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GDB 15.0 Wrap Up: Oilers @ Blackhawks
By baggedmilk
Nov 8, 2015, 23:08 ESTUpdated:
On the bright side, we’re one game closer to McDavid’s return. Final Score: 4-2 Blackhawks
Before the game started I was calling for an Oiler to put up an eight point night against the Hawks, just like Sam Gagner did on February, 2012. Miss Milk told me to stop yelling and get off the furniture, but I wasn’t in the mood for listening. Sure, I had been drinking a little bit, I’ll admit that. Regardless, I was going to stick with my pipe dreams and hope for the best. I felt like the Oilers have been playing well enough to blow a game open, and the defending champs would be the least likely of victims. They were due for an eight point night and it was going to be glorious.
My eight point night didn’t look good early on and it wasn’t just the alcohol piling up that was to blame. When the Blackhawks put a goal away less than a minute into the game I was upset. When they scored a second time before the frame ended, I had the warm fuzzy feelings of my pre-game buzz start to turn on me. I’m not sure why the Oilers seem to have subconsciously decided to shit the bed early on in games, but it’s not working out for them and getting old in a hurry. Although I applaud the Oilers’ much improved play throughout the remainder of the game, I don’t generally advise spotting teams two goals and then deciding it’s a good idea to push back.
After pulling themselves to within a goal after outscoring the Blackhawks two to one in the third period, the Oilers were unable to completely dig themselves out of their early deficit. Unfortunately the slow-start-comeback-plan backfired once again and the offensive smoke turned into fire too late, preventing the Oilers from completing the comeback. To the Blackhawks’ credit, they were able to capitalize on their chances, and got the saves they needed to win. Corey Crawford stole the show for long stretches of the night whereas Talbot was unable to bail out his team when the Oilers needed a game saver. There were things to like about tonight’s game, but quite frankly I’m tired of writing about moral victories.
Oilers lose. We wrap.
THE BRIGHT SIDE
- At least we got to listen to Bob Cole call a hockey game. He’s not what he once was, but I’ve known his voice all my life and it’s always nice to hear.
- Darnell Nurse continues to impress with the way he has simplified his game. He’s not always trying to jump into the rush, he’s been effective at picking his spots. Not to mention his defense has been sound. Having him in the NHL may not have been the plan but I don’t see a world where they can send him back now. Nurse played 19:40 minutes in all situations tonight and registered an assist on Sekera’s third period goal.
- After a very slow first period the Oilers were excellent in the second. The Oilers fired 22 shots on net, and if not for Crawford they might have found themselves with a lead and not a two goal deficit going into the third period.
- Jordan Eberle scored his first goal of the season after banging home a rebound on the power play. Here’s hoping that goal kickstarts his silky mitts for a run of points. The squeeeee is in high demand.
- Nugey registered his 200th career point with an assist on Eberle’s first of the season. He played a team high 23:35 TOI.
- Andrej Sekera scored his first goal of the season on a big clapper from the point. Oddly enough Teddy Purcell landed an assist on the play meaning the two current goats gets to share a carrot post game.
- At least we won the Corsi. Oilers outshot the Blackhawks 36-28.
- The power play went one for one in its only chance of the night. I think there should have been more power play chances for the Oilers, but maybe that’s just me.
THE FACE PALMERS
- Game two without McDavid. Still hurts.
- Another bad start against a good team. It’s not exactly a winning combination, as we know. The Blackhawks scored 58 seconds into the first period and the Oilers were chasing from there.
- This was the second game in a row where the Oilers were only able to muster five shots in the first period. Ugly.
- Breakout passes are a huge issue right now. I wish I could tell you how many times the Blackhawks intercepted the Oilers attempt at breaking out of the zones (who am I, Willis?), because it must have been a high number.
- Is it just me or are the Oilers seriously short on power play chances? You can’t tell me that the Blackhawks only got caught cheating once all night. Shenanigans! Meanwhile the Oilers went to the box four times.
- Artemi Panarin was the Oiler killer. Two goals in the first 20 minutes and multiple chances for more as the night continued.
- Cam Talbot seemed to settle in after the first period only to allow a goal on a stoppable backhander by Patrick Kane in the slot. Earlier in the season we would have seen Talbot stop those kind of shots, and I wonder if his confidence is a little shaky right now. He was only okay tonight which muddies the waters of what exactly is going on in the crease… AGAIN. I’m not saying Talbot was to blame for everything that went in but he certainly needs to be better. Talbot finished the night with 24 saves and an .857 save%.
- Corey Crawford made all the saves we needed Talbot to make. Crawford finished with 34 saves and a .944 save%.
SCORING SUMMARY
| 1ST PERIOD | |||
|---|---|---|---|
00:58 | CHI | Artemi Panarin (3) Slapshot – ASST: Patrick Kane (11) | 1 – 0 CHI |
17:35 | CHI | 2 – 0 CHI | |
| 2ND PERIOD | |||
NONE | |||
| 3RD PERIOD | |||
02:56 | EDM | 2 – 1 CHI | |
13:28 | CHI | 3 – 1 CHI | |
18:09 | EDM | 3 – 2 CHI | |
19:54 | CHI | 4 – 2 CHI |
BEST OF THE TWEETS
Who is your daddy and what does he do? Tweet at @OilersNation and @jsbmbaggedmilk during the game for your chance to end up in Best of the Tweets.
THE NATIONGEAR POP-UP STORE
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