What. A. Game. The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Washington Capitals 7-2 for their second consecutive win. They now have a 40-21-3 record to bring them to 83 points, six ahead of the Los Angeles Kings and nine behind the Vancouver Canucks.

The Oilers were the beneficiary of two early high sticking calls, one a double minor and the other a regular minor. It took a little while to get going on the first one, but Leon Draisaitl, on his third attempt, finally buried the one-timer from his spot to give the Oilers the lead. Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins picked up the assists.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
leon draisaitl would not be denied. 1-0 oilers. <a href="https://t.co/pmO4txs18b">pic.twitter.com/pmO4txs18b</a>
&mdash; zach (@zjlaing) <a href="https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1768103304192782785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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It took the Oilers much less time to capitalize on the other power play, as the Capitals just allowed McDavid to skate down in the slot and bury it for his 25th of the season. Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard picked up the assists. This was Draisaitl’s 489th assist, tying Glenn Anderson for the fifth-most in franchise history.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
connor mcdavid makes it 2-0. <a href="https://t.co/lIq78t3AJY">pic.twitter.com/lIq78t3AJY</a>
&mdash; zach (@zjlaing) <a href="https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1768104381931733057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Nearly halfway through the first period, the Oilers had nine shots to nothing, but that changed as the puck was ushered into the half boards, where Ivan Miroshnichenko turned around, ripped it, and beat Stuart Skinner on the first shot he faced. It kind of reminds me of a goal Iiro Pakarinen scored back in the 2017-18 season.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
ivan miroshnichenko gets the caps on the board. <a href="https://t.co/itIxW7fVE1">pic.twitter.com/itIxW7fVE1</a>
&mdash; zach (@zjlaing) <a href="https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1768105357464006726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The other Connor McSomething scored to tie the game, as an Alex Ovechkin shot was blocked, with the puck bouncing to Connor McMichael, who tucked it in. It was just the Capitals&#8217; second shot of the game and an unfortunate play, but this was the last time they’d beat Skinner.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
connor mcmichael makes it 2-2. <a href="https://t.co/3YBH94OjX9">pic.twitter.com/3YBH94OjX9</a>
&mdash; zach (@zjlaing) <a href="https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1768106080050229454?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Ovechkin, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/03/13/is-alex-ovechkin-still-in-the-hunt-of-wayne-gretzkys-all-time-goals-record/">who I wrote about earlier Wednesday</a>, is looking to break Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record. He had a wonderful chance to do so alone on the doorstep, but Skinner dove across and robbed him, which wasn’t the only time on Wednesday evening.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
stuart skinner’s first save of the night is a jaw-dropper, robbing alex ovechkin on the doorstep. <a href="https://t.co/3Qs2qd7jIM">pic.twitter.com/3Qs2qd7jIM</a>
&mdash; zach (@zjlaing) <a href="https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1768109441063477405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
The Oilers regained the lead, as McDavid found Zach Hyman in front of the net for his 44th goal of the season. It’s just what Hyman does, and somehow he’s getting even better. Brett Kulak picked up the secondary assist.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
EDM WSH G64. March 13, 2024. Zach Hyman goal. 3-2. 🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/GmKrp2oYD8">pic.twitter.com/GmKrp2oYD8</a>
&mdash; Nation Network Media (@NationNMedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1768106655940784201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Fast-forward to nearly the end of the second period, with the Oilers still up 3-2. Nugent-Hopkins picked up an errant Capitals pass, leading to a two-on-one. Nugent-Hopkins, the great teammate he is, passed it over to, you guessed it, Hyman, who buried it for his second goal of the game and his 45th of the season.
