Now THAT’S how you blow a lead. Final Score: 5-4 Rangers in the shootout
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After a rough outing against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday, the Edmonton Oilers needed to come up with some kind of response. They needed to start the game with a little bit of fire without sitting back and letting the other team set the tone. Is that too much to ask? I didn’t think so either. As always, the most important first step the team could take was to have a quick start and the good news is that the Oilers clearly felt the same way, pumping in their first of four goals before the period had hit the midway point. The Oilers looked as good as we could have ever hoped because even when the Rangers got a goal to narrow the gap temporarily, the boys were completely unphased and responded in short order. I like to think that the Oilers were feeling inspired on Ben Stelter night and honoured him with one of their best periods of the year.
Heading into the second period with a three-goal lead in their pocket, the Oilers needed to make sure they didn’t start feeling comfortable. Even though the gap was sizeable, the Rangers have enough firepower to erase any lead if given enough time and space. The last thing the boys could do was take their foot off the gas or give New York even an ounce of hope that they could claw their way back into this hockey game. And through the first handful of minutes, operation killer instinct was looking good. The Oilers were manufacturing plenty of chances for themselves to nail the coffin shut, but to Shesterkin’s credit, he was very good for the Rangers in the middle frame and kept them in the fight. But even though the Oilers were playing well, it was their own mistake that proved costly as a turnover in the offensive zone gave the Rangers a shorthanded odd-man rush that they converted to cut the lead to two.
With 20 minutes left on the clock and a great chance to pick up two points right in front of them, the Oilers had a path to getting back in the win column provided that they could keep their shit together. Yet, less than two minutes in, a faceoff loss in the defensive zone resulted in an early New York goal to halve the lead and pull them back to within one shot of a tie game. And with the momentum firmly on their side, the Rangers continued to attack in waves and it felt almost inevitable that they find a way to tie the game. Shift after shift, shot after shot, New York was throwing everything they could on net until the pressure was eventually too much and they were able to find the equalizer. With seven minutes left on the clock after Zibanejad knotted things up, the Oilers basically held on for dear life until the final buzzer sounded. And with the bonus period — that included a late Oilers power play — solving nothing, it was off to the skills competition for the second straight game.
Once it got to the shootout, Jack Campbell admirably did what he could to keep the thing going but couldn’t stop Alexis Lafreniere who cashed in the winner, handing the Oilers their third straight shootout loss and seventh loss in a row when in extra time. As far as losses go, this one hurts for all kinds of reasons.
The wrap.
THE BRIGHT SIDE
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins opened the scoring (1-0) on the power play after a scrambled play at the crease left Shesterkin on his back and the puck laying there for a tap-in. Make it four goals in his last five games for my guy.
- Just past the midway point of the first period, Tyson Barrie extended the lead (2-0) after jumping on a rebound that kicked out to the slot and burying his shot up and over the goaltender. Leading up to the goal, I loved watching the Oilers get rewarded for putting pucks on net and swarming to collect the garbage.
- Only 19 seconds after Barrie’s marker, the unstoppable force that is Derek Ryan put the Oilers up by a field goal (3-0) and all I could think about is whether or not we should give him the Huberdeau contract since they have the same number of goals. I keed, I keed.
- Still in the first period somehow, Leon Draisaitl restored the three-goal lead (4-1) on the power play with a quick snap from the circle that beat Shesterkin between the blocker and body.
- Connor McDavid reached the 100-point plateau in only 56 games, and I encourage us all to take a minute to appreciate how ridiculous this feat is and how lucky we are to watch him make magic on a nightly basis.
- Zach Hyman quietly picked up a pair of assists as he fantastic season continues.
- After a tough night against Detroit on Wednesday, Jack Campbell was given the chance to rebound and despite the result, I thought he played very well and was a major reason the Oilers were able to get a point. That said, giving up four goals in regulation and the winner in the shootout isn’t going to do much for the noise surrounding his first year in Edmonton. Either way, Soup finished the night with 34 saves and a .895 save%.
- The Oilers power play was excellent once again, cashing in two goals on four chances with the man advantage. Yeah, it would have been nice for the PP to get the winner in OT but it also would have been nice to see the team not collapse in the third period too.
- I loved the Ben Stelter tribute that the Oilers put on for Ben and his family before the game started. That little man brought this city together in a way that’s hard to describe, and it breaks my heart that this is the way we’re remembering him but I also greatly admire the way the family is keeping his memory alive by giving back.
PRESENTED BY BETWAY
THE FACE PALMERS
- The Oilers have now lost seven straight games when going to extra time/the shootout. No bueno.
- If you build a three-goal lead then you should win the game. Plain and simple.
