Follow @SMaloughney It was a game where the Edmonton Oilers repeatedly shot themselves in the foot and could have been a loss that would have had the fanbase grumbling about "here we go again." Instead the Oilers won a game due to scoring efforts of players not named Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. Chaotic is the best way to describe how the game was played but regardless Edmonton took another 2 points away from a division rival. 6-5 Edmonton was the final.
THE GREAT - Edmonton opened the scoring early off of a fluky goal by Connor McDavid or more accurate, Matt Roy. The captain banked the puck off of Roy's skate and into the net to score the first goal less than a minute into the game. - Still on Connor, #97 played a much stronger game than his first with his speed and ability to separate the defense on display as much as we have come to expect. McDavid finished the night with a goal and three assists. - Draisaitl was an unstoppable force on both sides of the puck once again, throwing his body around and making a number of great passes. Could've had at least one goal himself but a 2 point game is still impressive. - James Neal has been more valuable for the Oileres in two games than Milan Lucic was for all of last season. It's going to be fun watching Flames fans continue to try and justify how they got the better end of the trade. Neal scored two goals with one of them being the game winner. Would not be surprised to see Neal break his goals from last year before the end of November. - Kassian is showing through the first two games that his chemistry with Draisaitl and McDavid last season wasn't a fluke. Another astute goal by #44. - I thought Ethan Bear and Darnell Nurse played a good game together with Nurse bouncing back in a big way. It's strange in all the right ways to see four puck moving defenders in the Oilers top 4. - Oscar Klefbom is everything a team wants in a top pairing player; steady, reliable, and able to generate some offense.
THE GOOD NOT GREAT
- Joel Persson was fine in his first game. Nothing about his game was stupendous but he wasn't blatantly at fault for any goals against either. It will be a continuous learning experience for him. - Jurco was quiet on the fourth line for most of the night but his one great skill play, bouncing the puck off the boards to then make a great pass in front to Nurse for another tying goal was a thing of beauty. - Same goes for Haas and Nygard. Most of the game was quiet for both men but a won faceoff and pass by Haas and quick stick by Nygard gave the European his first goal in the NHL. Both of these players continuing to adapt and improve in the NHL will be crucial to the Oilers success this season. - The Oilers were down by a goal on four different occasions in that game and each time found a way to tie the game up again.
THE WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS THAT?
- We all knew at least a few times this season that goals were going to go in the back of the net as a direct result of Mike Smith's puck handling. It happened twice in this game. Those are the kind of goals that are completely avoidable and unfortunately with Smith we will see many more of those. - Khaira continues to be on my meh list as the forward has done nothing yet to be noticed in a good way. Serving no purpose other than a warm body on the fourth line right now. - I won't fault Khaira completely as he played his entire game alongside Colby Cave. As soon as Sheahan is healthy I expect Cave out of the lineup.
Edmonton has done themselves a huge favour by starting the season out on the right foot with 4 points in their two home games. Now the Oil will start a four game road trip, facing off against the Islanders, Devils, Rangers, and Blackhawks. A sign of a good road trip is at least winning half of the games but with some confidence and swagger it would be huge to see Edmonton walk away with three wins or more.