ed a one-timer, but Pickard got a piece of it with his glove and it ricochet off the crossbar and out.
Oilersnation gasped. What a @&%$ing save, many said. A minute later Pickard made a great shoulder save on Eetu Luostarinen. Florida was pushing.
Edmonton didn’t have a shot on goal for 6:58, but then Leon Draisaitl stepped on the ice for a line change. He stepped in the zone, took a pass from Podkolzin and went to the net on his backhand. He fended off AJ Greer and shoveled a one-hander towards the net that hit a sprawling Niko Mikkola and through Bobrovsky’s five-hole.
Draisaitl scored his fourth overtime goal of these playoffs — a new NHL record.
You’ve seen so many things in this series that fans have never seen before. And they’ve only played four games.
What a series.
DEPTH, DEPTH, DEPTH…
— In their first 16 periods in Florida (the past two playoffs) the Oilers had scored only two goals at 5×5. But then they exploded for four in the second period and beyond last night. Nurse, Podkolzin, Walman and Draisaitl — Connor McDavid wasn’t on the ice for any of them. The Oilers’ depth showed up when needed most.
Of course Draisaitl played a big role, but the likes of Henrique, Skinner, Frederic, Podkolzin, Nugent-Hopkins, Janmark, Kapanen, Walman and Nurse were a huge part of the offensive surge at 5×5. Scoring four goals 5×5 in the final 51:18 after going 320 minutes with only two 5×5 goals was massive. It saved the Oilers’ season.
— The best part for Edmonton is that McDavid wasn’t on the ice for any of those four goals. He’s actually only been on the ice for one 5×5 goal in six games in Florida. You’d like to think that will eventually change, and maybe it will in Game 6, but regression to the mean doesn’t always happen in short series. The Oilers finally scored 5×5 and that will help them when they return to Florida for Game 6.
— There is no question Pickard has made more big saves in the playoffs, and that’s why I don’t buy the theory the Oilers play better in front of him. He’s made more big saves than Skinner, but the Oilers are still giving up too many HD chances with him goal. The difference is they’ve scored more goals when he plays. The Oilers scored 29 goals in Pickard’s six starts and scored five goals last night when he came in. The Oilers are averaging five goals/game when Pickard starts.
In Skinner’s 13 starts Edmonton has scored 45 goals (3.38). Does Pickard help the offence? Maybe, by making big stops, but in his starts Pickard has a .892Sv% while Skinner has .891Sv%. I’m not sold they actually play better defensively in front of Pickard.
— If the Oilers win the Cup, I don’t see how Draisaitl doesn’t win the Conn Smythe for playoff MVP. He’s scored four OT winners and added an assist. He’s set the NHL record for most OT goals in one year and for most points (5). He’s done it in only six OT games, which is absolutely wild.
