logo

GDB 73.0 Wrap Up: Oilers caught puck watching in OT, fall 4-3 to the Golden Knights

alt
baggedmilk
11 months ago
Time to start a new streak then, I guess. Final Score: 4-3 Golden Knights in OT
Welcome to our Oilers game day content presented by NHL odds site Betway!
Even though we all knew tonight’s matchup with the Golden Nights was going to be huge, the stakes got even bigger with both Seattle and LA winning their games earlier in the day. Even though the Oilers have been playing some good hockey lately, they haven’t been able to gain any ground against the rest of the division because everyone keeps winning. So when the Golden Knights grabbed an early lead on the first shot on net, it was hard not to be frustrated by the start. Obviously, the boys knew how important the night was for many reasons so I was eager to see how the boys would be able to respond. Thankfully, the answer was an (uncontested) goal by Hyman just over two minutes later from right the in the crease to reset the table. And while that goal gave the Oilers some life, they just weren’t able to get anything else done with their chances — including on the power play — whereas Vegas was able to get something done with their PP opportunity to restore their lead before the buzzer.
Down by a goal with plenty of time left to play, the Oilers needed to do everything humanly possible to get the next goal and avoid going down by two. Over the last couple of months, the boys have proved a handful of times that being down by one is something that they can’t overcome. Clearly, the boys had the same idea as they came out firing from the opening draw. Shift by shift, Edmonton threw everything they could on the net but just couldn’t get anything past their former friend in Laurent Brossoit until Leon Draisaitl was finally able to crack the code on a power play chance midway through the period. And outside of picking only a single goal, there wasn’t much to complain about as the Oilers were largely the better team through 40 minutes. Outside of a few here spots here and there, the Golden Knights weren’t really getting a whole lot done. If our heroes could keep the pedal to the floor without getting greedy with their puck choices, the Oilers had a damned good chance of picking up a sixth straight win and I could feel my loins warming with anticipation.
Game tied with a period to go, it felt like the team that made the fewest mistakes would be the one to win. Yeah, the Oilers were easily the better team over the opening two-thirds but that didn’t mean anything when any given shot could mean the difference. That’s it wasn’t surprising to see the Golden Knights come out guns blazing, outshooting the Oilers 7-1 through the first five minutes. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before all of those shots turned into the third lead of the night for Vegas, putting the Oilers down again with only 13 minutes to figure it out. And with the clutch response we needed, Warren Foegele knotted the score for a third time to set up what was sure to be a stressful finish to our night. As expected, both sides got a few good looks in the dying moments to ratchet up the pressure but the goaltenders were having none of it, and off to the bonus period we went. Once we got there, it was, unfortunately, the Golden Knights that got the job done as the Oilers were never able to find a lead. While you have to appreciate the point, the Oilers are going to need some help if they’re going to catch the teams ahead of them.
The wrap.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

  • Zach Hyman tied the game (1-1) on a tap-in goal from the crease after Draisaitl found him at the doorstep with his stick on the ice. Most amazingly, Hyman scored a goal in the blue paint that wasn’t called back for mystical fantasy reasons.
  • Leon Draisaitl tied the game (2-2) with his 99th career power play goal on a set play that saw Connor McDavid feed him to his backhand in the slot before ripping a quick shot through Brossoit’s legs.
  • Warren Foegele tied the game once again (3-3) with a wrister from the circle that just trickled its way through Brossoit between the arm and body. Honestly, the goal was an ugly one but dammit it was beautiful to me.
  • Ryan Nugent-Hopkins finished the night with one point, giving him nine games to get 11 points to reach the 100-point plateau. I believe. It’s doable.
  • The Oilers needed their power play goal to come through with at least a goal or two, and the boys got the job done on one of their two opportunities with the man advantage.
  • Mattias Janmark had a handful of quality chances to score but my guy seemed to get the yips anytime he was close to the net. The effort was there, but the finish was not.

