The Edmonton Oilers went out for a quick trip to Winnipeg last night to take on the Jets. After a dominant 6–2 victory over the Nashville Predators two nights earlier, the Oilers were facing a worse opponent standings-wise here. It helps, too, that the Oilers have had the Jets’ number this year. Should be an easy two points to pick up, right?
For their part, the Jets played an okay game the last time these two teams met, on December 29. They also played an okay game the other night against the Vegas Golden Knights. Neither ended with a victory for Winnipeg, which has pretty much been the story of their season. A lot of talent, but those guys just can’t finish the job. The Sportsnet broadcast mentioned that the Jets came in having tied an NHL record by losing 12 straight one-goal games.
It initially appeared as if that stat wouldn’t matter, as a hot finish to the first period put the Jets ahead 3–1. But on this night, we saw something that we haven’t seen too much out of this year’s Oilers: a rally. A methodical chipping-away of the Jets’ lead, and forcing them to make mistakes. One of those mistakes led to the decisive goal, from Evan Bouchard. And with the Oilers not getting an empty-netter, they help the Jets make NHL history. Winnipeg is the first team to lose 13 straight one-goal games. That’s gotta be a sign of unluckiness.
Oilers win 4–3.
This win was a lot harder than it needed to be. But it’s still two points at the end of the day, to help Edmonton keep pace at the top of the Pacific Division. Here’s the game story.
Sometimes it’s not about how you start, but rather how you finish
Much ado had been made, heading into the Nashville game on Tuesday, about slow starts for the Oilers. How during the first four games after the holiday break, they made their road to victory difficult with poor first-period play. Against Nashville, they at least led 1–0 after the opening frame. The hope is that it would start a new, much more responsible trend.
The first two periods in this game featured zero goals in the first ten minutes of either one. In the last three minutes of each period, the team’s combined for two goals apiece. That’s your indicator of how stark the difference was between starts and finishes in this one.
The only exception was the opening goal of the contest. Kyle Connor wired home a perfectly-placed pass that came from below the goal line. Give him that much room to work with, and you’re asking for trouble.
Connor McDavid got in on period-ending action as well, late in the second period, as he extended his points streak to 17 games. Because it’s McDavid, of course it has to be in dazzling fashion. This goal changed the mindset heading into the third, one could argue. It’s a lot easier to wipe away a one-goal deficit than a two-goal.
As will be detailed a little later on, the Oilers applied the same mantra to the game as a whole. Yes, they were behind 3–1 after the first period. But their third period was their best period by far, when it needed to be. A better start would be nice, but the solid finish makes up for it.
Kapanen-Draisaitl-Podkolzin has to be super-glued together going forward
Last game, Kasperi Kapanen returned to the lineup and was placed on the second line, between Leon Draisaitl and Vasily Podkolzin. While some pundits in the local media questioned the decision, it’s been undeniable that that line has had massive success before. Lo and behold, that line connected for two goals on Tuesday. Kapanen himself had a goal and an assist.
Inside of three minutes to go in the first period, they struck again. This time, Podkolzin was the benefactor of the Kapanen sweet sauce, and boy, did Podkolzin need another goal. He hadn’t scored in nine games coming into this one, despite two assists on Tuesday.
This second line is clicking so well that, because McDavid made it 3–2 right before the second intermission, Knoblauch paused the loading up of the top line that he had commenced. Draisaitl, Podkolzin, and Kapanen were out there for the opening face-off of Period 3. This line clearly has the trust of the coaches, as it’s got three goals on its own in the last two games. Don’t let the pundits tell you otherwise: Kapanen belongs on the second line. Only if they experience a major funk, should it be shaken up. But until then, ride the hot hand.
The Oilers dominated the Jets for twenty consecutive minutes
The comeback theoretically started with Trent Frederic fighting Logan Stanley after a second-period scrum. That’s Frederic’s third fight of the season, and the Oilers have now gone 3–0 in those games. That’s not to advocate for regular fighting, but it’s not to dismiss the fact that’s one of the best ways Frederic can impact a game.
After the McDavid goal late in the second, the Oilers kept pressing. Zach Hyman tied the game up at three with a magnificent short-side shelf job on Hellebuyck. With that shot, Hyman both reminds us he’s more than just a crash-the-net guy, while also making this observer assume his cupboards must be extremely well-organized with that meticulous of placement.
Edmonton then forced Jets forward Nino Niederreiter to take a delay of game penalty, leading to a crucial power play. You’re never gonna guess who converted it for the Oilers. Bouchard is smart money, as far as guesses go.
In a span of just over 20 minutes of game action, the Oilers outshot the Jets 18–0, while turning a 3–1 deficit into a 4–3 lead. That is pure, utter domination of a full period worth of play. It’s infuriating it took them so long to get a lead, but with that kind of disparity, they earned it. That much is clear, at least.
Could this be the last game we see Calvin Pickard in Oilers net?
Calvin Pickard got the start in this one, as he had the Jets’ number the last time these two teams faced off. Presumably the team doesn’t want to run Connor Ingram into the ground, but also it’s good to run with the goalie who’s hottest against a particular opponent. It’s fair to wonder though, if this might be it for Pickard, depending on how soon Tristan Jarry returns from injury.
This game was not Pickard’s finest, ultimately. The Jets got most of their shots on goal in the first period (11), and scored three times. Three goals on eleven shots is simply not good enough, and even if you give him a pass on the Kyle Connor goal because Kyle Connor is legit, the other two goals can’t go in.
Fortunately for Pickard, the Jets had less than half of their first-period shots on goal, as the output for the final 40 minutes. The Oilers limited Winnipeg to just five shots on goal, plus a loud ringing of iron. So even with that horrible end to the first period, and an overall .813 save percentage on the night, Pickard escapes with the win.
The Oilers have a back-to-back next week against Chicago and Nashville. If Jarry is good to return at least for the Nashville game, this could end up being it for Pickard. If Jarry needs one more week, Pickard will get one more start. But his time as an Oiler is on ice as thin as what covers the North Saskatchewan River in most areas.
Player perspective
“Anything you can (hold) on to and give yourself momentum, is huge- (Nurse) blocking that shot, and (Frederic) fighting a big guy, it’s huge for us.” -Evan Bouchard
It’s been a while, but the Oilers and Kings will finally meet again
We’ve been missing some of these divisional rivalries so far this season. Despite playing both of them in last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, it took the Oilers until December 21 to finally see the Vegas Golden Knights, and it will be January 10 when they finally meet the Los Angeles Kings. This Saturday is their first meeting since Game 6 in the first round last year. It marked the fourth straight series win over L.A. for Edmonton.
To rub salt in the Kings’ wounds, the Oilers will be celebrating Draisaitl’s 1000th NHL point on Saturday night. Draisaitl got to that milestone back on December 16, but Edmonton waited until now for the commemoration. That, though, just adds to the spectacle of the rivalry that isn’t a rivalry, because the Oilers always kick the Kings’ butts.
Hockey Night in Canada game, so an 8:00 PM local start time. Here’s manifesting a six-point night for Draisaitl. That would be cool.
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