EDMONTON — In the smaller picture, five wins in a five-game homestand — no matter who the schedule-maker puts in front of you — probably deserves a pat on the back and a cold beer.
The Edmonton Oilers began this homestand on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. Ten points later, after a 6-3 win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday afternoon, they find themselves five points clear of Dallas — the third wild-card team — and within two points of L.A. for second place in the Pacific, with two games in hand on the Kings.
You’ve got to admit, Edmonton was tested in a myriad of ways in this homestand: Washington scores with two seconds to play to force overtime; mighty Tampa comes in as the two-time defending champs; Detroit erased a 3-0 deficit and tied the game at five in the third period; and New Jersey scores twice in the third to take a 3-2 lead with 16:45 to play.
But every time failure knocked, Edmonton managed instead to succeed.
It wasn’t long ago we referenced this club a fragile. But lately, whomever the opponent, it has been quite the opposite.
“We come out in the third period knowing what we need to do, but they get a couple of bounces and take the lead,” said Evander Kane, after another two-goal night for 12 tucks in 23 games. “We stick with our game plan, we get pucks to the net. We turn up the heat a little bit, stay with it, and we’re able to respond."
Why now? And not a month ago?
“I think it’s just believing,” said Kane, whose plan to come to Edmonton and beef up his value before July 1 has been working brilliantly, becoming a fixture on Connor McDavid’s left wing. “We can score goals, we know that. It’s just about playing a certain way, having the right attitude and staying with that attitude no matter how bounces go in a game.
“I see great potential in this team, that’s why I came here,” he said. “I think you’re starting to see what it can look like. As we continue to grow our game and become even tighter as a team in the way we play, I think we’re going to be a tough team to beat.”
The small, quick Devils gave Edmonton fits at times Saturday. New Jersey doesn’t pin you in your zone for long stretches, but they’re a fast-break team that can kill you with odd-man rushes.
Alas, Mikko Koskinen was the difference. He made a ton of good saves on a loose night for the Oilers structurally, while former Calgary Flame Jon Gillies folded up at the other end — much to the chagrin of Devils head coach Lindy Ruff.
After New Jersey took a 3-2 lead in Period 3, Gillies surrendered a weak goal from the bottom of the circle by Tyson Barrie. Edmonton never looked back after that, scoring three more times to coast to the finish line.
“That goal from the goal line, the bad angle from Barrie, a terrible goal,” spat Ruff. “That gave them some life. We were doing all the right things. You give up a shot from there, 99 out of 100 times you’re getting a save.”
Poor Lindy. His team had a shot at a win here, but it was the Oilers who found a way instead.
“Our goalie had a tough night,” Ruff complained. “You can look at the first goal, you can look at the second goal. ... It’s a team we wanted to limit opportunities, high-rush opportunities, and I thought the momentum changed when all of a sudden, that tough goal goes in.”
It's a bit ironic that, not so long ago, Dave Tippett was issuing quotes like those about Koskinen. Now, the Three Metres of Koskinen has seized the starter’s job in Edmonton, and given the Oilers enough goaltending to contend for second place in the Pacific.
In return, he’s getting run support. The Oilers scored six goals in three straight games for the first time since 1993, and while getting the first goal of the game was a major issue earlier this season, they have now scored first in nine of Woodcroft’s 18 games.
The Oilers are 21-0 when scoring first this season.
“It's remarkable,” marvelled Woodcroft. “When our staff came about a month ago, we put a premium on starting well. We talk a lot about early urgency — wanting to sink our teeth into the other team immediately. And putting a little bit of onus on personal responsibility for players to find their game within the team right off the bat.”
McDavid tied a career high with a goal in his fifth straight game, an empty-netter. It capped a night where a fragile team might have lost, but the Oilers — again — found a way not to.
“That comes with a little bit of confidence,” Leon Draisaitl said. “When you get a couple of wins going, get a little streak going, you know that you can come back from a bad shift or getting scored on.
“I think we are growing in that area of the game and it makes us a better hockey team.”
