Koskinen’s perfect night means Talbot can rest up
Surprise starter shines in home debut, could help creasemate get some time off
OILERS 4, BLACKHAWKS 0
The most controversial addition in Peter Chiarelli’s off-season is starting to earn his money.
Backup goaltender Mikko Koskinen shut out the Chicago Blackhawks and shut up his critics in 60 brilliant minutes Thursday, blanking the frustrated visitors 4-0 at Rogers Place.
Koskinen might have been the best player on the ice in his second start as an Oiler, his first in front of a hometown crowd that still wasn’t really sure what to expect from a guy with a $2.5-million contract and a pre-season body of work that inspired more doubt than confidence.
But two games into his Oilers career the six-foot-seven Finn came as advertised — a menacing figure in the net capable of making the big stops under pressure, delivering a win on a night the Oilers were outshot 40-29.
Koskinen had a strong night against the Blackhawks. There was the glove save on Chris Kunitz in the first period, there was a blocker save on Brandon Saad, then Jonathan Toews on a breakaway, then moments later a 2-on-1 to keep the Oilers ahead while they were being outshot 31-17 at the second intermission.
This is the kind of game that’s going to open the door for more work as head coach Todd McLellan grows more and more comfortable with giving Cam Talbot some rest.
BIG RESPONSE
They say good teams don’t lose two in a row and the Oilers like to consider themselves a good team again, so a strong performance against Chicago was imperative for a club trying to re-establish itself as a playoff contender.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
The Oilers had some lapses in this one, but they came through with the offence when they needed it, scoring two goals in the second period and two more in the third to up their record to 7-4-1 and 7-2-1 over their last 10.
Despite all of the flaws that seem to be obvious when you look at this team from a distance, they are suddenly one of the hottest teams in the NHL, finding a way to win no matter what the situation.
THE DRAKE
There was much consternation in the Twitter world when Drake Caggiula got promoted to the first line Thursday. Critics were losing their minds, flooding the market with face-palming memes and eye-rolling emojis ridiculing the coach’s decision.
With Kailer Yamamoto in the press box and Ty Rattie injured, it was the best option other than Alex Chiasson, who you don’t want to move from the second line because he’s clicking with Leon Draisaitl and Tobias Rieder.
Anyway, Caggiula silenced the critics with a solid game in that spot, scoring his third of the season in the first minute of the second period on some nice puck-handling in the crease.