A lucky bounce on Saturday saved the Edmonton Oilers rolling by securing a thirteenth straight victory, permitting them to determine their newest set of data within the course of.
Veteran winger Sam Gagner scored the successful aim on a financial institution try from behind the online 1:39 into the third, the distinction in a 3-1 win over the hated Calgary Flames.
Gagner tried to middle a go to linemate Dylan Holloway, who was enjoying his first NHL sport since Nov. 13. As a substitute, the puck ricocheted off the stick of Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson after which hit the nook of goaltender Dan Vladar’s glove earlier than stepping into.
The aim, Gagner’s fifth aim of the season in simply his twentieth sport, pushed the Oilers forward to remain and helped them set a report for consecutive wins by a Canadian NHL workforce. The earlier mark of 12 straight victories belonged to the 1967-68 Montreal Canadiens.
The Oilers are actually simply 4 wins shy of equalling the longest successful streak in league historical past, which is owned by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins.
Setting a brand new Canadian benchmark Saturday wasn’t the one method the Oilers discovered the report books, although.
They allowed not more than two targets for the eleventh straight sport, which is now a franchise-best commonplace. Goaltender Stuart Skinner additionally received his tenth consecutive contest, matching Hockey Corridor of Famer Grant Fuhr in 1985-86.
There’s heaps to love as of late concerning the Oilers, who, simply final Saturday, broke the membership report with their tenth win in a row.
They improved to 26-15-1, ninth within the NHL with a .631 factors proportion. They’re the most popular workforce within the league and searching just like the Stanley Cup contender many individuals predicted they’d be coming into the season.
It wasn’t at all times this fashion.
The Oilers received simply two of their first 12 video games and ranked second final within the NHL after they misplaced to the NHL-worst San Jose Sharks on Nov. 9. They had been the primary workforce within the league to fireplace their coach when Jay Woodcroft was canned in favor of Kris Knoblauch on Nov. 12.
Since then, they’ve gone 23-6 and have charged up the standings. They’ve blown previous the Los Angeles Kings and into third place within the Pacific Division. They’re simply six factors behind the Vegas Golden Knights for second and have 4 video games in hand.
Required studying
(Photograph: Derek Leung / Getty Photographs)
