Maybe, just maybe, this is the start of something.
You always have to hedge your bets and temper your expectations with a team as inconsistent as the Edmonton Oilers have been this season, but things do seem to be trending in the right direction.
The key elements of what made the Oilers such a dominant team last year are showing signs of life. The penalty kill, the power play, the third-period poise, the kid they needed to come out of nowhere and be a top-six winger — they’re all poking through the dirt like seedlings in the spring.
There is still a long way to go before the roots take hold, but if what we saw in Edmonton’s 4-3 comeback win over Utah on Friday is a sign of what’s to come, the Oilers might finally be on their way back.
On the heels of a 6-2 win over the New York Rangers five days earlier, the Oilers made it two in a row and 6-2-1 in their last nine by dragging out the formula that worked so well for them last season.
“That’s what you’re hoping for,” said Leon Draisaitl. “You’re hoping to gather some momentum and for things to fall into place a little bit. That’s what teams are looking for at this time of year.”
GOOD SCOLDING
After falling behind 2-0 in the first period the Oilers tore themselves a new five-hole during the first intermission and responded well to the self-analysis.
“Sometimes you need to have a hard talk within our group,” said Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who scored the overtime winner. “Nobody was calling each other out, nothing like that, we just knew we had better and we showed that in the second and third.”
Draisaitl said the volume got turned up a bit during that impromptu heart-to-heart, but when players take it the right way meetings like that can have a big impact. And since the Oilers are long past the point of trying to kid themselves about what it takes to win, they really had no choice but to take it the right way.
“Sometimes there are moments where it gets louder and the uncomfortable things need to be said, unfortunately,” said Draisaitl. “But the one good thing about our team is there is no finger-pointing. If a guy decides to say something he puts himself into that conversation, as well.
“We’re a mature group that can handle those moments.”
POWER HUNGRY
The most important development Friday is that Edmontons’ nuclear weapon resurfaced.
After a season-long funk and a 2-for-17 run of futility dating back six games, the power play finally makes a significant mark on a hockey game. It scored two goals in a game for the first time this season, which is hard to believe considering that by the 23-game mark last year it scored two or more six times. They did it 16 times all season.
“That was the difference in the game,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch. “And we had an opportunity to win in on the power play, too. We did everything on that last one but put it in the net.
“Special teams are huge. It’s a fine line between winning and losing every night. We need our power play to be good to give us an opportunity to win.”
Credit to Corey Perry and Jeff Skinner, whose hard work on the forecheck drew the calls, and to Connor McDavid and Draisaitl, who scored the goals. The Oilers are now 13-0-2 when McDavid and Draisaitl each score a PPG in the same game.
ON THE KILL
The penalty kill, which was terrible at the start of the season, has been perfect for eight-straight games now, killing 17 straight penalties and adding a shorthanded marker. It was at the heart of their playoff run last season and if it’s anything close to that standard moving forward the Oilers will be in good shape.
THE KID IS FEELING IT
Vasily Podkolzin, who hadn’t scored in the first 21 games of the season, now has two goals in the last two games. You can tell the confidence is starting to build — he looked off Darnell Nurse on a two-on-one and ripped one home through Karel Vejmelka’s five-hole.
After mustering just three assists in the first 19 games he has two goals and two assists in the last four. That quick release of his that everyone talks about is starting to pay off. If he starts putting up numbers it could be a game-changer for the Oilers.
NUGE SIGHTING
Speaking of guys who aren’t having any luck in the top six, seeing Nugent-Hopkins strip a Utah defender and race the length of the ice for the winning goal is big. They need him producing. If he’s also coming around, the Oilers are well on their way.
“Quite a few times this year I’m either missing it by a few inches, the goalie is making a good stop or it hits the post,” said the veteran forward, who has three goals on the year. “It’s nice to see one go in.”
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