Oilers Postgame: Connor McDavid the Cat Tamer

Heading into tonight’s game, the Oilers had only 1 win streak consisting of 4+ games this season. They would be looking to take on a somewhat struggling Florida Panthers team, on the second half of a back-to-back, in order to translate their current 3 game streak into the 4 game range.

In order to do so, Edmonton would have to not only shut down the ageless wonder Jaromir Jagr, but they would also have to find a way to crack Florida’s backup goaltender, James Reimer. But it’s a backup you say, how hard could it be? For the Oilers, apparently very difficult.

Through 7 career games against the Oilers, James Reimer carried in a record of 5-1 with 2 shutouts and a .940 save percentage. Craziness.

Could the Oilers take advantage of a team on very little rest, end James Reimer’s Edmonton-witchery, and gain a very much need 2 points in the Western Conference standings? Let’s take a look and see.

1st Period

• The Oilers started a little slow, with the Panthers getting 5 shots in the first 3 minutes, but thankfully it wouldn’t last long. Zack Kassian was able to pot his first goal in 37 games just 6 minutes in! Connor McDavid set the winger up rather nicely off a 2 on 1 that was generated solely by the Captain’s speed. That is McDavid’s 100th career point, in his 92nd game. Way to go, Captain! P.S. – I love the celly!

This is the best. 😄 #FLAvsEDM pic.twitter.com/rMaSkmkbZZ

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 19, 2017

• After a terrific showing on Monday, the Nuge, Eberle and Pouliot line looked to be picking up right where they left off. Where was this speedy, aggressive, and emotional Pouliot all year?!?!?
• Make it 101 points for Connor! The Oilers were able to capitalize almost immediately on a Power Play opportunity as Mark Letestu, off his skate, deflected in a McDavid pass. Andrej Sekera had the other helper. 2-0 Oilers.

#Oilers up 2-1 thanks to Letestu's PPG. #FLAvsEDM pic.twitter.com/zeqHDC0YZv

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 19, 2017

• The Panthers would bite back a bit late in the period with a goal of their own, courtesy of Vincent Trocheck. That is his 3rd goal in 2 nights. Hard to fault Talbot on the marker as it was a beautiful shot. 2-1 Oilers.
• Some more late Panther pressure would follow, largely due to sloppiness on Edmonton’s part, but the Oilers would escape the period still up 1.

Talk about an active period, with the shot clock reading 15-13 in favour of the Panthers. For the Oilers, the scoreboard was a pretty picture with a nice 2-1 lead to show after 20; however, the actual execution in the frame left more to be desired. Way too much sloppiness had began to emerge in the final few minutes, and the game could have easily been tied.

For the Oilers to get a win, they would have to emulate their early 1st period selves and put an immediate stop to the late period mistakes.

2nd Period

• I am sure that the ice conditions at Rogers Place make us all all a little irritated, but then I remember that it is a brand new building and they are working on it as hard as they can. Hopefully this issue gets resolved soon because watching the puck bobble and bounce every night is frustrating.
• Drake Caggiula isn’t a big player, but there aren’t too many players on the team who are as scrappy and spirited as the young centreman. Easy to see why the Coach likes him.
• Halfway through the period and there still wasn’t a whole heckuva lot going on for the Oil. They managed a chance or 2, but much of the control came via the Panthers. Shots were close, 19-18 Panthers.
• The Oilers had a chance to generate something of a spark on a later Power Play, but failed to generate anything. Connor McDavid failed to shoot at one point, on what in hindsight looked like a very good opportunity to score. Me thinks Connor will figure out when to be selfish sooner rather than later.
• After a successful Penalty Kill by the Oilers, they would almost immediately be shorthanded again as Benoit Pouliot got called for holding the stick. The call looked awful at first glance, but on a second look… it was the right call…
• Which was unfortunate because the Panthers would tie it up on their Power Play advantage. That’s what will happen when you sit back. 2-2.

The Oilers needed to come back firing in the second and retake control of the game, like they did for the majority of the 1st. They failed to do that, and instead, resembled a team that had very much taken their foot off the gas pedal. So much so that the team went the last 10 minutes of the 3rd without a shot on goal (minus 1 right at the buzzer).

Yes, there was controversy on the Panthers goal as to whether or not the face-off that the goal came off should have been held in the Oilers zone, but the bottom line is that Edmonton shouldn’t have been in that position anyways. A more energized pace of play would have reduced the chance of 2 straight PKs. A big 3rd period was needed.

