The Edmonton Oilers dropped their second straight recreation to open the season with a 5-2 resolution by the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks on Hockey Evening in Canada (Oct. 12). Chicago was the Thirty first-place staff final season, and rolled into city on the second half of a back-to-back, shedding in extra time to the Winnipeg Jets the night time earlier than. Regardless of that, the Oilers nonetheless couldn’t discover a technique to win.
The Blackhawks opened the scoring 15:50 into the primary interval on some extent shot redirected in entrance by Philipp Kurashev. It took the Oilers virtually 85 minutes to attain their first purpose of the season, coming off the stick of an unsuspecting suspect in Corey Perry. Nevertheless, the Blackhawks regained the lead with a power-play purpose from Seth Jones on a wrist shot from the purpose, adopted up by an absolute missile from Connor Bedard over the glove of goaltender, Calvin Pickard simply over three minutes later. Teuvo Teravainen added two extra power-play objectives for Chicago within the third interval which sealed the deal. The Oilers have been outscored 11-2 whereas outshooting their opponents 68-40 by way of their first two video games.
Associated: Oilers Look Nothing Like Contenders in One other Season-Opening Shellacking
The Oilers look nothing like Stanley Cup contenders, and the sellout crowd at Rogers Place was as soon as once more left extremely underwhelmed and upset. There may be not a lot to be optimistic about after this recreation, so listed below are three takeaways from this lacklustre efficiency:
Oilers’ Penalty Kill Struggles
The Oilers penalty kill appears to be like nothing like they did throughout their playoff run final season. They killed off 94.3% of their infractions, together with a stretch of 21 straight on residence ice. Their elite penalty kill carried them all through the playoffs. Nevertheless, by way of their first two video games, they solely have one profitable penalty kill on six alternatives. Chicago scored on all three of their energy performs en path to their 5-2 win.
Edmonton did lose some key items of that penalty-kill unit that was so profitable within the playoffs together with Ryan McLeod, Warren Foegele, and Cody Ceci. Nevertheless, that’s no excuse. All people must step up and fill these roles in the event that they need to enhance.
Edmonton made it extraordinarily straightforward on Chicago. They allowed them straightforward zone entries, they weren’t aggressive in attempting to pressure errors, and so they weren’t moving into the capturing lanes. The Oilers solely had 12 blocked pictures whereas the Blackhawks had 35. That discrepancy is unacceptable and must be addressed.
Oilers’ Massive Weapons Must Step Up
For the second straight recreation, the Oilers’ prime gamers had been held off the scoresheet at even energy. Whereas Leon Draisaitl bought them on the board courtesy of a power-play tally halfway by way of the third interval, their prime gamers had been comparatively ineffective as soon as once more. Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard are nonetheless pointless, and Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins every had one power-play help.
This staff gained’t win many video games when the fourth line is your greatest. The large weapons have to step up and be your greatest gamers on a constant foundation. Sure, it is necessary for the depth gamers to contribute, however that’s solely efficient if the star gamers are additionally taking part in nicely. That was not the case tonight and the end result demonstrated that.
Oilers’ Goaltending and Defensive Woes Proceed
The Oilers failed so as to add a right-shot, top-four blueliner to pair with Darnell Nurse relationship again to final season and it’s coming again to chunk them. Not solely did they fail to improve that place, however they seemingly bought worse. They misplaced Ceci, Philip Broberg, and Vincent Desharnias, and changed them with Ty Emberson, Travis Dermott, and Josh Brown who’s at present within the American Hockey League (AHL). This unit is just not ok and it exhibits. Although they haven’t allowed many pictures, they’ve given up manner too many high quality possibilities. Their hole management has been horrendous as evidenced by Bedard’s snipe within the second interval. He was in a position to stroll in uncontested and decide his spot with out hesitation.
Sophomore season Connor Bedard is right here! 🤩🚨 pic.twitter.com/iwifnrMjaQ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 13, 2024
Similar to their first recreation, Edmonton held their opponents to solely 20 pictures, however that wasn’t sufficient. Pickard fared no higher than Stuart Skinner, permitting 5 objectives with a putrid 5.26 goals-against common (GAA) and a .750 save share (SV%). These numbers will not be going to chop it, and this staff will want significantly better goaltending transferring ahead.
The second Blackhawk purpose is one which Pickard wants to save lots of, particularly after the Oilers tied the sport at one. It was a easy wrist shot from the purpose that went proper by way of the Oilers’ goaltender and into the again of the online. This staff wants huge saves at essential factors of the sport and so they haven’t gotten that up to now. Subsequently, the Oilers have been pressured to play from behind which not often results in success.
No side of their recreation is working proper now. They will’t rating, their particular groups have been abysmal, they aren’t defending nicely, and they’re getting subpar goaltending. All that blended collectively ends in a file of 0-2 to begin the season and deservedly so.
The Oilers are again in motion on Sunday (Oct. 13) after they host the Calgary Flames within the first installment of the Battle of Alberta. Each groups are within the second half of back-to-backs. Edmonton wants a significantly better effort in the event that they need to get again on observe and at last get into the win column.