Oilers end 10 game losing streak at JLA (0-7-3) dating back to Dec.3rd/09…one night after ending 9 game losing streak (0-8-1) at NYI
— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) November 7, 2016
The Edmonton Oilers played their last game at the Joe Louis Arena against the Detroit Red Wings, and they leave the rink with two HUGE points. Injuries dogged the team as three regulars (Kris Russell, Zack Kassian and Jesse Puljujarvi) were out of the lineup, and it was the second of back to back games.
When was the last time the Oilers won back-to-back games? When was the last time Oilers won the second half of back-to-back games?
The Oilers played a really good defensive game by my eye, never giving the Red Wings any real grade “A” chances and seemed to box out the Red Wing attackers on various plays.
Jonas Gustavsson started his first game and while he plays a scary unorthodox style, he made the saves he had to, and he got his first win as an Edmonton Oiler in his first start. If he can keep this up, he can settle into his role as a capable backup goalie.
Connor McDavid had a quieter game than we are used to seeing but he still contributed to the winning goal. It was really Leon Draisaitl who drove the play more than anybody.
FIRST PERIOD
-Patrick Maroon is very motivated playing with Connor McDavid , and he gets the first good chance against Jimmy Howard.
-Pitlick earned his promotion through injuries but he does not look out of place on the second line with Leon Draisaitl and Milan Lucic. If he had more stick handling skills he would be a 20-goal scorer because he’s got the speed. Had a point blank shot that was turned aside by Jimmy Howard.
-Matt Benning looks very confident early on. Got beat on one move by Dylan Larkin, but was able to get a stick on his shot directing it into the netting.
-Eric Gryba takes the first penalty with a blatant interference shove on Gustav Nyquist. Maybe Dillon Simpson plays next game after that dimwitted play. It’s okay. The Oilers penalty kill is top notch!
Gryba just pulled a Kadri except he got a penalty.
— VisuallyBetter (@Isuckatpicking) November 6, 2016
-I just had to say something didn’t I? My Bad. Red Wings score on the power play. Justin Abdelkader outmuscles Darnell Nurse to pick up a bad rebound from Jonas Gustavsson.
-Gustavsson is wildly out of position a lot but he made a HUGE save channeling his inner Ondrej Pavelec.
That's a Monster save. #EDMvsDET pic.twitter.com/dgD2pyKa3q
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 6, 2016
-Matt Benning makes a terrific defensive play on a scrambled 2-on-1, taking the passing lane away while still being close enough to get a stick out on a possible shot. Veteran like play.
-Klefbom trying to emulate his offense by becoming the late man on a rush with Mark Letestu, but Jimmy Howard turns him away. Love to see that from the young Swede.
-Tyler Pitlick scores on the wrap around!!!!!!! Oilers won a battle on the boards as Draisaitl and Adam Larsson battle the puck out and Lucic walks the blueline before he fires a shot wide, but Pitlick found the puck and snuck it under Jimmy Howard’s pad. Pitlick has four this season!!!!!
https://twitter.com/AzorcanGlobal/status/795395900759674880
-Great shift by the Lucic-Draisaitl-Pitlick line. Solid cycle and all three guys use their bodies very well. Happy to see Lucic finding chemistry with another centre. Always great to have options.
-That’ll do it for one period. Each team has 12 shots a piece.
SECOND PERIOD
-Oilers start the period off with a bang with scoring chances from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Tyler Pitlick and Matt Benning. Connor McDavid has been really quiet…..too quiet….
-First time I have noticed anybody from the new 4th line as Anton Slepyshev gets a few chances and time with the puck. The 4th line tonight consists of Slepyshev, Anton Laander, and recent recall and “Potratz Pick” Taylor Beck. Oilers rolling mainly three lines.
-Draisaitl rushes the puck and feeds a cross ice pass to Milan Lucic who is stoned by Howard. A lot of chemistry for those two. They’ve been two thirds of the Oiler’s best line.
https://twitter.com/rdcloutier/status/795404766100660224
You know something is wrong in the universe when even Richard Cloutier is making sense. I hardly ever agree with this guy.
-Connor McDavid may have been playing a quiet game, but he can still make something out of nothing. Recovers the puck, and finds Oscar Klefbom who fires wide and Maroon fluffs the rebound of the boards. Puck still ended up on net somehow.
