GDB 25.0 Wrap Up: The Edmonton Oilers may never lose again
6 months ago
They let the Edmonton Oilers get hot.
On Sunday afternoon, the Oilers hosted the New Jersey Devils, defeating the pretender 4-1, which brings their record to 12-12-1. Moreover, they now have a seven-game winning streak, which is insane considering they were 5-12-1 just a few weeks ago.
Let’s look at the Oilersnation Player of the Game and things worth mentioning.
THE WRAP UP IS PRESENTED BY BETWAY
Oilersnation’s Player of the Game: Evan Bouchard
What a season turnaround Bouchard has had.
Early in the season, the 24-year-old was struggling defensively as he just looked lost on the ice. However, he’s just been defending much better in the Oilers’ last 13 games or so. It helps that he has a fully healthy Ekholm as his defence partner.
On Sunday, he scored his eighth goal (a 99.8 mph slapshot) for the season for Edmonton’s only power play goal. The right-shot defenceman is tied for the defence lead in power play goals with four, while his 14 power play points is second in the league.
Think he’s just a glorified Tyson Barrie? Think again, as his 14 even strength points rank tied for eighth in the league for defenceman, with just two points separating him from being tied for fifth.
Not just that, but Bouchard’s goal extended his point streak to 11-games, which is tied for second most in franchise history, Which Paul Coffey did four different times. The Oilers defence coach had the record with a 28-game point streak.
It feels nice to see that the Oilers have been able to develop an elite defenceman. Now if they could just develop an elite goaltender…
Things worth mentioning:
Calvin Pickard did exactly what he needed to do on Sunday, saving 26 shots in 27 attempts. The 31-year-old has a .918 save percentage in the three games that he’s played this season. Paired with Stuart Skinner’s good play in recent weeks, the Oilers may not need to trade for a goaltender, especially if Campbell can find his game.
Connor McDavid had two points on the game, scoring on an empty net after New Jersey’s goaltender took a wrong turn behind the net and got lost, and then assisted on Evander Kane’s 12th goal on the year on an empty netter. He has 36 points on the season, tied for eighth in the league.
Derek Ryan scored his third goal of the season to open the scoring, assisted by Sam Gagner (his fifth point), as well as Brett Kulak. The fourth line of Hamblin, Gagner, and Ryan have had numerous opportunities the past two games, but have been robbed point blank quite often.
The Oilers penalty kill remains hot, as they killed off all four penalties they took on Sunday. Since their seven game win streak started, Edmonton has killed off 25 of the 26 penalties they’ve taken, which has tremendously helped this team.
The Oilers return to action on Tuesday at 8:00 PM MDT as the first “Connor vs Connor match off” will be played. Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks face the Oilers, who will look to go above .500 and extend their win streak to eight games.
With a win on Sunday, Edmonton now has 25 points and are just three points behind the St. Louis Blues, who have two games in hand. Edmonton is so back baby. Will they ever lose again?
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