Oilers take solace with win over Golden Knights
Team once again effective as giant-killers after struggling against lesser sides
Anytime you beat a 109-point team, it’s not a fish you throw back even if it was only “Vegas semistrong” Thursday because the Golden Knights didn’t have three of their top four forwards dressed.
So, there will be no yeah buts after the Edmonton Oilers beat the odds and beat one of the NHL’s top five teams once again Thursday night, this time by a 4-3 count.
Fact is, the Oilers beat the Golden Knights, only the best team in the Pacific Division by a country mile, three times in four tries this season, and yes, you’re entitled to bring up that they lost both times to the worst team in the league, the Buffalo Sabres.
That’s the story of the Oilers’ season in one paragraph.
They had enough gumption and skill, and not just Connor McDavid and his 106 points, to win one of two against Tampa and Boston, two teams with 110 points, too, and yet, they were outscored 8-1 in two losses to the Sabres, who have 62 points.
“I’d like to think there’s an underlying competitiveness to this group which should bode well for this team moving forward,” said Mike Cammalleri, who won seven of his 10 faceoffs as the fourth-line centre and buried a power play pass from McDavid past Malcolm Subban in the third as the Oilers fought back from a 2-1 deficit to record the win.
“That’s the frustration this season with this club that’s capable of more. What you like is with two games left to play, you have habits that you need to be successful and that some of the leaders are doing a good job and keeping everybody on task,” said Cammalleri, after the Oilers ended their five-game losing streak with the win against the Golden Knights who had won three straight and four of their previous five but didn’t have Jonathan Marchessault, David Perron or Rielly Smith up front.
McDavid echoed Cammalleri, wondering why they have so little consistency.
“It’s definitely something we have to figure out. We’ve beaten some good teams and lost to some teams that ultimately we shouldn’t have. We’ll take the three wins against Vegas and feel good about that, but other than that, it’s nothing big (in the big picture),” he said.
Still, Vegas has a 20-5-5 record against the Pacific this season and the Oilers beat them twice in regulation here (8-2 and 4-3) and once in OT 3-2 in Vegas on Darnell Nurse’s goal, losing only once.
Cammalleri and McDavid’s winger Ty Rattie both scored in the third.
Cammalleri looks just fine as the fourth-line centre the last week, taking over for Jujhar Khaira, who played left-wing with Leon Draisaitl against Vegas. Whether that’s enough to get another contract offer next season, who knows, but he’s still got game left at almost 36, after 905 games.
“Since he’s come back from his injury ( back). he’s been a pretty effective player,” said Oilers coach Todd McLellan. “He’s very fit, a very smart player … he’s had many chances but they haven’t gone in for him this season but he put himself in a good spot (off McDavid feed).”
Cammalleri says he seems more involved as a centre where he played at college (U of Michigan) than on the wing for most of his NHL career.
“It’s his mind and his ability to make tight, crafty passes, the give and gos,” said McLellan. “And his release (294 goals) is something that’s always been there. When he’s in the middle, he’s getting the puck from both sides and he can shoot it a bit more. He’s creating more for himself and his linemates at centre.”
Rattie set up Ryan NugentHopkins with a nice saucer pass over Deryk Englelland’s stick in the first period and ripped one past Subban off a McDavid pass in the third to give him nine points in 10 games since his second recall from Bakersfield. He’s got five goals but he hadn’t had a point in four straight games before his twopointer against Vegas.
The jury’s out on whether he’s a top six keeper for next season but he’s done more than Pontus Aberg, the other right-winger, who came to the Oilers in the Mark Letestu trade in late February.
“He’s fit in well so far … the unfortunate thing is we’re playing at a time where the games aren’t as meaningful for us,” said McLellan. His defensive games has gotten better and he obviously has terrific hockey sense and a great release.”
“Ty ’s opening eyes and he’s proving to us and himself he can do it. I know his teammates (McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins) like playing with him,” said McLellan.
ON THE BENCH: Cam Talbot became the first Oiler goalie to record back-to-back 30 or more win seasons, going back to Tommy Salo in 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. McDavid’s three assists gave the Oiler captain 29 three-point games in his career.