GDB 47.0 Wrap Up: Oilers back in the win column after taking care of business against the Ducks
5 months ago
Let’s hope this is the start of another extended winning streak.
The Oilers beat the Anaheim Ducks by a score of 5-3 on Friday, marking the third time in three meetings that Edmonton has beaten their basement-dwelling Southern California foe this season. They beat the Ducks by scores of 8-1 and 7-1 earlier in the season but Anaheim put up more of a fight this time around.
Let’s get into the Player of the Game along with some other things that are worth mentioning.
WRAP UP IS PRESENTED BY BETWAY
Oilersnation’s Player of the Game: Evander Kane
Coming into Friday’s contest, Kane had just four goals and nine points in his last 24 games played. Well, he nearly matched his goal total in that span in just one game, as he scored his second hat trick of the season.
The first goal came on a play that probably should’ve been blown dead, but it wasn’t and Kane scored on a stickless John Gibson to tie the game. Kane’s second goal came on a rush opportunity, as Leon Draisaitl slid it over to Kane who was in the slot, fooling Gibson with a low shot to once again tie the game. The hat trick goal sealed the game for Edmonton, as Kane outpaced the Duck defender and tucked it in for his 18th goal of the season and his 32nd point.
If Kane can get rolling, the Oilers may or may not need a top-six forward, depending on who they play on Draisaitl’s right wing.
Things worth mentioning…
Coming into this game, the Oilers killed 40 of their last 41 attempts on the penalty kill. However, the Ducks scored on both their opportunities, and to make matters worse, Mattias Janmark was on the ice for an opposition goal for the first time in 2024.
Speaking of special teams, Edmonton’s power play has long been a strength to the organization, even before drafting McDavid. It’s taken a step back compared to last season, and the Oilers had only scored twice in their last 29 power play attempts before…
Leon Draisaitl’s power-play goal was also the game-winner, as he scored once again from his spot. It wasn’t a hard shot, as he didn’t get all of it, but the knuckle puck beat Anaheim’s netminder and gave the Oilers a 4-3 lead. This season, Draisaitl has 24 goals and 60 points.
Corey Perry picked up his first Oiler point against the team that drafted him. Of course, there were some Corey Perry shenanigans on the play, as he slashed Gibson’s stick out of his hand before dishing the puck to Kane. It probably should’ve been a penalty, but the refs had a rough game all around.
Connor McDavid wasn’t the focal point of the Oilers’ offence, but he did pick up three assists to give him 21 goals and 71 points on the season. It appears he’s well and out of the Art Ross race, but he’s basically a lock to hit 100 points (again), as he’s on pace for 37 goals and 126 points.
Connor Brown may not have scored a goal in this game… or for the entire season, but at this point, he’s just snake-bitten. He nearly had a breakaway before a duck broke up that play, and then he had two opportunities in front of the goal and couldn’t tuck it. When he scores, the feeling is going to be great.
It won’t be a long break for the Oilers, as they’ll be back in action on Saturday to take on the Los Angeles Kings in Los Angeles. Thankfully, they won’t have to get on a plane, so hopefully they get a good night’s rest and play hard against a Kings team that has really been struggling since December 28, as they are 2-8-6 in that span.
Speaking of the Kings, the Oilers have a five-point cushion on the team with a game in hand, so a win on Saturday would go a long way in creating some separation in the standings. Edmonton’s 61 points trail the Golden Knights by just seven, but Edmonton also has five games in hand. They trail the Canucks by 12 points with four games in hand. Home ice is paramount in the playoffs, at least against the Knights.
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