It was a gutsy performance, but the Edmonton Oilers are back to winning ways.
Welcoming the red-hot St. Louis Blues to their home arena last night, the Oilers emerged victorious with a nail-biting 4-3 win, inching them closer to clinching a sixth consecutive postseason slot. Let's dissect the action from this thrilling encounter!
The Blues were first to light the lamp just shy of the nine-minute mark in the opening period. It was a textbook two-on-one play featuring Pavel Buchnevich and Ryan Suter.
Buchnevich delivered a crisp pass to Suter, who showcased his finesse, outmaneuvering Calvin Pickard to draw first blood. Though, not without its share of drama, as Jeff Skinner took a rough cross-check to the neck during the backcheck.
Fast forward to the outset of the second period, when Connor McDavid, back in the lineup at the last minute, made his presence felt. Seizing a turnover in the offensive zone, McDavid deftly tapped the puck to Connor Brown. Positioned perfectly, Brown wasted no time, sending a one-timer past Jordan Binnington to level the score for the Oilers.
The momentum swung again with 7:21 remaining in the second period. A booming shot from the point by Darnell Nurse was initially parried away, but Vasily Podkolzin was right where he needed to be. With a touch of flair, he buried the rebound with a backhand, pushing the Oilers ahead 2-1.
The action resumed briskly in the third period, with the Blues retaliating just 14 seconds in. Jordan Kyrou, finding himself unmarked in the slot, delivered a quick wrister that tied things up once again. The Oilers, unfazed, bounced back swiftly when Viktor Arvidsson netted a goal on a delayed penalty, restoring their slender advantage.
The Blues, determined not to be outdone, had a response of their own. Following a rapid cycle, Buchnevich found himself with the puck beside the net. Despite Pickard’s initial save, Buchnevich was relentless and tapped in his rebound, knotting the game with a little over 14:30 left on the clock.
As the clock ticked down in the final minute, the Blues nearly seized the lead, only to be stymied by a crucial save from Pickard. The puck transitioned swiftly in the opposite direction, with McDavid capitalizing on the break. He artfully passed the puck back to Brown, who slipped it beyond Binnington’s reach for the game-winning goal.
Key takeaways from the matchup…
Connor McDavid’s return was nothing short of spectacular. His electricity on the ice was evident as he notched three crucial assists. This marked his sharpest performance since at least the 4 Nations break, breathing life into the Oilers’ offense.
In a testament to his consistency, McDavid is climbing the scoring charts. Having failed to surpass the 100-point threshold only during his rookie season and the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 campaign, his current tally stands at 93 points with four games to go.
Viktor Arvidsson remains pivotal in Edmonton's setup, especially with key players out. His 14th goal this season was another reminder of his ability, marking his seventh goal in 16 games—a display of his resurgence as a top-six asset.
Connor Brown enjoyed arguably his finest performance with the Oilers. Scoring twice in this game, he elevated his season stats to 11 goals and 28 points.
Quietly effective, Brown has become a key contributor within the depth of Edmonton’s roster. Vasily Podkolzin also chipped in with his eighth goal of the year.
Defensively, Brett Kulak logged an impressive game-high 29:04 minutes, stepping up amidst the Oilers' depleted defense ranks. His reliability is invaluable for Edmonton’s blueline depth.
Despite not clinching a playoff berth just yet—thanks in part to the Calgary Flames’ late-game misfortune—the Oilers are closing in. One point across the remaining four contests seals the deal for them. Their victory over the Blues also simultaneously aided the struggling Flames.
Sitting now at 45-28-5 with 95 points, the Oilers trail the Los Angeles Kings by two points. Yet, with one fewer game played, the Kings remain just within reach. Edmonton next faces the San Jose Sharks, promising more excitement to come when the puck drops on Friday at 7:30 PM MT.
