Chris Knoblauch Pulling The Right Strings As Oilers Storm Back Into Playoff Race

Published December 13, 2023 at 6:49 PM
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The Edmonton Oilers made a bold move when they fired head coach Chris Knoblauch earlier this season. Many criticized the move since it came after the team won a game, but the results have been to the satisfaction of team management.

Knoblauch Has The Oilers Undefeated At Home



Knoblauch has done a remarkable job in his first stint with an NHL club. Since taking over the Oilers, the team is 10-3 and a perfect 8-0 at home.

Knoblauch deserves some credit. The team may have been good enough that a turnaround was inevitable, but he's still 10-3 overall & 8-0 at home. Last night, with Oilers up a goal but getting outshot 17-11, he flips Draisaitl/McLeod and EDM scores twice w/18-5 shot clock advantage.




Interestingly, Knoblauch made a proactive move last night as the Oilers faced the Chicago Blackhawks. Although the team was leading, he swapped Leon Draisaitl and Ryan McLeod, leading to improved play and immediate results as the Oilers quickly added two more goals. Many coaches would have been reluctant to make a change until after the score changed. Needless to say, Knoblauch has the team running on all cylinders at the moment.

During the time Kris Knoblauch has taken over as @EdmontonOilers head coach:

Connor McDavid is on a 7-game point streak consisting of 19 points (of his 32 this season)

Evan Bouchard is on a 9-game point streak consisting of 12 points (of his 24 this season), the longest by an Oilers defenseman since Paul Coffey

Zach Hyman has 8 goals in 9 games (of his 15 this season)...11 if you include Woodcroft's last game

Team has won 5 straight games with Stuart Skinner recording a .943 SV% and a 1.58 GAA during that run

#LetsGoOilers


The Oilers next take on the Lightning at home tomorrow night before they go on an east coast road trip.

As seen on Oilers' coach Knoblauch makes significant change to the team
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December 13   |   225 answers
Chris Knoblauch Pulling The Right Strings As Oilers Storm Back Into Playoff Race

Did the Oilers make the right move by replacing Woodcroft?

Yes7432.9 %
Hard to argue with the results11551.1 %
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