Heading into their final game before the Christmas break, the Edmonton Oilers were in control of their playoff picture. Win, and they’d sit with a playoff position over Christmastime; lose, and the Calgary Flames would have a chance to leap frog them later on. Regardless of the outcome, it sets up a fiery Battle of Alberta once hockey resumes.
Edmonton had the task of facing their divisional opponents the Vancouver Canucks. While the Canucks are struggling this season, they’re already playing the role of spoiler as they’re one of the teams that are probably not good enough to make the playoffs, but good enough to upset teams as underdogs.
The Oilers did their best to take the reins as they scored twice in the first period to go up in the game. However, the Canucks roared back with five unanswered goals. Tough breaks were had as the Canucks’ first goal came off of Stuart Skinner‘s shoulder to go airborne, going right over him and falling right into the net. Vancouver tied things up at two goals apiece heading into the third.
With the game still knotted at 2–2 with under ten minutes remaining, the Canucks ultimately went ahead and stayed ahead. The scored three times in the final eight minutes of the game to send the Oilers to the break with a loss.
The Flames ended up winning their game against the Anaheim Ducks and would indeed jump the Oilers for the second wild card spot.
Charts from the Oilers’ setback below.
Game events
Goals
| Goal | Assists | Time | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Derek Ryan | Warren Foegele | 09:42 | 1st | VAN 0 – 1 EDM |
| Connor McDavid | Zach Hyman, Leon Draisaitl | 19:55 | 1st | VAN 0 – 2 EDM |
| J.T. Miller | Conor Garland, Oliver Ekman-Larsson | 00:41 | 2nd | VAN 1 – 2 EDM |
| J.T. Miller (PPG) | Elias Pettersson, Bo Horvat | 18:33 | 2nd | VAN 2 – 2 EDM |
| Bo Horvat | Tyler Myers, Conor Garland | 12:25 | 3rd | VAN 3 – 2 EDM |
| Ilya Mikheyev | Bo Horvat | 17:19 | 3rd | VAN 4 – 2 EDM |
| Bo Horvat | Elias Pettersson, Tyler Myers | 19:19 | 3rd | VAN 5 – 2 EDM |
All situations Corsi
5v5 Corsi
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