A road trip filled exclusively with divisional opponents couldn’t have started any worse for the Oilers. They were blasted by the Kings on Monday and couldn’t have looked much worse.
Boy, did they make amends for that.
First, they pasted the Ducks on Wednesday and the Sharks on Friday. Albeit those are two squads whose general managers and scouts are already priming for the draft. Then, in what was a far more impressive display, they led almost wire to wire against the Pacific-leading Golden Knights in the second of back-to-back games on Saturday.
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Suddenly, that dreadful Los Angeles performance was a thing of the past.
The Oilers were led by the usual cast of characters — Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — as they so often are. But those four players alone weren’t the only reason the Oilers have now won three straight games.
Three other things stood out, which the Oilers should continue to maximize while they can.
The 11/7 lineup magic continues
Coach Jay Woodcroft reverted to using 11 forwards and seven defencemen for the last three games of the trip, so he could work in rookie rear guard Vincent Desharnais for his first NHL contests. It worked to perfection.
That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Woodcroft had lots of practice with that format when he coached the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors. He deployed that scheme for his first 12 games after being promoted to the Oilers last season.
The Oilers had an 11-4-1 record for a .719 points percentage using 11 forwards and seven defencemen last season. They’re 8-4-1 under that scenario in 2022-23, including their three-game winning streak. It’s worth noting they also won their season opener while using 11 forwards, but that was while icing 17 skaters due to cap constraints and injuries to Kailer Yamamoto and Warren Foegele.
The 11/7 lineup construction might not always be ideal for these Oilers. GM Ken Holland has said that winger Evander Kane could return from his gruesome wrist injury before the end of the month. Kane’s infusion could alter the dynamics and make the conventional 12/6 format more ideal. The same goes for when the inevitable trade or trades happen before the deadline, which is expected to see the defence upgraded and perhaps the depth forward ranks, too.
For now, it sure seems like 11/7 works best for the Oilers.
That structure gives Woodcroft and assistant coach Glen Gulutzan a myriad of options to try up front. Only McDavid, Jesse Puljujarvi and Yamamoto (who has missed the last two games) are locked into their respective positions. The others making up the 11 forwards can be moved around to present unique looks and matchup issues for opponents.
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The coaching staff can load up a big line with McDavid, Draisaitl and Hyman when needed. They can also bump up lesser-used wingers like Dylan Holloway, Derek Ryan and Klim Kostin next to McDavid or Draisaitl to give them more ice time.
Normally, eight or so forwards are relied upon anyway, so why not have an extra defenceman around to use?
The underlying numbers have shown that for all the criticism Darnell Nurse has received, it’s been Cody Ceci who’s been more of a drag on the top pair. Desharnais has spelled Ceci for a few shifts here and there. Aside from still relying heavily on Nurse, the ice time has been doled out more evenly among the other six blueliners than when they dress a half dozen of them.
The stars get more ice time. More people are included. What’s not to like?
Kostin has found his spot
What a wonderful addition Kostin has been to the Oilers.
Acquired at the end of training camp from St. Louis for Russian countryman and good pal Dmitri Samorukov, Kostin’s presence wasn’t immediately felt in Edmonton.
He wasn’t recalled from AHL Bakersfield until Kane was injured, which opened some cap and roster space. Since then, Kostin found ways to make an impact.
The last three games have been the pinnacle. Kostin scored four times, including the game-winning goal in Las Vegas. He’s fifth on the team in goals with nine — behind the big four forwards — while reaching that total in just 29 games.
But Kostin has done more than just pot a few goals. He’s arguably filled in for Kane as the team’s most physical forward. He has been fearless when it comes to challenging opponents or blocking shots, and he did most of those things on Saturday. He’s provided humour and wit in the dressing room and at practice, too. He has become a folk hero among the fans.
The knock on Kostin in St. Louis was that he thought he was such a star offensive player that he wasn’t willing to do all the little things common to being a bottom-six player. There is no such issue with Edmonton. He plays hard and simple — and said he loves being an Oiler.
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Nabbing Kostin from the Blues is easily on the shortlist of Holland’s best moves as Oilers’ general manager. Kudos there — even though he’s the first one to admit the deal was just a change-of-scenery transition for two players that needed it. Still, a win’s a win.
With Kane working his way back, the Oilers will soon have to clear that cap and roster space opened by sending the veteran winger to long-term injured reserve.
Kostin is vulnerable at some point because he doesn’t play on either special team. That 23.7 shooting percentage isn’t likely to last either. But he has done enough since becoming an Oiler that his roster spot should be secure for now.
Campbell rebounds
Campbell still has some improvements to make.
The lone goal he surrendered against the Sharks was courtesy of a deft deflection by Oskar Lindblom. But the puck went through Campbell’s leg, which — it wasn’t hard to tell — displeased him.
My notes for the opening Vegas goal read, “WTF was Campbell doing?” He flopped around like a fish out of water for several seconds, never getting back into any sort of position after the first chance against.
Harsh words aside, for Campbell to allow six goals against over three starts is a sign of massive progress for the netminder and for the Oilers. Campbell looked more comfortable and composed — way less fidgety — since relieving Stuart Skinner partway through that drubbing in Los Angeles. His glove hand seems locked in, too.
With Skinner back in Edmonton waiting for his wife, Chloe, to give birth to their first child, Campbell’s best stretch of the season couldn’t have come at a better time. The Oilers are undoubtedly going to need their $5 million man in the second half of the season. After all, for as well as Skinner has played, he’s still a rookie NHL netminder.
Having a safety net in the form of a supposed starter would be a nice luxury. Campbell could be on his way there.
(Top photo of Oilers goaltender Jack Campbell blocking a shot Saturday against the Golden Knights: John Locher / Associated Press)
