GDB 39.0 Wrap Up: Edmonton Oilers win franchise record-setting 10th straight game
6 months ago
The Edmonton Oilers have set a new franchise record.
On Saturday night, the Oilers were on the road against the Montréal Canadiens, defeating the Original Six team 2-1 in overtime, the second straight game that needed more than 60 minutes.
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: Evan Bouchard
Game after game, Evan Bouchard looks to be among the elite offence defencemen in the NHL.
The 24-year-old right-shot rearguard scored his tenth goal of the season in overtime to win the game. It was a typical “Bouchbomb”, as it clanged off the right post and into the back of the net for Edmonton’s 10th straight win, a new record.
Bouchard joins Paul Coffey as the only Oilers defenceman to score 40 points before the team’s 41st game of the season as well.
It’s been forever since the Oilers have had an elite offence defenceman, at least since Chris Pronger, but it’s safe to say that Bouchard is just about there.
Things worth mentioning:
Connor McDavid is the birthday boy, and he got an assist on Bouchard’s goal. He now has 16 goals and 57 points in 37 games and is also on a 10-game point streak with points in 21 of his last 22 games. He also got boo’d by Habs fans for some reason.
Leon Draisaitl picked up the tying goal as the puck was laying on Samuel Montembeault’s pad, teeing up the German for his 20th goal of the season. On top of his 20 goals, Draisaitl has 45 points which is second most on the Oilers.
Stuart Skinner has been nothing short of terrific in the past two months and for the seventh consecutive game, had a save percentage above .900. This time, he saved 23 shots on 24 attempts for a .958 save percentage. Since the season turnaround on November 11, Skinner has a 17-4-0 record with a .920 save percentage.
Evander Kane moved up to the second line alongside Draisaitl and Warren Foegele, and it paid dividends as he assisted on Draisaitl’s goal. This was Kane’s first point in five games, and just his fifth point in the past 17 games played.
Philip Kemp made his NHL debut on Saturday, playing just 2:03 as the Oilers went with 11 forwards and seven defenders. The 24-year-old right-shot defenceman was selected in the seventh round of the 2017 draft, and it’s the second straight draft year where an Oiler seventh-rounder has made the NHL.
The power play has been struggling as of late, but it isn’t all that bad, as it means Edmonton has scored the majority of their goals via even-strength play. The power play wasn’t much better on Saturday though, but they got a goal when they needed it the most.
The Oilers return home on Tuesday to host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Edmonton will look to build on their 10-game winning streak and are only a point out of the third spot in the Pacific Division. With a win on Tuesday, it’s entirely possible they leapfrog the Los Angeles Kings, who lost their eighth game in a row on Saturday.
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