WILD 3, OILERS 0
Edmonton offence falls silent
In the morning, Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk was lamenting his sorry season through October when somebody suggested his old Edmonton Oilers might be the tonic he needed because of his 1.71 average and .932 save percentage in 13 games against them.
“Jeez, I certainly hope so,” said Dubnyk.
Well, he beat them, but it was a painful W. He only played 22 minutes because his head bounced off the ice after his teammate Ryan Donato spilled Brandon Manning in the crease and Dubnyk fell awkwardly. He carried a 3-0 lead and hopefully just a migraine to the dressing room going through concussion protocol, and the Wild nursed it to a 3-0 victory behind backup Alex Stalock. They handed the offensively-challenged Oilers their first stinker through 10 games, showing a great deal more urgency, especially early.
Connor Mcdavid, who didn’t get a point for the third straight game, something that’s only happened once before (Dec. 29, 2017 to Jan. 2, 2018), Leon Draisaitl, James Neal and Zack Kassian have been more than fine with their 23 goals. But seven Oiler forwards in the lineup Tuesday are still looking for one.
That sweat equity they’re putting forth on the PK has been admirable, but 5-on-5? Nothing, nada.
No goals from Riley Sheahan, Jujhar Khaira, Markus Granlund, Tomas Jurco, Josh Archibald, Patrick Russell and last year’s feel-good story Alex Chiasson.
If Mcdavid and his small posse aren’t doing it, it would be nice if somebody in the words of Dallas Eakins “chopped some wood.”
And suddenly, the Oilers
(7-2-1) have gone 152:38 seconds without a goal, shut out twice by Winnipeg and then the Wild, after Ethan Bear got the game-winner past Jonathan Bernier in the second-period win over Detroit last Friday.
SLUMP, WHAT SLUMP?
Eric Staal only had one assist and was -9 before this one, but he got two snipes just outside the blue-paint and an assist in just 4:59 in the opening period. Quality minutes, for sure. Staal has always worked over the Oilers, though. He had 21 points in 21 career games before Tuesday.
HUNTING SEASON
One-time Oiler defenceman Brad Hunt pounded his fourth of the season past Smith on a late first-period power play. He leads the Wild in goals and only Dougie Hamilton (5) in Carolina has more goals from the back-end. Hunt, one of the game’s nicest guys (always has a hello and firm handshake for one and all) has 14 career goals in 129 games.
AT LEAST LET ME SIT
Hunt’s PP ripper, similar to the one he beat Carey Price with on Sunday night, came six seconds after Oscar Klefbom was caught with his mitts on Jason Zucker on a breakaway. Staal got waved out of the circle for Luke Kunin, but the puck got back to the point and tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick and Hunt got the shot through Smith’s pads. The Oilers came into the game killing 23 of 26 penalties, but this was in their net before Klefbom could get comfortable.
HIGH PRAISE
Scotty Bowman has been watching Dave Tippett very closely in Edmonton because he used to coach him in Pittsburgh. “One of the best penalty-killers I ever had,” said Bowman.
“I’m surprised he even remembers my name,” laughed Tippett.
“Nah, Scotty was a good guy. He didn’t put me on the ice for offence. It was hard to argue (who played where) because the top-two power-play units had Mario (Lemieux), (Ron) Francis, (Joey) Mullen, (Rick) Tocchet, (Kevin) Stevens, (Jaromir) Jagr. I was pretty far down the mix.
“Penalty-killing? Yup that’s when I got on the ice.”
GETTING LAY OF THE LAND
New Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin says his brotherhood has been very helpful, including Oiler manager Ken Holland.
“I’ll make sure I run into Kenny tonight, and pick his brain. The more I can be around a guy like him the better. If I can do half of what Ken Holland has done, it will be a great career,” said Guerin.
“My first game (as GM) was in Nashville. David Poile was starting his 37th year, and I was starting my first. I saved the game notes from that night.”
THIS ’N’ THAT
Smith stopped Jason Zucker on a breakaway in the second and robbed Marcus Foligno with a great glove early in the third to keep it close … The Wild also lost forward Jordan Greenway after the first period after he had set up two goals. He was rocked by Archibald high on the chest … Tippett coached Guerin in Dallas and talked to Guerin about the Seattle GM job when Tippett was the expansion team’s frontman, but it was only a friendly chat. Tippett knew the expansion squad would need a GM with a bigger resume so Francis was hired there … Former Oiler Ryan Spooner has been sold by SC Lugano to Dynamo Minsk.