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The Day After: The McDrai Combo clicks in win over Ottawa
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Photo credit: © Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
Cam Lewis
Mar 9, 2021, 10:30 ESTUpdated: Mar 9, 2021, 10:31 EST
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After scoring just four goals over their last four games, Dave Tippett made a big change to the Oilers’ lineup.
He reunited the McDrai Combo, sliding Leon Draisatil up on Connor McDavid’s wing, and the two were instrumental in Edmonton earning a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators.
In roughly 17 minutes on the ice together at even-strength McDavid, Draisaitl, and Kailer Yamamoto scored two even-strength goals and dominated the Senators in terms of shot attempts 33-to-17. They also had eight high-danger scoring chances and frequently hemmed Ottawa in their own zone.
Mikko Koskinen allowed a soft goal in the first minute of play but the Oilers didn’t get flustered. Yamamoto tied the game a few minutes later and then the Oilers pulled ahead in the second period and slammed the door in the third on their way to the win.
Dave Tippett said after the game that he was impressed at how the team put together a full, 60-minute effort after going down early in the game…
“We talked going into the game we’d have to get a full sixty minutes to win here,” Tippett said. “[The Senators] are a young team that works hard. You have to put the work in or you’re going to be behind it. Tough one early, but the guys stuck with it and I thought we played pretty solid.
“If you’re not willing to work for 60 minutes, they’re going to take advantage of that. We have to make sure we got our work boots on and are ready to go for 60 minutes if we expect to have a chance to win.”
Tippett is right when it comes to not taking the Sens, who sit dead last in the North Division, lightly despite their record.
Since starting the season with a paltry 2-12-1 record, Ottawa has started to find its groove. They had won seven of their last twelve games heading into last night’s match against the Oilers, highlighted by an epic comeback against the Toronto Maple Leafs and a couple of commanding, lopsided victories over the Calgary Flames.
The McDrai Combo came up big for the Oilers while the rest of the team locked things down defensively. The Sens are a skilled, young team who can score goals, but the Oilers held them to just nine high-danger chances at even-strength.
Tippett also praised the play of former Senator Kyle Turris, saying that he played his best game of the season so far…
“That’s the kyle turris that I knew,” Tippett said. “His skill level is really strong, so it’s good to see him feel good about when he’s got the puck and finding ways to make plays and ways to make those plays count. It’s good to see him come along.”
Turris had a primary assist on the game-winning goal, snapping a nine-game skid in which he was left off the scoresheet that dated all the way back to Jan. 31.

Backhanders…

  • With the win, Edmonton now owns a 16-11 record, good for second in the North Division in terms of points but fourth in terms of points percentage as both Winnipeg and Montreal have three games in hand. This week should provide the Oilers with an opportunity to gain some distance from the Jets. While Edmonton has two more games against the Senators, Winnipeg will be playing a three-game set against the Maple Leafs. Elsewhere, the Oilers are now seven points up on the Flames.
  • Edmonton’s blueline played a strong game on Monday and the veteran shutdown pair of Kris Russell and Adam Larsson led the way. They had the best expected goals for percentage on the team and, over 17 minutes of even-strength play, only allowed the Senators to muster one high-danger scoring chance, according to Natural Stat Trick.
  • Leon Draisaitl’s goal in the second period, which ended up being the game-winner, was his first since Feb. 17 against Winnipeg. This eight-game stretch was Draisaitl’s longest without a goal since he went eight games without scoring in December of 2017. He had eight assists over his last eight games but it’s great to see him get off the schneid and bury a key goal.
  • After being held pointless in three games against the Maple Leafs, Connor McDavid has five points in his last two games and is now up to 45 points through 27 games. That puts him on pace for 93 points over this shortened 56-game season, which would be a 137-point pace over a normal, 82-game season.

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