Hot Links: Tuesday, March 10

Morning, folks!

The vibes are a little less good the morning after another game that, despite the earned point, felt like a loss.

That’s a few games running now in which the Oilers have conceded a cool billion shots against. Another in which, but for Mikko Koskinen, the Oilers would have lost by a truckload. Sure, this time they were without McDavid, but he was a feature in the few similar games prior, and Vegas was without their McDavid in Mark Stone.

The Oilers will practice today, which is clearly needed. Dave Tippett said as much in his post-game when he called his team’s play ‘disconnected’. He’s goddamn right.

Young Willis went to California to check in with the Condors, and provided a nice update on a number of players currently rostered in Bakersfield.

With COVID-19 bedding in in North America, Santa Clara County — home of the San Jose Sharks — has banned all public gatherings over 1,000 people for at least the next three weeks. The Sharks have already come out with a statement suggesting they’ll heed those warnings, meaning their home games might be played in an empty arena.

The NHL is more dependent on gate revenue than either of the NFL, NBA, or MLB. I wouldn’t bet on Bill Daly’s cap estimation one bit for next season, especially so if more teams follow the Sharks’ lead and the NHL loses a few weeks worth of gate money.

Either way, one hopes that the NHL doesn’t put people at risk of infection by delaying moves like this because they’re so dependent on that money. It would be something, however, if the Oilers made the playoffs for the second time in an eon and nobody was allowed to go watch it.

Leon Draisaitl was named the NHL’s third star of the week for last week. His 4-4-8 in 4 GP was only slightly less impressive than Mika Zibanejad’s 7-0-7 in 3 GP and Gabriel Landeskog’s 3-6-9 in 4GP.

From Us

GAME RECAP: Oilers 2, Golden Knights 3. (OT) (Copper and Blue)

GAME THREAD: Edmonton Oilers vs. Vegas Golden Knights (Copper and Blue)

Leon Draisaitl Named NHL’s Third Star of the Week (Copper and Blue)

Hot Links: Monday, March 9 (Copper and Blue)

From Elsewhere

Disconnect (Oilersnation)

Sleep Walk (Lowetide)

Nielson’s Notes: Oilers – Golden Knights Edition (Oilersnation)

Oilers Hopeful Practice Will Fix Issues After Being Outplayed Again (Sportsnet)

Shea Theodore Scores OT Winner As Golden Knights Beat Oilers (Sportsnet)

Theodore Pockets OT Winner As Golden Knights Beat Oilers (CBC Sports)

3 San Jose Sharks home games in doubt as county bans large gatherings (CBC)

Edmonton Oilers Can’t Convert Another Rope-A-Dope Strategy (Sun)

Could There Be NHL Games With No Fans Because Of Coronavirus? (Sun)

For Money

Evan Bouchard, Tyler Benson And More: 20 Observations On The Bakersfield Condors (Athletic)