GDB 8.0 Wrap Up: We Be Streakin’

7 years ago

WE BE STREAKIN! The 81-1 dream lives on. Final Score: 2-0 Oilers

After dusting off the Flames twice to start the season, the next team on the ‘must beat so we can gloat endlessly list’ had to be the Vancouver Canucks. As nice as it was to watch the Oilers beat the Capitals, Blues, Jets, et al. we still had Canucks fans chirping us like their squadron of dusty old pysslingars* will actually lead them back to the playoffs. Not only do I think the Canucks will miss the playoffs, I think their GM will actually drive them into the ground Tambellini style. That’s right. I said it. How do you like me now, CanucksArmy?

Tonight’s game against the Canucks was one of the feistier affairs that we’ve seen so far this season. The boys were fired up, on both benches, and that led to some anger on the ice and some bodies being thrown around. The Canucks were being their usual annoying selves and the Oilers weren’t intimidated, nor did they back down. I have to admit, seeing the Oilers initiate contact and stick up for each other is still new to me, and it’s the kind of hockey that angries up the blood and gets the people going. If it hadn’t been for the Canucks playing a horribly boring trap style of hockey, I think that the Oilers would have had an easier time taking two points from their ageing rivals. The only defense for playing the trap is that the Canucks’ coaching staff were painfully aware that they had the inferior team so they felt it was necessary to tell their players to sit back to wait for the Oilers to attack and pray that they make a mistake.

Now, I’m not saying that the Oilers played a perfect hockey game because that wasn’t the case. There were stretches where the team was sloppy and looked frustrated by Vancouver’s sit-and-wait defensive tactics. That said, this was a really fun hockey game to watch. The chances were going back and forth, the score was close, and it was anybody’s game until late in the third period. While the Canucks had some quality chances and got great goaltending, they couldn’t beat Cam Talbot and that ended up being the difference. Tonight’s game ended up much more even than some of us *cough* Gregor *cough* thought it might, and it was one of those games where I don’t think the Oilers would have won a year ago. The times they are a changin’.

Like Snow, we wrap.

*I have to keep my swearing in check so I figured pysslingars sounded insulting

THE BRIGHT SIDE

Captain Connor scored his 5th goal of the season on a breakaway that was a result of no NHL defenseman being able to catch up to him. When Connor McDavid skates I can’t help but feel like he’s wearing those special shoes from the Sandlot. The kid is so fast that it doesn’t even seem possible. I mean, there are some fast guys in the NHL but not many of them are able to turnstile defensemen quite like Connor.
The ?-Nuge-Kassian line has been playing rock solid defensively. In the past few games they’ve shut down the Tarasenko line, Ovechkin line (mostly), and now the Sedin line. That’s pretty damned impressive. That line is playing the tough minutes against the other team’s first line so that McDavid and Draisaitl get the softer matchups. That stuff may not necessarily show up on the scoresheet but it’s definitely contributing to the wins on the board.
Cam Talbot continued his stellar play with another impact performance tonight. Ever since the frozen turd known as the Buffalo Sabres game Talbot has been almost unbeatable. Talbot has allowed only one goal in his last three games, and was perfect tonight stopping all 26 shots he faced.
The Larsson/Klefbom pairing was very good tonight. They defended well, moved the puck up the ice, and did all the things you want from your top pairing. Solid night.
Anton Lander seems to have carved out a niche for himself as a fourth-line winger/draw taker/penalty killer. There are still some injured players that need to come back to the lineup but I can’t help but wonder if McLellan would keep him around in that role because he’s pretty damned good at it.
Zack Kassian is having a great start to the season, and tonight was one of his better games. He was flying up and down the ice, throwing his body around, and added a scrap to his resume for good measure. Check out the fight page at HockeyFights.com.

THE FACE PALMERS

I’ll be happy when the Sedins retire so that I can stop being creeped out by them six times per year.
The Canucks decided that the best way to stop Connor McDavid was to play the trap, and the result is very boring hockey to watch. Sure, it may be effective to just stand around and wait for a guy but it is absolutely soul-sucking to sit through.
I wish Milan Lucic didn’t have to pass the puck to Connor every single time. I mean, I get it, I would pass to the guy to but there were times when he had an open late to shoot and gave it away because he wanted to get it to Connor. Shoot the puck, man. You’re pretty good at it.
The refs had their whistles put away tonight, huh? Seems to me that the guys on both sides weren’t behaving so well to only merit two power plays (for either side) all night.
Budweiser actually paid to have a non-alcoholic beer ad. What’s the point? If you’re purposely buying non-alcoholic beer I want to know why you do it in the comments section. Let me know.
I wish the Oilers had a big shot from the point on the power play. Just imagine how deadly it would be with Connor and a guy with a shot like Souray’s. *whistles* Dare to dream.
The Oilers were only 42% in the faceoff circle and it caused too much unnecessary zone time for the Canucks. They have to get better and I think they’d all admit that. (Lander 56%, Nuge 50%, Draisaitl 46%, Letestu 38%, McDavid 30%)

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
No Scoring

2ND PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
11:31	Edmonton	Connor McDavid (5) ASST: Milan Lucic (3), Anton Lander (2)	1-0

3RD PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
18:40	Edmonton	EN – Milan Lucic (4)	2-0

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