McDavid Dazzles Leafs in 4-3 OT Win

The Edmonton Oilers took home a thrilling 4-3 OT win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night. Connor McDavid lead the team with two goals including the game-winner while Josh Archibald and Dominik Kahun added the others. Mikko Koskinen was huge in this one as well as the Oilers improve to 4-6-0 on the season.

It was a game that had a few highlight-reel goals and one that had the audience on the edge of their seat. You didn’t wanna miss this one but, if you did, I got the complete recap here for you...

First Period:

The pace was as fast as it could be to start this one.

The Oilers in particular had an extra spring in their step as they had a few great chances early on. Tyler Ennis got the first chance for Edmonton as his shot squeaked through Frederik Andersen but was covered by the glove of Mikko Lehtonen, prompting a penalty shot. Ennis would try to beat Andersen on the blocker side but would put too much on it as it sailed wide.

It wouldn’t be long after until Dominik Kahun finally got the Oilers on the board as he battled to get a second shot on net that went high-glove. 1-0 EDM.

The pace would start to die down a little in the final minutes but it didn’t stop the goals. John Tavares would beat James Neal in the Edmonton end that would get the puck to William Nylander down low. He beat Koskinen, we got a tie game.

Then, in the dying seconds, McDavid would handle the puck behind the Leafs net and find an open Josh Archibald in front to give Edmonton the lead. Oilers come out with the 2-1 lead after an exciting opening frame.

Second Period:

The craziness continued into the second. The Oilers once again had the early jump on the Leafs and that resulted in the game’s first powerplay going to Edmonton. It would take no time at all for McDavid to go end-to-end beating every Leaf on the ice to get yet another highlight-reel goal. Oilers extend their lead to 3-1.

Don’t get too comfortable as, just two minutes later, Auston Matthews responded for the Leafs with a sharp-angle shot beating Koskinen. The lead was cut to 3-2. The Leafs would then get a power-play shortly after that they converted on. We are all tied up at 3-3.

McDavid would strike iron on a solid chance late in the period and the Oilers applied plenty of pressure, but we were deadlocked. At the end of 40 minutes, it was a 3-3 game.

Third Period:

Both teams hunkered down defensively in the final frame. There were still chances for each side but nothing was going. The two highlights were courtesy of the goaltenders. First, Koskinen robbed Mitch Marner with the glove on a PP chance for the Leafs. Then Andersen stoned Archibald on a last-second 2-on-1.

3-3 at the end of regulation. Time for the first Oilers OT of the year.

OT:

The first Oilers OT of the year didn’t take long to end. After Koskinen stops Nylander on a breakaway chance, McDavid and Draisaitl go back the other way. Drai is able to find McDavid on the 2-on-1 and it was game over. McDavid gets his second of the year and break their losing skid!

4-3 Oilers win!

Takeaways:

• A helluva game by the Oilers tonight. They were fantastic in all three ends of the ice and I thought their work ethic tonight was as good as we’ve seen it this season. They are going to need more games like this to get back into the thick of things in the North Division.
• Mikko Koskinen was stellar tonight. He had Marner’s number all night long and had a fantastic glove save on a third-period chance for the Leafs. He has been as good as the Oilers could expect him to be this season and he will deserve a night off tomorrow night.
• Connor McDavid....wow.
• Dominik Kahun and Tyson Barrie both had their best game in Oiler colours this year. Barrie was involved in the play all night long had was firing the puck toward the net. Kahun scored his first and had a few good chances after the fact. That is what you want to see.
• Ethan Bear being taken out of the game should concern Oilers fans. He has been the team’s best defender so far and missing time will be a major blow to an already suspect defensive group. If he does miss tomorrow’s game expect Evan Bouchard to come in for his season debut.
• What about those reverse retros? Looked super fresh out on the ice...wouldn’t mind those sticking around.
• The Oilers improve their record to 4-6-0 and have a golden chance to get to .500 against a slumping Ottawa Senators team. Keep the peddle to the metal and let's do this. Tomorrow night at 7 PM.