Pre-Game Report: Edmonton Oilers vs Seattle Kraken

Pre-Game Report: Edmonton Oilers vs Seattle Kraken

Hello Oilers fans. Austin here and welcome to the pregame report for the Emmonton Oilers against the Seattle Kraken. My apologies folks for not be able to get this pregame pregame report up earlier. Uh, of course you can see this is not my usual setup. I am currently in Vancouver. Made the flight there this morning. I will be in Vancouver for the game tonight against the Kraken. I am with the Oilers Nation vacation crew. Uh, bunch of Oilers fans getting together, watching games together. It’s going to be a ton of fun. Don’t worry, I will still have a postgame fan reaction as per usual, but there will be no live stream tonight. And then tomorrow, I will also be here in Vancouver. I am going to the game at Rogers Arena against the Vancouver Conucks in enemy territory. I hope it goes much better than last year’s trip that I took to Montreal where the Oilers lost three nothing in the Bell Center. I really don’t want to see that happen because Oilers fans may not want me to go on these trips anymore if that is the case. But with that out of the way, uh I’m going to go over the projected lineups for the game tonight for your Oilers and then I’ll go over the uh stats for both teams and then I’ll do my score prediction. Of course, I don’t have my usual graphics up, so just bear with me. Going to do my best here. I hope you enjoy the video. If you do, hit that like button. If you really like it, make sure to subscribe to the channel. Truly appreciate it. Let’s discuss the projected lineup for the game against the Seattle Kraken tonight. The Mton Oilers. Chris Knobblock. He set his lines in the third period against the Montreal Canadians a couple nights ago. The team responded couple power play goals. A late five-on-ive goal from Pod Coulson with the winner and Chris Knobblock decided, you know what, we’re going to stick with the lines that we went with in that third period kind of kickstarted that big comeback against the Montreal Canadians. So on the top line, you’ll have Isaac Howard or Ike Howard with Conor McDavid and Andrew Majapani. Humongous opportunity here for Isaac Howard to really sol solidify his place at the NHL level. There’s been a lot of talk that when Matias Yanmark is healthy and Zack Heyman is healthy that Ike Howard is kind of the guy that they’re probably going to send down to Bakersfield. But Ike Howard, he is in control of his destiny right now. If he can kind of, you know, we’re not asking him to score every game, but if he looks comfortable in that top line, if he is actively helping McDavid and Mjapani, uh, and if that line is, you know, gaining chemistry together, Ike Howard will be here to stay for the foreseeable future. And this is a very, uh, interesting lineup. This is a very interesting top line for the Oilers. I’m very interested to see how they play. They looked terrific together in that third period against Montreal. Ike Howard drew a power play. Uh that line drew two power plays during the evening and um I’m excited to see it. I’m excited to see if I Howard can keep building on his game. He had his first NHL goal the other night against the Ottawa Senators. Andrew Majapani scored against Montreal. Conor McDavid, he finally got off the schneide against the Sens a few nights ago. So hopefully McDavid’s game is also turning around. I like the look of those three. Let’s see if they can keep it going. On the second line, you have Vasil Pod Coulson with Leon Dryidle and Matthew Seavoy. This this is the line that I think most fans here in oil country have wanted to see since the start of the season. These three did play together briefly last year when Seavoy was called up after the four nations break. And then they got some ice time together in the third period against the Montreal Canadiens and they looked fantastic and they contributed to the game-winning goal. Pud Coulson got his first of the season and he was pretty emotional after the game. He was talking about his dad who we all know uh he recently lost not long after he signed his contract contract extension in September. So for Vasil Pod Coulson hopefully mentally that kind of kickstarts his game a little bit. Obviously his well-being is what we care about the most in oil country but the chemistry that he has with Leon Dryidle. It is clear that Leon loves playing with Pod Coulson and Matthew Seavoy he’s been all over it. He is he’s he’s this close. He’s this close to breaking through and scoring his first of the season for the Oilers. I have a good feeling about Matthew Seavoy tonight. I think that line is going to do some damage. I just It’s one of those feelings that I have. Um every now and then I get one of those feelings. Sometimes it’s just a bit of a grumbly tummy and uh sometimes it’s an actual feeling that comes to fruition. Hopefully