GDB 42.0 Wrap Up: Lightning @ Oilers

8 years ago

The Oilers scored five goals and lost the game 3-2. Final Score: 3-2 Lightning

Coming into tonight’s game the Oilers were undefeated in 2016, and I was ready to keep the train rolling. The Oilers are only single digits away from a playoff spot, and that is the closest they’ve been in a long time. Regardless of whether you think they’ll make the dance or not, I’m enjoying the ride of meaningful games past November for all that it’s worth. I wanted to see a win tonight. I wanted to keep the delusions rolling, and I guess I deserve what happened for being excited.

With how the night started I wasn’t so sure that my dreams of an undefeated 2016 would come to fruition. The Oilers didn’t look ready to play as was evident by taking two penalties within the first five minutes. Admittedly, the hooking call on Draisaitl was pretty cheap, but the too many men call was unnecessary. As it ended up, those early penalties would end up being meaningless. Fortunately, the Lightning’s power play is akin to that of the Oilers and they were unable to score on their early opportunities. Luckily Tampa didn’t need to score their own goals tonight.

What should have been two points on the board, considering the two goal lead going into the third period, wound up being one of the weirdest losses in NHL history. Every single goal the Tampa Bay Lightning scored was as a result of an Oiler player touching the puck before it went in the net. Not only have I never seen three own goals in one game, I’ve never seen that many in a month. This has to go down as one of the most all time #HereComeTheOilers losses in the history of the franchise. I am honestly speechless. I feel bad for the guys that scored on themselves, and I feel bad for Cam Talbot for having that happen. So. Funking. Weird.

The wrap.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

One day closer to McDavid.
Justin Schultz had another good night tonight and even capped it off with a goal. I know I’ll get hammered for this in the comments but I think he’s been playing much better of late.
Benoit Pouliot was causing mayhem in front of the net and was able to tip in the shot from Nugent-Hopkins to end the Oilers’ power play drought.
Nuge has been putting up assists like the days of old with his seventh in seven games.
Taylor Hall played a great game tonight aside from the own goal. He was flying, wanted the puck on his stick, and produced chances all night long.
Brandon Davidson is a great story in every sense. How many people would have expected him to become an important cog on defense? Not to mention the fact that he’s the first late round pick that the Oilers have made that could potentially work out long term.
Tonight’s game was a wasted effort for Cam Talbot. He was solid all night, but it’s hard to win a game when your teammates put three past you. He finished the night with 23 saves and an .885 save% which is unfair considering the circumstances.
Tickets are on sale for the Nation ski trip to Jasper! Get yours before they sell out.

THE FACE PALMERS

C’MON, REALLY?!? THREE OWN GOALS?!?
The Oilers started out the game with two penalties in the first five minutes of play. Be ready to play, boys.
Even though the power play scored tonight I would still like to see them shoot with much more frequency than they have been. Far too often you watch the puck go around the perimeter rather than throwing it towards the net.
Leon Draisaitl’s goalless streak has been extended to 13 games (not for lack of trying, he was firing the puck tonight). I don’t include this as a knock against Draisaitl but more to show that young players will have ebbs and flows throughout the year. Let’s maybe pump the breaks on moving our depth at centre.
I understand the need to find shooting lanes on the power play, but for the love of Gord will you please shoot the puck? Nuge shot the puck and it went in on a tip. Sometimes that happens. Shoot the puck.
Although the penalty kill has been solid, the Oilers gave the Lightning way too many opportunities.
Viktor Hedman hadn’t scored in 16 games… but he gets one against the Oilers. Well… Taylor Hall actually scored, but… you know what I mean. I feel terrible for Taylor Hall though. He made a great backcheck to break up a 2-on-1 but he ended up putting it in his own net.
All three Tampa goals were scored by Oilers. Think about that for a minute. How the hell does that happen?
The reffing was brutal tonight. There was missed calls all over the ice, and I mean that both ways.

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST PERIOD
15:20	EDM	Justin Schultz (2) Backhand shot – ASST: Jordan Eberle (8)	1 – 0 EDM
2ND PERIOD
03:38	EDM	PPG – Benoit Pouliot (9) Tip-in – ASST: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (21), Andrej Sekera (11)	2 – 0 EDM
3RD PERIOD
03:01	TBL	Nikita Kucherov (15) Slapshot – ASST: Victor Hedman (17), Tyler Johnson (8)	2 – 1 EDM
14:50	TBL	Victor Hedman (3) Tip-in – ASST: NONE	2 – 2 Tie
15:51	TBL	Steven Stamkos (18) Deflected shot – ASST: Victor Hedman (18), Vladislav Namestnikov(10)	3 – 2 TBL

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