GDB 68.0 Wrap Up: Oilers @ Jets

8 years ago

Where the Cam Talbot haters at? Final Score: 2-1 Oilers

Does anyone else think that the outdoor game in Winnipeg would be the perfect time for a Nation road trip? Is it possible? I have no idea. I plan on pitching it this week, but I think it should happen. I’m seeing a Winnipeg takeover where 50 Nation Citizens commandeer a section at the IGF, scream our faces off, and makes some poor life choices. From there, we would take over the Pint Winnipeg in a crime of passion, and proceed to drink the place dry. Deserts would look at the Pint Winnipeg and brag about their moisture. It will be spectacular. It will be glorious. Well, if we can convince someone to pay for it. Anyone else?

The funny/sad thing about the official announcement for Winnipeg’s edition of the Heritage Classic is that looking forward to next season is all that both of these fanbases really have left. It’s strange to think that there may not (likely won’t) be any Canadian teams in the playoffs. How will we know, as a country, who to cheer for? Who will be Canada’s team? Do we get to skip that conversation? One can only hope. As for the Oilers and Jets, neither team have playoff aspirations to speak of so it made sense as to why so much time was given to next October’s Heritage Classic. No playoffs? Here’s a cool reason to renew your season tickets anyway. The system works.

As for the game itself, things didn’t really get going until the second period. It was like no one on either side had their legs early on, and the first period was a snooze fest. It was almost understandable that Winnipeg would be a little bit sluggish after playing last night, but there wasn’t much excuse for the Oilers. Rather than take it to the Jets early the Oilers played down to their level, energy-wise. Actually, the Jets found their legs arguably better than the Oilers did. Frankly, Edmonton was lucky that Cam Talbot went supernova because he covered their ass on more than occasion, and stole two points for them. The Jets were able to maintain extended zone time throughout the night, fired 40 shots on goal, and would have played a near perfect home game if not for Cam Talbot.

Isn’t it nice to have the goalie steal a game? Where the Talbot haters at?

The wrap.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

There’s a very real chance that Connor McDavid will get faster. That is ridiculous.
Patrick Maroon is everything Peter Chiarelli traded for and more, at this point. He scored another goal (his sixth) tonight by driving to the net and putting home Taylor Hall’s perfect pass. Maroon now has four points in the three games he’s played as an Oiler. Remember how much Craig Button hated this trade?
Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl look to have a new bounce in their step with Pat Maroon on their line. It’s like the big man gives them a little bit more space and I think it will help them produce a bit more.
Lauri Korpikoski scored his eighth goal of the season by sticking himself right in front of the net and banging home a loose puck. The first two Oilers goals were scored a couple feet out from the net.
Cam Talbot has been lights out since taking over the starters role back in December. It’s even more amazing that he’s been doing it without much improvement on defense. Talbot was great again and finished the night with 39 saves and a .975 save%. The Oilers owe him for tonight’s win. He was fantastic.
Andrej Sekera played some huge minutes (24:52) after Brandon Davidson went down and he filled the role admirably. Davidson had been the Oilers’ best defenseman recently and everyone on the back end will have to step their game up.
I thought Darnell Nurse and Mark Fayne stepped up their games to cover after Davidson went down.
I thought Adam Pardy played a solid game in his return to Winnipeg. He’s looking like a nice bet for the Oilers down the stretch. Who knows if he sticks but he’s been solid on the back end. If Adam Pardy prefers to play the right side I can see why he wasn’t able to crack the Jets’ roster. They are deep on the right side.
The PK did some great work by keeping all the Jets’ shots to the outside, often deflecting them away from the net. Winnipeg had two power play chances and Edmonton killed off both.
The Oilers went 55% in the faceoff circle.

THE FACE PALMERS

Brandon Davidson got hurt. This is not a drill. Brandon Davidson got hurt. He left the game with a knee injury after getting caught up with Dustin Byfuglien in the first period. The nightmarish season of injury horrors continues. The defense looked far more scattered with Davidson out. Hopefully the injury is short term.
After Pat Maroon scored, the Oilers allowed the Jets to respond only 51 seconds later. Ridiculous. That’s two games in a row where Edmonton blew it after scoring a goal.
I wonder if Nail Yakupov is counting the days until Peter Chiarelli moves him? He got bumped from the McDavid line for Lauri Korpikoski. Todd McLellan obviously has a short leash on Yakupov and I can’t help but wonder if he’ll be around past the draft. I feel like I’m mentally prepared for him to go but I’m going to miss him.
It would have been nice to get an insurance goal but the power play was shut out once again. The Oilers don’t have a shooter that they trust that they can centre things around. Obviously Yak isn’t doing it for McLellan so they’re going to have to find someone else, because no one is a shooting threat.
Dustin Byfuglien was allowed and able to run all over the ice and hit everyone that was near him. He was a menace to society all night long. I’m not necessarily sure what the solution to Byfuglien is but there has to be a way to chop down that tree somehow.
It annoyed me to see how many right handed defenseman the Jets have. The Oilers need one, and they have them all. Annoying.
Did I mention how ridiculous all these injuries are?

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST PERIOD
NONE
2ND PERIOD
05:25	EDM	Patrick Maroon (6) Wrist shot – ASST: Taylor Hall (35), Leon Draisaitl (29)	1 – 0 EDM
06:16	WPG	Mark Scheifele (21) Slapshot – ASST: Blake Wheeler (41), Tyler Myers (17)	1 – 1 Tie
16:20	EDM	Lauri Korpikoski (8) Wrist shot – ASST: Andrej Sekera (18), Adam Clendening (3)	2 – 1 EDM
3RD PERIOD
NONE

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