Participant opinions: Jack Campbell, Dylan Holloway shine as Oilers/Condors pull out unlikely win in Calgary

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Oilers 2, Flames 1 (OT)

Mattias Ekholm has been nowhere in proof so far of Oilers coaching camp, however his phrases of recommendation from an interview a few weeks in the past maintain ringing true. Paraphrasing: “Possibly we should be extra affected person and be keen to take a 1-1 rating to time beyond regulation if want be” or phrases to that impact.

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Properly, for the third time in 4 preseason video games, the Oilers discovered themselves enjoying a 1-1 recreation in time beyond regulation, and for the second recreation in a row they discovered a solution to win it within the additional body. The hero wasn’t Connor McDavid as was the case Wednesday in Edmonton, as he and Edmonton’s different scoring aces have been nowhere to be seen in Calgary on Friday evening. As an alternative it was Brad Malone who made the nifty deke and deposit after accepting an exquisite lead move from fellow minor-league vet Seth Griffith to stroll in alone on Dan Vladar.

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Endurance was very a lot a part of the recipe on this evening, because the Oilers trailed 1-0 deep into the third interval and had netminder Jack Campbell to thank for nonetheless being within the recreation, setting the stage for a outstanding sequence of occasions. First the Flames scored what seemed to be the clinching aim with 2:38 left, solely to have the refs wave it off for goaltender interference by one Blake Coleman (keep in mind him?). For some purpose, Flames coach Ryan Huska determined to problem the decision, misplaced that problem and incurred a delay-of-game penalty. That led on to the tying aim, scored by recreation star Dylan Holloway within the resultant 6-on-4. Then the Oilers bought the higher of one other evaluation when it was decided that an obvious last-second winner by the Flames was a millisecond late, setting the stage for Malone’s OT heroics.

The Oilers had by far the weaker line-up and have been on the again foot for a lot of the sport, however got here on robust down the stretch and have been the higher group within the third and fourth durations.

Footnote: Horrible job on the sport feed which dropped out the second Malone scored the winner, exhibiting no celebration by the winners or perhaps a replay of the aim however simply an countless loop of large Flames and Oilers logos rotating meaninglessly on the display. Appears to this paying buyer that if you’ll cost your followers to look at the sport feed on Oilers+, possibly it is best to present the rattling feed proper to its pure conclusion. A bitter notice to what was in any other case a reasonably candy ending.

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Participant notes

No participant grades for preseason, the place completely different gamers have differing goals and motivations. We do present commentary for every of the 19 Oilers who noticed motion, sorted by strains and pairings.

Forwards

Warren Foegele screened an Edmonton level shot, then very almost banked within the rebound off Dan Vladar. However after two durations of pretty normal grinding, he had a terrific closing body. Had a pair of probabilities in speedy succession early within the body, the extra harmful a goalmouth deflection of a terrific Ceci move. Jumped in on a breakaway off a brutal Flames turnover solely to ring his backhand shot off the publish. Made a terrific centring move to Holloway for the tying aim with underneath 2 minutes left (help wrongly credited to Kulak, nevertheless it was undoubtedly Foegele). Performed 19:34 with 5 pictures.

Lane Pederson took a impartial zone penalty. Had an honest probability on a powerplay one-timer however missed the goal. Did some wonderful work on the half-wall on a late powerplay however bobbled the puck on the crucial second. Performed 20:37 and had his moments, however not sufficient of them to maneuver the needle.

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Derek Ryan made a wonderful play to carry the defensive slot and minimize out a harmful move on Calgarty’s first powerplay. Obtained a partial breakaway on the PK, forcing a wonderful arm save by Vladar. Performed 16:08.

Dylan Holloway was flying proper out of the gate. He confirmed an awesome burst of velocity to blow previous Noah Hanifin however couldn’t end on the backhand. Was flying across the Calgary zone once more on the following shift, creating area and chaos earlier than dishing the disc to an open mate in good passing place. Blind backhand move on the PP was promptly picked off and cleared. Picked off a move inside his personal line late within the first and took it the opposite approach in a rush. Made one other interception within the impartial zone, led a 3-on-1 rush the opposite approach, however couldn’t deal with Malone’s return feed. Lastly was rewarded with 100 seconds to play when he fired dwelling Foegele’s move via Desharnais’ display to know the rely. 3 pictures, 3 hits, and 21:35 ice time to steer the forwards.

Brad Malone didn’t clear the zone on a Calgary PP however made a terrific defensive play to snuff Calgary seconds later. Harmful probability within the third when he screened Vladar on LKavoie’s outdoors shot, then almost cashed the rebound with a diving try. Almost performed the hero with a minute left in regulation when he picked off the puck in Edmonton territory, rushed in 2-on-1 with Hamblin and fired a harmful shot. Made no mistake on his time beyond regulation breakaway with a deft deke and deposit.

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Raphael Lavoie made a nifty backhand move proper via the low slot to Ceci for a close-in look. Jumped on a free puck within the slot and rapidly distributed it to the open man on the purpose. Made a wonderful defensive play within the third, hustling on the backcheck and stretching out to tip a harmful shot into the netting. That sort of play will earn the discover of the coaches. Lastly let fly with a shot within the third, when his one-timer from distance handcuffed Vladar and created a harmful rebound. Cancelled one rush by going offside when Holloway bobbled the puck simply outdoors the blueline. 2 pictures, 1 hit in 16:10 of motion.

