GDB 35.0 Wrap Up: Cue the comeback, Oilers win 3-2 after a pair of late goals

6 years ago

WE’RE GOING STREAKING! Final Score: 3-2 Oilers

The last time the Oilers played the St. Louis Blues it was not an enjoyable evening for anyone on this side of the fence and I think that’s a kind way of putting it. Edmonton got outplayed in every single facet of that game, and I was really curious to see how (if) they were going to be able to respond tonight. I mean, the bar was set pretty low after that last debacle so you’d have to think that even a mediocre effort would result in a better game than the last one, right? But with the way this game started, I wasn’t so sure that we weren’t in for a repeat performance of the curb stomping the Oilers took in St. Louis.

Early on, the boys were feeling the Christmas spirit or something because they were giving the puck away like the point of hockey was to share with the other team. Fortunately, the Oilers got the goaltending they needed until they were able to settle down a little bit, but their attention to detail was still hit or miss depending on the shift. Sometimes they looked like world beaters, and other times they were coughing the puck up at every turn. But as inconsistent as the team was at times, Cam Talbot was the foundation that gave his side the stability they needed to get two points. He made the kind of saves that you need your starter to make and some that he shouldn’t have made, and deserves some major credit for this win.

For as much Connor started the comeback, Cam Talbot made sure the door stayed shut.

Like a present, we wrap.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

Cam Talbot was rock solid for the Oilers again tonight, and he was easily the best player dressed in orange. Talbot is working himself out of that tough start he had to the season and that was on full display tonight against St. Louis. Needless to say, the Oilers needed him to be on top of his game and the fact that he stood on his head again tonight was one of the few reasons the Oilers were able to stay in the game. He finished the night with 34 saves and a .933 save%. Not to mention, you’re going to be seeing that diving save for the rest of the year.
Mike Cammalleri tied the game up at one apiece less than a minute after the St. Louis Blues opened the scoring with a seeing eye single from the boards. Cammalleri was a healthy scratch on Monday night, but he made the most of his return to the lineup tonight.
The Oilers were down by a goal with under five minutes to go when Connor McDavid finished off a perfect 2-on-1 with Leon Draisaitl to tie the game up at two. McDavid was producing chances all night and the thing about the winner that I liked was that he actually put the puck on net. The dude is the best player on the planet and having him shoot is always a good idea.
Drake Caggiula scored the game winner (his 5th) with under a minute left in the game after Ryan Nugent-Hopkins set behind the net with enough time to make a sandwich and made a perfect pass to hit Drake as he was flying into the slot. For the second game in a row, Caggiula has produced on that line with RNH and Maroon.
I can’t go on with this Wrap Up until I give my boy Nuge some love for that pass from behind the net. Gretzky would be proud of that one.
Darnell Nurse was all over the ice tonight and likely should have been rewarded for how well he played. He may not have scored, but he definitely had his share of chances.
Have to say how nice it was to see Andrej Sekera back in the lineup for the Oilers today. The dude has been sorely missed over the first three months of the season, and it was a big positive to see him back out there with the boys tonight. He looked good in his 16:10 worth of ice.
Even though the power play was bad, the penalty kill got a clean sheet, killing off the only chance they faced. I’ll take it.

THE FACE PALMERS

The Oilers got hemmed in their own zone for a few minutes at the midway point of the second period and Tage Thompson was the beneficiary of all that pressure. Thompson’s first NHL goal came from the high slot, made its way through traffic, and beat Talbot low to the blocker side.
St. Louis moved the puck up the ice really quickly, granting them an easy zone entry that left some of the Oilers straggling behind the play. From there, Steen set up Patrik Berglund on a tee and he smashed the puck past Talbot with an absolute rocket. Figures.
The giveaways tonight, especially in the first period, were absolutely mindblowing to me. The Oilers gave up the puck like it was covered with herpes. The NHL site had this game at 17-10 but I think that’s being generous.
How many ways can we talk about how bad the power play can be? I need a Thesaurus.
- PP: That win could have been easier. 0/3 on the night.
So. Many. Posts. Why Hockey Gods? Why are you taunting us like this? Five? C’mon.

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
No Scoring

2ND PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
No Scoring

3RD PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
09:30	St. Louis	Tage Thompson (1) ASST: Colton Parayko (17), Paul Stastny (18)	1-0
10:08	Edmonton	Michael Cammalleri (5)	1-1
13:22	St. Louis	Patrik Berglund (4) ASST: Brayden Schenn (23), Alex Pietrangelo (17)	2-1
16:19	Edmonton	Connor McDavid (13) ASST: Leon Draisaitl (18), Milan Lucic (17)	2-2
19:10	Edmonton	Drake Caggiula (5) ASST: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (12), Patrick Maroon (11)	2-3

#GOODCONTENT

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REAL LIFE PODCAST

This week on the Real Life Podcast, the boys locked themselves in the KGB interrogation room to talk all things Oilers, break down McDavid’s illnesses, look at Maroon’s beard tug, and talk about why the City of Calgary is stealing Baggedmilk’s beet thunder.

Source: NHL.com, Official Game Page, 12/21/2017, 10:30pm MST

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