Is Hamonic an Oiler yet? Final Score: 4-3 Blackhawks in OT.
Tonight was another one of those strange night where circumstances outside of the Oilers game were almost as entertaining as the game. After Elliotte Friedman made it public that Travis Hamonic requested a trade closer to home, and put Edmonton as one of the possible destinations, Oilers Twitter was ablaze. Now, there are no guarantees that the trade will be consummated but the thought of it was enough to to leave us all wondering what it would be like to have a legitimate top pairing d-man. 
As for the game itself, the Oilers started out like a house on fire. Not only were they matching the Blackhawks every step of the way, they badly outshot the former champions in the first period. Really, the only problem early on was the fact that the Oilers couldn’t score a goal to save their lives. They were kind of like the creepy kid in school that follows girls home and wonders why they won’t go out with them – the effort was there but they couldn’t close. Don’t get me wrong, I like seeing the Oilers outshooting teams, but they have to cash in on some of those chance and give themselves a lead. 
The second period was like salt in the goalless wound that was the Oilers excellent start. Almost expectedly, Chicago was able to capitalize on a power play and punish the Oilers for making a defensive mistake and found themselves with a two goal lead, halfway through the game. Although Jordan Eberle was able to pull the game back to within one, the Oilers trailed by a goal going into the third. It was still frustrating to see the Oilers trailing after the terrific start. Certainly, Corey Crawford was a huge part of the Oilers inability to score, but they have to find a way to get it done.
Going into the final frame the Oilers were going to have to recapture the effort they brought forth in the first period, and they were going to have to beat Corey Crawford. While the Oilers were able to claw their way back into a tie game after two separate one goal deficits, they weren’t able to close out a win. To me, the Oilers played well enough to win this game but they weren’t able to score a goal when they desperately needed one. When Edmonton made mistakes the Hawks buried them and what should have been a win ends up as a pity point. 
Another moral victory on our way to the imaginary Schmanley Schmup. 
We wrap.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

  • If you have the cash and nothing to do on Friday night make sure to bid on the Edmonton Food Bank charity auction! We put together a great night for this coming Friday with all the money going to a great cause. The bidding closes tomorrow at noon. 
  • Great start for the Oilers. They outshot the Blackhawks 11-3 and dominated the play throughout the first period. 
  • Taylor Hall continued his warlord-esque tear through the NHL again tonight. He got his 13th assist of the season on Draisaitl’s goal late in the third period. 
  • Beautiful goal by Jordan Eberle. He went in alone on Corey Crawford and absolutely roofed the puck for his second goal of the season. 
  • What a move by Daryl before dishing the puck off to Benoit Pouliot for the tying goal (his fourth) early in the third period. Nurse walked into the zone with the puck on a string and made a perfect pass to release the Poo.
  • Neon Leon Draisaitl is seeing the game in slow motion right now. Draisaitl’s sixth goal of the season tied the game late in the third period and allowed the Oilers to take the game into overtime. With the way this kid is playing I would think it’s fair to say that his AHL days are over.
  • Teddy Purcell continued his point streak with an assist on Draisaitl’s tying goal. Purcell has been hot since he cut those inches off his stick. Maybe Oates was on to something?
  • Oscar Klefbom had a great night stealing pucks. He was picking off passes all over the ice by seemingly always having his stick in the passing lanes. He’s getting better and better as the season goes on. 
  • The Oilers went 53% in the faceoff circle. 

THE FACE PALMERS

  • No McDavid = Unhappy Blogger. The wait continues…
  • I always get nervous when the Oilers badly outshoot the other team but can’t cash in on any of their chances. Letting teams like Chicago hang around will come back to haunt you like paying a hooker with a personal cheque. The second period proved that tonight. 
  • Why couldn’t the Oilers buy a power play tonight? I feel like Chicago got a lot more leeway than Edmonton did in terms passed calls. Just me?
  • Corey Crawford made an unbelievable save on Taylor Hall in overtime only to have Chicago go back and score the winner shortly after. 
  • The Oilers went 0/3 on the power play tonight. That could have been the difference between an OTL and a W in the standings. 
  • I hate how much I love Jonathan Toews. Mostly when he’s playing on a team that’s not Team Canada. 
  • Anders Nilsson wasn’t busy to start the game but the pace certainly picked up in the last 40 minutes. I wonder if the lack of work in the first period contributed to Nilsson being less sharp than normal in the second and third periods? Reaching? Maybe. I’m not saying that all of the goals should be pinned on Nilsson but tonight was another sub .900 night for an Edmonton tender. The Ders finished the night with 23 saves and an .852 save% and the goaltending controversy continues. 

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST PERIOD
NONE
2ND PERIOD
07:26
CHI
PPG – Duncan Keith (2) Tip-in – ASST: Patrick Kane (16), Artemi Panarin (13)
1 – 0 CHI
14:41
CHI
Artemi Panarin (7) Snap shot – ASST: Artem Anisimov (6), Patrick Kane (17)
2 – 0 CHI
16:37
EDM
Jordan Eberle (2) Wrist shot – ASST: Brandon Davidson (1)
2 – 1 CHI
3RD PERIOD
04:00
EDM
Benoit Pouliot (4) Tip-in – ASST: Darnell Nurse (4), Teddy Purcell (5)
2 – 2 Tie
11:44
CHI
Andrew Shaw (2) Wrist shot – ASST: Tanner Kero (1), Marcus Kruger (1)
3 – 2 CHI
17:14
EDM
Leon Draisaitl (6) Wrist shot – ASST: Taylor Hall (13), Teddy Purcell (6)
3 – 3 Tie
OT PERIOD
01:08
CHI
Marian Hossa (3) Snap shot – ASST: Brent Seabrook (10)
4 – 3 CHI

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THE NORTH X NORTHGRETZ PODCAST – EPISODE 3

This week the boys take a look at reducing the size of goalie equipment, which chip flavour is the best, and what Chris the Intern has learned in his time as the OilersNation intern. 
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