Carter Savoie made a nifty interception and fast move deep in Calgary territory to maintain some uncommon first-period zone stress. Across the puck in good spots, however didn’t have a lot puck luck. Terrific steal within the impartial zone created a late powerplay as Calgary scrambled to get better. Performed 10:15, least of any Oiler.

Greg McKegg performed a quiet, competent recreation that received’t transfer the needle. He appears destined for an additional 12 months within the AHL. Zeros throughout the boards apart from a stable 61.5% on the faceoff dot. Performed 12:46.

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Seth Griffith‘s greatest moments in regulation got here on the powerplay, notably a terrific cross-ice feed to Pederson for an open look. Earned a secondary help on the 1-1, then the first on the 2-1 with a stunning, perfectly-weighted saucer move to a breaking Malone. Performed 14:51 with 0 pictures, however made his mark passing the puck.

Drake Caggiula was industrious however not overly efficient till the third, when he made an excellent move off the push to Ceci for an open look. Performed 10:59 with no pictures or hits.

James Hamblin dropped his stick on the backcheck to abet a Nazem Kadri 2-on-1 probability, however got here again arduous and made a key play to scramble away the free rebound. Good play to tip a harmful Calgary shot broad of the goal, and one other to disrupt an tried Calgary zone entry proper at supply. Skated nicely, drew a penalty, received 6 of 11 attracts in 14:58.

Xavier Bourgault had little impression till late within the second interval, when he made a terrific play to spring the puck free behind the Calgary internet, then made a nifty reverse move to Hamblin that resulted in a Flames penalty. Almost repeated the feat on his subsequent shift with one other steal and centring move. Had a few pictures in 10:27 of motion.

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Defencemen

Brett Kulak performed a ton (25:38) as for the second time of their 2 appearances he and Ceci have been Edmonton’s high pairing; certainly, the opposite 4 defenders have a mixed 79 video games of NHL expertise.  Skated nicely as traditional, made a few errors however was stable for essentially the most half. 3 pictures on internet.

Cody Ceci was caught on the fallacious facet of the ice resulting in an excellent Jordan Oesterle probability on the again door, however Campbell had the reply. Was a part of the display on the Calgary aim. Took two penalties. Made a wonderful move to Foegele for an awesome probability, then had an excellent look of his personal off a Caggiula feed seconds later. Performed 25:49 to steer each groups.

Alex Peters, the one participant left in camp on an AHL contract after Thursday’s cuts, was a gradual drive on the again finish. He did a pleasant job on the PK to get better a rebound and clearing the puck. Performed 15:28 and held his personal.

Vincent Desharnais commanded his space of the ice, utilizing his mammoth physique to good impact to defend the puck made a wonderful play to overpower Hanifin after a shorthanded d-zone faceoff, then safely information the puck for the straightforward clear. Made micemeat of a Calgary attacker who tried to beat him broad up the boards however wound up shedding each the puck and his steadiness in a one-sided contest with the enormous defender. Blocked some extent shot, recovered the rebound and rapidly headmanned the puck to Savoie. His failed clearance on a 3rd interval PK led to a Calgary probability that Campbell snuffed. He was the additional attacker on the late recreation 6-on-4 and made it rely by going straight to the goalmouth and getting in Vladar’s grill as Holloway ripped dwelling the tying aim. Performed 18:10 with 1 shot, 2 hits.

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Markus Niemelainen bought some uncommon powerplay time with Ceci by which each relatively predictably appeared like fish out of water. Appeared way more in his ingredient when he decked Elias Lindholm with a giant open-ice hit proper on the defensive blue line. However caught in a nasty spot on the primary aim, obscuring Campbell’s view from instantly in entrance whereas failing to clock the shot himself. Made a wonderful pokecheck on a Jonathan Huberdeau rush.  Performed 16:47 with 2 hits.

Philip Kemp sifted in a couple of muffins from the purpose, however by no means bought the display or tip he wanted from them to be remotely harmful. Performed a quiet (learn: “good”) recreation behind his personal blueline. Made a wonderful play on the PK that finally led to the Ryan shot. Good and secure with the puck on his stick, the place it hardly ever stayed for lengthy. Performed 14:13 with 3 pictures and only a few errors.

Goalie

Jack Campbell was busy early, stopping an in depth vary probability within the opening quarter-minute, then coping with a few tough outdoors whots via site visitors. Made a pleasant cease of Kadri on a wide-open 2-on-1 however couldn’t corral the rebound resulting in a few nervous moments and a few welcome defensive help from Hamblin. Stopped Oesterle eyeball-top-eyeball.  Made a sequence of wonderful stops on a powerful Calgary powerplay, the most effective a blocker cease from level clean vary. Minutes later, dragged his pad to thwart a harmful shorthanded by the Flames. Crushed from lengthy vary on a deflected level shot that had eyes, which was greater than Campbell himself had with each Niemelainen and Ceci instantly in his line of sight. Almost ruined his evening when he sieved in a low angle shot by Jordan Oesterle “on the demise” of regulation however the clock saved him by a millisecond. Named the sport’s first star on advantage.  35 pictures, 34 saves, .971 save proportion.

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