GDB 74.0 Wrap Up: Canucks @ Oilers

8 years ago

We ghost ride any time the Canucks fail. Final Score: 2-0

Is there anything worse than a Vancouver Canucks fan? The answer, of course, is no. Actually, I’d rank Canucks fans up there with Leafs fans in terms of being generally irritable, and incessantly annoying. I always find it funny how smug they can be despite their franchise of choice never winning anything ever. It’s also funny how fair weather the Canucks’ fanbase can be. Team is bad? We’re outta here. Frankly, I was actually surprised at how many Canucks jerseys were the crowd considering their team is junk. On the bright side, I’m happy with the way Jim Benning is running that organization. Top notch*, in my opinion.

Watching the Canucks play it’s awesome that Jim Benning can still say things as crazy as his team being in the playoff hunt. They’re legitimately terrible. Quite frankly, the only thing saving the Canucks from basement hunting with the rest of us is their stockpile of loser points. They have fewer wins than five of the six teams below them in the standings and that includes our beloved crew of misfits. The idea of Vancouver making the playoffs seems about as plausible as the Oilers making the dance alongside them, or me winning a unicorn in a charity raffle. To put things into perspective, the Canucks are marginally better (if at all) than the Oilers at best, and the greatest part about the whole thing is that I’m not sure that their fans know it.

At the end of the night, the Oilers were able to capitalize on the chances they had whereas the Canucks could not. In years past, this would have been a game that the Oilers would have found a way to lose, but they were able to bend and not break tonight. Earlier in the year, they would have given up a quick goal in the third period which would have triggered the trapdoor into their game ending downward spiral. But with Cam Talbot minding the fort, and a Schultz-less defense plugging the holes in the dam, the team seems to play more a relaxed flavour of hockey late in games. As is always the case, the Oilers’ improved play happens too late in the year to truly matter, but how can you ever really complain about a win over the Canucks?

The wrap.

*LOLOLOL

THE BRIGHT SIDE

Jordan Eberle fired home his 22nd goal of the season through Jacob Markstrom’s five hole. Eberle walked in with all sorts of time as Connor McDavid set him up with time to spare.
With the assist on Eberle’s goal Connor McDavid is now fifth in rookie scoring despite playing dozens of games fewer than his peers. Give him the trophy. He’s the best rookie and it’s not even close.
How can you not love when Matty Hendricks scores a goal? His goal (his 4th) was a result of hard work, going to the net, and being ready when the puck came to him. It also helps that Hendricks tackled Markstrom as he shot the puck, but we’ll pretend that never happened. Good goal, I say.
I really liked the Hall-Nuge-Draisaitl line in the third period. There are three deadly weapons on that line and I am a big fan.
Jordan Oesterle got an assist on Hendricks’ goal which gives him three in his last two games. It’s been said hundreds of times, but he’s looked solid since being recalled.
Speaking of Oesterle, I really liked the pairing between he and Griffin Reinhart. Both Reinhart and Oesterle played some big minutes (23:37 & 21:31 respectively) and they played them well. This may have been Reinhart’s best game as an Oiler.
Cam Talbot was rock solid tonight, and you could even make the argument that he stole the game for the Oilers. Since he reclaimed the starter’s role in December, he has had the goaltending position on lockdown for Edmonton. Case and point? Talbot made 40 saves for the shutout.
With the goaltending in place (maybe a backup?) Chiarelli can focus on the defense, and we could be looking at a very different hockey team six months from now.
Taylor Hall drew a penalty! I hope they have coats in the afterlife, because I assume hell froze over.
The penalty kill was perfect tonight, killing off all three Vancouver opportunities.

THE FACE PALMERS

The Oilers were outshot by the Canucks tonight, and had to rely heavily on Cam Talbot. The Canucks aren’t good enough to put up 40 shots in a night.
How many times did the Oilers miss the net when they were in a prime shooting position? Three? Four? I think the Oilers should demand that they all spend the summer firing pucks through a tire or something.
We were eight minutes into the night and there were only three shots on goal between both teams. Zzzzzzz.
How did the Canucks only get two penalties tonight? How does that make any sense considering this is a contact sport where the participants roam the playing surface with a spear in hand? Refs, man. They’re kooky, and they hate the Oilers.
We only have eight games left in the Yakupov era (in my opinion) and it’s a shame to see him wasting away. While playing on a line with Nuge, Yak seemed to have some jump but then when Nuge got bumped up the lineup Nail was back with Letestu. *sigh*
The Oilers power play didn’t score tonight which isn’t really fair considering they only had one true opportunity. The second “power play” came with under a minute left on the clock and they understandably ran the clock out. (0/2 on the PP)

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST PERIOD
NONE
2ND PERIOD
11:10	EDM	Jordan Eberle (22) Wrist shot – ASST: Connor McDavid (25)	1 – 0 EDM
3RD PERIOD
06:03	EDM	Matt Hendricks (4) Wrist shot – ASST: Jordan Oesterle (4), Iiro Pakarinen (6)	2 – 0 EDM

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