Oilers happy with rookie squad despite second loss to Flames
The Edmonton Oilers completed the ugly game hat-trick on Wednesday.
After a pair of stinkers to open rookie camp — a 7-3 loss to Calgary last weekend and a 9-1 victory in Tuesday’s debacle against NAITMacEwan — the Oilers wrapped things up with a 6-3 loss in a rematch with the Flames.
Getting pumped twice by the provincial rivals doesn’t sit well, but there’s nothing they can do about it now.
“I thought it was a pretty wellplayed game,” said Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft.
“They converted on some of their chances in the first period and we had some we didn’t convert on. Then I thought we had the bulk of the play in the second period.
“Then we ran but of gas and made a couple of individual errors in the third period. Credit to Calgary, they played a good game, but there were some good things for us, as well.”
This one started out on the wrong foot, with the Flames jumping out to a 3-0 lead on the first five shots, but the Oilers steadied themselves and fought their way back into it. For a while.
The push back began with a goal from Luke Esposito late in the first period, and then two more in less than three minutes midway through the second period — Cameron Hebig with a beauty under the crossbar and Evan Polei on a rebound — to square it up at the second intermission.
We were all set for some third period drama, but the Flames pulled ahead with three straight goals, starting with a breakaway marker by Adam Ruzicka at 5:42 followed by back-to-back power play goals by Glenn Gawdin and Brett Pollock at 12:52 and 13:51.
The Flames enjoyed a 5-1 advantage in power plays, which helped make the difference in the end.
“It’s one of those early games,” said Woodcroft. “I thought the officiating crew tried to do the best they could.”
THIS AND THAT
Kailer Yamamoto was better than
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he was in the first game against Calgary, though he certainly didn’t stand out or dominate in any fashion. But that’s not necessarily his game. He makes quick, subtle plays around the net that can turn into points. He did have a nice steal resulting in a chance to score on a second period penalty kill.
Oilers winger Kirill Maksimov
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played a hard, physical game worthy of his 6-foot-2, 207-pound frame. He also has skill, which could make him a hard guy to play against one day.
The Oilers sat three of their best
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players from camp in LW Tyler Benson and defencemen Evan Bouchard and Caleb Jones.
RIGHT AT HOME
Aside from a couple of lopsided defeats, Woodcroft is rather enjoying the transition from an assistant in the NHL to running how own show in the American Hockey League.
It’s early, only a week into rookie camp, but it’s nice to be back where he feels most at home.
“I’ve felt really good and comfortable,” said the longtime assistant to Todd McLellan.
“For me, this is the fun part, because it’s the execution phase. It’s where I feel most comfortable, behind a bench or on the ice at practice.”
If you’re going to try to crack an NHL roster, you might as well do it with a buddy.
Not everyone gets a chance to bring a wingman to camp with them, but for Evan Bouchard and Ryan McLeod, the Oilers’ first and second picks in last summer’s draft, this is like an extended guys’ trip.
“It’s huge,” said McLeod, who’s been close friends with Bouchard for years. “I was really happy to be going to a team where I knew a familiar face. It’s a lot of fun. Having him here is a really good time.”
McLeod grew up in Mississauga, Ont., just down the road from Bouchard in Oakville, so they played with and against each other often in their minor hockey days. McLeod figures they’ve been on the same team four or five times during the course of their careers, not counting the Oilers.
Yet.
“I’ve known him from playing against him since I was younger, but the U17 program with Hockey Canada is where we really bonded,” said Bouchard. “And ever since then, growing up close to each other, we would hang out.”
They never imagined they would be drafted by the same team, but it’s funny how things work out sometimes. Bouchard was somehow still on the board when the Oilers picked 10th on the first day of the draft, and then McLeod, who many thought would go in the first round, too, slipped to 40th on the second day.
“I was excited when Edmonton called his name because I could go through the process with him,” said Bouchard. “The first time coming here, into a situation like this, it’s good to see a familiar face. Having him here made it that much easier.”
It’s still too early to tell where they’ll be playing this season, but it’s likely McLeod goes back to Mississauga and plays for Canada’s World Junior team this Christmas, while Bouchard has an outside shot at landing a spot with the Oilers.
And if all goes right, they’ll be teammates one more time.
“I don’t think we’ve thought that far yet,” said a grinning Bouchard. “But hopefully, that day comes soon.”