On Monday, Woodcroft moved Draisaitl up from his regular spot at second-line centre to skate alongside McDavid and Kane
Article content material
It’s a bit early within the season for the nuclear possibility, perhaps.
At any time when Jay Woodcroft pairs the 2 reigning league-leading scorers on the identical line, you recognize issues haven’t been going fairly as deliberate for the Edmonton Oilers.
Article content material
However you possibly can’t blame the third-year head coach for seeking to ignite his offence in an try and blow up the scoreboard by placing Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl collectively, which we’ve already seen — albeit sparingly — on their method to an 0-2 begin on the season.
Commercial 2
Article content material
And with 8-1 and 4-3 losses in a home-and-home collection towards the Vancouver Canucks, it’s secure to say issues haven’t gone in accordance with plan.
“You take a look at all areas of your recreation, the actual fact of the matter is we’ve scored one even-strength purpose in two video games,” mentioned Woodcroft. “Clearly, there’s loads of possibilities created, there wasn’t loads of end. I believe the taking pictures proportion at even energy is about two per cent, which isn’t our customary.
“However you are worried once you’re not getting possibilities — I believe we’re creating possibilities.”
It entails, the coach says, pushing for second and even third efforts down beneath the opposing hashmarks.
“I believe the most effective instance of that was how we began the final recreation with Draisaitl, (Ryan) Nugent-Hopkins and (Zach) Hyman. It seemed to me, I noticed three very hungry gamers that have been keen to do what it took, get their nostril soiled, burrow over the blue paint they usually have been rewarded.”
Their prize was the lone five-on-five purpose the Oilers have to indicate to date.
And it had Woodcroft reaching for the crimson button.
“I believed we have been just a little flat within the second interval. I put them collectively and I favored our response,” mentioned Woodcroft. “We wished to return in Sport 2 with the traces that we began with and provides all people a second probability. After which we ended up shifting some items across the chessboard as that recreation wore on.”
Headline Information
Article content material
Commercial 3
Article content material
Whereas it has but to pan out with an even-strength purpose, the technique is clearly sound. The Oilers’ two greatest weapons have related on the facility play twice already, with Draisaitl getting his first of the season within the opener and McDavid’s first on Saturday.
However scoring isn’t the one measuring stick, Woodcroft identified.
“I believe after they play collectively, it’s a harmful mixture,” he mentioned. “The outcomes converse for themselves. Not solely did they create quite a few possibilities after they’re collectively, they drew loads of penalties as properly.
“So, you recognize what you’re getting when these two guys are collectively.”
An low season addition that reunited McDavid with former Eerie Otters linemate Connor Brown from again of their Ontario Hockey League days has seen the pair positioned with the gritty Evander Kane on the Oilers high line out of the gates.
On Monday, Woodcroft moved Draisaitl up from his regular spot at second-line centre to skate alongside McDavid and Kane.
“I’ve performed with them collectively the final couple of seasons,” Kane mentioned. “We appear to work properly collectively and know the way one another performs.
Commercial 4
Article content material
“I hope we will generate some extra alternatives off the push, we haven’t had too many odd-man rushes-for in these final couple of video games, so hopefully it creates some stuff off the push. And clearly, when it will get into the opposite crew’s finish, simply be exhausting across the internet and get open for these guys.”
It wasn’t the one change of surroundings on the highest six Monday, as Warren Foegele was rewarded for his efforts, to date, as a lot as Woodcroft was within the lab concocting additional choices for himself.
Associated Tales
-
Predators defenceman Tyson Barrie again to face outdated associates on Oilers after final 12 months’s commerce
-
0-2 Edmonton Oilers begin is nothing to fret about. Not but, anyway
“Somewhat little bit of each,” the coach mentioned. “I believe Warren’s proven up in loads of chances-for. He’s going to the appropriate areas. It hasn’t gone in for him, however he’s going to the nice spots.
“And simply mixing issues up, I believe it’s an excellent factor. We’re looking for the appropriate chemistry as a way to discover a few of that offensive success, whereas on the identical time tidying up just a few areas defensively as properly.”
Outscored by a mixed 12-4 towards the Canucks, the Oilers actually weren’t with out their possibilities, having outshot their opponents 67-32 whether or not McDavid and Draisaitl have been collectively or not.
“I’d say we favored components of our recreation,” Kane mentioned of his crew’s second outing. “I believed — I don’t know if these are the phrases for it, however — we did rather a lot higher than the evening earlier than towards these guys.
“However we’ve bought to count on to not rating 5 – 6 objectives each recreation to win, we’ve got to restrict goals-against and compete just a little bit tougher in sure areas.”
Article content material
Feedback
Postmedia is dedicated to sustaining a vigorous however civil discussion board for dialogue and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Feedback could take as much as an hour for moderation earlier than showing on the positioning. We ask you to maintain your feedback related and respectful. We now have enabled electronic mail notifications—you’ll now obtain an electronic mail in the event you obtain a reply to your remark, there may be an replace to a remark thread you observe or if a consumer you observe feedback. Go to our Group Tips for extra data and particulars on how one can regulate your electronic mail settings.