Fresh off a big trade on Wednesday and another earlier in the day, the Edmonton Oilers came into Thursday’s game against Columbus on a five-game win streak. After some late game heroics from Leon Draisaitl in Boston, the team was looking to continue it’s hot streak in Ohio. Calvin Pickard started for the Oilers against the 30th ranked Columbus Blue Jackets, who countered with Daniil Tarasov.
Columbus gets the first goal
Mattias Janmark and Vincent Desharnais can’t get the puck out on the right half wall, leading to another Columbus cycle. Mathieu Olivier finds a soft spot between Desharnais and Derek Ryan where Justin Danforth finds him for the one timer. Pickard drifts out, squaring up to Olivier’s body which leaves the short side open, and pulls off the release which exposes even more net.
Nylander scores
An icing call gets called off, with Cody Ceci getting to the puck first but setting it up in no man’s land. Brett Kulak is expecting a harder reverse, but ends up reaching with one hand to corral it as he circles the net. Cole Sillinger strips Kulak and immediately throws it out front. Pickard slides to the middle and actually gets to decent position, but his glove isn’t activated and when he does react, he pulls off the puck leaving the shortside open once again.
Another goal for Columbus
Warren Foegele makes an absolutely horrendous turnover just inside the blue line, leading to a free break for Dmitri Voronkov. It’s basically a two-on-one, but Desharnais takes Johnny Gaudreau and gives Pickard the shot until late. Pickard is at the top of his crease, set and square on the shot. The problem is with his reaction. His blocker starts pulled over in front of his pad, but then his initial reaction has him react outwards his blocker while his body pulls away from the blocker side. That leaves just enough room for the puck to sneak in under his arm in the seven-hole for what is a bad goal to give up.
Edmonton finally gets a goal
The Oilers break into the zone, with Draisaitl button hooking while throwing a backhand towards Connor McDavid. McDavid makes a crazy play, whether intentional or not, to bump the puck to Zach Hyman who one times it in. Tarasov never had a chance as he was late getting to Hyman because there was no obvious pass to release from, even with the double royal road passes setting him behind even more. Hyman gets another wide open look off a McDavid set up.
Oilers get a power play goal
The second power play unit gets an opportunity, with Corey Perry setting up shop in front of Tarasov. Evander Kane drives in from the left half board with Perry taking away Tarasov’s eyes. The initial shot is actually going wide but Perry redirects it back into the shortside. Tarasov saw the release from the middle, but overreacts towards the shortside, actually going past the post and covering the boards, while the tip goes through his arm.
The Oilers couldn’t extend their streak
The Oilers were extremely flat all night, but Pickard could not bail them out during the firt period against Columbus. His season has somewhat stabilized the crease for Edmonton after Jack Campbell was waived, but most of his success has come against lesser teams while he’s struggled against quality competition. But with a first period of some better chances against one of those bottom roster’s he couldn’t find a way to get the Oilers an extra save. On the other end, the Oilers peppered Tarasov, but a combination of below average finishing talent and good goaltending led to a big night for the Columbus netminder.
