Oilers Takeaways: Edmonton survives scary end for third win in a row

They don’t ask how, however on a flaky Wednesday evening within the Windy Metropolis, they had been definitely asking, “What number of?” 

As in, what number of posts did the Oilers hit on the evening? (Reply: six). 

Or, on the entrance finish of a again to again for Edmonton, what number of minutes would Darnell Nurse (28:57), Connor McDavid (27:06) and Leon Draisaitl (26:13) should log to safe a win in opposition to the NHL’s 31^st place crew, a Chicago Blackhawks membership that rode a seven-game shedding streak into the sport? 

And eventually, what number of wins in a row for the Oilers (three) after a lopsided however nervous 5-4 win over the Blackhawks wherein Edmonton practically blew a 4-1 third interval lead?

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“There’s been a number of in a row the place we’ve made it attention-grabbing on the finish of the sport,” Nurse stated after the sport on the TNT broadcast, on the event of his 500^th NHL recreation. 

After all, Nurse was referring to a four-goal third interval for the Oilers in New York, and a purpose with 4.4 seconds left that preceded an additional time win over the Florida Panthers. 

On this one, the Oilers managed the sport from puck drop, outshooting the Blackhawks 41-25 and including one other six — rely ‘em, six! — purpose posts on the evening. The Oilers took a tidy 4-1 lead with ten minutes to play within the recreation on Mattias Janmark’s first as an Oiler, and with a late begin and a recreation the following evening in Minnesota, that’s the place a very good crew is meant to close ‘er down and take the 2 factors on to the constitution. 

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Properly, Edmonton is an efficient crew, however they’re lacking 4 of their Prime 9 forwards in the meanwhile. So a depth-challenged crew had a tough time shutting the door in opposition to Chicago, and after the Hawks scored twice in 19 seconds, the sport would finish with the Oilers clinging to a 5-4 lead and goalie Stuart Skinner making a large save on Taylor Raddysh with 13.9 seconds left on the clock. 

“There have been a few penalty calls made, they usually made it attention-grabbing,” stated head coach Jay Woodcroft. “However we discovered a solution to get the win.” 

••• 

Prime Line Advantageous 

With a depleted Prime 9, Woodcroft put his Prime 3 forwards on one unit they usually delivered. McDavid performed between Draisaitl and Zach “Onerous Luck” Hyman, and the younger Blackhawks merely couldn’t deal with the Oilers trio. 

Hyman performed the least (24:34) and had 5 pictures on web, a disallowed purpose, two posts and an help. He has 25 pictures on web and three disallowed targets in his previous 5 video games — to not point out 4 factors in his final two. McDavid (purpose and an help) had a season-high 9 pictures on purpose Wednesday, whereas Draisaitl (2-1-3) had six pictures on web and was a pressure for 60 minutes. 

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That’s 20 pictures on web, three targets and 6 factors by the massive line. 

What was Woodcroft’s take after the sport? Properly, the 8:30 p.m. native begin on the entrance finish of a again to again had the Oilers coach protecting his post-game avail fairly tight on Wednesday. 

“What do I take away?” he requested. “We bought the 2 factors and we’re prepared to maneuver on. It’s 11:45 at evening proper now and we’re gonna get on a aircraft and go to Minnesota and put together for an actual good Minnesota Wild crew. Thanks.” 

••• 

Buffalo Soldier 

With three assists in his previous 5 video games, Jesse Puljujarvi is lastly starting to get rewarded on the rating sheet for his accountable defensive play. Each his linemates — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Janmark — had targets Wednesday. 

“I felt good there with Nuge and Janmark, making these little performs,” he stated. “Then when you may have an opportunity to shoot, we shoot. That was a pleasant couple of targets with these guys.” 

Puljujarvi has 10 targets in his final 82 video games performed — playoffs included — and has only a single purpose in 23 video games this season. However he’s been digging in defensively, and slowly discovering the requisite confidence to enhance the play when the puck finds his stick. You possibly can see his confidence constructing pretty much as good issues occur. 

His test despatched a rolling puck to Evan Bouchard, who arrange the two-on-one that resulted in Janmark’s purpose. No level for Puljujarvi, who performed simply 11:41 and had two pictures on web, however the purpose doesn’t occur with out some staunch defensive work by Puljujarvi. 

Extra from Sportsnet

Draisaitl, McDavid lead Oilers past slumping Blackhawks

Skill, but also luck, at play as McDavid-Draisaitl combo pull off OT win

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