THE BRIGHT SIDE

• THE LOSING STREAK IS OVER!
• For the first time in a week or so, Connor McDavid looked like Connor McDavid again. The play he made on the assist for Patrick Maroon’s goal is the kind of play I’m going to be thinking about in my bed tonight. Take that how you wish. Connor was flying out there and the Blackhawks really didn’t have much of an answer for him.
• Patty Maroon got himself on the board as he put away his first goal of the year on the back of that ridiculous assist from Connor McDavid. After scoring, Patty looked like he had a little bit of jump in his step and I hope he can gain some confidence from getting his first.
• Some people may have questioned why Mark Letestu was out on the ice for an OT power play, but not me, and not anyone that’s been paying attention. As you’ve come to expect, Mark Letestu pumped home a one timer that closed out the game and showed why he’s clutch on the power play.
• Cam Talbot needed to have a bounce back game after getting pulled twice in his first four starts and he certainly got that tonight (sequence on the first goal notwithstanding). For the first time since the opening night shutout, Talbot actually looked like himself in the crease (again, aside from the first one). He was square to the shooters, challenging shots, and all around solid. Huge night for a guy that needed one as he finished the night with 30 saves and a .968 save%. Hats off for the tender.
• Add another assist to Kailer Yamamoto’s total on a night when he was very good. He got the second helper on Maroon’s goal and you have to wonder whether or not he’s going to have his stay extended past the nine games if he can keep putting points up. He may not have scored tonight but he certainly deserved to as he had a tonne of chances and was all over the puck.
• Adam Larsson and Oscar Klefbom were much better tonight, with the latter playing a team high 26:27. They did a good job of getting their sticks into lanes, being physical on the boards, and being in the right place at the right time. They had a tough night against Carolina and bounced back nicely tonight.
• Shout out to Darnell Nurse for rushing up the ice and moving the puck well, with bonus points going to him for his work in overtime. Atta be, Darryl.
• Solid night for the boys in the face off circle. The Blackhawks are an experienced team down the middle but it was the Oilers that were able to win 55% of the draws. Nuge was a force on the dot against Toews, going 75% on the night.
• Edmonton blocked a tonne of shots (Klefbom with a team high five blocks, Russell with some huge blocks late) to go along with the 30 saves that Cam Talbot made in net. The NHL site has 23 blocks and I believe it. Wouldn’t be surprised if the number was higher.

THE FACE PALMERS

• Want to know what kind of horrible black cloud is following Cam Talbot early in this season? How about when he fired the puck over the glass for a penalty and then had Patrick Kane bank it in off of his skate for the opening goal?
• Who got too many penalties? As if you didn’t know. They got three penalties in the first five minutes of the second period and normally that would have been death during this losing streak. Fortunately, the Oilers PK was better tonight (due in large part to Talbot) and they were able to kill off all five penalties they faced. They didn’t get burned but they still gave Chicago way too many chances.
• Speaking of penalties, how did Chicago only get two? A little bit of veteran love there or what? What about that ‘should have been’ penalty shot in overtime for Connor? Hmm?
• There were moments in their own end that made me scratch my head, ya know? Did anybody else get that? Sometimes it looks like the Oilers are learning a new defensive zone system or something, but the positive is that they didn’t get caught when the walls caved in.
• Kassian got lucky he didn’t get more than two minutes for that boarding penalty. He’s been taking some tough penalties lately and he needs to lock it up a little bit.
• Klefbom is going to be thinking about that miss tonight. I assume he’ll be recalibrating the sights. ?
• Why did we not draft DeBrincat again?

SCORING SUMMARY

#GOODCONTENT