Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each scored two points to help the Oilers defeat Utah HC on Friday.
It was yet another overtime game and yet another overtime loss for Utah Hockey Club.
In a dramatic match, Utah HC held a 2-0 lead but then fell behind 3-2, only to equalize before ultimately losing to the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 on Friday night at Delta Center.
While Utah did earn a point from the overtime loss, they now find themselves four games behind the Oilers in the Western Conference standings.
Alright, let’s break this down! So, the Delta Center, where Utah’s hockey team plays, usually has some sections closed off unless there’s a game that really draws in the crowds. This past Friday was one of those big nights because Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were in town, and people were eager to see them play.
Both superstars made quite an impression on the Utah crowd by each scoring a goal and adding an assist. They really showed the fans what they can do! It’s always exciting to see top talent like that, especially when they’re making their mark in a new market.
”You do a lot of video on them,” said Lawson Crouse after the game. “You know their tendencies. Obviously McDavid’s the best player in the world. He’s got everything: speed, skill, vision, hockey sense. You’ve just got to do your best to be on top of him.”
Since McDavid entered the league in 2015, nobody has more points than he does. Who has the second most? Draisaitl.
Utah Hockey for casual fans
Penalties — yet again — were the death of Utah HC.
It’s not that they took that many of them — they actually stayed quite disciplined, but if there are two players you never want to face on the power play, they are McDavid and Draisaitl.
“McDrai” scored on two of their three opportunities with the man advantage. Those combined with an even-strength goal from newcomer Vasily Podkolzin turned Utah’s two-goal lead into a one-goal deficit to end the second period before Crouse scored in the third to tie it up.
A strong penalty kill at the end of the third period helped Utah secure an overtime point. It could have gone worse, but with a little more effort, they might have left with a win.
“We’ve got to clean up some things,” said Kevin Stenlund, a player on Utah’s top penalty kill unit. “But the last one was solid.”
Stenlund mentioned before the game that he doesn’t change his approach when going up against McDavid and Draisaitl while shorthanded. He was a crucial part of the Florida Panthers’ penalty kill when they won the Stanley Cup last year, and interestingly, he faced off against the Oilers in the Finals.
Utah Hockey: A Tough Battle
Defending leads has been a real challenge for Utah HC, and Friday night was no different. They started strong, jumping ahead 2-0 in the first period, and for a moment, it seemed like they might run away with the game. However, as we’ve seen before, Utah’s penalty kill struggled to contain the Oilers’ star players.
This month has been a mixed bag for Utah HC. Aside from the three games where they were shut out, they’ve actually scored first in every game. They’ve managed to win four of those matches, but they’ve also faced five losses.
Head coach André Tourigny isn’t overly worried about the team’s ability to hold leads, noting that 41% of NHL wins last year came from comebacks. Still, tightening up in this area could lead Utah HC to many more victories.
What’s Next?
The team has a quick turnaround, heading to Las Vegas to take on the Golden Knights this Saturday. This will be the third and final matchup between these two teams this season. In their previous two games, the Golden Knights came back from a 2-0 deficit to secure the win, so the Utah HC needs to keep that in mind.
If there’s one lesson to take from their earlier encounters, it’s that complacency can be detrimental. The Golden Knights boast a lineup filled with high-scoring forwards and tough defensemen who know how to capitalize on opportunities.
The game is set to start at 8 p.m. MDT and will be broadcast on Utah HC+ and Utah 16. Should be an exciting matchup.
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