GDB 11.0 Wrap Up: Frustrations boil over as Oilers get dropped in Vancouver
8 months ago
OH BROTHER, THIS TEAM STINKS.
You know the drill: Edmonton played on Monday evening, lost… again, and their record dropped to 2-8-1. At this point, they’re closer to celebrating for Celebrini than making the playoffs.
The Oilers started great, outshooting the Canucks 19-2 at one point, but goaltending once again let them down early and often. By the end of the first period, the Canucks were leading 3-1 with two goals that should have been saved.
Oilers got some life back early in the second period when Dylan Holloway took out Thatcher Demko behind the net, leading to a tap-in for Leon Draisaitl. However, the Canucks quickly made it 4-2, then 5-2, and finally 6-2 late in the third period.
So here are some thoughts from Monday’s game.
THE WRAP UP IS PRESENTED BY BETWAY
Things worth mentioning:
Edmonton needs a goaltender. It’s no secret. Skinner is fine as a backup as it stands, and he may eventually grow into a starter, but yikes, he’s had a rough season. Monday was a rough game for him, allowing two weak goals in the first period and finishing with a .829 save percentage on 35 shots. It’s just not good enough for season nine of Connor McDavid.
Things got chippy, which is a great thing. Edmonton doesn’t have any fightback and hasn’t for a while. If things aren’t going their way, they usually don’t try to engage themselves by kicking off post-whistle festivities. Well, Connor McDavid had enough Monday, as he and Leon Draisaitl got into it towards the middle of the third period. Heck, even head coach Jay Woodcroft was ejected from the game!
The second power-play unit is currently generating more opportunities than the first unit. Edmonton’s second unit has scored two of their three last power-play goals, as Darnell Nurse scored on Saturday, and Mattias Ekholm scored on Monday. Moreover, Sam Gagner got an assist on Ekholm’s goal for his third point in as many games.
Dylan Holloway was placed in the top six and made an immediate impact as he took out Vancouver’s goaltender behind the net, leading to a goal. However, he, Warren Foegele, and Leon Draisatil were all over the ice on Monday. Could this be a line in the upcoming games?
Edmonton returns to action on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks, who are currently Finless (get it?) in their 11 games. Over their last two games, they’ve allowed 20 goals. If Edmonton doesn’t win this game, there’ll be issues in Oil Country.
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