Carolina Hurricanes: Takeaways from Home Overtime Loss to Edmonton Oilers
The Carolina Hurricanes lost at home tonight against the Edmonton Oilers in overtime by a score of 4-3. Here’s how the Canes stacked up to our keys to the game.
The Carolina Hurricanes had an opportunity to build some momentum this evening. They didn’t do that. What they did do is secure a single point in the standings after falling in overtime.
The Edmonton Oilers were missing Connor McDavid (lower-body injury), James Neal (lower-body injury), and Zack Kassian (suspension) tonight, but Kailer Yamamoto, Leon Draisaitl, and Josh Archibald more than picked up the slack.
Tonight’s game was viewed by many Canes fans as the night the Carolina Hurricanes would most be able to build momentum with going forward; the Canes’ schedule isn’t the easiest in the world, and every point is precious from here on in.
The officiating tonight was absolutely horrendous, but all that aside, the Carolina Hurricanes just couldn’t find a way to win and get it done with what they had.
The Carolina Hurricanes may have hit some of our keys to the game tonight, but the ones that they lacked on were the difference makers in tonight’s OT loss. Let’s take a closer look.
1. Did the Canes Start Strong?
Yes, about as strong as you can start a game that early on.
Trevor van Riemsdyk opened up scoring for the Carolina Hurricanes just 12 seconds into the game with his first goal of the season. The Oilers answered right back, and the 1st period ended in a 1-1 draw.
The Carolina Hurricanes have at least seemingly kicked the trend of giving up the first goal, even if they did let up the equalizer a few minutes later.
The Carolina Hurricanes may have started strong, but they ended up chasing the game throughout the 2nd period and into the 3rd period.
The Canes tied the game up at 3-3 in the 3rd period to force overtime, where they eventually would whiff on several chances to end the game, ultimately leading to the Oilers notching one past James Reimer to secure the win.
2. Did the Canes Take Advantage of the Oiler’s Handicaps?
Nope. For all intents and purposes, the Edmonton Oilers may as well not have had any handicaps tonight.
As mentioned earlier, the Oilers were without McDavid, Neal, and Kassian; all three impactful players in their own right.
Missing these players, however, wasn’t very much of a handicap at all for the Edmonton Oilers tonight.
Leon Draisaitl, Kailer Yamamoto, and Josh Archibald were just as impactful tonight, ultimately sealing the Canes’ fate and stealing a point from them in the overtime period.
This game should’ve been a win for the Canes, but I believe a bit of underestimation may have played a part in the Canes’ failure to convert on the several chances they got.
3. Did the Canes Give Reimer Solid Support?
Nope. Not at all.
James Reimer did his best tonight to keep the Carolina Hurricanes in the game, and to keep the game close (as he normally does).
His efforts, however, just wouldn’t be enough. Players like Trevor van Riemsdyk, while being effective offensively (strictly speaking about tonight), made several unnecessary mistakes and turnovers that were directly resulted in goals for the Oilers.
The salt in the wound is that this Oilers team that just rolled through Raleigh was up until 11pm playing hockey last night.
The Carolina Hurricanes need defense in a bad way, and tonight’s matchup made that incredibly evident. A defensive defenseman may be on his way in via trade, but that still remains to be seen.
Even then, if a trade does materialize, who knows how long it will be to acclimate the player into Rod’s system. Only time will tell, but in the meantime, the Carolina Hurricanes are bleeding points in the standings.
Prediction. 4. 148. 3. 109