The Edmonton Oilers’ eight-game winning streak came to an end on Thursday night when the Tampa Bay Lightning trounced them 7-4 at Rogers Place.
The Lightning’s goalie, Andrei Vasilevsky, stole the show with 53 saves. With 57 shots on goal, the Oilers set a new team record.
Leon Draisaitl was called for a tripping in the first minute of play, following the Lightning power play that set up Steven Stamkos’ goal at 1:07 of the game. Tyler Motte would score a backhand just before the eighth minute of play, making the score 2-0 Lightning.
Darnell Nurse scored a shorthanded goal early in the second, opening the door for the Oilers to eventually solve Vasilevsky. The Oilers power play then connected for goals after a 2:42 lull. When Connor McDavid saw a loose puck in front, he scored ten goals in a row. Zach Hyman scored his 17th after Evan Bouchard’s slapper went in off of him. Stuart Skinner preserved the Oilers advantage late in the second quarter with a diving blocker stop on Brandon Hagel.
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Stamkos tied the game at 3-3 with 13:12 left in the third as he swatted a rebound out of the air and under Skinner. Tampa Bay led 4-3 after Nikita Kucherov skillfully slid the puck under Skinner following six minutes of one-on-one action with Cody Ceci. 1:15 later, Stamkos used a long wrister to complete the hat trick.
With 2:22 left, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored his seventh goal, replacing Skinner with another attacker. Anthony Cirelli’s empty net ended any hopes of a rally by the Oilers. Stamkos added another empty-net goal in the last seconds.
Bouchard’s point streak reached thirteen games, while McDavid’s dwindled to eleven.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch says that sometimes you play well enough to win but somehow fall short.
Knoblauch remarked, “This is going to be one of those nights where nothing goes as planned.” “There was more good than bad tonight, so this is one of those occasions where we can’t focus on the result.”
The Oilers, 13-13-1, will host Florida on Saturday (630 CHED, face-off show at 6:30 p.m., game at 8 p.m.).
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