The Morning After: Edmonton Oilers Powerplay Flexes It’s Muscles
After a loss in overtime on Saturday, the Edmonton Oilers won the rematch against the Vegas Golden Knights last night by a score of 7-4.
4. 942. Final. 7. 148
After getting down quickly in the first period the Edmonton Oilers were able to use the powerplay to get them back into the game. The Edmonton Oilers special teams were a huge factor in the win last night.
The powerplay went 3 for 3 while the penalty kill killed off all three opportunities for Vegas. In the first period, the powerplay was extremely impactful as on both occasions the Oilers gave up a goal less than one minute before the Edmonton Oilers powerplay was able to counter.
If the Edmonton Oilers don’t score on those opportunities this is a completely different game. These goals instantly took the momentum back right when Vegas was starting to build. It was just the powerplay to do that as well.
| 1st Period | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01:12 | VEG | Jonathan Marchessault (25) | Ivan Barbashev | |
| 01:49 | EDM | PP | Evan Bouchard (6) | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Connor McDavid |
| 08:20 | EDM | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (35) | ||
| 09:24 | VEG | SH | William Karlsson (14) | Alex Pietrangelo |
| 09:48 | EDM | PP | Leon Draisaitl (47) | Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins |
| 2nd Period | ||||
| 03:13 | VEG | Michael Amadio (13) | Chandler Stephenson, Phil Kessel | |
| 06:01 | EDM | Darnell Nurse (10) | Warren Foegele, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | |
| 13:30 | EDM | Evander Kane (14) | Leon Draisaitl, Kailer Yamamoto | |
| 15:34 | EDM | PP | Zach Hyman (33) | Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins |
| 3rd Period | ||||
| 04:24 | EDM | Brett Kulak (3) | ||
| 18:28 | VEG | Jonathan Marchessault (26) | Alex Pietrangelo, Jack Eichel |
Provided by Hockey-Reference.com
Generated 3/29/2023.
Quick Edmonton Oilers Counterpunches Made A Difference
The Edmonton Oilers counterpunched quickly 3 at different moments. Marchessault scored 1:12 into the game, then Bouchard countered on the powerplay 37 seconds later. Karlsson scored a shorthanded goal at 9:24 in the first then 24 seconds later Draisaitl scored on the same powerplay to get it back.
Then to open the second period Amadio scored to tie the game at 3, but that tie wouldn’t last long as Nurse would get it back under 3 minutes later. I really liked the fightback the Edmonton Oilers showed in this game. It is more impressive when it is against the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights.
Finally Some Out Of Town Help
The Edmonton Oilers are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. They should be moving up the standings. The problem is the teams in front of them are playing just as well. Last night the Edmonton Oilers were able to gain on both Vegas and the Los Angeles Kings.
They gained on Vegas by obviously beating them head-on, but the Los Angeles Kings lost last night as well. The Oilers Alberta rivals, the Calgary Flames, did Edmonton a solid last night by beating the Kings in regulation. This means the Oilers gained two points on both the Kings and the Golden Knights last night. That makes the standings very tight now.
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | PTS% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vegas Golden Knights | 74 | 46 | 22 | 6 | 98 | .662 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 74 | 43 | 21 | 10 | 96 | .649 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 75 | 43 | 23 | 9 | 95 | .633 |
Provided by Hockey-Reference.com
Generated 3/29/2023.
With only 7 games left for the Oilers, the issue for Edmonton now is games remaining. There is still a chance for the Edmonton Oilers to finish first, but they will need to win most of their games and will also need the two teams above them to lose a few more.