THE BRIGHT SIDE

• The Oilers have been able to show all kinds of resiliency in terms of getting themselves out of early trouble. After giving up two early goals, the Oilers found a way to even things up without depending on Connor McDavid. Unfortunately, I guess the team is only able to dig themselves out of a two-goal deficit only once per game. 
• Milan Lucic scored his first goal of the season and first as an Oiler. As you can imagine, the crowd went berzerk for the big man. The goal was Lucic’s 400th point in the NHL and I was happy to see him get it as an Oiler. 
• The Pouliot-Nuge-Kassian line needed to get something going and they were able to do that tonight. They hadn’t had much going in the first two games, but they were producing solid chances until the lines got blended up later on. 
• I have to admit that I was having a good chuckle reading people that were thrilled with the Oilers turn on them in a real hurry. Now, I’m not saying that I’m happy with how tonight went but I’m not nearly as angry as some people seemed to be. 
• At least we won the Corsi? *hides under pile of coats*
• Gustavsson is perfect on the season stopping the lone shot he faced. *rimshot*
• At least Gregor didn’t go three for three in his predictions. I already have to hear it on a daily basis.
  

THE FACE PALMERS

• The Oilers allowed another early goal and that makes it two games in a row where they’ve dug themselves an early hole. They have to be ready to play from the drop of the puck. The Oilers were down two goals before the game was even 10 minutes old. 
• Benoit Pouliot needs to stay out of the box. He has six penalties already this season and they’re costing the team goals on the board. At some point it’ll stop, right? Fortunately for Pouliot he was able to make up for the penalty with the Oilers first goal of the night, but a second penalty caused coach McLellan to staple Pouliot to the bench in the second period.
• I was honestly bummed that Jack Eichel wasn’t playing tonight. He’s a talented hockey player and it’s always better to watch games with skilled guys playing. 
• Cam Talbot let in one of those horrible goals that we’re going to have to watch all season long. Ryan O’Reilly dumped the puck in from centre ice, and it took a weird bounce into the net. That was a #HereComeTheOilers moment if ever there was one. Not a good night for Cam, and that’s me being kind. Talbot got the hook after allowing four early goals but had to go back in after Gustavsson got hurt. Unfortunately, he wasn’t any better when he went back in. Talbot allowed six goals on 23 shots and finished with a .723 save%. He needs to be better in every way. 
• Oscar Klefbom had a brutal night. He was fighting the puck, making poor decisions, and struggled to do anything productive all night long. Todd McLellan was clearly unhappy as he bumped Klefbom down to the third pairing to finish the game. The Oilers need him to be much better than he was tonight, and I think Absbom would tell you the same thing. 
• Puljujarvi needs to be sent down to Bakersfield ASAP. He’s not ready, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but he won’t get any better by struggling in the NHL. 
• Jonas Gustavsson pulled himself out of the game after Adam Larsson fell on him. The replay looked brutal, and I was surprised that Gustavsson stayed in the game initially. I’m not sure what took so long for the concussion spotters to pull him out of the game considering the collision that happened with Larsson. He’s had a history of concussion issues and you have to hope that he’ll be alright. I assume that Brossoit will get called up in the morning and that his plane ticket is already purchased.
• I find it hard to believe that the Sabres such a pefect game that they were only penalized once. A bunch of saints, those Buffalo Sabres. 

SCORING SUMMARY

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THE PHOTOSHOP CONTEST WINNER IS