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Edmonton Oilers Lose O/T Thriller 4-3

By Kurt Leavins

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Finally, a night when the Edmonton Oilers get more than just a moral victory, although it was not the 2 points they were hoping for against the Chicago Black Hawks. But the Oilers out-shot and out-played the defending Stanley Cup Champions. In the end, the difference between 1 points and two was a spectacular, game-saving stop by Corey Crawford off a bullet by Taylor Hall. Make the final 4-3 Hawks.

9 Things:

9. It may seem odd to say that the Edmonton Oilers blue line had one of it’s best games in a 4-3 loss. But 5 of the 6 had excellent games, Darnell Nurse in particular. And even the guy with the worst shot metrics, Mark Fayne, played a quiet, contained game and that he doesn’t drive offence is no shocker. Sekera was also strong. A complete effort.

8. It is hard to fault Anders Nilsson tonight. He played well, including two 5-Alarm saves on Marian Hossa in the 2nd Period, and another later on Niklas Hjalmarsson that kept his team close. But at the end of the night, it is impossible to argue that
Corey Crawford was not one save better than him. The difference in the game.

7. I was one of the people who always saw positives in the game of Teddy Purcell. That may be because I appreciated him for the skills that he had, versus the ones that he didn’t have. But he has dialed his game up a notch, with 2 more assists tonight, including the “turning point” play on the Leon Draisaitl tying goal.

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6. That is easily the best that I have seen Griffin Reinhart all season. His Corsi on the night was a terrific 67%! But more importantly, the eye saw a difference in his game this evening. I saw traces of a mean streak, and a player more willing to physically engage. That could be the difference maker for him.

5. After being pretty hard on Anton Lander all year, I can finally say that the guy had a real good game tonight. He still couldn’t find the score sheet. But when you look at his possession numbers, he was spectacular, particularly defending. Although I will say that Lauri Korpikoski and Iiro Pakarinen played strong supporting roles.

4. I’m not sure you can call it secondary scoring, from the guy who led your team in scoring in 3 of the last 5 years. But that pretty break-away goal by Jordan Eberle tonight was sorely needed, for a team leaning heavily on one line, lately. It is not easy to cold-stone a word class goalie like Crawford, who(sadly, for the Good Guys) proved just that a period later.

3. There is lots of talk tonight about the trade request from the New York Islanders Travis Hamonic, and the fact that he has requested to land with a Western Canadian team. While a player of his quality would absolutely help the Edmonton Oilers, would you give up a Darnell Nurse or an Oscar Klefbom, to get him? After watching those two kids yet again tonight against elite NHL talent, I would say…no. Good luck, Peter Chiarelli.

2. Leon Draisaitl is beginning to establish himself as a…wait for it…#1 NHL center. The big German kid was terrific again tonight, at both ends of the ice. He now has 14 points in 9 games, since his re-call from Bakersfield. He is absolutely driving the offence. I always knew that he had good straight-away speed. But his acceleration is notably better this season, so that he gets up to ‘run-away train” speed even quicker, and becomes damn hard to stop. Scored the equalizer, 14-10 in the face-off circle, and the game’s 2nd star.

1. The Play. In the 3-on-3, Leon Draisaitl corralled the puck in his own zone, put his head down, and drove his way past 3 of the very best players in the NHL. Then, as he rumbled toward the crease, he drops this pass-made-from-heaven into the deep slot for Taylor Hall, who unleashed a Howitzer at the Black Hawks net. The whole rink thought it was in. But Corey Crawford stretched his glove across and just snagged the puck before it hit the back of the net. This is a beautiful play, as their simply is no mistake to talk about. It was as pure of a hockey play as you may see all season, and would have been a joy to behold, had it not worked against the Home Team.

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In the end, friends, it is a valuable point against one of the very best teams in the NHL. This could give the Edmonton Oilers some much-needed confidence, heading into their game Friday night against the stingy New Jersey Devils…a team that the Oilers, if they play like this again, should win.

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