Studs and Duds Week 7

In this week’s studs and duds, it’s pretty easy to see the studs this time around. If you include last Sunday’s game, the Oilers finished up this week 3-1-0, erasing the five game losing skid and sit a top of the Pacific division. It was not like the Oilers were beating easy hockey teams either: they destroyed both Dallas and Chicago with a combined score of 10-2. They shutout the mighty Chicago Blackhawks! They caved the Avalanche in the third for a 6-3 win! The only downer was the 2-0 blown lead that led to a 3-2 shootout loss against Arizona.

Without further ado, here are my Studs and Duds of the week.

Studs

Studs #3: The Oilers Powerplay

Rather than going strictly with players, I am trying to switch things around. As a whole, the Oilers powerplay looked deadly this week, especially against the Chicago Blackhawks. Against the Blackhawks, the Oilers were 2/4 and against the Avalanche they were 2/6. Sure, they didn’t do much against the Coyotoes and didn’t get a powerplay goal against Dallas, but having four crucial goal is good. It was great to see the skill on the power play finally click: McDavid moving the puck on the half boards, Milan Lucic in the front of the net and the point unleashing bombs from a distance. It’s a mix that everything went right.

On a side note, I cannot figure out for the life of me why Chicago’s penalty kill is so awful. A team with Marian Hossa, Jonathan Toews, Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith and Corey Crawford should never be that bad at killing penalties.

Studs #2: American Thanksgiving

American Thanksgiving is great. While listening to TSN’s Bob McKenzie’s Bobcast, he mentioned the pros of American Thanksgiving and how the USA does it better than Canada. A four day weekend over a three day weekend? American Football and hockey? Sign me up!

However, what’s more important, is the playoff implications of the American Holiday. Basically, teams that are in a playoff spot by American Thanksgiving usually remain in a playoff spot by the end of the season.

The Edmonton Oilers hold a playoff spot at the top of the Pacific division. Whether or not the Oilers hold onto the division lead remains to be seen. I personally do not see them holding onto the division title, but the bigger picture is this: The Oilers have a 91% chance of making the post season for the first time in 10 years.

Studs #1: Connor McDavid

The Media harped on McDavid’s ten game goal drought and what does McDavid do? Score a hat trick against the Dallas Stars. Not only that, but McDavid absolutely tore up this week, by posting a whopping 9 points in four games. Remember, this was not against bad teams: he actually posted three points against Dallas and another two against Chicago.

McDavid currently leads the NHL in scoring and is easily the Oilers MVP, heart and soul of the team. If the Oilers make the playoffs, Connor McDavid will be in the talk for the Hart Trophy with Sidney Crosby and Carey Price, which is remarkable considering the guy will only be 20 years old when they announce the winner.

I will say this every week if I have to: Connor McDavid is the games most exciting player. The NHL is lucky to have a talent like his.

Bonus Studs: The Arizona Coyotes Throwback Jersey

This jersey is one of my absolute favorite jerseys of all time. I was actually a Coyotes fan growing up. My first NHL game was against the Coyotes back in January of 1997 and they had one of my favorite players in Jeremy Roenick. Sure, the jerseys might be ugly, but I love how unique they are. The NHL has not had a jersey like this since. When the Coyotes switched to the traditional style jerseys, I stopped cheering for them.

Duds: Stupid Team Curses

I don’t know why, but the Edmonton Oilers just cannot beat the Arizona Coyotes and it’s frustrating. All you hear is how the Coyotes have been able to gain points in 24 straight games against the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers have not beat the Coyotes since 2011, which is a whopping six years ago. That said, the Oilers are a radically different team from then. If there’s a team they can beat and get over that stupid streak, it’s today.

Duds: Hockey Supremacists

I really dislike people who bash other markets because they “aren’t a traditional market”. More often than not, it seems to be Canadian fans who sneer at teams in unlikely places. I have always been of the opposite. It’s good for the game to have growth, not just in North America but globally.