GDB 55.0 Wrap Up: No goals, no problem

7 years ago

All hail Talbot! Final Score: 1-0 Oilers in the shootout

Can I start this off by saying that I hate day games? I don’t hate them because I don’t like watching hockey this early but because the Oilers have traditionally sucked in day games over the past 10 years. You’ve all noticed. As for the Habs specifically, the last time the Oilers played against the Canadiens in a Montreal-matinee things didn’t exactly go so well. We were on the Nation Ski Trip to Marmot, tired, hungover, and the Oilers game was supposed to give us a break from physical activity. Instead, the Oilers got killed and that supposed “break” in the chalet was ruined by Canadiens fans beaking us from around the room. There’s nothing worse than waking up to watch the Oilers lose, ya know?

For the Oilers to avenge the turd that they left on the ice in Montreal last February they were going to have to be better in all three zones of the ice than they have been on their current slide and they were going to have to find a way to score some goals. Although the Oilers were better in Carolina, they are still too reliant on only one line to provide them with offense. They need the $6 million trio to make something happen on the scoresheet, and it would also be nice to get a goal or two from the bottom six as some gravy on the taters. While the Oilers were able to generate shots and chances throughout the game, they weren’t able to cash in on their opportunities and wound up making another backup goalie look good.

Heading into the third period with the game tied at zero wasn’t really a good indicator of how the game played out but it did accurately describe the snakebitten Oilers in a nutshell. Even though they outshot the Habs handily they couldn’t get anything past Al Montoya and that kept Montreal in it for way longer than they should have been. At the same time, Edmonton was lucky that Talbot was hot fire again, and that the Canadiens are apparently having even bigger issues scoring than they are, because I don’t think they can count on winning too many games without goals. I mean, how often do you see a game stay scoreless for 65 minutes and only have one goal in the shootout? I guess the new goalie pants aren’t working.

We wrap.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

There are only so many ways that I can talk about how much Cam Talbot does for this hockey team. Despite being the NHL’s busiest goalie, Dadbot brings it every night and he’s been consistently good for most of the year. Today’s game was no different, and Talbot finished the night with 22 saves for the shutout and his 27th win of the year. Enjoy the break, Cam. You’ve earned it.
Leon Draisaitl was the only person to put the put past a goaltender and have it cross the line and count… well… kind of. Big Sexy 2.0 was all over the ice tonight and the only thing he didn’t do was score.
Connor McDavid had a hell of a game tonight despite the limited results on the scoresheet. He was flying, dangling, and doing all the things we love about him even with Habs players dragging off of him. Connor McDavid is must watch TV and I thought it was funny that Habs fans were booing him.
Oscar Klefbom played a team-high 25:35 tonight and was steady and solid throughout. It’s amazing that he plays as many minutes as he does and hasn’t received a penalty yet this season. If he keeps progressing the way he has the Oilers may have drafted a beauty.
Adam Larsson had seven hits and a quiet (good thing) game in the defensive zone in 22:47 worth of icetime. I’d like to see Larsson continue to develop his mean side because it’s fun to watch when it comes out.
Jordan Oesterle looked good in his season debut with the Oilers. Seeing him play again reminded me of how well he can skate and move the puck out of the zone effectively, something the Oilers need more of on the backend. If Oesterle was right-handed he would be worth his weight in gold. One thing I want to know is how much different is Oesterle than Kris Russell, because if the Oilers don’t mind playing a left-handed defenseman on the offside then why not look internally? Not to mention the savings.
Anton Lander was 57% in the faceoff circle tonight which is an asset on a team that struggles in that department.
The Oilers played reasonably well for 60 minutes and deserved to have the game end in their favour before it did. You could nitpick and say that too many of their shots came from the outside but this was one of the most complete efforts we’ve seen since the All-Star Break. Now to figure out the goal problem.
He may not be what he once was but I’ll never get tired of hearing Bob Cole call Oilers games. Enjoy them while they last, my friends. I know he screws up names and spaces but the man is in his 80s so I can’t say that I blame him. The voice makes it all worth it.

THE FACE PALMERS

Eric Gryba was wandering all over the ice like a roaming gypsy in the first period. At one point, he left his side completely open despite Davidson being in the right position and the Habs fed the puck to Gryba’s vacant side for a partial breakaway and a great chance for a goal. He needs to sharpen up those details.
The Oilers had a 3-on-1 in the second period and barely managed to get a dribbling shot on net. It was like half of a shot. One of the top priorities on Chiarelli’s list is to find some guys that are willing to shoot.
How many runs/dirty shots at McDavid was Andrew Shaw allowed to have before someone did something about it or before the refs called the rules? I know he got the one penalty but that was light considering how he was running around. After the slew foot/trip in the first period, someone should have jersey’d Shaw and thrown him into the crowd as a warning to the rest of them.
The Oilers power play was awful tonight. They got plenty of zone time, and plenty of passes around the perimeter, but they rarely shot and didn’t score on four opportunities. The Canadiens only got one PP chance and the Oilers are lucky that their power play didn’t cost them the game.
45% in the faceoff circle. *record scratch* 45% in the faceoff circle. *record scratch* 45% in the…
I’m sorry to the Russell fans but I don’t think he can move the puck as well as Oesterle.

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
No Scoring

2ND PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
No Scoring

3RD PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
No Scoring

OT PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
No Scoring

SHOOTOUT

TEAM	DETAILS
Montreal	Missed – Alexander Radulov
Edmonton	Goal – Leon Draisaitl
Montreal	Missed – Paul Byron
Edmonton	Missed – Mark Letestu
Montreal	Missed – Max Pacioretty

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