PRESENTED BY BETWAY

THE FACE PALMERS

  • Jack Eichel opened the scoring (1-0) with a first shot goal that came as a result of a perfectly executed 2-on-1 with Barbashev that caught Skinner moving from right to left. If you ask Stu, though, I bet he’d say that he probably should have had that one.
  • Pavel Dorofeyev gave Vegas back the lead (2-1) with a power play snipe from the high slot that beat Skinner up and over the glove hand side.
  • Jonathan Marchessault restored Vegas’ lead for the third time (3-1) with a shot from the slot that beat Skinner low on the blower side. Given how Vegas started the period, it wasn’t exactly surprising to see them get back up since our side was pretty flat for the most part.
  • Nicolas Roy got the winner in OT (4-3) after he took a pass in front of the net with all the time in the world to make a sandwich and read the paper. To make matters worse, Evander Kane’s controller must have disconnected or something because had a chance to stop the play from happening but did absolutely nothing to get there in time.
  • Of course we lose to Laurent Brossoit in his first game in a month. Of course, we did.
  • Without question, Stuart Skinner is the Oilers’ starter down the stretch but this was one where it would have been nice to get the extra save. The goal I’m thinking of specifically was the first one of the night. I know Eichel is a damned fine hockey player but that was one that I’m sure Stu would admit to wanting back. I guess we’ll just have to get ’em back next week. Skinner finished with 31 saves and a .896 save%.
  • Evander Kane struggled tonight. Even though he had four hits and two shots on goal, he still doesn’t quite look like he’s firing on all cylinders after missing as much time as he did. I know he’ll get there, but this wasn’t one of his finer outings.
  • I’m a huge Evan Bouchard guy but these 10-bell giveaways in his own zone have to stop. He gave the puck up right in front of his own net early in the third period and I legitimately thought I was going to poo myself.
  • It would be really nice if Klim Kostin could get back to playing like the guy from a month or two ago. I know he was on a heater and it was likely unsustainable, but I still think we can do better.
  • Unfortunately, the PK was back to its old ways of allowing a goal in one of two shorthanded situations. Worst part about it was that the boys had a chance or two to clear the zone too.
  • Continuing on with the bad news, the Oilers were handily outshot in the third period and ended up losing their overall advantage as well. Vegas put 35 pucks on net as compared to our 30 shots.
  • I must also report that the boys won only 48% of the draws. I know, it hurts me too.
  • The NHL site has the Oilers listed with 14 giveaways but I’m thinking that number is a little bit light, in my opinion.
  • The refs were garbage again. That’s not why the Oilers lost, but it’s true nonetheless.

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST PERIOD
1:01Golden KnightsJack Eichel (27)
Assists: Ivan Barbashev (25), Jonathan Marchessault (28)
10
3:28OilersZach Hyman (31)
Assists: Leon Draisaitl (67), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (56)
11
16:27Golden KnightsPavel Dorofeyev (5) (Power Play)
Assists: William Karlsson (35), Phil Kessel (19)
21
2ND PERIOD
10:30OilersLeon Draisaitl (45) (Power Play)
Assists: Connor McDavid (79), Evan Bouchard (27)
22
3RD PERIOD
6:57Golden KnightsJonathan Marchessault (24)
Assists: Jack Eichel (30), Shea Theodore (32)
32
11:19OilersWarren Foegele (13)
Assists: Darnell Nurse (31), Kailer Yamamoto (11)
33
OT SUMMARY
2:26Golden KnightsNicolas Roy (13)
Assists: Jack Eichel (31), Shea Theodore (33)
43

#GOODCONTENT

https://twitter.com/306Kerosene/status/1639849231308701696
Talk to me, Twitter. Hit me up at @jsbmbaggedmilk and Wanye at @Oilersnation and you could find yourself landing in this very spot. 

BETTER LAIT THAN NEVER

Fresh episode of Better Lait Than Now is out everywhere you get podcasts. This week, I’m talking Connor’s Mc60, Leon Draisaitl’s ridiculousness, and a whole lot more.

Check out these posts...