The Edmonton Oilers won their first regular season game since October 28. defeating the Florida Panthers 6-3in a highly anticipated rematch of the Stanley Cup Final. This was a high-event, high-scoring event, with lots of hits, shots, chances and goals. Florida had a 30-20 edge in hits and a 38-31 edge on the shot clock. According to Natural Stat Trickthere were also a total of 28 high-risk chances between the two clubs at 5-on-5, and 34 in total.
The Oilers got goals from Jack Roslovic (2), Mattias Ekholm, Vasily Podkolzin, Connor McDavid and Matt Savoie. The Panthers’ scorers were Anton Lundell, Mackie Samoskevich and Sam Reinhart. The top defensive pair of Ekholm and Evan Bouchard was fantastic. They both finished with a plus-5 rating and three points.
This was a much-needed win for the visitors, as they finished their season-long seven-game road trip with a 3-3-1 record, gaining seven of a possible fourteen points. This has been a rollercoaster ride, but over the last three games they have seemed to find their attacking groove, which is an encouraging sign. There were a lot of positives from this match, so with that said, here are four takeaways from this win.
Connor Clattenburg makes NHL debut
The Oilers called up Connor Clattenburg from the American Hockey League (AHL) Bakersfield Condors, and he made his NHL debut. Unfortunately, head coach Kris Knoblauch shortened his bench, so the 20-year-old rookie played a team-low 5:47. Despite the limited ice time, he finished the game with two shots, one goal and two penalty minutes.
Related: Oilers beat Panthers 6-3 in high-scoring affair
He got into a scrum in the final minute of the game and also had a great scoring opportunity in the second period during a 2-on-1 rush, but he missed the net on the other side. The 2024 fifth-round pick will likely be jettisoned soon, but it was cool to see him get his chance. Hopefully this isn’t the last time we see him in an Oilers jersey for years to come. He has the potential to one day become a full-time NHL player if he continues to work on his game.
Oil companies were tough
The Oilers got off to a fast start, scoring just 25 seconds into the game. They eventually took a 3-1 lead into the first intermission and defeated Florida 13-8. They kept going in the second period, taking a 4-1 lead before the inevitable Panthers pushback. But when Florida responded with two quick goals, the Oilers were able to settle down and get the job done.
The Oilers were very aggressive and played with energy and urgency. They were completing their checks, making hard forecasts and running scrums after the whistle. Trent Frederic got into an altercation with AJ Greer, resulting in misconduct for both players. McDavid also went to work with Brad Marchand in the neutral zone.
Ty Emberson had a huge hit in the neutral zone, and McDavid had a strong backcheck in the middle frame, resulting in a big hit that separated the man from the potential centering pass. They dug in and made sure Florida earned their chances. They were spicy, and hopefully they stay that way.
Jack Roslovic continues to impress
Roslovic continued his great play, scoring two goals in the first eight minutes of the match. He also had four shots in 16:24 of ice time. What is impressive is his ability to play with anyone. He immediately found chemistry with both McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and can play up and down the lineup, including the best power-play unit.
When Ryan Nugent-Hopkins returns from injury, Knoblauch will have a decision to make. Does he keep Roslovic on the man advantage, or does he put Nugent-Hopkins back on that unit? I don’t know how you can justify taking Roslovic off that unit now.
General manager Stan Bowman struck gold with this signing. The 28-year-old forward has nine goals and 17 points in 22 games and only has a cap hit of $1.5 million. He cannot sign an extension until January 1, but the organization must bring him back in any way possible. He fits like a glove and provides much-needed 5-on-5 scoring. Roslovic’s strong play has been a common theme over the past month and has been a bright spot during the Oilers’ mediocre start to the season.
Skinner surpasses Bobrovsky
Where was Sergei Bobrovsky during the last two Stanley Cup Finals from an Oilers perspective? If Stuart Skinner allowed Bobrovsky’s goals, he would be crucified by this fan base. The Panthers netminder allowed four goals on 17 shots for a putrid .765 save percentage (SV%) before being pulled at the 6:45 mark of the second period. Meanwhile, Skinner was excellent, stopping 35 of 38 shots for a .921 SV%.
Skinner was by far the better goalkeeper and made some crucial saves to keep his team ahead. He faced a lot of shots and was up to the task. Florida scored two goals in three minutes midway through the second period, but the Oilers goaltender sat down and closed the door, including stopping all ten shots he faced in the final frame. Skinner beat Bobrovsky and was a big reason they won. He gets a lot of criticism, but he deserves his flowers for this achievement.
The Oilers return home for one game against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday (Nov. 25) in a rematch of the Western Conference Finals. Keep following The hockey writers for all your NHL content throughout the season.
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