Game breakdown: Oilers vs Kraken
Yesterday, the Oilers had a massive rebound in an epic preseason showdown against the Seattle Kraken.
The Oilers emerged victorious by a score of 5-4 - an epic come from behind win to generate some much needed confidence heading into the the second half of the preseason. The Oilers have a handful of prospects fighting for roster positions, and Edmonton Journal's David Staples gives the breakdown.
Other Oilers were also battling hard to win a job. Here's brief summary of what I saw from each.
Phil Kemp had good and bad moments. Got caught out a few times as he was a step behind the play.
Raphael Lavoie. Another player finally bringing his best game and looking like a possible NHLer. Is putting together his best streak of games in an Oilers jersey. He's winning board battles and firing pucks on net. Late in the third he battled hard to get to the net and pounded in the winning goal on a wicked shot. He was named second star in the game.
Ben Gleason. He looks cool and sharp every time he has the puck. Rushed into the o-zone early in the third and deftly set up Mattias Ekholm in the slot for a shot off the crossbar. He's no Kris Russell in his own zone, but he can move the puck. If Gleason was a right shot and not a left shot, he'd have a much greater chance to stick. He looks like he could hold his own in a bottom-pairing in the NHL.
Noah Philp. While thwarting a dangerous chance around the net, he bumped into goalie Calvin Pickard, and Pickard was knocked out of the game. He was not seen on the bench for the rest of the game, which could be bad news for the Oilers. Philp made a number of solid plays on the puck, especially a rush up the middle to take a Mattias Ekholm pass and direct it into the top of the net for a goal. He was third star in the game.
Matt Savoie. Quiet game to start but looked good on a few shifts with McDavid. One excellent shot on net off a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins feed. Another dangerous shot on the McDavid line in the third.
Travis Dermott. Quiet game as well, though that's OK for a d-man. He made no major miscues and executed all the expected plays.
Olivier Rodrigue. Made some decent saves in relief of Pickard, but didn't look great on two of Seattle's second period goals. He made a huge save off a one-timer in the third with the score tied. He got better as the game went on.
The Oilers look to keep the momentum going as they take on the Vancouver Canucks tomorrow night.
