Losing a game twice feels worse than losing a game once. I wonder how both Oilers and Sabres fans who attended yesterday’s game felt like when the Overtime goal was called back for offside. Both rosters had already headed back to their respective locker rooms; I hadn’t shut off my T.V. yet, and then the camera cuts to the referee calling the goal back. Imagine being inches away from leaving the arena and then learning that the game isn’t really over after all. The Oilers did eventually lose in the shootout, but if I didn’t keep my T.V. on, I’d be starting this article with something else.
The negative for this game was blowing a 2-0 lead to a non-playoff team. The positive was Warren Foegele and Ryan McLeod finally reuniting with Leon Draisaitl. Like a lot of Oilers fans, I would’ve liked to see Ken Holland get a top 6 RW at the Trade Deadline. But this second line needs to stay together forever and never be split again. Even if they go a game or two without scoring, going back to the line blender method won’t fix the problem. Just leave it alone. Foegele was way more relaxed and confident in this game. He took a lot of flack for his giveaway against the Blue Jackets, which led to a goal. When Deadline Day is just around the corner every year, you can’t help but feel only nerves as you might have to be the sacrificial lamb in a trade. 37’s chemistry with 71 and 29 is apparent, don’t fix what wasn’t broken.
Ryan McLeod set a random record in this game as well. He became the 6th player in NHL history to score 3 goals in the opening 30 seconds of a game. The other 5 were Jean Ratelle(1971-1972), Bill Goldsworthy (1973-1974), Rick Martin(1976-1977), Jeremy Roenick(1992-1993) and former Oiler Jordan Eberle(2011-2012).
Edmonton will cap off a disappointing road trip against a team that the Oilers delivered a pounding on last weekend. The keys to the game are…
Better Decision Making: I don’t blame Darnell Nurse for Owen Power’s OT goal yesterday because he was tripped on the play before Power got the puck, and it didn’t count anyway. But on Buffalo’s first goal, he could’ve iced the puck on the penalty kill but held it for too long, and the Sabres were able to keep the puck in Edmonton’s zone until they eventually scored. In the third period, Connor McDavid turned the puck over, wanting to make a no-look backhand pass in his own zone. Jacob Bryson took the puck and tied the game. I don’t blame Stuart Skinner for either of the goals allowed. The leadership group on the Oilers needs to be more responsible on the ice.
Captain Pickard: I thought Skinner should’ve gotten last weekend’s game against Pittsburgh and Calvin Pickard the night before. I was dead wrong, and Twitter was nice enough to remind me. He has to do the same again and be extra sharp this time. I don’t believe the Hall Of Fame pedigree on the Penguins would take kindly to being embarrassed by the same team again, especially not in their own rink.
PUCK-ING SHOOT: Whenever the Oilers get scoring chances, they’ve gone back to this very passive habit, especially on the powerplay. Perhaps other teams have caught on to McDavid’s passes to Draisaitl and know how to take those away. Evan Bouchard still doesn’t look like he shoots the puck enough, even with that really hard shot of his. Edmonton had chances on the PP to put the game away with a 3rd goal but were their own worst enemy. The Penguins have the 6th best PK in the league. If the Oilers get enough chances with the man advantage, they won’t beat it without getting as many pucks on net as possible.
