BaggedMilk used to do these wraps. He used to like to join you for every preseason game. Maybe it’s the beets, maybe he just can’t handle that I have worn shorts for 348 days straight. Not to mention the fact that Chris the Intern tried to say he would do the wrap tonight before dropping the bomb that he didn’t want to either. So you’re stuck with me for your fourth out of five preseason wrap ups. Sorry.
You can get the sense that the real season grows nearer with every lineup announcement as this lineup (with the exception of some of the D) looks and feels more NHL ready.
RNH-McDavid-Rattie
Lucic-Draisaitl-Yamamoto
Rieder-Khaira-Puljujarvi
Chiasson-Brodziak-Kassian
Kleflbom-Larsson
Russell-Bouchard
Garrison-Jerabek
Talbot
Strome is banged up for this one but nonetheless. Let’s see how it went.

Period One:

  • Draisaitl with a pair of no-look passes to no one to start us off.
  • Talbot is forced to make three saves from outside the blueline.
  • Jay Garrison with a big shot off the post.
  • Off the next clear and a line change to the top guys, Nuge, McDavid and then Rattie into the net. 1-0 Oil
  • Chiasson gets smoked by Gudbranson. It looked high to me but upon further review the shoulder made the contact. Nevertheless, Chiasson left the game for the remainder of the period because of it.

Overall:

A strong first period is always going to help but it feels more important for this team, especially when they have a more NHL ready roster tonight. Talbot looks great and incredibly comfortable back there. Confidence restored so far through the preseason.

Period Two:

  • Chiasson returns for the second.
  • I can’t believe I am writing this one. Too fancy with the McNuge + Rattie line? Seems like they’re trying that extra pass too often. Preseason habit hopefully.
  • Puljujarvi is just a ball of energy this season. Sometimes it’s taking a penalty, sometimes it’s coming off the penalty to get a partial breakaway that goes off the post.
  • Jake Virtanen gets caught cheating. The second PP was looking pretty stagnant and no one was moving around. The play breaks down and Johnny on the spot Ty Rattie with his second of the night as it trickles behind Nilsson, 2-0 Oil
  • Talbot is locked in tonight. Makes a couple of key saves to wind down the period (including one before the second goal)

Overall:

Gotta say it again, Talbot looks locked the heck in. I know “it’s only the Canucks” and “it’s only the preseason” but his confidence and dare I say, even a little swagger is evident. Rieder looks better in this one than I have seen him this preseason so far.

Period Three:

  • Leon and Jesse hopping to start the period. Both hard on the forecheck. Me likey.
  • After Reider gives a herculean effort to draw the penalty, the PP cannot seem to get anything started with three different break ins dying on his stick (and another from an errant Nuge to Draisaitl pass). No matter because Connor find a streaking Puljujarvi and he snaps it into the twine, 3-0 Oil
  • The Puljujarvi/Rattie “anything you can do, I can do better” show keeps rolling as Jesse rips in his second, 4-0 Oil
  •  Talbot robs Bo Horvat twice in tight and then McDavid and Rattie come on down and Connor over to Rattie into the wide open cage for the Rat Trick, 5-0 Oil
  • Oilers pouring it on with Lucic playing strong getting it to the net and Klefbom tucks it in, 6-0 Oil

The Wrap

It was a walk over. If this is the indication of the goaltending of the Canucks, this should be a theme for them.
You see a 6-0 score and assume the offence was just destroying the opposition, and they were. But to credit the Canucks, they did have some good chances and efforts from their guys but Cam Talbot was looking like the Dadbot we saw the season before last. He shut the door on the Canucks at every turn and earned every bit of his 35 save shutout.
Rattie and Puljujarvi stole the show on offense in this one. Jesse has just had an extra jump in his stop this preseason but speaking of preseason, Ty Rattie. He would be a lock for the Preseason Hart trophy if only the Oilers could clinch a playoff berth.

Other Notables:

Bouchard had a much better 200 foot game to my eye. He didn’t blow the doors off offensively here but he also didn’t look out of place in his own zone.
Rieder had his best game of the preseason so far. He was flashing speed all over the ice.
Kassian had a little fire in his game tonight. He was quick to engage with Gudbranson after the big hit on Chiasson (without taking a penalty of course)
Klefbom/Larsson look solid. Cannot wait for a healthy year from them.
What about you nation? What stood out for you?