GDB 36.0 Wrap Up: Hat trick from future NHL All-Star Zach Hyman gives Oilers 3-1 win over Senators
6 months ago
They don’t ask how you win the games.
However, that was a rather dominant performance from the Oilers as they defeated the Ottawa Senators 2-1 at Rogers Centre. Although it was close on paper, the game could’ve gone significantly worse for Ottawa, as former Oiler farmhand Anton Forsberg kept the team from the Nation’s capital in it.
With that being said, let’s take a look at the Oilersnation’s Player of the Game, as well as things worth mentioning.
THE WRAP UP IS PRESENTED BY BETWAY
Oilersnation’s Player of the Game: Zach Hyman
The career-year pace for Hyman continues.
With only about five minutes left in the third period, the first goal which was originally credited to Evan Bouchard, was changed to Zach Hyman for his 23rd goal of the season.
When it rains, it pours for Hyman, as he scored his second goal of the game (originally his first) on a half break, beating the Wall of Forsberg as the puck found a crack and squeaked in.
Late in the third period with a close game, the Oilers got a power play. You’ll never guess who scored again for his third hat trick of the season (tied for the most in the league)
With 25 goals on the season, Hyman is tied for fourth in league scoring with Artemi Panarin, only five back from the leader, his former teammate Auston Matthews.
The Oilers have many deserving All-Stars, such as Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, and even Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. However, there is no other player who deserves an All-Star nomination than Zach Hyman, who is on pace for over 50 goals, which would smash his career-high he set last season.
Vote for Hyman! Also when I started writing this section with about 10 minutes left in the game, Hyman had a single goal to his name. This section was re-worked like three times.
Things worth mentioning
Stuart Skinner is back, as he registered his fifth straight game with a save percentage above .900. In fact, he nearly had his third shutout of the season, but was thwarted by a late Ottawa goal. For the season, he has an .899 save percentage and a 2.76 goals-against average. Moreover, since November 11, the Oilers date of the season turnaround, Skinner has a .916 save percentage and a 15-4-0 record.
Evan Bouchard originally had a goal for nearly an entire period, but he assisted on every single goal from Edmonton on Saturday. Towards the end of the second period, he got tangled up with a Senator and banged his face off the dasher, but he was alright. For the season, he has nine goals and 40 points in 36 games. He should also be sent to the All-Star game.
Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins picked up the only two other points on the night. McDavid now has 54 points on the season, tied for fifth in the league, while Nugent-Hopkins has 37.
Cody Ceci took a puck off the face on a deflected shot and the play was immediately blown dead. Thankfully, he got up on his own two legs and continued to play, but the right-shot defenceman may have a nice shiner underneath his left eye for the next few weeks.
It’s official, the Edmonton Oilers are in a playoff spot. With their seventh straight win and a 20-15-1 record, Edmonton has moved into the final wild card spot with 41 points, tied with the St. Louis Blues and the Seattle Kraken, but with at least two games in hand on both those teams. In fact, Edmonton has at least two games in hand on every team in the Western Conference, except for the Los Angeles Kings, who they’re only five points behind now.
It’s another long wait for the Oilers, as they don’t return to action until Tuesday when they’ll face the Bedard-less Chicago Blackhawks in the Windy City. After that, they’ll face off against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, who knocked off the Kings last Thursday.
Go Oilers.
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