Edmonton Oilers Storm Back Twice, Lose In S/O
That was an exciting, if not particularly well-played, game, in which the Edmonton Oilers came back twice, from deficits. But after they had done so, and then had taken the lead, they just could not hold on. 9 Things:
9. Ryan Hamilton was scratched tonight, in favor of Luke Gazdic, who registered 9:18 TOI. Gazdic the enforcer engaged in a scrap, after which his club pulled up their socks & played substantially better. But he was also solid along the boards and finished even on the night. Hamilton will be back in OKC soon.
8. I fully, fully expect Nikita Nikitin back Monday against Toronto. And while he has been rightfully criticized this season, there is no way on earth that he can be worse than Keith Aulie, who was only Minus 1 on the night, but was awful. I witnessed a shift where Andrew Ference (whom a respect) was head-and-shoulders a faster skater than Aulie. Think about that for a moment…
7. Justin Schultz has really been dreadful, in a number of games on this road trip. But tonight in Columbus, he was really good: 27:06 TOI, 2 assists, Even on the night, and skated miles and miles. I believe Justin Schultz 10-15 pounds heavier next Fall would be a different (better) player.
6. The Edmonton Oilers Power Play is on an incredible hot streak, 9 for 21, tops in the league since mid-February. Todd Nelson always had an effective power play in the AHL, and he seems to be the Power-Play whisperer here in Edmonton, as well. Anton Lander, in particular, is making a difference in front of the net.
5. The guy on the other side of Justin Schultz was also excellent tonight. Oscar Klefbom played a stunning 26:00, and was very effective both in breaking up the cycle in the Oilers zone and was creative with the puck in the Jacket’s end. The next time he has a stinker (and he will) remember this performance.
4. Tonight was a good example of why the Edmonton Oilers need to go out and get a #1 goaltender. A “real” one. Look, Ben Scrivens is a decent NHL goalie. He made 3 saves in O/T that were spectacular. But he should have had the 1st one on the night, and perhaps the last, as well.
3. On that 1st Goal, yes…Scrivens should have stopped it. But the play headed in the other direction when Benoit Pouliot failed to get an easy chip deep. Because it looked like an easy dump, Klefbom & Schultz went to change, which gave the Jackets all kinds of time to set up. So, easy when you try to JUST blame the goalie.
Live Feed class=inline-text id=inline-text-8
Eyes On Isles
2. I am impressed with how Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle have progressed since Christmas, with Todd Nelson, but without Taylor Hall. Eberle was 1-1 tonight, Nugent-Hopkins 0-2. When your best players are your best players, and they were tonight, you will always have a chance to win.
1. In Oil Country, especially the last 18 months, the debate has raged over how exactly Nail Yakupov came to be the over-all #1 pick in 2012. Can well agree, having watched him play head-to-head against the #2 pick that year (Ryan Murray), that Nail Yakupov is the superior player? Yak had another goal, his 11th, but was effective all night, alongside Derek Roy, and was Even in his 17:13 TOI. But what I noticed the most about him was one play in the 3rd, with the Edmonton Oilers up 4-3, the Jackets go the Columbus puck deep in behind the Oilers Defence. An Oilers forward was the 1st man back and steered the puck out of danger. It was Yakupov. In December, he wouldn’t even have been on the ice. He has come a long, long way. Good on him.
Honestly, it was disappointing not to beat Columbus. They are really not a very good team. But the Oilers are also without Taylor Hall, Jeff Petry and David Perron. Do I make that excuse after every game? Yes. And if you set your emotions aside and look at this team rationally, you will, too.
The Leafs are at Rexall Monday. I have never, ever wanted a win more.