Oilers Double Up Penguins 6-3

The Edmonton Oilers had a four goal second period en route to a big win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night. Edmonton’s win gives them a .500 finish to their six game homestand (3-3), while the loss is Pittsburgh's first regulation loss of the season.

Zach Hyman kicked everything off for the Oilers less than five minutes into the first period when he tucked the puck under Tristian Jarry for Edmonton’s first goal of the night. The ice would tilt precipitously toward the Oiler end of the ice shortly after Hyman’s goal, as the Penguins would launch everything at Oilers goaltender Jack Campbell. Rickard Rakell and Sidney Crosby would each have a goal, and the Oilers would be lucky to escape the first period down by a 2-1 margin. Pittsburgh put up 20 shots, Jack Campbell did well to hold on.

Things got worse before they would get better for the Oilers, as Bryan Rust would score his third goal of the season just two minutes into the middle period.

As is tradition for the Oilers (at least this season), the Oilers don’t really get started until they’re down a goal or two. Down 3-1, five different Oilers would score a goal to put this one away. Tyson Barrie would score his first of the season, while the Oilers would get three more goals in the second from Evander Kane, Ryan Nugnet-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl. Ryan McLeod would score late in the third to seal the deal for the Oilers. Edmonton takes a 6-3 win to the bank, they finish their six game homestand at 3-3, and there was much rejoicing.

ETC

• Things really looked like they were about to come flying off the rails for Edmonton when Connor McDavid crashed into the Penguins’ net and took the net off. McDavid’s point of contact looked like it might be his tailbone, and he was slow to get off the ice after contact. McDavid did not register a point in tonight’s 6-3 win, his second straight game off the board.
• Ryan McLeod scored his first of the season, so did Tyson Barrie. Evander Kane and Nugent-Hopkins had one too. Don’t forget Leon Draisaitl, who had a goal and two assists to lead the club in scoring.
• Waiting to get Puljujärvi on that train, but it’s hard to score goals when your icetime exceeds only Devin Shore’s. At least he got 39 seconds of power play time, I guess.
• Zach Hyman kicked it off for the Oilers. Let’s watch a goal.

Zach Hyman kicks it off with a breakaway just before the five minute mark of the first period. Hyman’s breakaway goal is his second of the season, and his sixth point in as many games.

• The Oilers could’ve been down by three or four goals at the end of the first period, as the wheels really started to turn sideways after Sidney Crosby made it 2-1 Pittsburgh on a power play goal. Darnell Nurse took a double minor for high sticking with seven minute remaining, but the Oilers were able to kill it off.
• Rickard Rakell set up a beauty goal for Sidney Crosby while the Penguins were on the power play. Rakell had a nice night, finishing with a goal and an assist in the loss.
• If you’re headed to the bench on a delayed penalty, I’m not sure why you’d do this.
• Jack Campbell finished with 31 saves on 34 shots, picking up his third win of the season. It’s been a mixed bag for Campbell so far this year, a .912 effort is a step in the right direction for him.
• It was a much better second and third period for Edmonton, who finished the game with 47 total shots. Once the Oilers made it 5-3 at the end of the second period (a four goal second!), I was hoping we’d see some Casey deSmith.
• The Oilers hit the road, and will play the Blues in St. Louis on Wednesday night. They’ll face a Blues club that held Edmonton to zero goals Saturday’s matinee.