The Oilers + Condors get the job done! Final Score: 5-3 Oilers
Based on the way the week went with a number of games being postponed and countless players hitting the COVID protocol list, was anyone else feeling March 2020 vibes as much as I was? Not that I was expecting another full lockdown and trying to learn how to make homemade sourdough bread, but more so that it almost feels like we’re on the verge of losing sports for a minute. I mean, how could you not at least think about it when you see things like the Leafs and Canucks halving their attendance capacity, Montreal playing in front of an empty rink, and the Flames being shut down until after Christmas? Obviously, I’m hoping to be wrong and that the NHL will figure out a plan to keep things moving, but it’s weird to see the mix of some teams playing while others are shut down, ya know? Not only that but when I looked at the Oilers lineup ahead of the game and saw the handful of AHL guys that were playing, it seemed more like a pre-season roster before all the cuts were in over what we’d see in mid-December. That’s not at all a slight against Cooper Marody, Seth Griffith, et al but rather a very real reminder of how weird things are right now.
With that in mind, I decided that I was going to enjoy tonight’s game as best as I could regardless of what happened with the final score. As much as I still think the Kraken are a team the Oilers should beat even with all of the missing bodies, I truly believed ahead of the game that I cared more about being able to watch the boys play than I did about the outcome but that all changed when the puck dropped. As soon as the game started with some spice, I was instantly snapped back into the reality of wanting the Oilers to win so desperately but having them drop the ball in the early going. It’s amazing how quickly I was able to go from gratitude to rage, but I guess that’s sports baby! Thankfully, the boys were able to turn things around, erase the deficit with some timely scoring, and restore our spirits for what was a very eventful night. With chances piling up at both ends of the rink, the game had the kind of feel to it where the last mistake would end up costing someone points in the standings and that’s basically what happened when Mark Giordano pushed Warren Foegele into his own goalie, essentially giving him the forward momentum needed to bank the puck into the net off his head. Thanks, Cheatordano.
The wrap.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

  • @Evan Bouchard cut the lead in half (2-1) with an absolute bomb from the point that the goaltender simply could not handle. If there’s one thing that I love about dad it’s the way he hammers the puck on net without being asked.
  • @Warren Foegele picked up a goal in a second straight game when he converted a rebound on the power play (2-2) after a hell of a shift by Kailer Yamamoto that included a 200-foot backcheck and shot on net at the other end that resulted in the rebound for McLovin. Foegele scored a second goal (4-3) midway through the third period after parking himself in front of the net and having the puck bounce and off his visor before eventually falling into the net. At first, the goal was called off but upon a coach’s challenge, the call on the ice was reversed after confirming that Giordano pushed McLovin into the goaltender.
  • Colton Sceviour gave the Oilers the lead (3-2) with a backhand chip upstairs from right outside the crease after a hardworking shift by the fourth line (plus McDavid) caused Seattle’s defenders to cough up the puck without being able to retrieve it again.
  • Connor McDavid snapped his goal drought with an empty-netter (5-3) to close the game out and lock in the winning streak. The captain finished the night with two points.
  • How about another casual three-point night for Leon Draisaitl? If you’re keeping score at home, that was his 58th career three-point night. Just ridiculous.
  • Stuart Skinner was back between the pipes for a second straight game and looking to build upon a very strong start against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Unfortunately, Skinner wasn’t quite as sharp against Seattle as he was against the Blue Jackets and the result was a score that was much closer than it probably should have been, but he was still able to make the saves needed to cash in the win. And seeing as the Oilers ended up winning the game, we’re all allowed to give Skinner a pass for the ugly first shot goal back in the first period. Skinner finished the night with 14 saves and a .824 save%.
  • @Darnell Nurse had a monster game as he played a team-high 26:09 to go along with six shots on goal, five hits, and two blocks. Great game for Darryl.
  • @Kailer Yamamoto had a hell of a game and I could not be happier for the kid because he needed to have a good one after going seven straight without mustering even a single shot on goal.
  • I thought Slater Koekkoek played well in his first game back after missing the last 13 with a lower-body injury, especially given the circumstances of having to play a couple more minutes (16:04) than he probably would on a normal night.
  • Make it THREE straight games with a bottom-six goal. Wowza.
  • Oilers won the Corskis, outshooting Seattle by a 41-17 margin.
  • The spreadsheets are lighting up with joy as the Oilers finished the night with a sparkling 70.11 CF% and a 66.28 xGF%.
  • Props to Cooper Marody for picking up his first NHL point with an assist on Bouchard’s first period goal.
  • Adam Larsson did not score.

THE FACE PALMERS

  • I very much dislike seeing the Oilers go down by two goals in the first period. Very, very much.
  • @Ryan Donato opened the scoring (1-0) with a first shot softie from along the boards that Stuart Skinner absolutely needed to stop.
  • @Jared McCann extended Seattle’s lead (2-0) after he found himself wiiiiiiiiiiiiiide open in front of the net where Jordan Eberle found him with a perfect pass to the tape that he buried in short order. Shoddy coverage by the Oilers gave the Kraken a window to make a play and they capitalized on it perfectly.
  • Shortly after the Oilers grabbed the lead, Carson Soucy tied things up (3-3) with a perfect shot to the top-half of the net after the initial shot rung off the crossbar and bounced right out to him.
  • I dislike seeing @Jordan Eberle get points against the Oilers. Why? Because Ryan Strome is being ultra-productive for the Rangers and Ryan Spooner is making Mango Hurricanes for Booster Juice somewhere.
  • Jesse Puljujarvi hit the COVID protocol list ahead of the game and I was expecting the worst seeing as he was on the plane with the Oilers to Seattle. Thankfully that didn’t happen and we were still able to watch the game go down, but I seriously question whether we’ll be watching Monday’s matchup against the Ducks.
  • The Oilers weren’t even able to ice a full lineup

SCORING SUMMARY

#GOODCONTENT

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