The Edmonton Oilers were in San Jose yesterday to take on the Sharks, at the ol’ Shark Tank (also known as SAP Center at San Jose). Coming off a commanding victory over the Los Angeles Kings, the Oilers had reason to feel good about themselves. The question would be whether they could carry that momentum over into this matinee affair.
San Jose may be on a losing streak against Edmonton dating back to a certain infamous game that spelled the end of the Jay Woodcroft era. But they are a lethal team now with a promising goalie tandem, and can’t be taken lightly. Remember, this is the same team that got to send a teenage Macklin Celebrini to the Olympics.
Tonight ended up being the comeuppance for the Sharks. They drew Edmonton into another barnburner of a game, and just like against Anaheim, the Oilers couldn’t keep up. It’s fantastic the boys have scored 17 goals in just three games, but it matters none when the result is a 1–2 record because the defence forgets how to defend.
Oilers lose 5–4.
This is going to be a short one. Otherwise, it would be a carbon copy of the Anaheim game recap. And this observer doesn’t feel like rehashing the entirety of that one. Here’s the game story.
If a defenceman is acquired, the Oilers must bench some guys
Bob Stauffer indicated during the second intermission that the Oilers’ trade deadline focus has shifted. No longer is their main target a third-line centre who can play the wing here and there. Instead, it’s a right-side defenceman who can preferably handle both sides. This prospective defenceman would slot into the fourth defenceman position.
Should this player be acquired, some guys will be in for a benching, or demotion to the third pair. Top of the list is Darnell Nurse, who can’t fight his way out of a paper bag right now. Look at the 2–0 goal from Michael Misa, for example. That’s such a level of “controller disconnected” on Nurse’s part, that backchecking Alex Ovechkin is scrambling to take notes.
Jake Walman, despite scoring a goal later in the game, was himself guilty of losing his man. He did so on the Barclay Goodrow 3–1 tally. Oh, would you look who joined him. Perhaps that should not be a pairing moving forward- and perhaps it comes via a trade acquisition demoting a certain number 25.
Not to be spared, Ty Emberson and Spencer Stastney need some work, too. The Wennberg 4–3 goal was evidence of that. And with how these defenceman are losing men around the net, you can see why it’s not easy being a goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers:
Make the trade, Stan Bowman. Get a top-4 defenceman, right-side preferable, both sides even more so. And then expect head coach Kris Knoblauch to insert them wisely. Any further second-pair Darnell Nurse sightings would be cause for immediate firing in that scenario.
Ingram was decent, but the first goal featured a costly mistake
Connor Ingram’s stats suggest a goaltender who failed to help his team win. But to suggest that is tacit admission that you did not watch the second period, when this game could have been 5–1 instead of 3–2 without his brilliance. He helped keep the Oilers in it right until the bitter end, which, given the defensive issues is quite plenty.
He’s gonna have a difficult time, however, living down his first-period gaffe. After losing his stick, Ingram tried to retrieve it after the puck exited the zone. One problem with that: look who brought the puck back in for the Sharks.
That’s the one goal that Ingram rightfully shares some blame for. It’s hard to fault him for most of the other goals, even when a save on one of those coupled with no blatant gaffe gets him over .900 save-percentage wise. But that goal was completely preventable.
Safe to say, at least, the offence has finally found its mojo
Add another four tallies onto the offence’s post-Olympics scoresheet, at least. Since the break, that’s 17 goals scored by the Oilers. This is meant with full intent: Stuart Skinner was receiving 17 goals of run support every seven games at the start of the season. The offence cost this team games in the early going, and that’s a fact that needs to be openly confessed in Churchill Square. But it’s finally turning a corner, and being back to the familiar, high-octane Oilers offence of years recent.
The passing play on the 3–2 goal was especially a thing of beauty. Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard teamed up for this one, and boy do they mesh well together; isn’t that right, Team Canada? Mattias Ekholm got the other assist, and is one away from 300 career assists.
And then, for added pleasure, here’s the two tying goals. One of them came from Trent Frederic, of all people. The Oilers wasted a game that featured a Trent Frederic goal. For shame.
Keep the offence rolling, boys. Once the defence has been shut down and restarted again like a desktop computer, that offence will win many games. It’s a lot more fun to watch, at least, than early on in the season.
The upcoming home cooking has to produce nothing but wins
It doesn’t matter that the Senators are fighting for the playoffs, and it doesn’t matter that Brandon Bussi is dynamite. This week’s two games need to produce wins. No excuses can be accepted.
The Oilers have put themselves in this position where the margin for error is very slim. Now they have to get to the playoffs the hard way. Ottawa is beatable by all measures; Carolina will prove to be a test of whether or not the Oilers have learned lessons about scoring on hot goalies. These two games will be far bigger than the names cam indicate.
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