The Day After (Day of Edition) 53.0: Jesse Puljujarvi game-winner gives Oilers 6-3 win over the Senators

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The Oilers should play every game at 10:30 A.M. MST!

But in all seriousness, the Edmonton Oilers came ready to play Saturday morning laying a 6-3 licking on the Ottawa Senators.

A huge start to the game for the Oilers was a key in the win. They came out hot and heavy to kick things off outshooting the Senators 14-7. Even better? Connor McDavid gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead just 2:18 into the game banking in a puck off Anton Forsberg and into the net. It was something the Oilers were able to do all game fending off much of what the Senators brought.

They still snuck three past Jack Campbell, who had a bit of a come-to-earth game after what has been a really solid run from him. To start the second, Jake Sanderson scored 21 seconds in, but less than a minute and a half later, Zach Hyman got hauled down on a breakaway and was able to score on a subsequent penalty shot at the 1:44 mark.

In the third, Jesse Puljujarvi scored a vintage goal of his breaking into the offensive zone and letting a long, strong wrist shot go. It’s a goal he’s scored numerous times in the past, and it’s a tool I wish he utilized more.

By the end of the game, the Oilers got more goals from Ryan McLeod, Derek Ryan and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Everyone seems to be heating up right now.

It’s ard not to talk about the fight between Evander Kane and Brady Tkachuk. For the first time since joining the Oilers, Kane dropped the mitts 11:34 into the second period, with the scrap really being a draw. It felt like this was a long-time coming. Kane’s noted for being a strong fighter, and it was something we had yet to see.

Coming off the wrist injury, Kane told our own Jason Gregor that his doctor high advised him to not fight, but admitted it would be tough to do. That’s evident now.

Kane was mixing it up quite a bit with Detroit the other day, but things were quiet against the Flyers. Today, however, it was a testy game once again. The Senators are clearly still upset with the Oilers running amuck of them in the COVID-shortened year, because there was an edge to this game.

The Oilers are playing some good hockey right now and taking care of teams that they should be taking care of. That’s a good thing. They have favourable matchups Sunday morning against the Montreal Canadiens, then the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday.

Much like any opponent, the Oilers can’t take them lightly. They’ll have some good tests coming up here soon, too. Through the rest of February, they also play the New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets and Boston Bruins. In early March, they get the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets before the trade deadline.

With rumours of the Oilers and Sharks re-engaging in Erik Karlsson trade talks, these next few weeks will be interesting, to say the least.