Except for Corey Perry.
That’s what’s missing from the title.
The almost 40-year-old, now almost 20-plus goal scorer, hammered home two first-period goals for what was a 2-0 lead, delivered hits, and played an overall urgent game.
There wasn’t much — if anything — to complain about.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s discuss the real issue at hand. Everything else.
The only other player to tie Perry’s goal production was on a different line, dressed in white, and oh yeah, played for the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
Not only did Reilly Smith score the game-tying goal for Vegas, but on paper he’s responsible for the game-winner to.
Though he might have to give Leon Draisaitl some credit for that last one there. After all, I think that can be classified as what some would call, an “own goal.”
It would probably be a little better if there was more than 0.4 seconds left on the clock, Connor McDavid didn’t just tie the game, and the puck wasn’t already totally clear of the net.
Alas, it was an unlucky tip off of a rare urgent play by the Oilers’ most offensive player this season, just not game — except for that goal.
“Obviously, we didn’t sort it out very well to get the puck into the spot, but I think after that, it’s just unlucky. It’s unfortunate,” added Draisaitl on Vegas’s game-winning goal. “Obviously it goes off my stick. I’m just trying to keep it out of the net.
“That’s just a bad bounce.”
The sad fact is, even if Draisaitl hadn’t scored the own goal and the Oilers went into overtime, Vegas still deserved to win.
The Oilers — and that is everyone — made too many mistakes to ever feel good about the performance presented at Rogers Place, nor should they.
Draisaitl had several lazy line changes, a habit that has unfortunately carried over from game two, and one that contributed to a goal against.
Try and classify that as an “unlucky bounce.”
But ask yourself this.
Could you excuse the 60-plus goal scorer and Hart Trophy finalist (not for the first time) for shall we say, an unpleasant performance?
Memories are short. So short you already forgot he had two points on Saturday night as well.
Now continuing down this list.
The Oilers’ depth scoring that contributed to a 6-0 come-from-behind win streak, and at the very least, game two of round two — gone. Left the building. Nowhere to be seen.
You could go as far as to say the Oilers looked like the Oilers again.
Points spread out over their top line and defensive pairing, save for a single assist to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, albeit on the power play. At that point, can you really call it depth scoring?
You can, but you shouldn’t.
“Corey put in a really good game tonight, and, I think some other guys did too,” according to head coach Kris Knoblauch. “But we know Vegas is a good team.
“They’re not going away, and we’re gonna need everyone chipping in and playing as best as they can.”
And finally, the shock of Oilers Nation from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. — Stuart Skinner was forced to start, and it did not go so great.
A 4.00 GAA, 0.833 save percentage, and a supporting role in Draisaitl’s own goal.
Wonder when Calvin Pickard will be ready to go.
“I don’t think there’s any bad goals,” argued Knoblauch. “It’s just we put him in difficult situations to defend.
“That’s a tough situation (referring to being put back in). I think he made some really big saves, especially early in the game.”
He also let in back-to-back goals in the first period. Let’s not forget about that.
Or do. That’s what the Oilers will attempt en route to a fresh start in game four that breathes of the same errors from game three.
Examine the problem. Find a solution. Move on.
This was a tough game with mistakes that shouldn’t have been made by players that shouldn’t have made them, but it’s over. If it continues into game four, then by all means, critique.
But as Bruce Cassidy has put it:
“We’ll wake up tomorrow and it’ll still be 2-1 Edmonton.”
