The Edmonton Oilers continued their homestand last night, taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins. After a tough 2–1 loss to the New Jersey Devils in which they were goalied for the second time in less than a week, the Oilers would hope for a bounceback in this one. Despite the major storyline surrounding this game, it would be one-time playoff foe Artūrs Šilovs who they’d face.
That major storyline, of course, was the return of former Oilers Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak to Edmonton. Kulak, wearing the number 77 that his previous Defence Coach Paul Coffey wore when helping Pittsburgh claim their first Stanley Cup in 1991, would play in this game at least while Skinner backed up Artus Šilovs. And for the second time since that Oilers-Pens trade, Tristan Jarry got the start against his former club.
If the Penguins playing Skinner last night and giving him tonight off was in any way motivated by the last meeting between these two teams, the Oilers might have been best-served following the same decision-making. Jarry was far from the only problem, or even the biggest, problem on this night but he certainly didn’t help. The Penguins, though, blitzed Edmonton for three goals in thirty-eight seconds, and didn’t look back. Even when the Oilers did offer pushback, it wasn’t close to good enough. Unlike last game against New Jersey, this game had no redeeming qualities about it.
Oilers lose 6–2.
Burn the tape of this one. And then dispose of that tape wherever you dumped the New Year’s Eve game footage. This game is just best forgotten about. Here’s the game story.
Slow starts will cost this team dearly in the playoffs
The game before was a slow start for the Oilers. The Devils came in, and turned the first period into a defensive slog that, somewhere, Lou Lamoriello smiled about. They then got their goals in the second period, before Edmonton woke up and tried to rally for a win. By that time, Jake Allen was too comfortable to be beat in a second instance.
The damage from this slow start was much more immediate. Anthony Mantha had the first two Penguins goals, and they came 22 seconds apart. He’s not Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, but he’s still a solid NHL player, and you can’t give him chances like these.
Crosby, for what it’s worth, put the exclamation point on three goals in 38 seconds. That was effectively the game right there, as the Oilers only managed to score two goals on this night. Far more brutal beginning to this one than two nights ago.
The Oilers have had a recurring problem with slow starts to games all season. It’s arguably the biggest reason why they’re not in first place in the division right now. And if winning the division is their regularseason goal, they must find far better openings to games within them.
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The big offensive guys are suddenly in a funk
This section comes with a preface: Leon Draisaitl is not included in this rant. The fact he was already back out there less than a week after going on a leave of absence due to an illness in the family is nothing short of heroic. Still wishing the absolute best for the Draisaitls, and for Leon.
The rest of the offensive talents of the Oilers, however, have no excuses. They’ve been playing home games all week with no back-to-backs, had a weekend where they outscored opposition 11–0, and faced two goalies in Allen and Šilovs who you should be able to scratch out wins against.
Yet, the two goalscorers in this game were Jake Walman and Matt Savoie. Savoie also had the only goal for Edmonton against New Jersey. It’s awesome that the depth guys are finally showing up, but given how massive of an issue depth scoring was earlier in the season, the onus is on Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, and Vasily Podkolzin to back up their efforts. None of them registered a point, and only McDavid even entered the scoresheet (via second-period minor penalty).
Savoie, at least, has shown enough these past two games that it might be worth giving him a bump up the lineup. If Kasperi Kapanen isn’t ready to go on Saturday night, perhaps you slot Savoie back into Kapanen’s spot on Draisaitl’s wing. Worst comes to worst, it doesn’t pan out, and when Kapanen returns you put him back there, and Savoie on the third line. But something has to be done to try and jolt the offence next game.
Time to roll with Ingram for a few games
Jarry was both a contributor and a hindrance to the result against New Jersey. He made stupendous saves to keep the game close, but also posted a sub-.900 save percentage, making one less save than his team needed him to. Nevertheless, the highlight-reel stuff earned him a second straight start against his former club.
This one turned out to be much more of an all-around disaster than the Devils game was. And to be fair to Jarry, Bob Stauffer declared during the first intermission, on Sportsnet, that only one of the three first-period goals against was somewhat saveable. So this was much more of a “team” loss, like the other times Edmonton has been skunked this season.
Jarry, though, couldn’t bring out more of the grand-larceny saves he made on Tuesday night. He finished this game with 16 saves and an ugly .727 save percentage, and was lucky to not be pulled. After a night like this, you have to give him a reset. Just like they did with Connor Ingram after the New Year’s Eve game.
Expect to see Ingram on Saturday night. And if Ingram is lights-out in that game, ride with him for a bit. The Oilers are in a situation where they have to ride with the hotter goaltending hand. If Ingram proves it, then give him the reins.
The abysmal home performances have to stop
If there’s some sort of ritual, or cleansing, that can be done to Rogers Place, it is going to have to be done. No fewer than four times now have the Oilers come out and gotten absolutely torched on their home ice. It’s drastically different from what it’s been in seasons past, and the Oilers cannot allow it to happen another time this season.
Whatever the cause is, fix it. That’s the simple message. Your home ice has to be defended to the bitter end, and quite frankly, it isn’t being defended anywhere near that well right now. Change the pre-game routine, change the stick tape and gloves, change whatever you need to switch up. No more brutal showings on home ice.
Player perspective
“It was tough, just managing the puck. That’s a key for any team, and any team could play well at any time.” -Tristan Jarry on the slow start
A win against Washington is desperately needed
Going .500 is acceptable for a lengthy road trip. You start off hot, get a couple wins in the early going, scratch out a late win, and then finish rather exhausted. That’s totally understandable.
Going .500 in an eight-game homestand, however, is unacceptable by every measure. Especially given Edmonton is still fighting for the Pacific Division crown, they need points badly. Good news for them, their friends in Beantown did the Oilers a solid, and took care of Vegas last night. Ironically, they did so with their own three-in-under-a-minute combo attack.
Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals are on the docket next. Gotta find a way to get a win here, because 1–3 in the first four of an eight-game homestand is a disastrous start. Hockey Night in Canada game, so an 8:00 PM local start time for that game.
