The Edmonton Oilers were looking to tie their season-long win streak of eight wins. After a putrid start to the season, the team turned things around by picking up 16 points in a row to take them from the bottom of the league into wild card contention.
Then after three straight losses, they did it all over again. Their second set of eight wins in a row has elevated them beyond just contention and right into a playoff spot. They are comfortably holding down the second wild card spot at the moment with their games in hand, and have shown no signs of slowing down.
However, they did slow down in their game against the Blackhawks as their high-octane offence wasn’t required.
Low shot volume, big win energy
The Oilers posted just 15 shots on goal in their latest game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Eight shots in the first, four in the second, and just three in the third. They still got a 2–1 victory as the depleted Blackhawks roster couldn’t muster any offence of their own either.
This win marks the lowest number of shots the Oilers have tallied so far this season. Prior to tonight, their lowest shot total in a game occurred twice, where 23 shots for Edmonton led to a 4–1 loss against the Philadelphia Flyers and a 6–3 loss against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The lowest total shots required for them to win a game this season was 26, where they’ve won three times in that scenario, including that 8–2 roasting of the Ducks.
A shooting team
The Oilers haven’t been held to 15 shots in a game since the 2014–15 season, where they lost twice in such games against the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues. They had 14 shots against the Detroit Red Wings in 2013–14, also a loss.
The last time the Oilers won a game posting 15 shots or fewer was all the way back in 2012–13, where they beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3–1 with just 14 shots.
Trending up
Let it be known that the Oilers, especially this version of the team, tallying just 15 shots in a game is highly uncharacteristic. Yet, they still found a way to win and keep their win streak alive.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
Missed 3 open nets in last 2 min.