Ben Scrivens really has to start making it past the first shot of the game.

It was only five days ago the Oilers last played the Columbus Blue Jackets (the BJs, as they prefer to be called) and Ben Scrivens allowed a goal on their first shot that night.

And today was no different!

The Oilers came out strong, recorded seven shots, and then of course the BJ’s David Savard picks up a pass at the top of the circle - one bullet, one kill.

If you were to ask any 10 year old in Edmonton how this game was going to go they would probably tell you it starts with a two goal deficit for the Oilers. Just like the last game against the BJs.

The Oilers pummeled the BJs with shots but goalie Curtis McElhinney was the real standout player of the game. There were several moments he absolutely ripped the game out of the Oilers’ skinny little hands. My favourite moment was with one second left at the end of the second period. Rob Klinkhammer popped a rebound at an open net and the puck disappeared. Then after some confusion McElhinney had it in his glove the whole time, like grandpa pulling a coin from behind Klinkhammer’s ear.

By the time overtime was over the Oilers rained 47 shots on McElhinney, while the BJs only put up a mere 20. Luckily for them, 20 shots is enough for three goals and a shootout win around these parts.

This was a harder hitting game in recent memory, with the Oilers throwing their weight around.

The Nuge-Eberle-Pouliot point machine kept turning, although struggled on the powerplay a little more than in recent times. They were unable to score, or even generate many great chances, until the fourth powerplay of the game. It was Derek Roy who scored this one, actually, and it was the only powerplay goal out of six opportunities.

Yakupov recorded another goal and an assist alongside Derek Roy. Speaking of Roy, he really intercepts an inordinate number of passes and it has become the part of the game I look out for lately.

Oscar Klefbom played a smart game, with three shots and a smart slap pass off the backboards to assist Yakupov’s goal.

Nikita Nikitin had a strong outing in his first game back with the Oilers and hammered off seven shots from the blueline.

Anyway, just like the last game against the BJs, the game went to a shootout, you know how it goes, the BJs win.

Highlights

First period

15:37 PENALTIES Blue Jackets Kevin Connauton holding the stick drawn by Derek Roy; Derek Roy slashing drawn by Kevin Connauton
14:35 BLUE JACKETS GOAL David Savard assisted by Alexander Wennberg, Scott Hartnell 1 - 0 BJs
14:00 BLUE JACKETS PENALTY Cam Atkinson hooking drawn by Andrew Ference
7:48 BLUE JACKETS PENALTY Ryan Johansen boarding drawn by Boyd Gordon
POST Yakupov and Nikitin have a good exchange on the powerplay, Nikitin slaps it and Yakupov picks up the rebound and hit the post.

Shots BJs 4 - Oilers 14

Second period

16:08 BLUE JACKETS GOAL Ryan Johansen, assisted by Ryan Murray, Cam Atkinson. 2 - 0 BJS
15:20 BLUE JACKETS PENALTY Kevin Connauton hooking drawn by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
10:46 BLUE JACKETS PENALTY Rene Bourque interference drawn by Boyd Gordon. Rene Bourque runs into Boyd Gordon creating a bit of a scary moment as Boyd Gordon. It wasn’t boarding so much as a bit of a charge that was landed awkwardly.
9:00 OILERS POWERPLAY GOAL Derek Roy assisted by Benoit Pouliot, Nail Yakupov. Nail Yakupov enters the zone with great energy, shoots, rebound out to Pouliot who makes a great pass to Roy at the back door. 2 - 1 BJs
00:01 Curtis McElhinney steals one from Rob Klinkhammer, as he’s been doing all game.

Shots BJs 7 - Oilers 12

Third period

18:32 OILERS GOAL Ryan Nugent-Hopkins assisted by Jordan Eberle. Eberele does some beautiful dangling and feeds Nuge by the net who is waiting for him. Tied 2 - 2.
14:02 BLUE JACKETS PENALTY Marko Dano hooking drawn by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
10:45 OILERS GOAL Nail Yakupov assisted by Oscar Klefbom. Klefbom makes a great play, sees Yakupov on the right side and slaps it off the back boards to get it to the other side. 3 - 2 Oilers
9:51 BLUE JACKETS GOAL Mark Letestu assisted by Jack Johnson. Letestu picks the puck up from along the boards and slaps it from the top of the circle through traffic. Scrivens is screened. Tied 3 - 3.

Shots Blue Jackets 8 - Oilers 18

Overtime

Shots Blue Jackets 1 - Oilers 3

Shootout

Letestu saved
Nugent-Hopkins saved
Johansen SCORE
Eberle SCORE
Wennberg SCORE
Roy saved