Oilers Postgame: Can You Dig It?

Final Score: Oilers 3 – Canucks 2

There we have it! 100 points on the season for the 2016/17 Edmonton Oilers! Oilers fans… Can you dig it????

This season has truly been one to remember and tonight’s game put the point total to something that is worth remembering. The Oilers have not had a 100 point season since 1987. Points are awarded a bit easier nowadays, but ladies and gentlemen, there is no doubt that this is a team to be proud of.

Tonight’s game delivered on the same aspects that we have come to expect from this team all year. In their crosshairs was a team that they should beat, a team that they were expected to beat. It may not have been as decisive as we would have expected, but a win is a win, and the fact that it was in regulation means that this team still has a shot at first place in the Pacific.

What got us there was a rather routine Oilers win. The Oilers lead on the shot clock 35-31, Cam Talbot came up big as needed, making more than a few great saves, and the rest of the team came together to compiled an effort to win. Standard-Ho-Hum-Expected-Victory.

Can’t complain about that. Especially considering that these last two games against Vancouver are pretty much being viewed as tune-ups for the playoffs. Tonight, on Hockey Night in Canada, the tune-up was successful.

Who were the standouts? Well, how about that second line? They have been really hot lately, and that trend continued tonight. Jordan Eberle opened the scoring with an absolute snipe from the circle, and Milan Lucic, and his dominating presence, closed the scoring, using his big body to drive the puck to the net, where Pakarinen would clean up the rebound. If the second line plays like how it has been, in the playoffs, serious success will follow. Bank on it.

Connor McDavid didn’t have the even-strength score sheet success that we have come to expect, but he found a way to hit the sheet with a power play assist in the 3rd.

Overall, the Oilers were expected to carry out a job, and they did so. In the process, they hit 100 points on the season, a truly impressive accomplishment. They will have one more final game to sharpen their abilities ahead of the playoffs. That game comes tomorrow night, at home, against the Vancouver Canucks.

Get ready folks, from what we have seen this year, I think it is more than fair to expect this squad to do some damage in the postseason.

Oilers’ Player of the Game

I think Cam Talbot deserves the honours tonight. He made 29 saves for his 42nd win on the season, closing the night with a .935 save percentage. He wasn’t the reason the Oilers won, but once again, he gave them a level of goaltending to where they could win. With Brossoit likely getting the start tomorrow, this marks the last start for Talbot of the regular season.

It has been a remarkable year for the Oilers netminder and he deserves as much recognition as he can get. Bravo sir, the fact that you were able to do it with newborn twins further speaks to your legend. It is a season that will be remembered for many, many years.

10 Takeaways

1.

Oilers with their 22nd road win of the season. Best road season since they won 24 in 1985/86.

— Reid Wilkins (@ReidWilkins) April 9, 2017

2. Oilers are now 32-11-6 against the West, and 19-6-3 against the Pacific. Peter Chiarelli said he was building a team to compete against the West. He was not kidding.

3. Connor McDavid extended his point streak to 13 games. He now sits at 98 points, and will need 2 more tomorrow night to hit the century mark.

4. Seriously, the Oilers hit the 100 point mark. Did anyone predict this prior to October?

5. Oscar Klefbom with another assist tonight. He had 4 the last game and 1 more tonight, making it 5 points in 2 games. That is 37 points in what is officially a breakout year,

6. The improvement of the second line was really quantified tonight with a total of 11 shots on net. Eberle had 5, Lucic had 5, Nuge had 1. This second line, and their success, will be a lot of fun to track in the postseason, should it continue. If Lucic keeps up his dominant play, he will be loved by this city in a remarkable way.

7. The Oilers power play continues to buzz. Mark Letestu scored tonight to keep the PP hot, and that is really great news heading into the postseason.

8. With the win, the Oilers have secured home ice advantage in the playoffs for the first round. Expect a game on the 12th and 14th, or so I hear. The Oiler still have a shot at the division, but they will need Anaheim to lose tomorrow, and them to win in regulation against the Canucks.

9. If the Oilers take the division, that will mean a first round matchup against the Flames If they finish second, it will be the Sharks. Which do you prefer Oilers fans?

10. I would love to hear from all that read this, either hit me up on twitter @bmoneyofficial1 or on Facebook at Bret Litke: what are your expectations for the Oilers this postseason? I would love to hear what everyone is feeling. My guess? That the Oilers community has HIGH expectations for this squad. I know I do!

Oilers Highlights

Back in the lead! #EDMvsVAN pic.twitter.com/T6NbA2p2oM

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 9, 2017

ICYMI, @ebs_14's 17th of the year. #EDMvsVAN pic.twitter.com/pRJ9Hc3o5z

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 9, 2017

https://twitter.com/ryanbiech/status/850926241590816768

Up Next: Last Game of the Season!

But for the first time, IN A LONG TIME, it is not the last game of the year. Connor will be looking for 2 points. Brossoit will be looking for a good outing, and the rest of the squad will be looking to get prepared for the postseason. Wednesday Oilers fans!!!! Are you ready?

Can you dig it????