GDB 26.0 Wrap Up: Bruins @ Oilers

8 years ago

TRUST IN THE DERS! Final Score: 3-2 Oilers in the shootout

Before we start I want to ask you guys a question: When you looked at the lineup the Oilers were rolling with for tonight’s game, did you really expect them to win? I mean, the entire second line (Pouliot-McDavid-Yakupov) from opening night was out. My bar was so low that I would have been happy if the Oilers made it through 60 minutes without anybody getting hurt. Now that I think about it, my “bar” is closer to a “line on the ground” than it is to a bar.

Surprisingly, the Oilers surpassed my ground level bar of expectations and actually showed up to play a hockey game. Although, seeing them play so well against the Bruins makes that loss to the Leaves even more frustrating. How can they play a competent level of hockey against a hot team like the Bruins after looking so terrible against Toronto? Not only did the Oilers maintain pace with the Bruins, they actually won the game! Who are you, Oilers?

This win was exactly what the Oilers (and the fans) needed. Not only does this win stop the sky from falling (for a day), it once again brings the Oilers into a tie for 29th place (baby steps). In all seriousness, the Oilers beat a very good team and they should be proud of that. There is still a warehouse worth of work to be done on this team, but it’s always nice to watch them win games. Not moral victories – actual victories. I’ll enjoy this one, because you never know whether Jekyll or Hyde is going to show up next game.

We wrap.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

Good start for the Oilers despite the depleted lineup. They didn’t look out of place, and outshot the Bruins 10-8 in the first period.
Beautiful passing play on the shorthanded goal by Letestu (his third). Sekera and Hendricks moved the puck quickly and effectively, leaving Letestu to direct it home into the empty net.
The duo followed up with a repeat performance when Letestu set Hendricks up for a goal (his second) off a nice pass from the boards. I will never get tired of seeing Matt Hendricks score goals. Pure joy.
I liked seeing Taylor Hall push back against Zdeno Chara, but I felt like he was taking his life into his own hands. I admire the pushback, but that’s no dance partner for Taylor Hall.
I thought Nuge had a great game tonight despite not registering a point. He’s a little bit snake bitten right now, but you can’t question his work ethic. Nuge played a team high (for forwards) 24:52 tonight and went 56% in the faceoff circle. You dummies sure you want to get rid of this (22 YEAR OLD) guy? I sure don’t.
I love watching Darnell Nurse jump into the play. Sometimes I close my eyes and think of what he’ll become in say, three or four years. Six to midnight, my friends.
Anders Nilsson was rock solid again tonight. With the way he’s playing I wonder when Cam Talbot will have a chance to get his job back? Nilsson doesn’t seem to want to give it up, and if he keeps playing like he has been, I’m fine with that. Nilsson finished the night with 38 saves and a .950 save%.
Shout out to the refs for the Oilers slanted calls tonight. They don’t happen often, but they do tonight. My personal favourite was the phantom tripping call on Eriksson.

THE FACE PALMERS

It was bad luck but it sucked to see the Oilers give up another goal with less than two minutes to play in a period. Krug’s shot deflected in off Sekera’s stick to beat Anders Nilsson with 1:33 left in the second period. As I mentioned, it was a bad luck goal for Nilsson but late period goals have been sinking the Oilers all season. The Oilers went unscathed on this evening.
How did Zdeno Chara get so open on his goal? The man is 6000 feet tall so it makes no sense for him to be unchecked. EVER.
Only one point in six games for Leon Draisaitl. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I bring it up as a reminder that he’s still developing. Let’s not prematurely sacrifice depth at centre off of a hot streak. McDavid-Nuge-Draisaitl, in any order, as your top three centres (or on the wing), is a beautiful thing.
Two penalties in a game isn’t the kind of decision making that will keep Eric Gryba in the lineup. There’s being physical, and there’s being harmful to the team.
The power play couldn’t get anything done again tonight. It’s not really surprising when Korpikoski and Pakarinen are anchoring the second unit. At least the PP wasn’t as bad as it was against Toronto, though that would be tough to match. The power play went 0/4 on the night.

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST PERIOD
NONE
2ND PERIOD
10:23	EDM	SHG – Mark Letestu (3) Deflected shot – ASST: Matt Hendricks (2), Andrej Sekera (9)	1 – 0 EDM
18:27	BOS	Torey Krug (2) Wrist shot – ASST: Patrice Bergeron (15), Adam McQuaid (4)	1 – 1 Tie
3RD PERIOD
09:22	EDM	Matt Hendricks (2) Deflected shot – ASST: Mark Letestu (4), Lauri Korpikoski (2)	2 – 1 EDM
16:39	BOS	Zdeno Chara (4) Snap shot – ASST: David Krejci (16), Loui Eriksson (12)	2 – 2 Tie
OT PERIOD
NONE

SHOOTOUT
ROUND	EDMONTON OILERS	BOSTON BRUINS
1	Matt Hendricks (no goal)	Patrice Bergeron (no goal)
2	Jordan Eberle (scored)	Brad Marchand (no goal)
3	Mark Letestu (no goal)	David Krejci (no goal)

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