Edmonton's excellence

Sporting News, The, Nov 16, 1998 by Mike Keenan

The Edmonton Oilers have had an excellent start. Twelve games into the season, they were 7-5-0 and atop the Northwest Division. The Canucks have played them twice, losing 4-1 and 5-3, so I've had a chance to assess Edmonton's strengths.

At the beginning of the season, the Oilers were not winning on a consistent basis. But they've found a rhythm, and it seems to be based upon the abilities of their three young defensemen: Janne Niinimaa, Roman Hamrlik and Boris Mironov. They move the puck so well. Team speed has been a valuable component of the Oilers' success, and good puck movement is essential to team speed.

The team also has found a replacement for goalie Curtis Joseph in Bob Essensa. Essensa didn't start more than two games in a row the past two seasons, when he was Joseph's backup. But he's accepting the challenges of preparing to be a No. 1 goaltender.

The Oilers must be commended for doing this well without center Doug Weight. He was back for nine days after a holdout, then he tore a knee ligament and will miss 10-12 more weeks.

The team had to make an early adjustment in Weight's absence, and that gave Joe Beranek an opportunity to step up and get more ice time. Beranek is playing on a line with Andrei Kovalenko and Billy Guerin--a big plus for him.

Beranek has the offensive skills to go well with Kovalenko and Guerin; they're a good threesome, and they've fed off of each other's abilities. That's why Beranek has put up 12 points in his first nine games.

It's always nice to see a journeyman player such as Beranek find a situation where he fits so well. That good fit is a result of maturation on Beranek's part, and it's also timing and being in a situation where he is comfortable.

RELATED ARTICLE: SHOOTING GALLERY

The NHL set a modern record with 160 shutouts last season, and there were 24 in the first 260 games this season--a pace of 212. There have been two 0-0 ties, and backup goalies such as Rick Tabaracci, Rob Tallas and Kirk McLean have posted shutouts. But don't try and tell the following guys that offense--in the form of shots faced--is down; as the old saying goes, they've seen more rubber than Goodyear:

                                    Minutes          Shots
Goaltender       Team                played         against

Mike Dunham      Predators            543             312
Guy Hebert       Mighty Ducks         553             296
Mike Richter     Rangers              633             311
Dominik Hasek    Sabres               608             297
Ken Wreggett     Flames               632             302

                 Shots per       Shots per
Goaltender        minute       60 minutes

Mike Dunham       .575           34.5
Guy Hebert        .535           32.1
Mike Richter      .491           29.5
Dominik Hasek     .488           29.3
Ken Wreggett      .478           28.7

Note: Through games of November 4.