GDB 15.0 Wrap Up: Smith steals a game in Pittsburgh, Oilers win 2-1

4 years ago

@Connor McDavid versus @Sidney Crosby on a Saturday ni- er, morning! What could be better? While I might have struggled to get up for this game, you can be sure McDavid and @Leon Draisaitl were ready to face Crosby and @Evgeni Malkin, who of course comes back from injury against the Oilers. McDavid is 0-6 against Crosby and the Penguin. You knew he wanted to change that.

The game picked up significantly in the last ten minutes. A horrendous power play and a terrible penalty by Zack Kassian invited Pittsburgh back into the game.

The Oilers got badly outshot. This was probably a game they shouldn’t have won, but @Mike Smith gave them a shot. Pittsburgh had 50 shots before overtime. Three-on-three overtime between some of the best players in the game? Yes please.

Oilers bent, but didn’t break. Who else but Draisaitl in overtime? Oilers move to 10-4-1 on the season.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

@Jujhar Khaira gets a nice chance out in front early, but cannot finish. Pretty much sums up his season this year.
Crosby and @Jake Guentzel on a two-on-one and Crosby fires it through the crease.
Smith was solid in the first. Nearly 20 shots on goal and no goals. Not much more you can ask for.
Smith made a sweet pass to Draisaitl that almost resulted in a good chance on @Matt Murray.
@Ethan Bear returns to the ice to start the second period. Bless up.
Morning games mean it’s socially acceptable for me to consume as much coffee possible until I’m vibrating from the caffeine.
@Colby Cave scores the most un-Colby Cave goal I have ever seen. Did that really happen?
The Oilers are outshot 24-10 when Cave scores. Hockey, baby!
When Colby Cave scores a goal:
Markus Granlund gets his first point of the season on Cave’s goal!
Pittsburgh gets a short power play with five minutes left and the Oilers didn’t allow a single shot.
Teddy Blueger is an elite name.

THE FACE PALMERS

Pittsburgh outshot Edmonton 18-6 in the first period. Maybe they weren’t the highest quality chances, but anytime you allow nearly 20 shots in a period isn’t good.
Bear missed a few shifts at the end of the first period after a collision with Bryan Rust. An injury to Bear would be just brutal. Bear’s played magnificently and is one of the best stories of the season.
Tough to see @John Marino playing over 17 minutes a night and staying a float in Pittsburgh. Especially when his most common partner is Jack Johnson (followed by @Kris Letang). Marino looks like another promising right-handed defenceman drafted by the Oilers. Peter Chiarelli did a few things right and drafting useful players appears to be one of them. It’s disappointing Marino didn’t want to sign with the Oilers as he’d be a nice addition to an emerging defence on the right side. C’est la vie.
The Edo commercials are so bad. One of the most annoying guys on television.
Tough look for @Matt Benning with back-to-back penalties in the second period.
Through two periods, Pittsburgh has 35 shots on goal.
Elliotte Friedman said @Jesse Puljujarvi’s agent Markus Lehto reiterated Puljujarvi’s desire to have a fresh start elsewhere when asked if they would reconsider joining the Oilers after this good start. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Oilers get a late power play. They can seal the deal but allow a shorthanded goal instead. You can only hope to contain @Brian Dumoulin.
Immediately after, Kassian takes an interference penalty. Probably the worst power play of the season.