Article content The Edmonton Oilers snapped an almost five-year losing skid against one of the NHL’s elite clubs on Thursday, with a commanding 7-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild. The Oilers had last won in Minnesota on February 7 th , 2019. But a combination of superior special teams (PP 2-4, PK 1-3) and an all-world performance by Leon Draisaitl ended that dry spell in convincing fashion.
Draisaitl’s 27th 4-point night also tied the great Mark Messier in the all-time Oilers record book. And helped chase one of the league’s best goaltenders from the crease forty minutes in. The Oilers have now won four straight, the last two against top-tier NHL teams.
Here is the tale of the game tape...
Edmonton Oilers Player Grades CALVIN PICKARD. 8. Terrific save off Kaprizov after a giveaway in the Oilers’ D-zone.
Back-to-back saves first on Foligno then a push across to the other post to stuff Hartman...
great series by Pickard. Did not see the 2-1 tipped through a triple screen and tip. Got slender pieces of pucks fired by Kaprizov and Rossi to keep the game 2-1.
Kept the game 5-1 with two short-handed saves near the buzzer, one with a right pad stab, another with a 9-iron chip of a rebound. Enjoyed a two-post shift part way through the third. But then stuffed Kaprizov point-blank a shift later.
Stopped 29 of 30. This game was never really in doubt but Pickard was quality yet again. His last two losses were shut-outs.
CONNOR McDAVID . 7. Slick feed through seam to Draisaitl fo.
