Jury remains out on goalie Koskinen
So what else is new?
Connor McDavid wins the game in overtime for Edmonton Oilers.
The Oilers captain lifted one over Antti Raanta for his second of the night for a 3-2 victory Thursday as the Oilers raised their exhibition record to 5-1.
Nobody can defend McDavid, but the jury’s still out on Oilers goalie Mikko Koskinen after his third pre-season start. He made some excellent stops including one on Richard Panik in the dying stages of the third but gave up one he’d love to have back.
Koskinen, who gave up a goal on the first shot against Calgary and Winnipeg earlier in pre-season, had Clayton Keller’s 15-footer squeeze through him on the Coyotes second shot of the game. It was one of those softies where we would have seen an eye-roll from coach Todd McLellan had the camera been aimed at him on the team bench.
The second by Christian Fischer came on a ripper from the high slot on an Arizona power play. High percentage area, for sure, even if Cam Talbot had been in the net, but like many European goalies, Koskinen was in the blue paint after a pass from behind the net. “You can play deep in your net or at the top of the crease though and make the save. You just have to be set. I not sure he was,” said McLellan.
Even with Koskinen’s goalie foibles coming into the game, he got the full 60 minutes against Arizona — the second one he’s had in preseason (Winnipeg was the other). It certainly looks like he’s going to be the caddy for Talbot, no matter what. Al Montoya, who dresses beside the Finn in the locker-room which could be a little uncomfortable when the other guy’s trying to take your job, has only played 20 minutes. That’s what farmhand Shane Starrett got before being farmed, while Koskinen’s got 180.
“It’s been an adjustment period for him,” McLellan said Thursday morning. “He struggled in Calgary and he was better in Winnipeg, which tells me he’s starting to feel a little more comfortable with the environment, the pace, the shooters, the size of the rink, his teammates and coaches.”
Koskinen stopped 22 of 24 in this one after giving up eight goals in 40 shots coming into the game into this one. Three things you like about
Ethan Bear: he shoots hard, he shoots accurately and he hits the tape with a 50-foot pass. Now, he needs work in his end like all kids but, with two exhibitions left, he and first draft pick and fellow rightie Evan Bouchard are in a dead-heat for a roster spot.
Bear clanged a 50-footer off the iron in the second period, cleanly beating Antti Raanta and played a coolly effective game. He may still wind up in Bakersfield on the top defence pair with Caleb Jones, but his stock went up after this game.
If Jakub Jerabek had wowed the Oilers in his four pre-season games, tryout defenceman Jason Garrison probably would have been gone. But the signed ($1 million, one year) Jerabek, who sat out the Coyotes’ game, is very much a bubble player, and Garrison, with his 538 NHL games but somewhat heavy boots for today’s racehorse game, got another look. He came to camp as a real longshot because he spent all but four Vegas games in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves last season.
“There’s always a little bit of rust after an off-season. For me, it’s been trying to get that out as quickly as possible and trying to feel like I’m in mid-season form,” said Garrison, who spends his summers in Florida after playing for Panthers and the Lightning. “It’s nice to get some games in and get the feel for playing in a game mentality and get the legs going.”
McLellan acknowledged that Garrison isn’t fleet, certainly not Oscar Klefbom quick, but sometimes smarts come into play. “He’s an intelligent player who positions himself well,” said McLellan.
The legend of Ty Rattie came to the fore in the second when McDavid stole the puck off ex-Oilers defenceman Jordan Oesterle, broke away with wingman Rattie and Arizona defenceman Alex Goligoski leaned over to Rattie’s side, only to have McDavid rip it through Raanta’s wickets for the Oilers’ first goal. Lest you think everything’s going in for Rattie, he missed on a backhand open net after Bear ripped a shot on Raanta a little later.
While Rattie has made it on McDavid’s right-wing, he’s not a one-trick pony. In the first period, he dove to block a slapper from Goligoski, taking the shot off his foot and wincing as he skated off. “I haven’t seen him cheating out there (offence),” said McLellan.
There was no hugging or hi-fiving everybody when Tobias Rieder whipped a shortie past Raanta to tie it 2-2 because he didn’t want to show up his old Desert Dogs team. But, it was still a weight off the winger’s shoulders — his first goal — after only a so-so camp. He’s had two good games in a row though, with one start in Winnipeg coming with extenuating circumstances when he got the late nod because Alex Chiasson was sick before the flight. Rieder had two shorties on the same shift against the Oilers as we all know when he was with the Coyotes.
“One of my best NHL nights after my first NHL goal (vs. Washington),” admitted Rieder.
Another barely noticeable game
for Drake Caggiula on the fourth line. He’s been battling a sinus infection which hasn’t helped. Breathing well and skating hard are an NHL requisite. He may be going to see an ear, nose and throat specialist in time.
Pontus Aberg didn’t move the dial
enough for the coaches as he tries for one of the extra forward spots. He hit the crossbar in tight with a nice backhand move on Raanta with three minutes left but, frankly, needed that goal. He took a highsticking penalty and was in the box when Christian Fischer scored but that was about it. He’s a busy player but not enough happens.