Oilers Go Down 3-0 Early but Win in the Shootout

Well I started writing the post game review with 12 minutes left in the third period. The Oilers were playing their usual style of hockey, they couldn't do anything on the power play, couldn't gain the zone and God knows they couldn't score. Fast forward 10 minutes and the game was tied and although the Oilers won the game much of what I had started writing still holds true.

Here is what I had written before the Oilers made a game of it:

What a stupid game. It gets tougher and tougher to write these post game reviews. At the end of the 2009-10 season I was ok with the Oilers losing because I knew what it meant to pick first over all at the draft. In 2010-11 I knew that finishing in last place was inevitable. In 2011-12 I was ready for the Oilers to turn the corner but it didn't happen and the Oilers drafted first overall again. Finally last year things seemed to be going in the right direction, only a few adjustments and this team could be pushing for a playoff spot. This season though has become a complete joke! I don't think that there is any Oilers fan that was ready for this craptacular season and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel.

Tonight's game against the Minnesota Wild illustrated just how bad the Oilers are. They have players that wouldn't even be call up considerations on most teams in the NHL. Don't get me wrong I have no problem with giving prospects a chance to play in the NHL especially when this team has the record they have. For playing in a rather tough position Oscar Klefbom showed decently but continuing to dress players like Luke Gazdic, Mark Fraser, Jesse Joensuu and Ryan Jones when you have better players available in the AHL speaks volumes to the state of this team.

That's as far as I got before Taylor Hall decided to make some great moves and get the puck to Sam Gagner where it eventually found its way to the back of the net. By the way, I may be mistaken but I think that was the first goal this season that Taylor Hall was on the ice and didn't get a point on.

Anyway onto the rest of the review.

Highlights

Game Review

Game Rating: 5 out of 10

If the Oilers had lost this game in regulation the game would've probably been a 1 or 2 out of 10 but thanks to that late surge by the Oilers they do deserve better.

Momentum Killer

The defence and I'm not just talking about the 6 guys on the blue line. I'm talking about how bad the Oilers defended at any point during the game but particularly in the first period. The more I watch this team try to defend the more I'm convinced that it's the system and not just the players.

Momentum Driver

I want to say that it was Taylor Hall but I know people are gonna crucify me for it because of his Corsi for the game but I don't care. If it wasn't for his great play on the Oilers' second goal this game is lost. His effort on that goal helped drive the momentum for the Oilers.

MSM Fail of the Night

If EDM's top six forwards worked as diligently as the trio of Hendricks, Joensuu and Gordon . . . nah, why bother. They're too skilled.

— Robin Brownlee (@Robin_Brownlee) March 12, 2014

This Tweet came after the Oilers went down 3-0. I guess now that Ales Hemsky is gone these dinosaurs need someone to blame. What I find funny about this is the fact that it was Matt Hendricks that almost cost the Oilers the game with his penalty with 8 seconds left in the game.

Points

So the Oilers gain another 2 points moving from 52 up to 54 only 4 more wins to tie their worst season and only 16 games left to do it in.

Up Next

Sweeeeet! The Oilers face the best team in the NHL the St. Louis Blues! I can't wait!