EDMONTON — Things We (think we) know. Series V, Volume III.
Things we know
There is high-event hockey, and then there is whatever it was the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks rolled out this week, sharing 27 goals over two wild nights.
We wondered if Edmonton could maintain its offensive prowess as Mike Babcock’s vaunted defensive structure was applied. Well, we still don’t know the answer to that one, do we…?
Things we (think we) know
Don’t forget, the Oilers are trying to replace 21 minutes a night from Darnell Nurse. Evan Bouchard has to step up (he has), Mattias Ekholm has to refuse to show his age (so far, so good), and another well-paid veteran, Jake Walman, has to be part of the solution as well.
He has not.
Shakir Mukhamadullin was over his head this week. He’ll be replaced by Ty Emberson for Saturday’s game against the visiting Seattle Kraken (Sportsnet West, Sportsnet+, 7 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. MT). But Walman has to replace some of Nurse’s ability to skate the puck out of trouble, present a strong front at the offensive blue-line, and take a bite out of the leadership void left behind by Nurse.
Through two games, Walman has stepped to the head of the line of those who we wonder about, if faced with the Wrath of Babs. It’s time to take a bigger role for this veteran No. 3. So far, he hasn’t been up to the task.
Things we know
Evan Bouchard was on the ice 12 goals in this home-and-home series. Only two of those were scored by the Canucks. On Thursday, he was on for five — all scored by Edmonton — and leads the NHL with eight points through two games.
That is 8.4 per cent of his total from last season (95 points), when he became just the tenth defenceman in NHL history to record 95 points or more.
Things we (think we) know
If he becomes one of only seven to hit 100 points this season, and simply avoids The Big Mistake, it might be impossible even for the biggest hater to not vote for him in Norris Trophy balloting.
Of all the bad defence and sloppy play exhibited by Edmonton in its first two games, Edmonton’s game settled when Bouchard stepped on the ice. Plus-5 with seven of eight points coming at even strength is hard to punch a hole in. Particularly for a guy who averaged 25 minutes per night in front of that level of goaltending.
There is only one reason why Edmonton’s goalies weren’t letting in goals when Bouchard was on the ice: the other team didn’t have the puck. And that’s how Bouchard defends the best, with possession.
Things we know
The players, they know.
And no matter what they tell you in the post-game interviews, you can’t fool ‘em.
They know it may be impossible to overcome the current goaltending situation in Edmonton. They know Tristan Jarry’s confidence is made of crepe paper, and that there may be a goalie in young Devon Levi, but they’ll ruin him if they don’t provide an environment in which a hockey city doesn’t turn on the 24-year-old.
They know the goaltending stinks right now. They’re pro hockey players. They’ve all played in front of good goalies and bad ones.
They know. They always know.
Things we (think we) know
Of all the things that have gone wrong through two games, the fact Edmonton’s calling card — explosive offence — is intact despite numerous injuries — and the Oilers accrued three of four points — is the basis for patience.
If one of your problems is, “We’ve got to play better when we’re leading 8-2,” well, that’s not a bad problem to have.
But the goaltending issue burns. Jarry is the biggest disappointment, because he was supposed to deliver a “bounce-back” season. Now, he’s one leaky performance away from a dressing room losing interest in him, because at this level if you’re not helping the team, you’re hurting it — and Jarry hasn’t helped a lick since he came to town.
As for Levi, he’s young, and still has a relatively clean slate. He gets a chance to prove that he can’t play, or preferably, that he can.
I start Jarry on Saturday versus Seattle, because Levi did not do anything to command back-to-back starts. His rebound control and ability to read the play simply abandoned him in Vancouver, as did his teammates once it was 8-2.
But if Jarry gives up another five on Saturday, things could turn for the young Levi. Opportunity becomes pressure mighty fast when the veteran guy you share the crease with crashes and burns.
Imagine being 24, having 40 NHL appearances under your belt, and looking across the room at Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl knowing that you’re the guy their Stanley Cup chances revolve around?
Gulp…
