RECAP: Oilers Roll Over Hurricanes 7-3

Seven goals? Seven goals. The Edmonton Oilers scored seven goals on Scott Darling and the Carolina Hurricanes last night. Carolina’s had trouble scoring goals, and like the Oilers, they’ve had trouble keeping them out of the net. That’s a combination that no team wants to hear about. Except the Oilers. If you’re facing these problems, the Oilers are happy to come in and try to make something of them. The Oilers got seven goals from seven different players. These goals came from all around the lineup. Only one goal was scored when the top line was on the ice. Leon Draisaitl had four points (1-3-4).

It wasn’t a memorable night for Hurricanes goaltender Scott Darling.

Normally, I’d attach seven clips of Oiler goals here, but my dial-up service provider hasn’t sent me another one of those 25 free hours of America Online discs. To the bullets!

• The Oilers went down 1-0 early after some confusion in front of Cam Talbot. Brock McGinn throws a no-look pass to no one in particular and the puck bounces off of Matt Benning’s skate. Yohann Auvitu isn’t able to save it from trickling behind Cam Talbot, and the Hurricanes got up early. Drake Caggiula would answer back almost immediately to make it 1-all. The game had all the makings of a shootout early.
• And then what happened?

• NHL.com is calling this goal ‘tremendous’. I have absolutely no trouble suggesting that this is Matt Benning’s best goal he’ll ever score. That’s a McDavid level goal there. Circus stuff. Benning snipes his own rebound out of the air from behind the goal line off of Scott Darling’s numbers into the net. That’s more impressive than Nail Yakupov’s late game goal against the LA Kings (you remember the one). A little luck never hurts, but hard work and being aware of your surroundings help result this into a goal.
• Pontus Aberg scored his first goal in an Oilers uniform.

They don’t get much easier than that one. I am totally unopposed to the opposition just handing errant passes over to Leon Draisaitl while ten feet from their goaltender.

• Leon Draisaitl had four points (1-3-4)
• Pontus Aberg had three (1-2-3).
• Jesse Puljujarvi scored Edmonton’s seventh goal on the night. Get your own rebound and good things are going to happen. I’m about ready to see him back in the top six instead of Ty Rattie.
• Ryan Strome had a couple of points (1-1-2).
• Just one assist for Connor McDavid. He’s at 90 points on the season. With nine games to go, he’s got ten more points to reach back-to-back 100 point seasons.
• Cam Talbot turned aside 31 of 34 total Hurricanes shots for the win.

The Oilers will try to take three out of four on this road trip as they face off against the Senators tomorrow. I’m not 100% sure, but I think we’d be OK with seven more goals.