GDB 51.0 Wrap Up: Oilers @ Sharks

9 years ago

That was emotional. Final Score: 5-4 Oilers in the shootout.

I hate when the Oilers play games on the West Coast. Especially when those late games are on school nights. Actually, that’s not true. I just have a strong dislike of going to bed angry after an Oilers game. Because of this, sometimes I have to give myself a cool down period before turning in. That means that I could be going to bed well past midnight depending on how terribly the Oilers played that night. The thought of it bums me out.

Well… the Oilers won, but they did it in one of the most annoying ways possible. They had a two goal lead going into the third period and they coughed it up in less than a five minute span. It was Saturday night all over again. You can’t make this stuff up! If nothing else, watching the Oilers find new and creative ways to give themselves the best chance to lose is a train wreck that I can’t turn away from. Most troubling, I can’t believe how quickly the Oilers cave if the opposition scores a goal in the third period. They may as well fulfill the metaphor and literally lay down on the ice and give up. That being said, the Oilers were able to come back from their own mistake on a late goal by Justin Schultz.

On the down side, it looks like Taylor Hall will be left the lineup as quickly as he reappeared in it. Both he and Benoit Pouliot left the game with foot injuries in the 3rd period. Hopefully neither player will be out long, but now it’ll be a big test for the rest of the roster. Guys like Yakupov will be getting more minutes, and they’ll have to carpe some diem and seize the opportunity. If there was a bright side it would be that if Hall and Pouliot are out long term the Oilers may have made a huge tactical move in the McDavid sweepstakes, but that’s a story for another day. At the end of this night, the Oilers came away with a win that they almost threw away and we don’t have to go to bed angry.

We wrap.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

I was happy to see Taylor Hall was back in the lineup, but I was hoping that he didn’t rush back. Then he left in the third period, and didn’t return. Not good.
Jordan Eberle’s first goal of the night was a thing of beauty. That kid has got some slick hands, and when he’s rolling he’s dangerous. He made a nice shot fake on his second goal. Jordan Eberle is definitely playing with some confidence right now.
Nail Yakupov had a great sequence before assisting Derek Roy on his fifth goal of the season. Yak stole the puck in the corner and made a nice little stop move before setting Derek Roy up on a tee. Great play.
Justin Schultz’s tying goal was on a seeing eye single. Good things happens when they shoot the puck so it’s always shocking how it doesn’t happen more.
The Hendricks-Gordon-Klinkhammer line was solid again tonight. That line is almost a throw back to the old days when the Oilers were known for a little less skill but a little more hard work.
Viktor Fasth was solid when he was needed. He finished with 33 saves and a .892 save%. I think he played better than the stats say.
Todd Nelson has already tied Dallas Eakins’ win total for the year. Granted, that is only 7. 🙁

THE FACE PALMERS

The game started way too late for my liking. I demand that all West Coast fans get off work earlier so that the NHL can schedule these games at a time that are convenient to me. Thank you.
Both Taylor Hall and Benoit Pouliot left the game with foot injuries.
Joe Pavelski always seems to roast the Oilers. He scored a goal off his foot on a beauty passing play by the Sharks power play.
Jeff Petry had another solid night. He’s not part of the problem, and I’ll be sad when he’s gone.
Having a shootout go as long as it did was really boring, I have to say. I’d rather the NHL go to a 3 on 3 type thing. That being said, shout out to Rob Klinkhammer for ending it.
The Oilers seem to hate holding onto third period leads. I thought we were in for a carbon copy of Saturday night’s game against the Flames.
The third Sharks goal shouldn’t have counted. There was blatant goalie interference but I guess they had used up their quota on calling it.

SCORING SUMMARY

Scoring summary from TSN.ca.

Shootout Winner: Rob Klinkhammer

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