Oilers exhale, look at big picture after much-needed win

By Leo Africanus On Nov 12, 2023

SEATTLE — If this is where it begins, that heroic 70-game charge to a wildcard spot, then hop on board Edmonton Oilers fans. The regression to the mean has begun, with a 4-1 win over the Seattle Kraken.

The Edmonton Oilers finally met a goalie in Philipp Grubauer who didn’t play like some combination of Vladislav Tretiak and Martin Brodeur, and at long last found a professional game full of big saves but zero defensive gaffes.

They turned it into a solid, decisive 4-1 victory Saturday night in Seattle, and some space to breathe — if only until the New York Islanders visit Rogers Place on Monday night.

It’s been tense around this team, for sure. But finally on Saturday night, La Bamba echoed through the post-game dressing room.

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“I came into practice yesterday, we had some meetings, and I brought that up,” began defenceman Mattias Ekholm. “It feels almost like, ‘Okay, we’re gonna punt this season.’ That’s the way it feels. It just feels (like) we’ve been playing sooo bad. ‘Let’s just call this one off.’

“Then you look at the standings, and you’re seven points out of a playoff spot with (69) games to go.”

In a sport where you’re taught to focus on one game at a time, the Oilers exhaled Saturday and took a look outside the box they’ve been living in this season.

“Sometimes it’s good to get the big picture going — just zoom out and say, ‘Okay, we’re fine,’” Ekholm said. “We haven’t played our best but… we have a team that is capable of much better.”

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For a 3-9-1 team that entered the game ranked fourth in the NHL in high-danger chances — but 27th in scoring— the dam burst on a first-period natural hat trick by Zach Hyman. In by far his best game of the season Dylan Holloway added the fourth goal with 17.2 seconds left in Period 1, and the Oilers then defended to the final buzzer, holding the Kraken to a mere 18 shots to Edmonton’s 26.

“It’s the third time we’ve given up 18 or less shots in our season. It’s nice to win one when you give up 18 or less,” said head coach Jay Woodcroft. “It’s probably the sixth time that we’ve given up 27 or less. It’s nice to win one when you do that.”

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This is, frankly, how a good hockey team is supposed to play more often than not. Goalie Stuart Skinner faced only six high-danger chances, per Natural Stat Trick, and gave his team a couple of huge saves at opportune moments.

Skinner made a fine save on Yanni Gourde on a redirection from the low slot not three minutes into a scoreless game, the brand of save the Oilers haven’t had enough of this season. Then, not long after the Kraken powerplay had made it 4-1 early in the third, Skinner robbed Adam Larsson at the back door.

“That’s a save that keeps it 4-1 rather than 4-2, and then they’re pushing, right? Just a huge save,” said Hyman, whose first-period natural hat trick matched a feat only Wayne Gretzky has accomplished in Oilers silks. James Neal, Milan Lucic and Connor McDavid (twice) have all counted natural hat tricks at other points in a game, in team history.

“Just getting ahead, scoring first — and being able to build the lead,” Hyman said. “When things aren’t going well, you want to have a cushion.”

He was a demon at the net front Saturday, a metaphor for a team that found its game to some extent on a windy Washington weekend.

“We’re taught at a young age: go to the net. Especially when things aren’t as smooth as we’d like them to be, when you’re not getting the offence,” Hyman said. “You’ve got to go back to what works.”

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The final count: three even-strength goals for Edmonton, none for Seattle, with the clubs trading powerplay markers. It was the second straight game where Edmonton surrendered just 18 shots on goal, but they were light years better defensively in this one than two days before in San Jose.

For a team that hasn’t been able to score more than twice per night — and has routinely allowed four or more — a low event, 4-1 win scratches a lot of itches in this dressing room.

“I’m very happy with letting in one today,” said Skinner through a wide smile. “In the third period (Kailer Yamamoto) came down on a break and, Leo and Bouch both backchecked incredibly hard and potentially saved a goal against. That’s what it takes, and everybody’s been doing it.

“Everyone did it today.”

It’s just one in a row.

But hey, it surely beats the alternative.

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