The Oilers had avoided it all season, but they finally played in their first shootout of the season on Thursday night.
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It did not go well. The Oilers only managed to get one shot on net in two opportunities, while the Detroit Red Wings scored on both of theirs. Just like that, a 2-0 first-period lead turned into a 3-2 shootout loss.
The prospects of a shootout were dim early on. Leon Draisaitl got the part started as he so often does, taking advantage of a Ben Chiarot misplay to score his 10th powerplay goal of the season and give Edmonton a 1-0 lead.
Jeff Skinner, back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch on Monday, then added another to give Edmonton a 2-0 lead that they would carry into the second period. Skinner now has goals in each of his past two games.
After dominating in the first period, the Oilers let off the gas in the second. The Red Wings notched two quick goals midway through the period, courtesy of Michael Rasmussen and Dylan Larkin, to tie the game up at 2.
Larkin and Draisaitl were all over this game. Both players had 10 shots on goal, the 13th and 14th to do so this season, while playing 25 and 24 minutes, respectively.
The third period was dominated by goaltending. Detroit’s Alex Lyon and Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner were superb, with Lyon in particular making 45 saves on 47 shots and saving 3.74 goals above expected.
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The Oilers’ vaunted penalty kill had their moment in overtime, killing off a huge Zach Hyman penalty, but Lyon continued to hold strong and it was off to the shootout for the first time this season.
It was over in a flash. Connor McDavid couldn’t beat an outstretched Lyon, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins whiffed on his shot, and Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin beat Stuart Skinner cleanly to capture their fourth consecutive win.
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Newest Oiler John Klingberg made his debut on Thursday night, playing just under 17 minutes, mostly next to fellow Swede Mattias Ekholm. Evan Bouchard spent most of his game next to Darnell Nurse.
With the loss, the Oilers lost out on a chance to break away from the Vegas Golden Knights in the Pacific Division. Thankfully, Vegas’ overtime loss to Columbus keeps them tied atop the division with 68 points, while the Oilers still have a game in hand.
They’ll get another shot at passing Vegas on Saturday night, in a heavyweight Hockey Night In Canada matchup with the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs.
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