Edmonton Oilers Fall to Hurricanes in Tight Game

The Edmonton Oilers managed 24 shots on goal, but Connor McDaivd scored the lone goal in the team’s 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes Friday.

The Oilers have now lost three straight games following the All-Star break, and they have outscored 9-3. This is the second time this season that the Oilers losing skid has extended to three games.

Matt Benning left the game and did not return after colliding with Viktor Stalberg in the first period.

McDavid Keeps The Good Work Alive

Connor McDavid scored his 18th goal of the season and first since the All-Star break to tie the game at one in the second period. Continuously, McDavid has never gone more than two games without registering at least a point.

Edmonton Oilers

The 20-year-old center broke his stick just moments before scoring the Oilers’ first goal of the game. After grabbing a new twig, McDavid jumped on a stretch pass from Oscar Klefbom. He hustled past two defenders and backhanded the puck past Ward on a highlight-reel play.

McDavid became the first player to score 60 points this season. He’s currently four points ahead of Sidney Crosby in the NHL scoring race.

Eberle’s struggles continue

It was another difficult night for Jordan Eberle who has not had a banner season. Eberle, arguably Edmonton’s best finisher, had no shots on goal and posted a minus-1 in 18 minutes of ice time.

The 26-year-old winger has been held without a point in five consecutive games after finding his stride earlier in January. Eberle’s lack of production is a major concern for the Oilers. They’ll need him to put the puck in the net to help secure a playoff spot down the stretch run.

Talbot Brilliant Again

If there’s one thing the Oilers can count on it’s that Cam Talbot will give them a chance to win on most nights.

Playing on the second-half of back-to-backs, Talbot stopped 21 of 23 shots he faced in a losing effort. The 29-year-old goalie kept the Oilers in the past two games, however, his team has simply not given enough goal support.

Talbot has surrendered two or fewer goals in seven of his last nine starts. The Oilers will need him to be stellar again on Monday when Edmonton faces the Montreal Canadiens in the final game of their three-game road trip.