connor McDavid’s comments after last night’s win shows that:
Connor McDavid on the impact of Milan Lucic via @ReidWilkins. https://t.co/qdhTiraX0d #Oilers pic.twitter.com/Z9AriPbEos
— zach laing (@zjlaing) November 24, 2016
Onward.
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