it’s not just a grumbly tummy. Hopefully Matthew Seavoy, Leon Dry Settle, Vasil Pod Coulson are able to get on the score sheet tonight. I like the look of that line. Hopefully they can keep finding that chemistry together and hopefully that line stays together for the foreseeable future. I do not want to see McDavid and Dryside load it up for the next little while here. Uh obviously you load them up if you’re down by a goal in the third period and you’re looking for that like extra spark. You’re just looking for a goal to tie the game up. Right now it is much better when McDavid and Dry Cidle are separate. And stay with Nan Hopkins on his own line. He will be centering Adam Henrik and Jack Rosavik tonight. Adam Henrique has actually had a pretty good start to his season. I’ve liked his game a lot. Uh, a lot better than I thought I would. It was like last year with Cory Perry. We all know the foot speed wasn’t there for Cory Perry, but up here up here is what matters most for a lot of these players. If you are uh smart on the ice, if you know where you’re supposed to be, you are able to contribute meaningfully. Adam Henrik has been able to do that this season, which is a very good sign. And he’s playing next to Nan Hopkins, who obviously has had a great great start to his season. He has five goals for the Mton Oilers, which is fantastic. And Jack Rosik, I think he played his best game as an Oiler against the Montreal Canadians. Hopefully that is a sign that his game is starting to become a bit more comfortable here in oil country and he starts to contribute on the score sheet. It’s a on paper. Again, a lot of this is on paper. It looks really good. Can they go out and execute the game plan? Can Jack Rosvic get on the score sheet tonight? Boy, I’d love to see that in oil country here. Jack Rosik, he’s he’s been turning his game around. He’s been getting a little bit better here. And that’s a player that I’ve been given a little bit of a a leeway because he didn’t get a training camp. He didn’t get a preseason. Of course, he didn’t sign with an NHL club. He didn’t sign with the Oilers until opening night. So, uh, this is the time now where I think, okay, this is where we’re going to start expecting him to start producing him with Nan Hopkins and Adam Henrik. Really like the look of that third line. And then on the fourth line, you have Trent Frederick with Noah Philp and David Tomasekk. David Tomasekk scored his first National Hockey League goal against Montreal. Uh, it was a shot that he just threw towards the net. Noah Phelp was in front. It went off of a leg of a a Montreal Canadian into the net. And for David Tomasekk, he has been all over it, especially on the power play. He’s had a lot of good looks, a lot of point blank chances that have been stopped, but he finally was able to break through. He finally got a goal for the Emmonton Oilers, and hopefully that is able to kickstart his game. Again, this is not a player that we’re expecting to score 15 or 20 goals this season, but if he can contribute meaningfully uh on the score sheet and defensively, I love his two-way play, by the way. I think he’s a fantastic player. I love the way he drives the crease. I like the way he gets in on pucks. I like the way he can break up plays with his stick. Uh David Tomasek, very smart player next to Noah Phelp, who has had a bit of an up and down start to his season, but he does have two goals. Trent Frederick, I think this is where he belongs at this point of the season. Uh for Trent Frederick, obviously he’s just trying to find a comfort zone with the team right now. Things haven’t gotten off to the start that I think he would have hoped. He has one goal on the season. Maybe that fourth line contributes a little bit more tonight. I would love to see that. On defense, you have Ekholm with Bousard. That is your quote unquote top defense pairing in Edmonton, but they have not been playing like the top defense pairing usually does here in oil country. We need a lot more from Ekholm and Bousard. I think Bouch is sitting at a minus 7 this season. Ekolome sitting at a minus 5. Need a lot more from them at five on five here. And I’m expecting their game to really turn around after that comeback against Montreal. On the second pair, you have Darnell Nurse with Jake Wman. Now, Wman has he’s settled Nurse down the last two games. Darnell Nurses was playing some of the worst hockey I’ve ever seen. Jake Walman comes in, they play better against Ottawa, and then Jake Walman, I think, was a huge contributor against the Montreal Canadians. I’m very happy with Jake Walman’s early start to the season here. Hopefully, him and Darnell Nurse keep building that chemistry, settle Darnell Nurse down a little bit. If that second pair can start playing like a second pair, the team is in a good spot right now. And then on the third pair, you have