3rd Period

• An early 3^rd period drive to the net by Milan Lucic resulted in a decent chance for the Oilers. This is something that Rey Ferraro mentioned on the Jason Gregor show today, in that if Milan wants to find more success, he will get have to closer to the blue paint with consistency.
• 10 minutes into the 3^rd, and it was a much better period than the 2^nd for the Oilers. Both shots and scoring chances tilted in favour of the Oilers with Edmonton controlling most of the play.
• Shots and scoring chances don’t matter much if you don’t capitalize though, and the Panthers were able to take advantage and score for their first lead of the game. Jaromir Jagr had the assist on the go-ahead goal with 5 minutes remaining. 3-2 Panthers.
• The goal came as a result of a massive misplay by Eric Gryba in the neutral zone. That is what can happen when your 7^th defenceman draws in.
• So that’s why Eberle didn’t score last game… he was timing it to be mega clutch tonight! Jordan, with 3 minutes to go, had a beauty snipe to officially toss the monkey off his back and get the game tied. Nuge with the assist, 3-3.

No more 🐒 on @ebs_14's back! #FLAvsEDM pic.twitter.com/wSDRZTD13h

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 19, 2017

• No further damage would be done on either side and this one was going to overtime.

Overtime

• After a McDavid, Draisaitl 2 on 1 was broken up, Kris Russel came up huge with a beautiful defensive play on a Panther odd man rush.
• Shortly following that, Jordan Eberle juuuust missed on what would have been his 2nd of the night. Excellent chance.
• AND THERE WE GO!!!! Captain Connor with the winner on a last second breakaway! Just remarkable! And not only that, but the goal also brings Leon Draisaitl his 100th career point. Oilers win!

After review puck trapped in Reimer's webbing crossed the line, McDavid is hero in overtime @SUBWAYCanada #FLAvsEDM #OILERS pic.twitter.com/aUjO2DEx65

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 19, 2017

Final Score: Oilers 4 – Panthers 3 (OT)

Postgame Thoughts

Wow. The Oilers sure don’t make it easy on our hearts, do they? No, they haven’t given us too many blowout wins this season, instead opting for the edge of your seat, 1 goal game, nail biters. Tonight, the Oilers thought they would take it a step further, needing not only a late 3rd period goal, but also a VERY last second overtime goal to pick up the victory. Sheesh. There is number 4 on the win streak.

I will admit that after the Panthers scored in the 3rd, I was under the belief that the game was all but over. After a disappointing 2nd period in which the Oilers completely gave back their 1st period lead, the team had failed to put the game away in the 3rd and left the door wide open for a Panthers win.

A win that the Panthers almost achieved. Jaromir Jagr and Greg McKegg did their best to send Florida home happy, until Jordan Eberle, a man who for 18 games had gone without a goal, found a way to snap the curse and deliver the goods. Eberle’s shot, fired from a man who looked as possessed to score as the demons that have haunted him over this slump, was not to be denied; the monkey on Jordan’s back had simply gotten too large. For Jordan’s Oilers, it could not have come at a better time than with 3 minutes to go in the game.

From there, we yet again witnessed an overtime that provide a plethora of thrills. Eberle, Nugent-Hopkins, Talbot and Russell all took their turns in providing a bit of dazzle in the extra frame, until Captain Connor provided the ultimate heroics with 2.8 seconds remaining on a thrilling breakaway. What a moment for the home town crowd, and a massive 2 points for the team. As stated above, both McDavid and Draisaitl picked up their 100th career points on the night. What a privilege it is to watch these 2 guys play every night.

The Oilers definitely should have had this one in regulation. A 2 goal lead on a team playing the second half of a back-to-back should be all but a sure thing and yet it wasn’t in large part due to a very poor 2nd period. Despite this, the Oilers still found a way to get the result that they needed, and the point that was given away won’t cost them as it isn’t a Conference rival.

Kris Russell stood out on the backend as the highlight of the defence, while the subtraction of Matt Benning and addition of Eric Gryba was very noticeable. Especially on that 3rd Panther goal.

Talbot made 28 saves on the night for a .903 save percentage.

Player of the Game

Who else? Connor McDavid. Overtime hero, 3 point night, hits the century mark for points in his career. If you don’t thank the stars above that you get to watch this kid play hockey for your favourite team, you should be doing so regularly. He makes the entire dread of the past decade worth it… seriously.

OVERTIME HERO! #FLAvsEDM pic.twitter.com/ewQtftRPIV

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 19, 2017

Up Next: The PK Subban-Less Preds

The Oilers close off their 6 game home stand with a game against the Nashville Predators on Friday. The Predators, similar to the Panthers, will have played in Calgary the night before, once again creating a significant opportunity for the Oilers to take advantage of.

A win would make it 5 in a row and send the Oilers into Calgary on Saturday feeling very good about themselves.