Ah, welcome, ladies and gentlemen—grab your popcorn and sit tight, because we’re diving headfirst into the electrifying world of the Edmonton Oilers! Or as I like to call it, "When life gives you lemons, make goalposts."
So, apparently, the Oilers are thriving without the mouthwatering Connor McDavid, the closest thing to a hockey messiah since Wayne Gretzky decided he had a few other things to do—like becoming a commentator for every game ever played. Yes, you heard it right! The bookies must be sweating bullets because the Oilers are living their best lives, slicking past the Flames on their own turf, no less!
Now yes, it’s only two games—but honestly, who’s counting? They decisively thrashed the Nashville Predators 5-1 and then strutted into Calgary like they owned the place, taking down the Flames 4-2. That’s two games without their star player, two wins, and a lot of confused souls in the audience whispering, “Is this real life or an elaborate prank by NHL producers?”
Defenceman Mattias Ekholm commented on the collective effort, remarking, “It’s a collective effort to fill that void.” Well, you know what they say: When the king is away, the jesters will play—and for the Oilers, it appears they’ve mastered the art of comedy on ice!
Leon Draisaitl has transformed into some kind of superhuman force, scoring early and often. What’s next? A goal within the first 10 seconds? He’s leaving the fans in Calgary wondering if they accidentally bought a ticket to a stand-up comedy show instead of a hockey game. Meanwhile, Zach Hyman scored his second goal in two games without McDavid, like a toddler succeeding at building a Lego tower without their parent screaming over every slight tilt!
But let’s not ignore the dark side of the ice—because somewhere out there, the penalty kill is looking like an unwanted guest at a party: they just won’t leave! The Oilers have seemingly become the turnstiles for opponents’ power play goals, allowing 13 goals in just 12 games. Talk about a costly leak—who knew a hockey net could double as a service entrance?
And speaking of costly, let’s chat about the Flames. If one team finds a way to win, Calgary seems to have graciously accepted the award for best at self-destruction. Late in the game, they finally tie things up 2-2, only to slap the momentum straight into the oil slick by taking a needless penalty for too many men. It’s like they watched a tutorial on how to sabotage your own comeback! “Step one: Score a goal and tie the game. Step two: Give the other team a power play. Simple as that, right?”
So, as we marvel at this bizarre, brilliant, twisty hockey drama, don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled on the Oilers. They’re serving serious energy without their star player and reminding us all that sometimes, underdogs can deliver the punchline before the king gets to the stage. This season’s going to be anything but dull—grab your beverages, keep your skates sharp, and remember: in hockey, as in life, it’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the bear. Whoops, I meant dog!
Let’s buckle up; it’s going to be an interesting ride!
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It’s only two games, but the Edmonton Oilers look every bit as good without Connor McDavid as they did with him.
One game after trouncing the Nashville Predators 5-1 on the strength of Leon Draisaitl’s epic show of force, the Oilers rolled into Calgary without their captain Sunday night and overwhelmed the Flames in their own building.
They were up 2-0 before the Flames even had their second shot on net and when the Flames made a brief comeback attempt, Edmonton swiftly responded by scoring two third-period goals to secure a 4-2 victory.
“There has been, collectively, an effort from guys to step up in his absence,” said defenceman Mattias Ekholm. “It’s nice to see. It’s a collective effort to fill that void.
The Oilers are now 2-0 without McDavid and 6-2-1 since their season-opening three-game losing streak, dispelling any notion that they are lost without their best player.
“When our backs are against the wall or we face some sort of adversity we came back stronger, come out better,” said goaltender Stuart Skinner. “That’s the kind of group we have in here. You have a crew here that isn’t willing to give up.”
Draisaitl was all-world again in Calgary with his second three-point night in as many games, leading his team. On top of that, both Zach Hyman and Jeff Skinner contributed significant goals, while Mattias Janmark sealed the game with an empty-netter.
“Whenever you lose the best player in the world your team takes a hit,” said Hyman. “But collectively we’ve all done a little bit better.”
DRAI DRAI AGAIN
One again, Draisaitl set the tone early. And late.
After setting up Viktor Arvidsson’s goal in the previous match, Draisaitl one-upped himself against Calgary, scoring just 20 seconds after the opening faceoff to make it 1-0 Oilers.
He also assisted on Hyman’s game winner and the Janmark empty netter to seal it, giving him an impressive total of three goals and three assists in his last two games, accumulating a leading 15 points on the season.
“Leon has definitely been our leader,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch. “You look at these two games, he’s really stepped up his game. In Nashville, he was the best player on the ice and tonight he was again the best player.”
THE WEAK LINK
The penalty kill remains an issue as the Oilers try and regroup their PK following some key off-season departures. Calgary’s first goal of the night marked the ninth time in 12 games that the Oilers had to fish at least one power play goal out of their own net.
Credit where it’s due, though. With the score 3-2 Oilers and Calgary on a power play late in the third period Edmonton got the key stop it needed to preserve the win.
SELF-DESTRUCT BUTTON
Some teams find a way to win and some find a way to lose. Sunday night was Calgary doing the latter.
Yegor Sharangovich’s wrist shot from the point eluded Stuart Skinner to tie the game 2-2 and the Flames had momentum on their side down the stretch. It looked like their comeback was inevitable, right up until the costly stick infraction by Martin Pospisil deep in the offensive zone.
Sure enough, Hyman scored on the power play at 10:10 and the Oilers regained control.
Then, with 2:18 to go, a bench minor for too many men sealed their fate.
Edmonton Oilers
Draisaitl continued his offensive prowess by scoring just minutes into the game against Calgary. His ability to find the back of the net early not only set the tone for the Oilers but also left the Flames reeling before they could establish their game plan. It’s almost as if Draisaitl took it upon himself to remind everyone that just because McDavid is sidelined doesn’t mean the Oilers are without firepower.
As the game progressed, Draisaitl’s presence was felt in every shift he took. He was weaving through defenders, making creative plays, and demonstrating a level of confidence that made it clear he’s ready to take on the leadership mantle in McDavid’s absence. His vision and playmaking ability were on full display, showcasing why he’s often considered one of the top talents in the league.
Zach Hyman, too, stepped up, proving that the Oilers have other offensive weapons at their disposal. His contributions cannot be overstated, especially with McDavid unavailable. Hyman’s second goal in two games displayed a tenacity that ignited the team and provided critical insurance in the later stages of the contest.
On the flip side, the Flames’ late-game penalties turned what could have been a solid comeback into a spiral of frustration. Their failure to manage the game’s momentum, particularly with the too many men on the ice penalty, underscored a troubling trend for Calgary. Time and again, they have found ways to undermine their own potential victories, leaving fans scratching their heads at the team’s inability to execute under pressure.
As both teams look forward to their next matchups, it’s crucial to note how the absence of key players can drastically alter team dynamics. For the Oilers, the emergence of secondary scoring is encouraging and could be a game-changer as they continue their season. Meanwhile, the Flames need to regroup and address their issues with discipline and consistency if they hope to turn their luck around.
In this unpredictable season, the Oilers have shown that the heartbeat of the team isn’t solely reliant on a single player. Their hunger, determination, and ability to adapt are proving that sometimes, adversity breeds resilience. Calgary, on the other hand, needs to figure out how to stop shooting itself in the foot. As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on whether Edmonton can maintain their winning streak and if Calgary can find a way out of their self-imposed maze.