Edmonton Oilers: Instant reaction from team’s 2-1 SO win vs Winnipeg

Back at home, the Edmonton Oilers prevailed 2-1 in the shootout over the Winnipeg Jets, with Stuart Skinner making his fourth start of the season.

After a 2-3 roadtrip, the Edmonton Oilers returned to Rogers Place for a quick two-game homestand before heading back out on the road again. On Thursday, the blue-and-orange hosted the Winnipeg Jets in front of 17,000-plus fans, winning 2-1 in the shootout.

Goal Breakdown:

Ehlers (5), Assist: Schiefele (4), Connor (9)

McDavid (11), Assists: Keith (4), Ceci (4)

Stats:

Goals: 

EDM: 1

WPG: 1

Shots On Goal: 

EDM: 32

WPG: 45

Hits:

EDM: 39

WPG: 17

Faceoff Percentage: 

EDM: 52.5%

WPG: 47.5%

Power Plays: 

EDM: 0/2

WPG: 0/5

Game Notes:

Stuart Skinner got his fourth start in net this season, and he was peppered with shots early on as the Oilers were outshot 17-10 in the first period. He made a big-time save in the final minute of the first period, with the Jets creating a 2-on-1 shorthanded opportunity.

The Oilers’ goalie made not one but two saves on the rush, denying Jets’ forward Andrew Copp on both chances.

Zach Hyman had perhaps the best scoring opportunity for the Oilers in the first period, attempting a reverse bunt of the puck out of mid-air with just over five minutes remaining but was unfortunately stopped by Jets’ netminder Connor Hellebuyck.

Into the second period, Skinner stayed on point with just over eight minutes gone by, making his 22nd save of the evening on Kyle Connor‘s breakaway attempt fresh out of the penalty box.

The Oilers had a great chance in the dying seconds of the Jets’ powerplay, with just over five minutes remaining in the second period. With Zach Hyman leading the odd-man rush up-ice along with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the former’s centering pass was blocked by Hellebuyck, creating chaos in front of the net.

Hyman regained control of the puck, carried it around the back of the net, finding Darnell Nurse in the slot, who misfired on the one-timer.

In a wild finish to the second period, Connor McDavid delivered two big hits on Mark Scheifele against the boards while Skinner stopped the Jets’ shooting gallery, with Nate Schmidt‘s shot drawing iron.

The Skinner show carried into the third period, with the Oilers’ netminder making two more huge saves off attempts from Connor and Nikolaj Ehlers at the 14:30 mark. Both goalies were outstanding, with Hellebuyck matching Skinner’s performance, absorbing Evan Bouchard’s blast from the point with under ten minutes to play.

The Jets broke through with six minutes remaining on Schiefele’s drop pass to Ehlers, who fired a blast from the left dot, and Skinner never saw it. However, McDavid responded 30 seconds later, beating three Jets’ defenders and Hellebuyck to even the score.

The Oilers did a great job of killing off McDavid’s double minor, eating up most of the overtime period in the process.

Into the shootout, McDavid and Kyle Turris scored for the Oilers while Skinner was a brick wall.

Game, set, match. Oilers win.

Edmonton (12-4) is back at it on Saturday, hosting the Chicago Blackhawks.