Does anyone else get nervous when you see an afternoon game on the Oilers’ schedule? There’s something about playing hockey in the daylight hours that throws this franchise a curveball, and that always has us wondering what kind of effort we’re going to get. Thankfully, the boys came to play with another strong performance led by their captain, and the winning streak continues after a 4-1 win over the Devils.
Calvin Pickard hadn’t played since the Oilers’ last loss, so I was a little bit surprised to see that his next piece of work would come today against the New Jersey Devils. Clearly up for the challenge, Pickard was a rock between the pipes and looked nothing like a guy who hadn’t played in two and a half weeks. Instead, he was fantastic from start to finish and gave the Oilers the kind of goaltending they needed to get the job done, locking in his first win at the NHL level since January 28th, 2022. Even though I know the idea of recalling Jack Campbell is getting thrown around in the media, performances like this one from Pickard may alter that plan. While I don’t think Calvin Pickard is the long-term solution in net for this hockey team, I can absolutely say with confidence that I trust him to take the occasional start more than I would if it was Soup in that same spot. Pickard finished the afternoon with 26 saves and a .963 save%.
Bouchard is now tied for the 2nd longest point streak (Coffey did it 4x) in Oilers franchise history for a D-man at 11 games. Coffey owns the record with 28.
Bouchard with longest point streak since 1985.
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) December 10, 2023
Make it an 11-game point streak for Evan Bouchard after he picked up a huge power play goal with a blast from the point at the 14:20 mark of the second period. Dad has 16 points (5G, 11A) over this incredible run he’s on, and it’s honestly hilarious to think that anyone ever doubted that he’d be able to handle the power play duties left to him after Tyson Barrie got traded. Don’t get me wrong, the Oilers’ PP was fantastic with Barrie working the blue line but it’s taken a sizeable step forward now that Dad’s big shot is an option back there. Not only can Bouchard move the puck just as well as Barrie can, but his ability to hammer the puck is on a different level entirely and gives the Oilers yet another option on the man advantage. Now with the longest point streak since 1985 on his resume, I can’t wait to see where this run goes for Evan Bouchard because his confidence on the offensive side of the game could not be higher.
How could we talk about this game without mentioning the two goals the Oilers could have had that were ultimately waived off? First up was what would have been Connor Brown’s first goal as an Oiler which was reversed on a challenge by Lindy Ruff. This one was pretty obvious after seeing the replay that showed some contact with the goalie, but for multiple reasons, this non-goal was a painful one. Connor Brown couldn’t buy a goal to save his life. Up next was the puck that crossed the line in the second period after a scramble broke out in the crease, and I think the ref just plain lost sight of it despite it laying in the crease. You could argue that the Oilers put six pucks in the net, and it always sucks to lose on an “over” bet because of goals getting waived off, you know?
Me missus: Who scored?
Me: pic.twitter.com/tDjv5x3DNn
— Baggedmilk, Oily Boy (@jsbmbaggedmilk) December 10, 2023
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