The Dallas Stars dominated the Edmonton Oilers on the scoreboard in a 7-2 rout on Thursday, but the Oilers are hoping to take something away from the game. Badly outplayed in the first period, the first game of a back-to-back for Edmonton was not pretty. The only thing the Oilers could do was battle physically, with the leaders stepping up and even Connor McDavid getting into a wrestling match.
It’s the hope that seeing McDavid nearly get into a fight will motivate this team to play a more solid brand of hockey so their captain and superstar doesn’t have to get his hands dirty. “He’s the last guy who should be doing that, to be honest,” said forward Zach Hyman.”We can do a better job as a team to push back.”
And, to some degree, the Oilers did. “There was a lot of fire from our leaders, and we need that,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch after the loss. Now, it’s time for depth guys to take the initiative and lead the way physically. Guys like Trent Frederic showed signs of it tonight. The hope is that the aggressive style carries over.
The Stars Exploded Early and Never Let Up
Dallas raced out to a commanding 3-0 lead early in the first period. By the second period, it was 5-0. Evan Bouchard scored to give the Oilers a glimmer of hope, and Jason Dickinson scored on a nice tip-in to somewhat silence the Stars fans. But Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene scored to make it 6-2 and 7-2. At that point, all the Oilers could do was try to take a physical piece of the Stars on the way out and as they head to St. Louis for a game on Friday.
Jason Robertson and Benn led the offensive surge for Dallas. Robertson had a monster night with two goals and two assists, while Benn also scored twice (including one on the power play in the third). Wyatt Johnston continued his strong season, and Dallas’ top guys were firing on all cylinders, with the power play going 2-for-4.
The Stars were the better team from the get-go and it was a disappointing start for an Oilers team who had just put together two solid showings in their two previous games (against the Golden Knights and Avalanche).
Oilers’ Defensive Breakdowns and Frustration Boiled Over
Edmonton looked rattled from the start, allowing odd-man rushes and clean looks that led to the early deficit. Tristan Jarry wasn’t the lone reason the Oilers struggled, but he certainly didn’t help matters much. His numbers have been glaringly bad, and fans will quickly forget how he stepped in and saved the Oilers versus the Avalanche when performances like the one against the Stars get all the attention.
When tensions flared, and a Stars player shot the puck at Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid stepped in to defend his friend and fellow superstar. There was a scrum at the second-period buzzer, which featured a McDavid tussle with Justin Hryckowian. Then there was more rough stuff in the third.
The Oilers outshot Dallas 32-27 and had some edge in shot attempts/hits, but poor structure and inability to find their game were the story of the game. “It’s tough to climb out of a hole,” said Hyman. Goaltending and special teams were brutal, as Edmonton went 0-for-3 on the PP while Dallas cashed in twice.
Overall, this was a statement game for the Stars, and the Oilers hope it was only a hiccup as they head to St. Louis for another game with Connor Ingram as the starter. For the Oilers, it’s a tough loss on the road (they’re now 32-26-8). Just when it looks like Edmonton might have found something, they show up and lay an egg.
It’s hard to know what this Oilers team really is. Some believe they have a lot more to give. Others are sold that this group is just not a top contender.
Next: Are the Oilers As Dangerous as They Want to Be?
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