Top 3 Oilers studs from 5-2 Heritage Classic Win
While it was an excellent team win versus the Calgary Flames in the Heritage Classic, we look at three Edmonton Oilers players in particular who stood out.
Edmonton Oilers fans were understandably nervous heading into Sunday’s Battle of Alberta in the great outdoors. Their beloved team was on a four-game losing streak and had the second-worst record in the entire NHL.
However, it all turned out just right in the end, as the Oilers showed the Flames who the better team was on the way to an impressive 5-2 win in the Heritage Classic. In the process, they secured their first home victory of the season, albeit at Commonwealth Stadium rather than Rogers Place.
As a result, we get to name our top three Oilers studs for just the second time so far this season. Here is who stood out in particular, on what turned into a perfect Sunday evening for the fine folks of Edmonton:
1) Stuart Skinner
If you just want to base your opinion on pure statistics, then yes, Stuart Skinner has been below-par to this point in 2023-24. He has the worst save percentage thus far of his four years in the NHL, while his Goals Against Average is essentially a goal worse than either of his two previous seasons.
However, Skinner is a classic example of having to go deeper than just the numbers. Yes, he has had his issues at times this season, but the reality is he — along with Jack Campbell — has been left hung out to dry far to many times up to this point.
In any event, the 2022-23 Calder Memorial Trophy runner up entered Sunday evening in fine form. Save for the boneheaded decision to come out of his crease versus the Jets, he’d played well in his previous two games.
Now, you can make it three games in a row of Skinner performing to a good standard between the pipes. He saved 24 of the 26 shots he faced on the night, with both goals allowed coming when the Flames were on the power-play.
The 24-year-old could do nothing on the first goal in particular, with the Flames actually on a two-man advantage. And yet, it still took Nazem Kadri deflecting the puck from close range, to beat the Oilers goalie.
You can’t really blame Skinner for the Flames’ second goal either, with A.J. Greer beating three Oilers to a rebound and firing a wrist shot home. Regardless, as the visitors turned up the heat, he stood tall and did not allow any goals during the final 20 minutes.
2) Evander Kane
Now that’s more like it – this is the version of Evander Kane people were expecting to see this season. The one who two season’s ago excelled after arriving in Edmonton, as he had a career-high +25 plus/minus rating and earned a contract extension.
This season had started poorly for Kane, as he produced just one point through five games, had a team-worst -6 plus/minus rating and just overall looked like a shadow of his former self. He did record two points in the 7-4 loss to the Wild, but it wasn’t until Sunday, when he finally reminded fans what he’s all about.
How do you want to measure the 32-year-old’s impact? How about in the literal sense, as he led all Oilers with six hits and was just generally an intimidating physical presence versus the Flames.
Kane also led the team with six shots, but additionally showed his offensive prowess as a facilitator. He set up the crucial opening score of the game, for Brett Kulak’s first goal of the season.
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Then, after the Flames had closed to within 3-2 after 40 minutes, the winger stepped up and led the charge in the final period when needed most. First, he got the helper on Vincent Desharnais’ first NHL goal (eventually), to make it 4-2.
Kane would subsequently follow this up with a well-deserved goal, courtesy of an empty-netter as the final minute was ticking down. Unsurprisingly, he finished with a season-high +3 plus/minus rating.
As much as the 2009 fourth overall draft pick would have been happy with his own performance, he was more focused on how well the team did. Speaking to the media postgame, he said:
“I thought we got back to our foundation of how we like to play and how we need to play. I thought we skated really well tonight, I thought we were physical. We got pucks and bodies in – look at the goals we scored. Every single one of them was around their blue paint, or creating havoc around their blue paint. That’s the recipe for success for our group.”
3) Zach Hyman
Following on from the best campaign of his NHL career to date, more was expected from Zach Hyman. However, save for his four-point performance in Nashville, he’d struggled to recapture his form from last season. (Although in fairness to him, this is the case for a lot of Oilers players so far in 2023-24.)
It seems that all it took to get back on track, was to take part in a game in open air. As mentioned during postgame interviews, Hyman has performed well whenever he plays outdoors.
First up, the former Toronto Maple Leaf scored in the opening period, to give the Oilers a 2-0 lead. Admittedly Leon Draisaitl did most of the hard work with his run down the left wing, but Hyman timed his own run perfectly to deftly fire home his teammate’s pass.
The 31-year-old didn’t officially do anything on the Oilers’ third goal, but his positioning was perfectly timed and subtle enough to temporarily blindside the Flames goalie. He then provided the secondary assist on Desharnais’ goal, to all but complete an excellent game.
Hyman was asked afterwards by the media, about why he plays so well outdoors. He said:
“I never thought about that. They’re just fun games. You try and score in every game right, you’re not trying to do anything differently. But yes, I just enjoy being out there … the atmosphere, and maybe the game suits me because it’s a little chippier, the puck’s bouncing (laughs) and everyone’s on an even playing field.”
The winger also discussed how well the Oilers played in the third period, to put the game away. He said:
“Yeah, (Calgary) made a strong push in the second period, so obviously to come out in the third and to weather the storm and have our own push back, was huge. That fourth goal was massive, it just kind of settled the group down and then you just go out there and play.”
Next. Oilers' bottom-six still failing to produce points. dark
It’s a shame the Oilers now have to wait until Thursday to play again, thus potentially compromising any momentum gained on Sunday. Regardless, at least the wait will be a positive one thanks to a win, rather than yet another loss.