GDB 18.0 Wrap Up: It’s never a good time for the Oilers in Carolina
8 months ago
The season is starting to unravel.
The Oilers took on the Carolina Hurricanes in a 2006 Stanley Cup Final rematch on Wednesday evening. Ultimately, they fell 5-3, which brought their record to 5-12-1 on the season.
About 75 percent of the teams who are in a playoff spot on U.S. Thanksgiving wind up making the playoffs come spring. The Oilers are currently eight points out of a playoff spot with six teams to jump.
It’s getting late, quickly.
THE WRAP UP IS PRESENTED BY BETWAY
At the very least, this was a different loss than the first two from this trip in Tampa and Florida. The Oilers didn’t go up early and blow a lead, this time they fell behind quickly. Carolina exploded for four goals in the first period and the game was pretty much out of reach.
Goaltending remains an issue, as starter Stuart Skinner allowed four goals on 12 shots before Calvin Pickard came in. Pickard actually had a solid game, allowing just a goal on 14 shots.
Zach Hyman was Edmonton’s best player, scoring two goals, including his 10th of the season, which leads the Oilers. Mattias Ekholm scored his second of the season, with Ryan McLeod picking up his fourth assist and Warren Foegele picking up the other one. Connor McDavid picked up his 10th assist of the season, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had his 11th. Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard picked up the other assists on Hyman’s first goal.
So what do the Oilers do now? Well, Detroit’s goaltender Alex Lyon picked up a shutout against the New Jersey Devils. He and James Reimer are both options for Edmonton’s goaltending woes. Another option is one of the Montreal Canadiens’ goaltenders. Sam Montembeault is confirmed to start the game, but Jake Allen and Cayden Primeau are also options for the Oilers.
Edmonton is second last in the Pacific Division with 11 points. They sit 14 games out of third place in the division and eight points out of a playoff spot with a lot of teams in the way. Changes need to be made if they wish to make the playoffs.
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