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GDB -3.0 Wrap-up: Pre-season shmee-season

By Chris the intern

Sep 25, 2017, 23:39 EDTUpdated: May 18, 2018, 15:36 EDT

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When you win a preseason game it means you’re going to be extremely successful in the regular season. When you lose a preseason game? Who cares, they mean nothing! Final score: 6-2 Hurricanes.

Alright, so the first period was ugly. Very ugly. Of course as soon as we have an NHL calibre roster put together we come out flat as ever, amiright? There were turnovers, and lots of them. There were also many unnecessary penalties that costs us a couple goals. Frankly the only bright side of the first period was Cam Talbot who started the game looking in mid-season form.

The second period got a little bit better, then it got a little worse, then better at the end, but overall it was pretty bad. The addition of Yamamoto to the top line lit a spark in the gang which created some solid scoring opportunities. BUT you throw in a couple penalties on our part, a tough giveaway by Cam Talbot and we still come out losing the period.

If you didn’t catch the third period it’s probably for the best. There were more turnovers, and more goals against. You know, just like the first two periods! We did get a few good scoring chances during a power play but nothing really came from it.

At the end of the day, I think we can all laugh at the fact that as soon as we put something CLOSE to our real roster together, we played terrible and lost for the first time this preseason. For now we’ll go to bed pretending this never happened and look forward to our rematch against Carolina in Saskatoon. Let’s wrap.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

The hot topic this preseason has been Kailer Yamamoto. Tonight nothing changed for the kid as he was killing penalties, winning battles, forcing turnovers, and making smart plays like it’s almost become expected of him. He got bumped up to McDavid’s line in the second period and looked very dangerous out there. Him and McDavid think a very similar game and seem to mesh really well on the ice.
To add the cherry on top, Yamamoto potted his fifth preseason goal in four games on a nice power play deflection in the second period.
In classic, unpredictable hockey fashion, Ryan Strome ties up the game at the end of a horrendous first period, making all of the ugly play disappear behind them… until Carolina scored again. Yamamoto’s late second period goal gave us hope as well… until Carolina scored just seconds into the third period. The point I’m getting at is those last-minute timely goals can be very important to a hockey game. Not tonight, unfortunately.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOEY! Rogers Place singing happy birthday came out a little quiet if I’m being honest, but the gesture was nice nonetheless.
Hot damn as soon as Yamamoto replaced Puljujarvi on the top line with Maroon and McDavid the boys were buzzing. The trio created some of the best offensive pressure we’ve seen all game and it was a beautiful thing to watch.
Speaking of Puljujarvi, he has requested that his name be pronounced “Yesse Puljujarvi”, as per Bob Stauffer. Just thought I’d remind everyone.
I honestly noticed Maroon looking a little quicker tonight. It’s probably just my mind wanting to see it, but he appeared a lot faster in the corners on dump-ins and seemed to be skating fairly smooth.
I have to give some props to Todd McLellan, whose line juggling seemed to have some payout again. After last game, Todd moved Strome back to the third line with Jokinen and Nuge where he appeared comfortable at the start of training camp. Strome then potted the first Oilers goal of the game — coincidence? We shouldn’t even have to discuss Yamamoto’s promotion to the top line where he, Maroon, and Connor looked like a match made in heaven.

THE FACE PALMERS

The Oilers whole first period. I mean, none of the periods were pretty, but the first was by far the worst.
The Oilers got their second shot on goal with four minutes remaining in the first period which led to a sarcastic cheer from the stressed out Rogers Place. Ugly stuff.
Getting outshot 15-4 in the opening period isn’t the IDEAL way to start a game, pre-season or not.
Three penalties in the first period + two shorthanded goals = unhappy Oiler fans. Need I go on about this first period?
After the Oilers gained some solid momentum on the powerplay, Cam Talbot attempted to pass the puck up-ice only to turn it over. Two seconds later and the puck was behind him in the net as he hung his head in shame. Talbot got hung out to dry tonight, unfortunately. If you ask him though, he’ll tell you he played awful.
It wouldn’t be an Oilers game if we didn’t complain about the refs, right? There was some pretty questionable non-calls for Carolina tonight while the Oilers got put on a 5-3 twice. I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed.
Every time something good happened to us tonight, something bad immediately afterwards. Just 42 seconds into the third period, Carolina scored again off of a bad line change in our own zone.
The Carolina goals keep coming, and the Face Palmers bullet point list keeps growing.

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
06:25	Carolina	PPG – Teuvo Teravainen (2) ASST: Justin Faulk (2)	1-0
17:51	Edmonton	Ryan Strome (2) ASST: Oscar Klefbom (3), Jussi Jokinen (3)	1-1
18:54	Carolina	PPG – Teuvo Teravainen (3) ASST: Jordan Staal (2), Elias Lindholm (3)	2-1

2ND PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
11:09	Carolina	SHG – Lucas Wallmark (2) ASST: Josh Jooris (1)	3-1
13:09	Carolina	PPG – Janne Kuokkanen (1) ASST: Justin Williams (1), Jake Bean (1)	4-1
18:34	Edmonton	PPG – Kailer Yamamoto (5) ASST: Matt Benning (2), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (4)	4-2

3RD PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
00:42	Carolina	Jordan Staal (1) ASST: Janne Kuokkanen (1), Noah Hanifin (2)	5-2
06:49	Carolina	Jordan Staal (2) ASST: Janne Kuokkanen (2), Trevor van Riemsdyk (2)	6-2