GDB 52.0 Wrap Up: Maybe start with an empty net next time, Oilers fall to Canucks in 6-3 loss

2 years ago

McPoints > Game Result Final Score: 6-3 Canucks

We’ve entered into a weird part of the season where the Oilers have locked up a playoff spot and all that’s left to do was to lock down home-ice advantage and see if McDavid can get to 100 points, but when either of those things happen is anyone’s guess. I don’t know about you guys but I’m still having a hard time wrapping my head around this whole ‘clinch with plenty of time left’ thing, ya know? Regardless of what was left to play for or when the boys claim home ice, I just wanted to see them work hard and dial in on the finer details of their game as we head into the playoffs. But as you already know, that is not what happened. Not even close. Instead, what we got was one of the most painful and yet somehow hilarious opening periods of the season that saw the Oilers (read: Koskinen) give up four goals on the first four shots of the game. Now, I’ve been watching and playing hockey my whole life and I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything like that before at any level, and rather than get too mad about it, I actually found myself laughing out loud. How ridiculous is that? But when the laughter stopped and the sadness kicked in, I found myself thinking of other things that I could be doing with my time. Thankfully, the Oilers didn’t sport the same salty attitude that I was working with and didn’t quit even though they were down by a field goal and a rouge, eventually chipping away at the deficit with two quick ones before heading into the intermission.

After a start that can only be described as a rollercoaster of emotions, I had no idea what to expect from either the Oilers or the Canucks as this game was already out of control and stranger than we could have ever imagined. And while our boys were able to work themselves into some quality chances as the second period wore on, they were unable to get anything past Demko or even establish much in terms of momentum for themselves. Try as they might, this just felt like one of those nights where the Oilers just couldn’t get anything to go their way, and to make matters worse, the Canucks also managed to erase one of Edmonton’s goals with a lucky one from behind the goal line to restore their three-goal lead. Down by a field goal with only a period left to play, the Oilers had no option but to open things up and push for offence, which was either going to be exciting or disastrous and I had no idea what was more likely. Perhaps a McComeback was in the cards? Powerplay magic? Dare to dream? Even with another goal from Draisaitl in the back half of the frame, it was just not meant to be as the Oilers were simply unable to overcome the insane hole that Mikko Koskinen put them in and I don’t think many of us will too hard on the team for the result. As far as I’m concerned, this loss was a bump in the road to the playoffs and I’d much rather that we get these out of the way now then when it matters more. Besides, we were still able to add three more McPoints on the pile and you’ve gotta like that.

The wrap.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

@Leon Draisaitl got the Oilers team on the board (4-1) with a powerplay goal after McDavid fed him a drop pass and the reigning MVP ripped a quick wrister to the far side. Draisaitl added a second goal late in the third period from his office near the goal line after Darnell Nurse found him with a pass for a one-timer that Drai ripped past Demko.
Less than two minutes after Draisaitl’s goal, @Jesse Puljujarvi pulled the Oilers to within two goals (4-2) after posting up in the slot and teeing off on a McDavid pass that beat Demko low to the blocker side.
At least we got three more McPoints on the pile and we’re up to 96 in the chase for the McCentury. I’ve said this 2000x by now and I’m sure I’ll say it plenty more but @Connor McDavid makes any game worth watching even if the result is painful, and I’m endlessly thankful to have him here.
@Mike Smith came into the game in what can only be described as a horrible situation, but he did his best to make something out of the tough spot he was put in. While he didn’t get the result he may have earned had he been the starter, Smith did a decent enough job of stopping the bleeding and I say that knowing full well that he allowed a pair of goals. Smith finished the night with 21 saves and a .913 save%.
The Oilers had a strong night with their special teams as they were able to get goals on 2/5 powerplays while also killing off all four of Vancouver’s chances with the man advantage.
I love @Ryan McLeod. I mean, there’s no specific reason I’m putting this in here but I also don’t have many options here either.
At least the Corsi Gords will be pleased as the Oilers outshot the Canucks by a 42-27 margin.
When you have the two best players on the planet, the only option is to make a t-shirt that reflects their brilliance. Shine bright, boys. Pick up the Dynamic Duo tee here.

THE FACE PALMERS

@Nils Hoglander opened the scoring for the Canucks only 31 seconds into the game (1-0) in what was basically a carbon copy of what happened on Tuesday night. This time around, the Oilers looked to be in good shape before Miller was able to make a nice play behind the net and feed Hoglander in the slot where he was able to rip a shot (FIRST SHOT!) up over Koskinen’s glove.
Would you be surprised to learn that Jack Rathbone scored his first NHL goal (2-0) against the Edmonton Oilers? You wouldn’t be surprised would you? No, I didn’t think so.
Only moments after Rathbone’s first, Travis Hamonic followed it up with his first goal of the season (3-0) which was equally embarrassing for some reason and added another dose of salt to the wound.
So after the third goal, I tweeted that I would die laughing if the Canucks were able to get a fourth goal on their fourth shot and that’s exactly what happened when @Jayce Hawryluk was able to sink one through Koskinen’s legs. I laughed as expected, Koskinen got the hook, it was honestly unbelievable that this was a thing that happened at the NHL level.
@Tyler Graovac (who?) put the Canucks back up by three goals after he was able to bank a puck in off of Mike Smith’s head from behind the goal line. I mean, what kind of game was this?
By the time @Brock Boeser scored to make it a 6-2 score, I was fully invested in TikTok videos about weird cryptocurrencies. I’m just being honest.
@Mikko Koskinen was back between the pipes after backstopping the Oilers into a playoff spot, and needless to say, it did not go well. I said it up top and I’ll say it again here, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like four goals on four shots against at any level ever. Koskinen finished the night with 0 saves and a .0 save%.
I know @Dmitry Kulikov has a reputation of being a giveaway machine and that was the case here tonight. I’m not saying that he was terrible — he wasn’t — but he does need to make better decisions with the puck.
@Evan Bouchard must have really upset Dave Tippett with that goal he scored.
I miss you, @Tyler Ennis.
I am heartbroken to let you know that the Oilers won only 47% of the faceoffs.

SCORING SUMMARY

#GOODCONTENT

Talk to me, Twitter. Tweet at @Oilersnation and @jsbmbaggedmilk for your chance to land in the Best of the Tweets.

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