The Cult of Hockey's "Oilers rev it up to edge Blackhawks" podcast

[@dannychoy6323]

Let's be honest, it wasn't a mistake calling Drai's line #1 line. The line is dominant. Drai is the MVP right now.

[@zacharyhoehn6127]

Thanks for the pod.

[@epiphany519]

Game 42. Long post follows with base game statistics including some for the Chicago Blackhawks. Read, don't read, up to you. These are BASE stats not detailed ones like the Cult of Hockey compiles. My comments and observations at the end. Statistics for Edmonton Oilers at Chicago Blackhawks January 11th, 2025 Edmonton Oilers: Podkolzin 1 Goal, 1 Secondary Assist (1st Star of the Game) Henrique 1 Goal Perry 1 Goal Hyman 1 Goal (PP, GWG) Draisaitl 1 Primary Assist, 1 Secondary Assist (PP) (3rd Star of the Game) Arvidsson 1 Primary Assist Emberson 1 Primary Assist Kapanen 1 Primary Assist Bouchard 1 Secondary Assist (PP) Pickard 19 Saves on 22 Shots = .864 Save %age Chicago Blackhawks: Teravainen 1 Goal, 1 Primary Assist Fologno 1 Goal, 1 Secondary Assist (2nd Star of the Game) Donato 1 Goal Dickinson 1 Primary Assist Martinez 1 Secondary Assist Allan 1 Primary Assist Hall 1 Secondary Assist Soderblom 30 Saves on 34 Shots = .882 Save %age (57 minutes played) Oilers Blackhawks Shots on Goal 34 22 Hits 18 27 Faceoffs Won 21 27 PP 1/1 0/1 Penalty Mins 4 4 Giveaways 13 (12 per NST) 9 (8 per NST) Takeaways 6 7 Blocked Shots 13 11 3 Stars: 3-Draisaitl (2A), 2-Foligno (1G, 1A), 1-Podkolzin (1G, 1A) Player TOI PP TOI PK TOI SOG +/- PIM Hits Blocks Giveaways Takeaways Bouchard 23:42 1:00 0:00 4 0 0 2 1 1 0 Ekholm 21:58 0:00 0:00 0 0 0 1 2 5 0 Nurse 21:24 0:00 0:00 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 Kulak 19:33 0:00 0:00 4 -2 0 1 0 2 0 Stecher 16:47 0:00 0:00 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 Emberson 15:36 0:00 0:00 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 McDavid 21:50 1:00 0:00 1 -2 0 2 0 0 0 Draisaitl 21:38 1:00 0:00 1 2 0 0 1 0 1 Nuge 19:17 1:00 0:00 4 -2 0 1 2 0 2 Hyman 19:06 1:00 0:00 4 -2 0 3 0 0 0 Arvidsson 16:16 0:00 0:00 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 Podkolzin 14:34 0:00 0:00 3 2 0 2 2 0 2 Janmark 12:33 0:00 0:00 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Henrique 12:13 0:00 0:00 1 0 2 0 1 1 0 Perry 11:28 0:00 0:00 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 C Brown 11:07 0:00 0:00 1 -1 0 0 0 1 0 Kapanen 10:22 0:00 0:00 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 Ryan 8:00 0:00 0:00 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 Oilers Faceoff Breakdown: Won Lost Percent McDavid 7 4 63.6 Draisaitl 7 9 43.8 Ryan 3 4 42.9 Henrique 3 5 37.5 Nuge 1 2 33.3 Podkolzin 0 2 0.00 Janmark 0 1 00.0 Blackhawks's Faceoff Breakdown: Won Lost Percent Dickinson 8 6 57.1 Donato 6 4 60.0 Nazar 5 3 62.5 Foligno 5 2 71.4 Bedard 3 4 42.9 Dach 0 1 0.00 Bertuzzi 0 1 0.00 Still feeling awful and still waiting on eye surgery so personal comments will be limited. Pickard started slow and really wanted the first 2 back I'm sure. The 3rd one, yeah, that was clean but he first two were bad. The boys seem to be having a problem starting on time as they don't tend to wake up until the 2nd period it seems (sometimes the 3rd period). They were ahead in faceoffs until the 3rd period. Per the stats, Oilers outshot Chicago by a lot (34 to 22), won fewer faceoffs (21 to 27), were outhit (18 to 27), had more giveaways (13 to 9), fewer takeaways (6 to 7) but more blocks (13 to 11). By the BASE numbers (not things like 5 alarm shots etc.) it was a close game and it was. The Oilers took the lead on the PP goal by Hyman and shut it down even though they faced over a minute of 6 on 4 at the end and Pickard had to make some great saves. Oilers PP and PK were both 100% (and Chicago's were both 0%). Not a lot of penalties (which seems to be more the norm for the Oilers these days). It's a Win, Play La Bamba Baby. On the plus side BOTH Vegas and LA lost tonight in regulation and the Oilers are now 2nd in the division by 2 points over LA (though LA has 2 games in hand) and are 4 back of Vegas (with same # of games played). We play LA next so that's a biggie. We win that we get some breathing room in 2nd. VGK faces the Wild who can beat you. Chicago faces Calgary next (and Calgary were the ones that did us a HUGE solid by beating LA tonight with the Rangers beating VGK). Take care all.

