Oilers prove they can take on the big boys with playoffs firmly in sight

EDMONTON — They played this game on what seemed like fast forward. Or as one bloke tweeted, like driving a motorcycle out of a helicopter.

The points in the standings? They’re useful, and no doubt worth fighting for.

But somehow this Colorado-Edmonton tilt felt like it was about so many other things.

“We hope to see this team later on because that means that we’re making it to the third round,” said goalie Stuart Skinner, after a stellar night between the pipes. “That is definitely something we are looking forward to.”

The question begs, of course, are you good enough to reach a Western Conference Final rematch with the mighty Avalanche? Do you have all the pieces necessary to win two playoff rounds in the run-up — or even one?

It was a small, 65-minute window Saturday into Edmonton’s playoff chops, that ended not on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ clear cut breakaway in overtime, but when Artturi Lehkonen snapped home a Nathan MacKinnon pass with less than two seconds to play in the extra session.

But by the time they reached the 65^th minute of hockey, the Oilers — 3-2 losers on this night — had answered any questions anyone may have had about their playoff preparedness. They are ready to play with the big boys, and let the chips fall where they may.

“They’re a fast team and they limit your chances,” said Leon Draisaitl, who was a beast in the circle (14-7) and was as strong on the puck as he’s ever been Saturday. “We had enough looks to potentially win the game, but that’s how these tight games go. It’s a split second where I lost my guy and the game is over.

“It was a good paced game. They’re a fast team and so are we. Two really good teams going at it.”

Draisaitl sent Nugent-Hopkins in alone in OT, but then lost track of Lehkonen on the game-winner. Derive from that what you will, keeping in mind that when the games really begin to matter, they don’t play three-on-three hockey anymore.

On a night where Rogers Place was bursting with fans wanting to see the offensive magic of the NHL’s leading scorer (MacKinnon), and third-ranked Connor McDavid, neither had a point until the OT winner. From an Edmonton standpoint, erasing a 1-0 third period deficit and hanging with a team as good as Colorado — on a night where neither McDavid nor Draisaitl had a point — is likely good news, when you consider that scoring depth is always a bigger issue here in Edmonton than whether or not the big boys will produce.

“I think everyone coming to the game tonight was anticipating a McDavid-MacKinnon offensive show,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. “That's where great teams find their scoring — you need good depth. We found our depth in the third with the (Sam) Carrick line, and (Warren) Foegele scoring to get us on the board. They found theirs with the defence (Sean Walker, two goals) jumping up."

The goaltending at either end, with Alexandar Georgiev in Colorado’s net, was impeccable. And as so often happens in big games, the stars — and there were many in this prime time showcase — cancelled each other out.

For Edmonton, the fourth line of Carrick between Corey Perry and Mattias Janmark is taking form as a classic playoff depth unit: a tough, trusty faceoff man in Carrick who can kill penalties; a veteran, responsible PK specialist in Janmark, and Perry, whose greasy game is just tapping its foot in anticipation of the playoffs to begin.

Perry collected his 900^th career point on Carrick’s 2-1 goal in typical fashion. Having lost his stick, he deftly kicked the puck to Janmark who fed Carrick in front for his first goal as an Oiler.

“It was awesome,” said the Markham, Ontario-born Carrick. “A Saturday night, Hockey Night in Canada and all that. It's pretty special, being a Canadian kid. Two really good, fast teams going at it. We're heading down the stretch here. We're getting close to that time of year, a fun time of year.”

Carrick came over from Anaheim, where they don’t get a lot of games like this one anymore.

“We had one (HNIC game) this year in Toronto when I was with Anaheim, maybe a month ago. The score was a little different too (9-2 Leafs). So it's nice to be here,” said Carrick, who has never played an NHL playoff game.

He’s displaced Derek Ryan here for the short term, and at age 32, you know he’ll do whatever it takes to be part of whatever playoff journey awaits these Oilers.

“There's under 20 games here to really build chemistry, no matter who's in the lineup and what the lines are,” he said. “Figure out your linemates and how they play. You want to be able to roll four lines throughout playoffs.”

Vincent Desharnais didn’t play the third period after a scrap with Josh Manson late in the second. Knoblauch said he’ll be evaluated for injury on Sunday.