Last night wasn’t about the final score so much as the questions it put in front of Mike Babcock and the Oilers. The lineup choices were there to be tested.
Devon Levi’s push toward the No. 1 job was there to be measured. And with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins still not back, there was at least some curiosity about how this group would look once he returns.
Babcock stayed with McDavid against Minnesota’s top line all night, and the results were rough. Edmonton didn’t really have a clean secondary answer either, which made the decision to keep the matchup in place even more glaring.
A different setup might have made more sense, with Draisaitl and Podkolzin off the top line, Kapanen inserted, and that group taking on Eriksson Ek. But Babcock is still sorting out what he has here, and Nugent-Hopkins remains out.
It felt like a missed chance to experiment.
There was at least one bright spot in the bottom six. The fourth line brought the most life, and Ike Howard had some real jump.
The Michaels line also continued to be more active than you might expect, even if it doesn’t look like a classic scoring unit. Still, the numbers are holding up so far: the three skaters on that line have combined for five goals in nine games.
That’s not full control by any means, but they’ve stayed in the fight.
The second line had a tougher night, and this may have been the clearest sign yet that Dach’s run as the second-line center may be nearing its end. When Nugent-Hopkins comes back against Carolina, Dach looks like a likely candidate to slide down to the fourth line. If Babcock wants Hyman-Nuge-Kapanen to work, that group has to click quickly, or the big line could be in trouble before long.
On the back end, this was more of a defense and goaltending night than a forward showcase. The top pair had a hard time, though there was plenty of bad luck mixed in with Minnesota’s strong play.
Shea-Murphy kept things tidy, and Walman-Emberson looked mostly solid to the eye. The group of six has appeal overall, even if Murphy could be a little stronger with the puck.
Levi would have been my first star. He stopped 13 of 15 high-danger chances and made a huge save late with the game tied. That kind of moment matters.
Even with the five-on-five issues, Edmonton’s special teams carried the night. The penalty kill was excellent, and the power play cashed in enough regression in about six minutes of ice time to tilt the game.
But there’s no sugarcoating the bigger picture. This was a good Minnesota team, even without some pieces, and they controlled Edmonton’s best players at even strength while taking over the third period.
If you’re uneasy today, there’s reason for it. Babcock may need to put Leon on the second line, though it’s far from certain he’ll go there.
On the Lowdown today, the entire cast of Inside the Truck podcast will join. Paul Hemming and Steve Lansky will talk hockey, producing hockey games, how analytics is best presented during broadcasts and why their podcast is so unique.
Kevin McCurdy will also join at 1pm to review last night’s game. Noon to 2pm Sports 1440 and You Tube.
In Other News...
Oilers Keep Finding Big Moments And Fans Have Another Reason To Believe
The Oilers keep piling up the kind of nights that make a long season feel a little lighter, and this one came with another dramatic finish. Edmonton outlasted the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in overtime, with the special teams again doing a lot of the heavy lifting as the club went 3-for-5 on the power play and a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
Connor McDavid was once again at the center of it all with three assists, keeping the offense humming while the Oilers found yet another way to get a result. The team has built a habit of delivering in big moments lately, and this latest win added another layer to the growing sense that Edmonton is finding its stride when the pressure rises. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Are Winning In A Way Fans Arent Used To
The Oilers early standing has been built in a way that feels a little different from the usual script in Edmonton. They are sitting near the top of the NHL table despite having played fewer games than some of the teams around them, and the numbers behind the start point to something more subtle than a one-man surge. A look at the advanced stats shows that few Oilers are near the top of the league in the usual individual categories, which suggests the early success has come more from system execution and efficient finishing than from one gaudy leaderboard presence.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are still driving the conversation, of course, but the bigger story may be how the group has responded to the standards being set under new head coach Mike Babcock. For a fan base that has spent years waiting for the team to look organized and dangerous at the same time, this opening stretch has offered a version of the Oilers that is winning with structure as much as star power, even if the full test of that approach is still to come. [Read more 🡒]
Nugent-Hopkins Return Creates A Big Oilers Top-Six Decision
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is finally set to rejoin the lineup, giving Edmonton its first real top-six shuffle of the season after he missed the opening stretch with an undisclosed injury. Mike Babcock confirmed the veteran forward will make his season debut against the Carolina Hurricanes, and the timing matters for a team that has already had to patch together its forward combinations without one of its most dependable playmakers.
The biggest question now is where Nugent-Hopkins fits once the puck drops. Edmonton is expected to use him in a prominent second-line role, and the ripple effect could be felt throughout the forward group as the staff sorts out the best mix around him. With the Oilers trying to settle into a rhythm early, his return adds needed stability, but it also forces a lineup decision that could reshape the balance of the entire top six. [Read more 🡒]