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zach hyman is not only on hatty watch with his second of the night, but is now on 50-goal watch, as his 45th of the year makes it 4-2. <a href="https://t.co/tYPtaUkm5z">pic.twitter.com/tYPtaUkm5z</a>
&mdash; zach (@zjlaing) <a href="https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1768122605402529970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Before the end of the second period, the Oilers earned a power play and set up in the zone. After some passing, Bouchard let it rip and it found the back of the net. Originally, the goal was awarded to the defenceman but it was given to Hyman towards the end of the game for the hats to rain down. This was his second natural hat trick of the season, and his fourth hat trick in total. Moreover, Draisaitl picked up an assist to take sole possession of fifth-place in Oilers franchise history.
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a bouch bomb from the point finds its way to the back of the net, and it’s a 5-2 game. <a href="https://t.co/KJosb8TrHj">pic.twitter.com/KJosb8TrHj</a>
&mdash; zach (@zjlaing) <a href="https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1768125034546246044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The goal-scoring continued in the third period, as Warren Foegele scored his 15th goal on a fantastic passing play assisted by Draisaitl and Ryan McLeod. There are a few other notes about this, for starters, look at that stretch by Foegele after he was knocked down. The other is just how much chemistry that line has together, with a great forecheck by McLeod.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
EDM WSH G64. March 13, 2024. Warren Foegele goal. 6-2. 🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/hEwN0j67Xu">pic.twitter.com/hEwN0j67Xu</a>
&mdash; Nation Network Media (@NationNMedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1768145280258490834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Shortly after Edmonton’s sixth goal of the game, it finally happened. Connor Brown found the back of the net for his first goal as an Edmonton Oiler. Say all you want about how he’s played, but he’s given it his all this season, and the Oilers fans in attendance made sure they knew he is appreciated. Hopefully, this will light a fire under his butt to get hot. Evander Kane and Adam Henrique picked up assists on this goal.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
connor brown has scored his first goal of the season in his 55th game, as oilers fans give him a nearly two-minute long standing ovation and throw hats on the ice. <a href="https://t.co/3hte270uZ3">pic.twitter.com/3hte270uZ3</a>
&mdash; zach (@zjlaing) <a href="https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1768136201406738692?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Ovechkin had another bid for a goal as the Capitals had a clean odd-man zone entry. The “Great Eight” was found right in front of the net with a slick pass, but once again, Skinner denied him and ended his night with a .920 save percentage despite allowing the first two shots in the net.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
EDM WSH G64. March 13, 2024. Stuart Skinner robs Alexander Ovechkin, again. 🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/BHFQvkpG87">pic.twitter.com/BHFQvkpG87</a>
&mdash; Nation Network Media (@NationNMedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1768145508088816050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Things worth mentioning…
That is a game-of-the-year candidate as it had end-to-end hockey, two massive saves, and a ton of scoring. Connor Brown scoring his first after so many opportunities made it that much better.
Leon Draisaitl picked up four points on the night, while Hyman and McDavid each had three-point nights. Nugent-Hopkins and Evan Bouchard also had two assists. In fact, there were only three forwards who didn’t have a point, the entire fourth line.
Connor McDavid may have picked up three points to move to 106 points, but Nathan MacKinnon scored a goal and an assist to move to 115 points on the year. So he gained one, but still trails MacKinnon by nine points for his sixth Art Ross Trophy.
Up next: The Oilers return to action on Saturday, as they’ll host the Colorado Avalanche. It’s the first time the two teams have met this season, and it’ll be the nightcap game for Hockey Night in Canada.
If you enjoy my content, you can follow me on Twitter @Brennan_L_D.

