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Edmonton Oilers: What Went Wrong Against The Pens?

By Warsame A

EDMONTON, AB - OCTOBER 23: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers lines up for a face off against Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 23, 2018 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB - OCTOBER 23: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers lines up for a face off against Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 23, 2018 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Edmonton Oilers lost in overtime to the Pittsburgh Penguins last night. What went wrong exactly and what mistakes need to be addressed?

It was one fantastic game last night at Rogers Place, but the Edmonton Oilers lost in overtime to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The exciting battle between Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid was satisfying and exceeded all expectations. This game was a microcosm of what the Edmonton Oilers could be for the rest of the season.

It’s hard to fathom on how anybody else would see them in any other way. It isn’t how they lost that was surprising, but their overall performance in regulation was the most encouraging. It was that tenacity and heart that was lacking from them last year but so far early in the season, that isn’t the case.

The surprise of the game was from bottom-6 forward Alex Chiasson who netted two goals in regulation; even though both those goals were shot in awkward angles. The goalie didn’t have the chance to see them. His performance was a welcome surprise and hope that it isn’t a one-off ordeal.

He has a golden opportunity to take advantage of his playing time as he’s filling in as a replacement for injured starters. He doesn’t have to be a scoring threat each game but keep up the same intensity the other lines bring. That’s what a fourth line forward is supposed to do in this day and age in the NHL.

Going 2-for-5 on the power play in the game against the Penguins didn’t cut it when it was all said and done. Scoring in one of those missed chances could have given the Edmonton Oilers their fourth win of the season.

But seeing Sidney Crosby play overtime hero and making Ryan Strome and Cam Talbot look silly in the process put a bad taste in everybody’s mouth in Rogers Place. That’s why he’s one of the best players this beautiful sport has ever produced and what Connor McDavid is trying to aspire.

So now the Edmonton Oilers after losing to the former back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions will face off against the reigning one on Thursday night. We’ll see how they bounce back and capture a win against the current champions.

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