2 weeks Ago By Dan Kingerski, Pittsburgh Hockey Now
EDMONTON, Alberta — By the middle of the second period, the Edmonton Oilers (3-4-1) were outshooting the Pittsburgh Penguins (3-5-1) 29-5. Penguins rookie goalie Joel Blomqvist got a good look at future Hall of Famers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, as well as the rest of the Western Conference champions. After claiming a 3-2-0 record, the Penguins are winless in their last four.
Edmonton registered 50 shots but failed to register a shot on several odd-man rushes in the final minutes. Blomqvist stopped 46 as Edmonton beat the Penguins 4-0 at Rogers Place Friday. Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ended the competitive portion of the game 16 seconds into the third period when the eluded defenseman Kris Letang beat Blomqvist with a nasty wrister against the flow for a 3-0 Edmonton lead.
Even when the Penguins pressed, such as later in the second period when the Lars Eller line with Cody Glass and Jesse Puljujarvi created a few chances, Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner was able to make a few tough saves. But he didn’t have to make many. Edmonton peppered Blomqvist with shots throughout the game.
Only Blomqvist’s sometimes spectacular performance prevented the Penguins from being utterly embarrassed. It took Edmonton 34 shots to finally score. Draisaitl’s end-to-end rush pulled Blomqvist just the slightest bit off his angle, and Draisaitl (4) unleashed a perfect wrist shot from the right circle off the far post at 13:00 of the second period.
The Penguins challenged Edmonton’s next goal, and in years past, they would have been successful. However, recent changes allow for the attacker’s skate to be off the ice as long as it is above the blue line. Such was the call after a lengthy review, and Evan Bouchard’s 35-foot wrister through traffic stood as a good goal at 17:35 of the second.
Four Oilers had four or more shots on goal by the end of the second period as Edmonton was outshooting the Penguins 39-17. McDavid, Vadily Podkolzin, Mattias Ekholm, and Zach Hyman were the shot leaders. Ekholm (1) had four shots in the first two periods and scored on his fifth–a power play goal at 7:00 for a 4-0 lead.
Edmonton’s power play had converted just twice this season, a 10% rate. The goal was Edmonton’s 43rd shot of the game. There were few Penguins highlights to note.
Despite struggling to overcome its Stanley Cup Final hangover, Edmonton quickly answered the few and far-between offensive chances and otherwise outclassed the Penguins. Late in the game, Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson tangled with Viktor Arvidsson as the pair chased an icing. Edmonton felt Pettersson boarded Arvidsson, and Pettersson fought defenseman Darnell Nurse at 5:23 of the third.
Nurse connected with a couple of right hands to Pettersson’s jaw. Following the game, Edmonton greats Randy Gregg and Craig MacTavish were inducted into the Oilers Hall of Fame. The team conducted the ceremonies following the game instead of delaying the start.
Penguins winger Cody Glass didn’t finish the second period. PHN will update the story after media availability. The Penguins play the Vancouver Canucks Saturday at Rogers Arena.
This article first appeared on Pittsburgh Hockey Now and was syndicated with permission..
