Movin’ On From Last Night

YOU GOT LUCKY

Maybe you were one of the lucky ones that missed last night’s 7-0 blowout in San Jose. Maybe you were picking up a few things at the grocery store, or maybe you’re in a Tuesday night bowling league. Maybe you had some late night dental work. You get the idea. Maybe you were one of the lucky ones who missed all the bloodletting.

For the rest of us, it wasn’t much fun. Last night’s game stunk. There’s no putting a bow on it and saying that everything’s great. Because it stunk. The worst game of the year. Maybe two years. I know for fact that the Oilers have been outscored by more than seven goals during the decade of darkness preceding this year’s playoff berth, but getting beat by seven goals was a rare occurrence, even on some bad Oiler squads.

There are a few things to talk about in regards to this game. Then we will never speak of it again.

• One of the things I made note of before last night’s debacle was the fact that the Oilers hadn’t scored very many goals during this series. After last night’s debacle, the number of goals scored remains the same as it did before the game. That number is five. The Oilers have scored just five goals in now a total of four games. That’s a great number if you promise to never ever let the other team score any goals, but the Sharks finally opened the floodgates last night and scored a touchdown. That’s got to change. And barring the rashy-est rash of bad luck, it will.
• Cam Talbot didn’t have a good game. The Oilers themselves didn’t have a good game, or a decent game, or really, any game, but Cam Talbot’s .967 SV% took a little dip (ahem) to .925. Talbot was replaced after yielding his fifth goal midway through the game. Laurent Brossoit was brought in to mop up. The good part? It’s not very likely that Talbot will yield five goals in thirty minutes tomorrow night. If he does, you’ll see a lot of broken televisions littering the streets of Whyte Ave.
• Oilers really brought back some fond memories of the last decade when they surrendered a goal in the first fifteen seconds. Put that one on your list, Santa.
• The Sharks had eight power plays. They cashed on four of them. You’re reading this sentence and you’re alive right now. The Oilers can’t give up eight power plays and win on the reg. It’s not going to happen.
• Did I mention the “no goals” thing? Yeah.
• Leon Draisaitl got 5 and a game for spearing Chris Tierney in the testicles. One can hope he gets a $2,500 fine and no time off.
• Connor McDavid has been held to just two points in four games (1-1-2). Between now and the end of this series, there’s a fair chance you’re going to see more of him on the scoresheet.
• THE BEST PART? It’s one game. We may never speak of it again. Howard Jones, things can only get better. Let’s think that everything falls Edmonton’s way and that Draisaitl doesn’t get suspended, McDavid finds the scoresheet a couple of times, and that Cam Talbot has selective memory. The Oilers are tied 2-2 in the series and they’re home tomorrow night. It could be better right now. The Oilers could be 3-1 looking to close it out on Thursday. But let’s be real, it could be much, much, much much worse. Win tomorrow night, and things look rosy. Lose tomorrow, and...well, don’t lose tomorrow.