The highly anticipated return of the offer sheet boys…Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg…to Edmonton where the 13-12-2 St. Louis Blues battle the 14-10-2 Oilers. Justin Faulk returned to the lineup after missing 2 games with a lower-body injury…Jordan Binnington is back between the pipes for the Blues and Stuart Skinner is in goal for the Oilers. Kasperi Kapanen will face the Blues for the first time in an Oiler uniform.
Oilers take the first period lead…
Blues have the edge in play for the first 10 minutes with 6 shots to 2 for the Oilers. Boos raining down each time Holloway or Broberg touch the puck. Connor McDavid and Holloway have a little scuffle after discussing whose momma has the best poutine.
Edmonton gets on the board when an Oiler is left alone in front of the net and can tip one past Binnington with just over 7 minutes left in the period. 1 – 0. The Blues had a mix-up on a line change and only had 4 skaters on the ice when the goal was scored.
1 to 0 Oilers at the end of the 1st period. Shots in favor of the Blues 10 to 5. The Blues blocked 5 shots.
Oilers take command in the 2nd…
McDavid capitalizes on a poor clearing pass that bounces off a Blues skate right in the slot and McDavid slips it between Binnington’s pads. 2 to 0 Oilers. Just over 5 minutes into the period. Oiler fans giving the “Broberg” taunt as it was his pass that deflected to McDavid.
A quick whistle saves the Blues from being down 3…that was close…
10 minutes into the 2nd period the Blues aren’t getting much pressure on the Oilers…a lot of one-and-done entering the offensive zone.
Oilers go to the powerplay with 6:39 left in the period when Skinner squares up and runs a pick play on Radek Faksa who gets called for goalie interference. You would think the Oilers would be one of the top powerplay teams…but rank 18th in the league…still always dangerous…and they strike with a back door pass that gets tapped in at 5:21. 3 to 0 on their 13th shot. This back door pass play seems to be a no-brainer…not sure why the Blues can’t use the same play.
Oilers control the game despite the Blues leading in shots 18 to 13. Skinner with all the answers so far.
Is a 3-goal lead at home the worst lead to defend?
Hollywood Holloway silences the boos with just under 15 minutes left in the 3rd period getting a pass in the slot and firing it glove side for his 9th of the season. Robert Thomas and Colton Parakyo with the assist.
Blues get a powerplay when Zack Bolduc takes a hard hit into the boards behind the Oiler net…popping his helmet off…seemed that it was more than just a simple interference penalty. 8:54 left in the period. The Blues have the 28th-ranked PP. And with 1:09 left in the period Edmonton takes another penalty…so 5 on 3 for over a minute…need to get pucks on the net and score quickly. Jordan Kyrou finally gets a shot through the defense, and it deflects off Jake Neighbours with 6:51 left…just after the 1st penalty had ended. 3 to 2…and down the stretch we come! Jake's 9th of the year, Pavel Buchnevich with the secondary assist.
Oilers get a weird goal as Binnington looks like he misjudged a shot from the wall and it’s a two-goal lead again 4 to 2 at 14:18.
Binnington to the bench with 3 minutes left. 6 attackers…until 33 seconds left and a faceoff in the Blue end. And the Blues point streak comes to an end…
Oilers win it 4 to 2 the final. Blues outshot the Oilers 312 to 21.
Notes: Big advantage in hits for the Blues 26 to 10...Holloway had 5 shots on goal and Broberg 3...Faulk in his return logged over 25 minutes of ice time, Matt Kessel less than 10 minutes...Oilers blocked 17 shots to the Blues 11.