The Edmonton Oilers made it two wins in a row, defeating the Boston Bruins 3–1 on the road last night. It was another encouraging performance from an Edmonton team that seems to finally be firing on all cylinders. The Oilers are now 6–1–1 in their last eight, rounding into form headed to the holiday break.
Connor McDavid continued his molten streak, with a shorthanded goal to seal the game in the third period, as well as an assist. Quinn Hutson scored his first NHL goal, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added a goal and an assist to propel the Oilers to a win. The Oilers largely controlled play throughout the night, save for a Pavel Zacha goal to tie the game at 1–1 late in the first period.
However, the biggest storyline coming out of this game is certainly the health status of goaltender Tristan Jarry. Making just his third start for Edmonton since his acquisition from Pittsburgh, Jarry left the game with a seemingly lower-body injury with 3:52 left in the second period. Calvin Pickard came into the game, making 12 stops in relief of Jarry.
Here are the major takeaways from the game.
Jarry solid until injury, status unknown
Jarry had been having a great game until removing himself from the game late in the second. Making 12 saves on 13 shots—good for a .923 save percentage—Jarry was looking confident and controlled. His injury seemed innocuous at first, as he went side-to-side in an attempt to make a glove save on a shot that ultimately missed the net.
However, Jarry reacted instantly, and after the next whistle went right to the Oilers bench, where he seemed to inform Pickard he wouldn’t be able to continue. Jarry went down the tunnel and wasn’t on the Oilers bench to start the third, with EBUG Jason San Antonio taking Pickard’s place on the bench. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch didn’t have much of an update post-game, stating, “Not sure how serious it is. No updates.”
Jarry did miss time with a lower-body injury already this season, so it is possible he might have felt something strain and, rather than test his luck, exited the game out of an abundance of caution. In the worst case, where he misses time, Edmonton’s goaltending situation becomes a high-wire act.
Neither Pickard nor any of their AHL options, Connor Ingram and Matt Tomkins have shown any sort of consistent NHL-level goaltending to be relied upon this season. There has been speculation that the Oilers have been in trade talks with Buffalo for goaltender Alex Lyon, and although he’s probably intended to be Jarry’s backup, he would be able to potentially hold down the fort with Pickard until Jarry returns. The NHL’s holiday roster freeze is tonight at midnight EST, so we’ll see if Edmonton can get something done before then.
McDavid continues to dominate
What can you say about Connor McDavid right now that hasn’t been said? Another goal and assist for the Oilers captain, who now has 22 points in his last eight games. After a pedestrian start to the season, the old Connor McDavid is back with a vengeance. He looked dangerous on almost every puck touch against Boston, and his shorthanded goal was a particular thing of beauty. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was able to thread the saucer past three Bruins in the neutral zone, as McDavid broke in and went forehand to backhand on Jeremy Swayman to give the Oilers a huge insurance goal.
McDavid has now tied Nathan MacKinnon in league scoring with 58 points. Considering the season the Avalanche and “Nate Dogg” are having, it seemed like he would run away with the Art Ross Trophy, but McDavid’s resurgence has shown everyone around the league just how easy it is for him to turn it on and become the best player alive again. With the Oilers potentially facing an absence of their newly acquired starter, they’ll need McDavid to keep humming into the new year as Edmonton looks to clinch a sixth straight appearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Hutson’s first of potentially many
Quinn Hutson got his first National Hockey League goal against Boston. With 5:29 to go in the second period of a 1–1 game, Hutson and Max Jones did some good forechecking in the Bruins’ zone to win a puck battle. Jones brought the puck in front and took a shot, and the rebound bounced free in the crease to Hutson, who deposited on the backhand for his first in the NHL.
He only had 6:26 of ice-time, but he didn’t look out of place, and for someone playing just their fourth NHL game, that’s the most important part. In fact, Hutson looked noticeable when on-ice aside from his goal. He’s still a young player but Knoblauch has begun to show a better ability at playing young players, with Matt Savoie’s ice-time jump a key example. If Hutson continues to perform, especially with the current state of Edmonton’s bottom-six, he might find himself with an increased role sooner rather than later.
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Up next for Edmonton
The Oilers get a day off before heading to the State of Hockey to play the Minnesota Wild and their newly acquired star defenceman Quinn Hughes. Hopefully, an update about Jarry’s potential injury is announced sooner, rather than later.
