If Wednesday’s game against the Coyotes was a “need to win”, this game was certainly a “want to win”. Oh how badly us fans, and the team itself, wanted this one. Yeah, yeah, it is the holidays, the season of giving and being grateful, but after a decade of dormant December hockey, the Oilers and their fans can be forgiven for getting just a tad greedy come Christmas time, can’t we?
How nice a win, and by extension a trip to first place in the Pacific, would be, on this the day of Festivus and Christmas Eve Eve. Despite the enormous difficulty associated with the task, could the Oilers, maybe with a little help from Santa, squeak out a rare road win in Silicon Valley against the Sharks?
Let’s take a look.
1st Period
- After an ugly start for Klefbom and Larsson (their very first shift), the McDavid line was able to generate a couple quick chances to even out the momentum. Welcome news for a line that started to pick it up in Arizona.
- That momentum would not last long; however, as this was a much slower start to the game for the Oilers, as opposed to the last game. Shots and chances were pouring down on the Oilers with very little going back the other way.
- It didn’t help matters that the Oilers two power plays in the period were incredibly anemic, due in large part to a very aggressive and effective San Jose penalty kill.
- Cam. Freaking. Talbot. He made what will for sure be one of the saves of the year on what was an absolutely brutal power play by the Oilers. If not for him, this game’s scoreboard is tilted in the Sharks’ favour very early on.
- Hendricks and Dillon threw down after Hendricks came in to help defend teammate Kassian. Haymaykers galore and a true Festivus spirit for a very physical game. Frank Costanza would be proud.
YES WE CAM. #EDMvsSJS pic.twitter.com/8iQSlxOO01
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 24, 2016
That, ladies and gentlemen, is a perfect example as to why an actual starting goaltender is so important to a team. When things just aren’t going right during a portion of the game, having someone like Talbot stand in there and keep things tied is massive if you want to be a successful team. As a result, the Oilers were able to head back onto the ice in the second with a chance to regroup from their early ugliness, while not being down a goal or two. Thanks Cam!
2nd Period
- Okay… maybe that wasn’t such a nice fight. The penalty that the Oilers took as a result of the fight lead to an almost immediate power play goal for the Sharks by Joe Pavelski. Not good.
- Kassian and Haley dropped the gloves this period and the Festivus blows continued to rain down with fury.
- McDavid was able to draw only one penalty on a play that, as the broadcast team showed, should have been called for two. Quite the surprise!
- Halfway through the game, the Oilers had only managed 8 shots. Simply not good enough.
- In saying that, it should be noted that the Sharks defence is pretty damn impressive.
- Oilers fans (for the most part) love the spirit and heart of Kassian, but his double minor as a result of undisciplined play came at a very inopportune time. Thankfully, the Oilers were able to come up with a very clutch kill and not go down by two. Massive PK.
Another disappointing period for the visiting team, but this time the Oilers were not quite as lucky, surrendering an early goal. Thanks to a bit of luck, and more excellent play by Talbot, this would be the only one given up. The Oilers were able to generate a couple of nice chances, but 9 shots through 2 periods is just not enough. At this point, walking out of California with a point was going to be a hard earned task.
3rd Period
- McLellan instantly mixed things up for the 3rd, loading up the top line with McDavid, Maroon and Draisaitl. Strategic move after 40 minutes of anemic Oilers’ offence.
- Just when things were looking ugly yet again in the third, McDavid was able to strike a bit of timely luck and score his 13th goal of the season off a deflection by a Sharks’ player.
- That is until a bad pinch by Oscar Klefbom lead to the Sharks taking a 2-1 lead on a shot that Talbot had no chance on… “But wait, there’s more!” – Billy Mays
- Patrick Maroon struck right back off a beautiful feed from McDavid to tie things right back up. That was fun!
Smart coaching, much more inspired play, and another 20 minutes of “stop-everything-physically-possible” goaltending are the reasons why the Oilers guaranteed themselves a point on the night. Could they finish the comeback in extra time?
Overtime
- As far as 3 on 3 overtimes go, this wasn’t the thriller that we have come to expect.
- Unfortunately, a little bit of a cheat by McDavid and Lucic lead to Kevin Lebanc having all the space and time he would need in front of the Oilers’ net to put this one away.
Final Score: Sharks 3 – Oilers 2 (OT)
Postgame Thoughts
The main takeaway from this game is that the Oilers were able to squeak out a single point in California thanks to Cam Talbot, Captain Connor, and some astute coaching in the 3rd. On the road, in California, the Oilers will take it.
For two periods of this game, however, the Oilers just were not good enough, and for that reason, they were very lucky to have even made it into the extra frame.
9 shots, a plethora of giveaways, and spotty defensive play highlighted 40 minutes of a game where the Sharks outplayed the Oilers in every facet of the game, minus goaltending.
Thankfully, the Oilers will be able to go into the holidays feeling a bit better about themselves due to that single point, and the fact that they had to comeback in order to do it should help that feeling. It should be noted that if the Oilers want to get a W against the Kings on the 29th though, a much better effort will be required in order to do it.
Oh well. It’s Christmas, the Oilers got a point, and they are still in second place in their division. You have to like that.
Serious props to Todd McLellan for mashing McDavid, Draisaitl, and Maroon together in the third, and playing the heck out of them. That should help win some some confidence back in the minds of more than a few members of the Oilers’ fan base.
Player of the Game
Cam Talbot. Without him, this game would have been ugly. He stopped 28 of 31 shots for a .903 save percentage, but his play was much, much prettier than those numbers suggest.
Up Next: The Christmas Break!
The Oilers get almost a week off to go home and celebrate the holidays with their families. They will be back in action on the 29th against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place.
Hopefully everyone has a terrific and safe Christmas weekend, and be sure to take some time to enjoy the fact that the Oilers are not in the basement of the conference. What a terrific holiday gift!
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