What. A. Game. The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Washington Capitals 7-2 for their second consecutive win. They now have a 40-21-3 record to bring them to 83 points, six ahead of the Los Angeles Kings and nine behind the Vancouver Canucks.



The Oilers were the beneficiary of two early high sticking calls, one a double minor and the other a regular minor. It took a little while to get going on the first one, but Leon Draisaitl, on his third attempt, finally buried the one-timer from his spot to give the Oilers the lead. Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins picked up the assists.

https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1768103304192782785

It took the Oilers much less time to capitalize on the other power play, as the Capitals just allowed McDavid to skate down in the slot and bury it for his 25th of the season. Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard picked up the assists. This was Draisaitl’s 489th assist, tying Glenn Anderson for the fifth-most in franchise history.

https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1768104381931733057

Nearly halfway through the first period, the Oilers had nine shots to nothing, but that changed as the puck was ushered into the half boards, where Ivan Miroshnichenko turned around, ripped it, and beat Stuart Skinner on the first shot he faced. It kind of reminds me of a goal Iiro Pakarinen scored back in the 2017-18 season.

https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1768105357464006726

The other Connor McSomething scored to tie the game, as an Alex Ovechkin shot was blocked, with the puck bouncing to Connor McMichael, who tucked it in. It was just the Capitals' second shot of the game and an unfortunate play, but this was the last time they’d beat Skinner.

https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1768106080050229454

Ovechkin, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2024/03/13/is-alex-ovechkin-still-in-the-hunt-of-wayne-gretzkys-all-time-goals-record/">who I wrote about earlier Wednesday</a>, is looking to break Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record. He had a wonderful chance to do so alone on the doorstep, but Skinner dove across and robbed him, which wasn’t the only time on Wednesday evening.

https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1768109441063477405

&nbsp;

The Oilers regained the lead, as McDavid found Zach Hyman in front of the net for his 44th goal of the season. It’s just what Hyman does, and somehow he’s getting even better. Brett Kulak picked up the secondary assist.

https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1768106655940784201

Fast-forward to nearly the end of the second period, with the Oilers still up 3-2. Nugent-Hopkins picked up an errant Capitals pass, leading to a two-on-one. Nugent-Hopkins, the great teammate he is, passed it over to, you guessed it, Hyman, who buried it for his second goal of the game and his 45th of the season.

https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1768122605402529970

Before the end of the second period, the Oilers earned a power play and set up in the zone. After some passing, Bouchard let it rip and it found the back of the net. Originally, the goal was awarded to the defenceman but it was given to Hyman towards the end of the game for the hats to rain down. This was his second natural hat trick of the season, and his fourth hat trick in total. Moreover, Draisaitl picked up an assist to take sole possession of fifth-place in Oilers franchise history.

https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1768125034546246044

The goal-scoring continued in the third period, as Warren Foegele scored his 15th goal on a fantastic passing play assisted by Draisaitl and Ryan McLeod. There are a few other notes about this, for starters, look at that stretch by Foegele after he was knocked down. The other is just how much chemistry that line has together, with a great forecheck by McLeod.

https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1768145280258490834

Shortly after Edmonton’s sixth goal of the game, it finally happened. Connor Brown found the back of the net for his first goal as an Edmonton Oiler. Say all you want about how he’s played, but he’s given it his all this season, and the Oilers fans in attendance made sure they knew he is appreciated. Hopefully, this will light a fire under his butt to get hot. Evander Kane and Adam Henrique picked up assists on this goal.

https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1768136201406738692

Ovechkin had another bid for a goal as the Capitals had a clean odd-man zone entry. The “Great Eight” was found right in front of the net with a slick pass, but once again, Skinner denied him and ended his night with a .920 save percentage despite allowing the first two shots in the net.

https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1768145508088816050

Things worth mentioning…

That is a game-of-the-year candidate as it had end-to-end hockey, two massive saves, and a ton of scoring. Connor Brown scoring his first after so many opportunities made it that much better.

Leon Draisaitl picked up four points on the night, while Hyman and McDavid each had three-point nights. Nugent-Hopkins and Evan Bouchard also had two assists. In fact, there were only three forwards who didn’t have a point, the entire fourth line.

Connor McDavid may have picked up three points to move to 106 points, but Nathan MacKinnon scored a goal and an assist to move to 115 points on the year. So he gained one, but still trails MacKinnon by nine points for his sixth Art Ross Trophy.

Up next: The Oilers return to action on Saturday, as they’ll host the Colorado Avalanche. It’s the first time the two teams have met this season, and it’ll be the nightcap game for Hockey Night in Canada.

If you enjoy my content, you can follow me on Twitter @Brennan_L_D.

Instant Reaction: Edmonton Oilers down Capitals 7-2 in high-scoring affair

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