Connor McDavid’s OT Goal Pushes Oilers Over Avalanche

Unlike the Bruins game,it was the Oilers who were pouring it on more often than not. The only thing that stood in between the Oilers and two points was Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov, who got his money’s worth before McDavid took care of business in overtime.

A trend that must not continue into 2018-19 is the one where Edmonton tends to go down two, three, or four goals before scoring goals of their own. Fortunately for everyone in attendance, the Oilers would actually get on the board first. Both goaltenders kept the other team off the board in period one, it was Leon Draisaitl who got the Oilers on the board in period 2.

Draisaitl does it all himself on this one. He puts the puck between Mikko Rantanen and then shovels it behind Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov to get the Oilers on the board. Grab your lunch pail. It’s time to go to work.

There’s been some beauty goals as of late, and that one’s got to be in your top 10 on the season. Less than three minutes into the second period, the Oilers are up 1-0.

A bit over ten minutes later, and it’s Zack Kassian picking up his seventh of the year.

Let’s talk a bit about how Jesse Puljujarvi made this all come together. Colorado’s Nikita Zadorov is muscled off the puck by Jesse Puljujarvi behind the net. Zadorov misplays it to Mark Letestu, who throws it in front of the net. Zack Kassian’s there to bring home the bacon. I’ve got about thirteen issues with Puljujarvi playing this far down in the lineup, but he’s making it happen here. Puljujarvi would not pick up an assist on this play, though it’s clear that he helped make the doughnuts. Puljujarvi would finish with 15:10 in ice time. Don’t look now, but the Oilers are up 2-0.

AND THEN, IT HAPPENS

Samuel Girard would bring the Avalanche to within one goal with 20 seconds remaining in the second period. Tyson Jost would tie it up with less than one minute having elapsed into the third period when he catches Kris Russell doing the watermelon crawl.

It’s 2-2 with 19 minutes of regulation time remaining. What could possibly go wrong? For the next 19 minutes, nothing. Enter overtime.

I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE TRADE DEADLINE

After a sketchy line change in overtime, it’s the 29-97 connection that takes care of everything.

That’s your game. Oilers take two at home as they outlast the Avalanche 3-2.

• Hey, a win. I’ll take a couple more.
• DAYS SINCE MILAN LUCIC’S LAST POINT: 33
• DAYS SINCE MILAN LUCIC’S LAST GOAL: 60
• If the entire game was 3 on 3, and McDavid / Draisaitl played, oh, 45 minutes of it, this team would stand a chance.
• McDavid’s two point night puts him at 71 on the season (27-44-71). He’s got 22 games to get 29 points for consecutive 100 point seasons together.
• Two more points for Leon, he’s pushing a point per game territory. He’s got 54 points (18-36-54) in 56 games.
• The Oilers are going to depend on some inexpensive players on the wing in 2018-19. If Anton Slepyshev doesn’t get moved between now and Monday, he’ll be one of those guys. Slepyshev finished with nearly 16 minutes of ice time and three shots.
• Oilers hit the road with games in LA on Saturday and Anaheim on Sunday before the trade deadline. Don’t go too far, because the trade deadline is Monday. We’ll have all of that and more here at Copper and Blue.