[@Redskydigger1]

Thank you for the stats

[@epiphany519]

@@Redskydigger1 You're quite welcome. Unfortunately they didn't list the PK Time on Ice from my normal source so this game doesn't have those (PP ones yes, PK ones no).

[@dalriada]

The simple Californian goal is how this team can boost their offence and stop getting goalied on such a regular basis. You'll notice that Podkolzin's goal, was basically a Californian setup for Arvidsson from Drai, but Arvi wasn't quite fast enough to tap it in - but good things happen when you put the puck on net WHILE keeping it away from the goalie. The Oilers currently all SHOOT TO SCORE and they mostly don't, because modern NHL goalies are so good. Other teams, with lesser talents, have figured out that you can create confusion, deflections, and 'fluke' goals by threading the puck towards the near or far post, while having a speedy forward zipping towards its final destination. The Oilers can still use Connor and Leon the way they do, but the other lines should be setting up Californians or digging pucks out of the corner and throwing them into the slot for the 'danger man'. Yes I admit most of what I know about hockey I learned here from the Cult. However, once you see it; it seems obvious.

[@Redskydigger1]

I disagree with the comment above. I very much enjoy your podcast- if it needs to be 45-60 minutes long then please do it. I love the insights into the game. Keep it up! Oilers cup this year!

[@brendafox8163]

Hi guys! A somewhat better effort. The bottom 6 contributed

[@froma69]

Hello Bakersfield calling Derek Ryan.

[@tomkennelly7393]

What a strange game ,they have to watch how they start games

[@c9sus4]

Did anyone see Nuge last night? I thought Skinner was the one sitting out

[@spiritedtruthseeker5929]

He still plays for the oilers😂😂 i nvr notice him.

[@marcosorbetti7639]

Bruce you're big on milk eh? Always with a glass of milk 😅

[@m.j.s.3838]

Good show. Listening to this podcast is like putting on a favorite pair of boots…comfortable. (psst: ditch the fake background. Reality is better than tacky AI ‘art’ and the gimicky weirdness of green screen effects.)

[@brentgibson565]

Pick didn't look good. Mc D looks like he's not 100%. But the guys are hanging in and getting the job done for the most part. Ryan's a good soldier but time has caught up with him.

[@dannychoy6323]

I thought Mcdavid played like crap. Please don't play Ryan anymore. He is too slow and too small.

[@DS-hs3qp]

I don't think Picard was been very good in the last few games he has played..... its a little worrying.

[@dianedyck3474]

Yes he has been shaky for sure!

[@KptKrunch9481]

Officiating is a joke in this league. There are far too many 'AMERICAN' officials in this league. Reminds me of the Women's gold medal game in Salt Lake. Canadian teams never get the 'marginal' calls late in a game when they are leading but oh, they sure get called. I remember the decade of darkness too - when the Oilers would be down by a goal, pushing to tie the game and the officials never had an issue calling a penalty on the Oilers down the stretch when trying to tie the game but the 'American' opposition' could get away with all kinds of infractions while defending. It's why a Canadian team hasn't won the Cup since '93. I can't wait for AI to become the official - no nvm, as the 'AI' will still be programmed to favor US based teams.

[@spiritedtruthseeker5929]

This is the reason I haven't been to a game since 2017. I could easily afford 5 sets of season tickets for my family, but I'd rather spend my money on something honest

[@gavin7772]

Had a same game for a point from each Connor tonight 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@fontainefitness5698]

I like how you guys are shortening these podcasts now. 25 minutes is perfect.

[@regantyn]

A nice discussion, as ever. You guys are always entertaining and informative. (This, despite David's mildly insane rant in the Journal yesterday about the existence of meritocracy within racism and the plight of "young, white men" at U of A.) Glad you talked about Emberson's fine effort. This game was the start of the second half of the season. I got the feeling the Oilers were committed to play just well enough to get the win, but not really any better. Which is okay, as they now have to go home for 1 measly game and then back onto the road...

[@SuperRonmiester]

Another game the team nearly blew it against a bottom feeding team…… sorry, the goalie nearly loss this game and had Chicago not played last night they probably would’ve tied it up……

[@jasonb9152]

Pickard was poor. After waffling forever, I’ve finally concluded our goalies are typically average, & good on some nights… but certainly not great with any consistency. How many games have our goalies won for us/stole when the Oilers in front were the poorer team? I can only think of one this season. Our goaltending is very hot & cold. Hopefully in the playoffs, they both don’t crap the bad at the same time. Last year, Pickard saved the playoffs when Skinner had a poor run. So, again maybe they can pull it off working together. But I don’t think these two goalies will ever become great. I don’t think they have the natural talent and physical attributes.

[@dwaynesbgb]

The reason mcdavid didn’t have 10 points, is because brown and rnh can’t finish!🤬

[@spiritedtruthseeker5929]

Hyman was back on his line. Hyman can't make a pass because his head is always down driving, so Mcdavid nvr gets the puck back when Hyman gets it. It's horrible.

[@Ace96x10]

I said Oilers 5-3. I was wrong yet again!!! Anyway, Pickard and Podz were both excellent. I rate this game as 6 bags of magical frys. 🍟🍟🍟🍟🍟🍟

[@GeneralAetius4705]

David Staples and the great Bruce Mcrurdy.