Edmonton Oilers Goalie Sets Up Winner Versus Ducks
By Kurt Leavins
You read that right! Edmonton Oilers goaltender Anders Nilsson contributed a vital 2nd assist, on Teddy Purcell’s break-away overtime goal, in a thrilling 4-3, come-from-behind win over Anaheim. And these two points could not have come at a more opportune time, at this stage in the Edmonton Oilers shaky season.
9 Things:
9. That was the Edmonton Oilers first win in Anaheim since the 1st of April, 2012. ‘Nuff said.
8. While he was not perfect, I thought this was the best game of the season for Mark Fayne. That’s what my eyes told me. And when I checked his Corsi after the game, his +3 seemed to support that. This blue-line really needs the veteran to step up, and he did tonight.
7. The Edmonton Oilers did not start all that well. In fact, I thought the line of Andrew Miller, Iiro Pakarinen and Luke Gazdic gave the club several strong shifts in the Aneheim zone in the 1st when not a whole lot else was going right. The team has not enjoyed much 3rd-4th line support prior to tonight.
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6. One of the factors that the Edmonton Oilers had going for themselves tonight was their success in the face-off circle. The Oilers started more plays with the puck, and in my mind…possession is key to success in any league. I felt that Anton Lander and (in particular) Mark Letestu won some critical D-zone draws. Letestu’s game was somewhat lacking in areas out-side of the circle, mind-you.
5. I know lots of very smart people whom I respect who do not think that fighting belongs in the game. I respectfully disagree. Exhibit A: When Patrick Maroon dangerously drilled Iiro Pakarinen into the end boards, Luke Gazdic immediately and emphatically answered back. If you don’t think that charged up the Edmonton Oilers, you may not have spent enough time on a player’s bench.
4. I’m a little embarrassed how much I love Darnell Nurse. This 20-year old kid snuffed out one Anaheim cycle after another, tonight, alternatively flashing grit and speed. He added an assist, and went nose-to-nose with an angry Ryan Getzlaf in a really gutsy display. Darnell Nurse has some of the tools to be the first Oilers D-man of this type since a certain recently-inducted Hall-of-Famer. Guess who??
3. Anders Nilsson stopped pucks all night long, 34 in all. I have to admit I wasn’t sure how well it would go for Nilsson, early, as he kicked out a few juicy rebounds. But none of those came back to burn him. And as the game wore on, his rebound containment really improved. The Edmonton Oilers desperately needed a 1st rate performance from one of their goaltenders tonight. Well…they got it.
2. The line of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl was nothing short of outstanding tonight. Practically unstoppable. In the long-term, this could be a problem, as the Edmonton Oilers are relying a lot on just one line for most of their offence. But to stay in the moment…the hockey IQ of those 3 players, on the ice together at the same time, is very difficult to defend against. But Draisaitl was at the head of this elite class tonight: A goal, 2 assists, and a terrific back-check on the play that led to the winning goal. And we sent this kid to Bakersfield to start the season??? Wow.
1. I love the 3-on-3 format. I always hated the shoot-out, as I felt it denigrated a team game. But 3-on-3 is a situation that actually happens in real game situations, and as a result it is SO much better for the game. And the winner for the Edmonton Oilers on this night was a thing of beauty: A head’s up stop & push by Anders Nilsson, right onto the stick Andrej Sekera. Sekera then makes up for an earlier give-away at his own blue-line with a tape-to-tape break-away bank-pass to Teddy Purcell. And while I know Teddy Purcell is a popular whipping boy in this town, his finish was absolutely sublime. Betcha that was sweet for him.
Even at the start of the season, WITH Connor McDavid in the lineup, you could be forgiven for looking ahead to November 11th, seeing “Anaheim Ducks”, and saying to yourself “Scheduled Loss”. But not tonight.
Huh. Maybe Todd McLellan can teach this bunch of kids how to win, after all?