I am guilty of not reading Jason Gregor’s GDB this afternoon thoroughly enough. If you look real close you’ll see the ugliest word that Oilers fans have had to become accustomed to this preseason, streaming. The arena’s name rights are owned by one of Canada’s sports network mother-ships. Sportsnet owns the NHL broadcast rights from now until forever but we are left to watch a stream of the scoreboard like we’re Calgary *shudders* or something.

I digress, a hockey game was played tonight between the Coyotes and the Oilers. With two preseason games (and one exhibition in Cologne) left to go, there is still a 6D to be decided between up to four different options (depending on who you ask). The spot behind Talbot is ostensibly still up for grabs even with Koskinen’s considerable tab to be paid ($1.45 million buried). Lots to be decided so let’s see how they did, shall we?

Period One:

I am not sure what happened in much of the first period because silly me was looking for the game on a television broadcast.
I put out a call to help me recap the first goal against, and you the Nation delivered.
So that’s not ideal. “Right through the wickets”.
  • As I got the stream going finally at a point where I could watch, the Coyotes seemed to be outplaying our boys.
  • The push back from the Oilers came with a “shoot anywhere” mentality that was good to see.

Overall:

Period Two:

  • Oilers had a little push to start but the Coyotes keep pinning the Oilers deep in their end. Even Connor can’t seem to get it out.
  • Connor, who admittedly had a slow start (seems like the puck is jumping tonight), breaks out after stripping Oesterle and going 2 on 1 with Goligoski playing the pass perfectly, sniped, 1-1 tie.
  • Pontus is having a slow game (Stauffer even said with this performance he may not have a spot on the team) and he takes a careless high sticking penalty. On the ensuing powerplay, Keller finds Fischer in the high slot and the puck isn’t on his stick for more than a tenth of a second before he rips it home, 2-1 Dogs
  • Rattie with a golden chance to tie it up again.
  • Koskinen gets beat high but Keller catches all bar.
  • To keep that post in the topic of discussion Bear rings a clapper off it too.
  • On the subsequent rush down the other end Bear is forced to take a penalty, tired and out of gas.

Overall:

The Oilers seem to have two real pushes this period that both got stymied by taking penalties. That is going to have to change as you’re just asking for last year’s historically bad PK to rear it’s ugly head. Koskinen allowed a goal on a laser beam from the high slot on the power-play and then got beat over his huge shoulders. He also made some solid saves but we’re going to need more from him. Bear making his push to be the first call-up at the very least so far. Rieder has been solid this period.

Period Three:

  • The Oilers are alive as Strome and Rieder break out on the PK and on a great move/pass by Ryan, Tobias pots it, 2-2 tie
  • The #McNuge and Rattie combo has a glorious chance but no goal, yet.
  • Koskinen has made some good saves. Listening to the radio team tonight they seem high on him. Could it be he is being penciled in already?
  • Klefbom and Larsson are geared up and ready to start the season now.
  • Aberg draws a penalty to give the Oil a chance to go up late, an appearance for him on an otherwise forgettable night.

Extra Inning

  • The return of McDavid and Leon (with Bear on D)
  • End to end action with the Oilers almost scoring then the Coyotes get a huge chance. The Oilers again and then….

The Wrap

Stauffer said it on the broadcast, this was the least emotion in a preseason game in a long time. Lots of guys feeling like they’re just ready to play for real I guess. The ice is poor, don’t think I have seen this many bouncing pucks since the last Nation holiday party shinny game.
Koskinen had another yo-yo outing. Some nice saves, a goal that he had little chance on, a goal that he has to stop. It will be interesting to see what the plan is for Saturday afternoon before the team takes off to Europe.
The Oilers survive the chaos that is the overtime 3 on 3 and with the captain getting more open space than a shootout shot, he buries the game winner.
Moving on to Saturday afternoon with  Calgary with only one loss to show on their quest for the coveted preseason championship banner.

Other Notables:

Jesse Puljujarvi: The young man has had a monster preseason. Tonight, inexplicably he was not given much ice time. Gord willing it was just to give him an easier workload, I didn’t see an obvious injury.
Pontus Aberg: Not good. I had a lot of high hopes for this preseason and season of him taking the ball and running with it. He looks disinterested to my untrained eye. (This was written just before he had a burst of energy to draw a penalty and then wide open in front of the net just misses the open side)
Ethan Bear: I like Bouchard’s offensive game but I am really falling in love with Bear’s complete game. His shot is sneaky good and he is definitely playing better in his own zone.
What did you think Nation? What stood out for you? Who got ground your gears?