Brett Koulak with Ty Emerson. And they have been doing what they can in the minutes that they’re given. They are not expected to play 20 minutes a night. This is a pair that goes out there and tries to eat as many minutes as they can. But most of the minutes goes to Echome and Bousard and to a lesser extent Darnell Nurse Kak and Emerson. If called upon for extra minutes tonight if some of the other defenseman are struggling hopefully Kuak and Emerson are up to the challenge here in goal. Bit of a surprise start for the Oilers. They’re going with Steuart Skinner tonight which means tomorrow they will be going with Calvin Pickard against Vancouver. Now there’s a couple things couple couple uh you know pieces of logic with this. Now Steuart Skinner he is 8 and2 in his career against Seattle. Calvin Pickard started earlier this season against Vancouver. So maybe to the Oilers they’re like you know what let’s give Stu the start against Seattle. Seattle might be seen as the quote unquote tougher team. Although both Seattle and Vancouver they’re tough teams. These are divisional opponents. Seattle’s off to a good start this season. Vancouver is not off to the start that I think they were hoping for. They’re also dealing with a lot of injuries. So, you know, there’s a lot of different arguments to be made for who you start tonight versus who you start tomorrow, but I don’t mind Stu going in the crease tonight. Obviously, you don’t want him sitting too long between starts. His last start was against Ottawa on Tuesday, I believe. So, for Steuart Skinner, he gets the start tonight. Looking for another good game from Stu. He’s doing what he’s been asked of this season. He has a 909 save percentage and like just above a two goals against average. He has three goals save above expected as well according to Money Puck. Steuart Skinner is doing his job. Hopefully he can continue to do that tonight. And Calvin Pickard, he will back him up. Pickard will get the start tomorrow against the Vancouver Conucks in Vancouver here. And now let’s take a look at the stats for both teams. On the power play, the Oilers rank sixth at 28%. The Seattle Kraken rank 14th at 21.7%. On the penalty kill, the Oilers are doing a pretty good job right now. They rank 13th at 81%, which uh here in Oil Country, we’ll take that. We’re We’re not used to seeing this team get off to a good start on the kill the last couple of seasons. So, ranked 13th right now. That is uh that is fantastic. It’s funny when I was um setting up my OBS and stuff to record, all the stats from the game against Montreal were on on my screen. And when the Oilers played in Montreal last November, the Oilers started that year at a 66% on the penalty kill. So, the Oilers are already much improved on the kill. Let’s see if they can continue that. I don’t want to jinx that, obviously. Uh Seattle, uh it’s supposed to say Seattle 71.4% not Montreal. Seattle is at 71.4% on the kill, which ranks 25th. And the expected goals for percentage at five on five. The Oilers ranked 22nd, 47.23%. Obviously, we all know that this team has another gear to hit at five on five. The special teams have been good. They need the five on five play to really start improving. If that third period was anything to go by, hopefully that is the start of uh you know, flipping the narrative around. And the Oilers five-on-5 game getting going here. Seattle, they rank 26th at five on five with a 45.99 expected goals forward percentage. Those stats via Natural Statrick. Now, my score prediction, big drum roll here. I’m going to say 53 Oilers with a Matthew Seavoy goal. Like I said at the start of this video, I’ve just I have a feeling about Matthew Seavoy. I think he’s gonna pot one tonight. I think that second line is going to contribute to an Oilers victory. And uh that’s what I’m going with. I’m going 5-3 Oilers. Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Let me know um you know just your general game day thoughts. I hope you’re all doing well. Tell someone that you love them before the game tonight. And as always, fight like a kid, fight like Ben. Let’s go Oilers. I’ll see you in the postgame fan reaction. Take care.

The Edmonton Oilers will start with the same lines they finished with against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday when they open up back-to-back games on the West Coast this weekend at Climate Pledge Arena against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will each centre their own lines, with two rookies in Isaac Howard and Matt Savoie each getting another opportunity in the top six alongside the two superstars after impressing Head Coach Kris Knoblauch enough to allow for them to continue in their current roles. Austin Hockey reports from downtown Vancouver for today’s Pre-Game Report! #oilers #edmontonoilers #nhl

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