-Leon Draisaitl showcasing some slick defensive skills with a terrific poke check on Frans Nielsen at the blueline that almost led to a breakaway. If that’s McDavid, he’s away.
-Connor McDavid quietly brings some more magic leading to chances for Patrick Maroon and Matt Benning but the Oilers are unable to capitilize. Connor needs to shoot more.
Dear, Connor. You're allowed to be selfish. You're literally the best one out there. Shoot whenever. Thanks.
Love,
-Baggedmilk #oilers
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) November 6, 2016
-The Red Wings cycle after an icing call and control the play, but the Oilers box the Red Wings out of the danger zones and Dylan Larkin takes an interference penalty on Eric Gryba sending the Oilers to the power play.
-Power play has some moments from the Draisaitl-led power play unit but they are unable to find the back of the net. Game still tied at one.
-Mike Green knocks McDavid down and the Oilers will head to the power play with 27.9 seconds to go. Kind of a weak call, but we’ll take it.
-Connor McDavid wins the draw, takes a feed from Nugent-Hopkins and returns to favour leading to a wide open net and the Nuge scores!!!! Oilers will take the lead into the third period!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Nuge. From McDavid who drew the penalty, won the draw and made the pass. Oilers lead 2-1 in Detroit after two.
— Terry Jones (@byterryjones) November 6, 2016
THIRD PERIOD
Drew Remenda is either a body language expert or he has a foot fetish….
— TJ (@PotratzHockey) November 7, 2016
-Darnell Nurse gets the can opener on Andreas Athansiou and the Oilers go back to work on the penalty kill, finally allowing Anton Lander to actually play in this game.
-Oilers kill the penalty off and on the next shift King Leon gets a breakaway and uses his strength to get off a one-handed shot. Stopped by Howard.
-McDavid has a give and go with the unlikely to give-and-go Eric Gryba. Gryba snaps a shot and hits the crest of Jimmy Howard.
-Connor McDavid keeps on creating chances, setting up Eberle yet again, but Eberle can’t put it past Jimmy Howard. Eberle must be having nightmares of all these chances he hasn’t been able to bury.
Eberle's shooting coach should start giving his money back. 😅
— RelleR (@rellturner) November 7, 2016
-Leon Draisaitl takes a pass from Milan Lucic and he slows the play down, the Red Wings stall in their tracks and he feeds the puck over to Pitlick who is robbed by Howard. There’s that Joe Thornton-ness coming into his game.
-Two and a half minutes left and the Red Wings are starting to get desperate but the Oilers keep boxing out the offense.
https://twitter.com/JackieDee16/status/795423211580051456
The lovely Jackie Dawson is tweeting what we’re all thinking
-The Red Wings keep pressing but Adam Larsson anchors the Oilers defending group and Gustavsson is standing tall as well. 20.8 seconds to go!!!!!
-The Oilers keep the Red Wings out of the danger zone and clear the pucks. 3…..2…..1…. Oilers WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a massive game win. Back to back, on the road, 3 regulars hurt. Gutsy performance.
— Kurt Leavins (@KurtLeavins) November 7, 2016
9-3-1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FINAL THOUGHTS
-The Oilers have been playing admirable hockey and I cannot say this enough; These Oilers are different. I’m a positive guy and I never wavered. I know things aren’t always going to be easy, but this group doesn’t lose horribly anymore. They go into every game believing they can win and that is HUGE.
-Leon Draisaitl was the best player on the ice tonight and he is starting to realize what he has to do to be an elite NHL player in the coming years. Strength and vision are his best attributes, and him clicking with Milan Lucic is a very good thing for the Oilers.
-The power play is finally gelling and the biggest reason for that is allowing Draisaitl and McDavid to play on opposing power plays. Like I said, I deserve some credit haha.
-I’m about to do the podcast so before you go to bed tonight be sure to check out the newest episode of The Oilers Rig Podcast!!!!!!
This is how I multitask. Writing post game article, drinking PBR, watching game, prepping for podcast, downloading new music pic.twitter.com/yQ10fShDBi
— TJ (@PotratzHockey) November 7, 2016
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