GDB 65.0 Wrap Up: Put Your Hands Up for Detroit

7 years ago

WE’RE GOING STREAKING! Final Score: 4-3 Oilers

Did anyone else feel like having to wait for an 8pm start for the first Oilers game back after a four-day break was kind of like a kick to the pills? I was excited for this thing to get going all day long, but every time I looked at the clock it felt like there was still an eternity to wait before the game started. It’s strange to feel exciting about watching hockey in March, but I love it. Late start complaints aside, this was a game that the Oilers absolutely had to win. The Red Wings are in last place in their division, they sold some of their veterans at the trade deadline, and they played last night in Calgary – that was a trifecta of opportunity for Edmonton.

Even though Detroit is having a tough year, this wasn’t going to be some cake walk. If they were going to win, the Oilers were going to have to be relentless and bully a weaker team in the same way that was done to them so many times over the past decade. They need to be one of those teams taking advantage of the teams below them in the league standings. The night started out well enough after Connor mashed his turbo button and gave the Oilers an early lead. It was exactly the kind of start that they needed to give themselves some confidence but it was soon undone by sloppy defensive coverage that left Anthony Mantha open in the slot, tying the game at one. Fortunately, the Oilers were on the giving end of a late period goal and were able to reclaim the lead.

After they scored late in the first period, the Oilers were able to keep all four lines rolling with each of those lines finding ways to produce chances and pressure. Edmonton was all over the Red Wings in all three zones of the ice and the only real reason that the game never really got out of hand was Petr Mrazek. The Wings’ goaltender was rock solid for them and was arguably the sole reason (outside of luck) that his team was able to keep the game close for as long as they did. Sure, Detroit got some lucky bounces and a few goals, but this game wasn’t as close as the scoreboard would have you believe. The Oilers played well and deserved the two points. Mrazek just kept things interesting.

Wrap it like it’s hot

THE BRIGHT SIDE

Connor McDavid scored his 22nd goal of the year by absolutely flying past the Detroit defender and making no mistake on a backhand move past Petr Mrazek. The kid is lightning on ice and I’ll never get tired of watching him play hockey. Not that you’ll be surprised, but Connor wasn’t finished with the goal alone. He assisted on Pat Maroon’s third period goal for his 22nd multi-point game of the night.
Zack Kassian got his 6th goal of the year by parking himself in front of the net and deflecting in Adam Larsson’s wrister from the point. The goal was originally credited to Larsson but was switched over to Kassian in the first intermission. Lil D, David Desharnais, also got his first point as an Oiler after winning the draw back to Larsson that started the whole play.
Jordan Eberle scored his 14th goal of the season on a nice backend from the left side of the slot. The Wings had been pressing up until that point in the third period and Eberle’s goal was desperately needed to cut off that momentum. Once again, the EberNucic line was producing and causing a ruckus.
Pat Maroon hadn’t scored in a while but he got a big one tonight (his 21st). Mrazek had just robbed Draisaitl off of a nice pass from McDavid and Pat Maroon was there to smash home the second chance that was created off of the rebound.
Shout out to David Desharnais for registering an assist in his first game with the Oilers. I thought he looked solid out there despite only having a few days ofter practice to get himself comfortable with both new systems and teammates. Lil D finished the night with 14:28 on the ice, an assist, and two shots on goal.
Matt Hendricks hit on Sproul at the bench was a thing of beauty. Hendo sent the defenceman into the bench with a well-timed hit and it was one of those body checks that you’re likely to see over and over again.
It’s been really nice to have Darryl’s speed on the back end again. Darnell Nurse is one of the few guys that the Oilers have with the ability to jump into the rush late, and it gives them a different dynamic. This blogger is happy to have him back in the lineup.

THE FACE PALMERS

The Oilers got caught watching on Mantha’s first-period goal as he was left alone in the slot where Zetterberg was able to set him up on a tee. It almost looked like the swarm had been initiated again.
Darren Helm gotta away with a cheeky little hook on Andrej Sekera at the blue line and it allowed him to sneak in behind the defence. Dylan Larkin found Helm in alone and he beat Talbot through the five-hole to bring the Red Wings back to within one.
Dylan Larkin banged home a loose puck in tight and brought the Wings back to within a goal. Fortunately, Larkin’s goal was too little too late and the late push for a comeback was twarted by the clock.
I guess the refs forget that they were able to call penalties tonight. Weird how that happens against the Oilers.
It wasn’t the greatest night for Cam Talbot but I wouldn’t say that the three Detroit goals were his fault either. Fortunately, Dadbot had enough run support to get his 33rd win of the season despite finishing with 22 saves and a .880 save%.
Petr Mrazek was really annoying tonight. We would have been chanting ‘WE WANT 10’ had it not been for him.
I’m starting to get bored of writing that the Oilers were bad on faceoffs but here we are. Edmonton finished at 40% on the dot.

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
01:41	Edmonton	Connor McDavid (22) ASST: Adam Larsson (13)	0-1
15:04	Detroit	Anthony Mantha (14) ASST: Henrik Zetterberg (36)	1-1
19:38	Edmonton	Zack Kassian (6) ASST: Adam Larsson (14), David Desharnais (7)	1-2

2ND PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
No Scoring

3RD PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
06:58	Edmonton	Jordan Eberle (14) ASST: Milan Lucic (22)	1-3
10:26	Detroit	Darren Helm (8) ASST: Dylan Larkin (8)	2-3
14:02	Edmonton	Patrick Maroon (21) ASST: Leon Draisaitl (32), Connor McDavid (52)	2-4
19:25	Detroit	Dylan Larkin (13) ASST: Justin Abdelkader (12), Henrik Zetterberg (37)	3-4

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