- Chris Kreider got the Rangers on the board (3-1) with a power play goal only moments after Ryan put the Oilers up by three, giving New York a glimmer of hope before the period concluded. Kreider added a shorthanded goal (4-2) in the second period on a lucky bounce and chip after his own centering pass kicked right back to him off a stick on a chance that came as a result of a turnover.
- Alex Lafreniere pulled the Rangers to within a goal (4-3) after the Oilers lost a defensive zone draw and couldn’t get the puck back. It was the second time in as many games that the Oilers lost a draw and were very quickly fishing the puck out of their own net.
- Mika Zibanejad tied the game (4-4) with a wrister from the high slot after the Rangers made short work of the 5-on-3 power play chance they were given late in the third period.
- Unfortunately, the penalty kill got tagged with two more goals on New York’s four chances with the man advantage, and the Oilers’ PK struggles continue since coming back from the bye week.
- The Oilers won only 48% of the faceoffs and even though doesn’t seem too bad, they also got burned for a goal off a lost draw for the second straight game.
- I didn’t like being right about Klim Kostin missing the game with an illness, but I must share the news no matter how much it may hurt.
- It’s been a minute since the Oilers were heavily outshot but that’s exactly what happened this evening with the Rangers outshooting Edmonton by a 38-29 margin.
- I know it has nothing to do with this game but I dislike seeing the Maple Leafs make trades to get better. That Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari trade with St. Louis may be expensive but it unquestionably gives them a lift.
SCORING SUMMARY
| 1ST PERIOD | NYR | EDM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
7:52 | Oilers | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (27) (Power Play) Assists: Zach Hyman (38), Connor McDavid (58) | 0 | 1 |
12:11 | Oilers | Tyson Barrie (8) Assists: Warren Foegele (6), Mattias Janmark (11) | 0 | 2 |
12:30 | Oilers | Derek Ryan (10) Assists: Zach Hyman (39), Jesse Puljujarvi (7) | 0 | 3 |
13:36 | Rangers | Chris Kreider (23) (Power Play) Assists: Mika Zibanejad (30), Artemi Panarin (45) | 1 | 3 |
18:27 | Oilers | Leon Draisaitl (32) (Power Play) Assists: Connor McDavid (59), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (41) | 1 | 4 |
| 2ND PERIOD | NYR | EDM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
6:26 | Rangers | Chris Kreider (24) (Shorthanded) Assists: Adam Fox (42), Ryan Lindgren (16) | 2 | 4 |
| 3RD PERIOD | NYR | EDM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
1:36 | Rangers | Alexis Lafreniere (9) Assists: Kaapo Kakko (18) | 3 | 4 |
13:10 | Rangers | Mika Zibanejad (30) (Power Play) Assists: Adam Fox (43), Artemi Panarin (46) | 4 | 4 |
| OT SUMMARY |
|---|
No Goals Scored |
| SHOOTOUT SUMMARY | NYR | EDM | |
|---|---|---|---|
Oilers | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Goal Wrist Shot | 0 | 1 |
Rangers | Kaapo Kakko Goal Backhand | 1 | 1 |
Oilers | Connor McDavid Wrist Shot saved by Igor Shesterkin | 1 | 1 |
Rangers | Artemi Panarin Snap Shot Wide of Net | 1 | 1 |
Oilers | Leon Draisaitl failed shot attempt on Igor Shesterkin | 1 | 1 |
Rangers | Mika Zibanejad Snap Shot Wide of Net | 1 | 1 |
Oilers | Tyson Barrie Backhand saved by Igor Shesterkin | 1 | 1 |
Rangers | Vladimir Tarasenko Snap Shot saved by Jack Campbell | 1 | 1 |
Oilers | Derek Ryan Wrist Shot saved by Igor Shesterkin | 1 | 1 |
Rangers | Filip Chytil Snap Shot saved by Jack Campbell | 1 | 1 |
Oilers | Kailer Yamamoto Snap Shot saved by Igor Shesterkin | 1 | 1 |
Rangers | Alexis Lafrenière Goal Backhand | 2 | 1 |
#GOODCONTENT
Your sources suck
— Hordan (@hordanhonahue) February 18, 2023
I dunno, Hubie has way more assists so Ryan will probably be a bargain at $9.25 million a year.
— Scott (@humantorch@mastodon.social) (@humantorch) February 18, 2023
Defensive zone face offs have killed us lately…🤦🏽♂️
— Adamo (@chiadamo) February 18, 2023
Frustrating but also hilarious
— Cody (@cowboilers) February 18, 2023
Talk to me, Twitter. Hit me up at @jsbmbaggedmilk and Wanye at @Oilersnation and you could find yourself landing in this very spot.
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