Oilers Postgame: Slaying the King

Although tonight’s game was not quite at the midway marker of the schedule, it is close enough to be mentioned with the second half of the season, which has always been said to be much more difficult than the games that come previous. With playoff implications intensifying and contenders beginning to fully emerge, it is the games that come post-Christmas that truly separate the real teams from the fake. If your team plans on making the post season, now is the time to show it.

Could the Oilers, filled with turkey, but minus their best defenceman in Andrej Sekera, be able to showcase their desired legitimacy in game number 37 against the Los Angeles Kings?

Let us see in this edition of the Oilers Postgame.

1st Period

• That was a really fantastic anthem. The man on the trumpet has some serious skills.
• The chip shot that Eberle used to spring McDavid forward early in the period was just the type of creativity that you hope becomes common in Connor’s line mates.

Connor with an early chance. #LAKvsEDM pic.twitter.com/BmCHT4KUny

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 30, 2016

• A graphic flashed on the screen showing that the Oilers record at Christmas in 2014 was 7-21-7. How many of you had some serious PTSD flashbacks because of that?
• As much as I break into a cold sweat every time the likes of McDavid goes to block a shot on the PK, I do have to say that I enjoy the element of danger for the other team that his speed brings on the kill.
• The LA Kings’ PK is much less aggressive than the Sharks, which is a big reason why the Oilers PP looked much more potent on their late special teams’ opportunity.
• I continue to enjoy the trio of Draisaitl, Nuge, and Maroon.

A quiet period (only 1 real scoring chance for either side through the first 10 minutes) turned into a decent one for the Oilers with more than a few good scoring chances coming, mostly due to the momentum generated from an effective penalty kill and a dangerous power play.

A late save by Talbot after an Eric Gryba blunder in front of the net kept this game tied at 0 going into the 2nd. The Oilers were definitely playing well enough to inspire confidence in a successful result coming after the final 40.

2nd Period

• After a strong penalty kill to start the period, Jake Muzzin took a hooking penalty only 2 minutes in which was excellent because…
• A Patrick Maroon goal came on that power play! His 11th of the year, assisted by Eberle and Benning, was a strong drive to the front of the net from below the goal line to beat the goalie on the outside post. His strength, smarts, and hands were all in effect for that marker.

Favourite colour: Maroon. #LAKvsEDM pic.twitter.com/zJrDez5RJs

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 30, 2016

• Halfway through the game, the shot clock read 14-10 in favour of the Oilers. I don’t even care if the Kings played last night, that is a much better result than this team usually provides against the Southern California squad.
• McDavid just about made it a two goal lead on a savvy steal in the offensive zone. Excellence personified, nightly.
• I repeat, I continue to like the trio of Draisaitl, Nuge and Maroon. Multiple, dangerous chances in the period.

An excellent period, with seemingly all lines contributing, resulted in the Oilers going into the 3rd with a 1-o lead. The Oilers were able to generate multiple chances from the forwards and the defence, while Talbot held the fort at his end of the rink.

A couple notes of interest… Cagguila to this point in the game looked much more engaged than in previous games. He was physical, fast, and spirited. The break looks to have energized the rookie.

Also worth noting, after a mediocre first, Davidson and Gryba struck back with a very nice period. Davidson alone had a couple strong scoring chances.

3rd Period

• Unfortunately, the good times for the Oilers would not last too long into the 3rd, after a goal by Nick Shore a mere 3 and a half minutes in. A couple of failed clearing attempts by Klefbom and Letestu were to blame.
• But forget that noise!!! Because just a few short minutes after, after an incredibly strong play by Lucic and a smart shot by Eberle, Eric Gryba on a genius jump into the play, scored his first of the season to put the Oilers back in the lead. Excellent celebration by Gryba and it was 2-1 Oilers!

Bats it out of mid-air! 👌 #LAKvsEDM pic.twitter.com/UWNTygARBJ

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 30, 2016

• One of my favourite things about this season is watching how the Oilers respond to physical contests. Instead of backing down, it looks as though the Oilers actually feed off of the hard play. That is a recipe for success in the West.
• Leon Draisaitl’s scoring chance off of a steal from Norris Trophy winning Drew Doughty with the defencemen draped all over him should highlight just how fantastic he has been playing this season. Absolutely remarkable.
• And a little Ryan Nugent-Hopkins empty net goal to seal it and put the icing on the cake. Lovely!

Final Score: Oilers 3 – Kings 1

Postgame Thoughts

For many years, close games against the Kings going into the 3rd period were about as safe as transporting an unexploded IED through the hills of Rundle Park. It was never a pretty sight.

But this is a different year, a different team, and tonight’s result was very different than what we have come to expect. After the Kings tied it early in the third, the Oilers buckled up, cracked their knuckles and responded in a a huge way. They quickly regained the lead, and ensured that there would be no clinging on with desperation in the final minutes.

The Oilers took this contest in a statement making kind of way. If the games following the Christmas break are meant to represent the contenders showcasing to the rest of the league that they are for real, the Oilers began their march to legitimacy, and hopefully the postseason, in a massive way.

Another great aspect of this game? To my eye, no Oiler played poor, with everyone finding ways to contribute, whether it be physically, defensively, on the scoresheet, or in the corners and on the boards. This is a game that the coaching staff will love.

Player of the Game

I’ll give the nod to Patrick Maroon. He was able to score his 11th of the season, matching his career high not even halfway through the campaign. From that point on, his line was able to generate numerous dangerous chances, and when they weren’t doing that, Maroon was driving the play physically, delivering more than a few big hits.

It is pretty crazy to think that this was a player that the Anaheim Ducks basically gave us for next to nothing. I’m willing to bet that over the course of this season, Patrick’s play has inspired more than a few Oiler fans to sew the number 19 on the back of their jerseys.

Up Next: New Years Eve in Edmonton!

The Oilers will look to build on this momentum with a game on Saturday night at Rogers Place against the Canucks. A win against the Canucks will put this team at 20 points for the month of December, a total that will be a very, very pretty sight after a disappointing November.

Have a great New Years Eve everyone!