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Oilers coach drops subtle demotion for core player with decreased ice time
Photo credit: Kevin Ng - Imagn Images
With his recent adjustments to the team's defense-pairings, Oilers' coach Kris Knoblauch may have found a winning formula.
After winning two decisive games of its last three, The Athletic's Allan Mitchell shared his take on the Oilers' wins.
He also faded the Nurse pairing and elevated the third tandem, Kulak with Emberson.
Just as the coach faded Nurse in his first two seasons with the Oilers, it may be happening again. Giving Nurse a chance to reset on the third pair makes sense. He's not the same player he was one year ago. His five-on-five goal share and expected goal share this year are 43 and 44 percent, respectively.
- Allan Mitchell
Just as the coach faded Nurse in his first two seasons with the Oilers, it may be happening again. Giving Nurse a chance to reset on the third pair makes sense. He's not the same player he was one year ago. His five-on-five goal share and expected goal share this year are 43 and 44 percent, respectively.
- Allan Mitchell
Coach's tweaks to defense shows< results
When a team isn't winning, there is the desire to make big changes, which are often needed. Sometimes, however, it's the small adjustments to a lineup that can be quite effective.
The Edmonton Oilers have recently shown signs of finding a winning formula, marked by an improved defensive effort and a cohesive team strategy in their most recent games.
Specifically, moving Darnell Nurse further down the defense depth has removed some of the pressure of playing against the opposition's top forwards, against which he has struggled.
In recent games, however, Nurse has displayed a more disciplined defensive game, with a focus maintaining tight gaps between forwards and defensemen. Like I said, small adjustments that pay-off.
This is not a new strategy for coach Knoblauch, who did pretty much the same thing with Nurse last year, after a slow start to the season.
In addition to the defensive changes, Stuart Skinner is also showing signs of playing better. To his credit, he hasn't allowed the noise to affect him, especially against Seattle.
He stopped all 26 shots he faced for his second shutout of the campaign, and ninth of his career. Seattle had 13 high-danger chances in all situations, and 2.88 expected goals for; but Edmonton's netminder was up to the task.
He was calm, composed, and had excellent rebound control.
Darnell Nurse also looked calm and composed. When the team has confidence in its goalie and defense, it allows the offense to do its thing.
For the Oilers, that is to score goals. Lots of them and often. That is the Edmonton style of hockey.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 1 | 437 ANSWERS Oilers coach drops subtle demotion for core player with decreased ice time Should Darnell Nurse continue to play as the Oilers 3rd D-pairing? | ||
| yes | 342 | 78.3 % |
| no | 95 | 21.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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