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Oilers Start Halloween A Little Too Early |
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Ahhh Halloween, a time when young and old alike get dressed up. It’s a fun time where people get a chance to pretend to be something else.
Last night the Oilers started Halloween early and dressed up like a team that forgot how to do special teams.
The Oilers dominated at 5 on 5 for the first two periods, peppering Stalock with 22 shots in the first period. Edmonton continued their strong play in the second but when the third period came around they seemed unable to make even a simple play. Minnesota connected on all three of their powerplays while the Oilers could not managed a single goal on one of their five…. That was the story.
In the spirit of Halloween I’m going to give credit to different Oilers players on their costumes last night.
Connor McDavid
People asked if McDavid could switch up his costume this year but Connor said no and once again went as a rocket ship. His costume was on full display as he ripped past Ryan Suter (who was dressed as a pylon) collecting a Kris Russell pass off the boards and ripped a goal past Stalock. McDavid was in full flight for the first two periods and as usual was doing McDavid things.
Jason Garrison
Garrison decided to dress up like an NHL player. He was wearing the helmet, he had a jersey on with his name, and even had his own stick. Costumes have no special powers however and as the moment Garrison’s feet touched the ice it was abundantly clear that he is not an NHL defenseman.
It was Garrison who was unable to get the puck out on the penalty kill that led to Paries’s goal, it was Garrison who missed his man on the Spurgeon goal, and it was Garrison who continued to do nothing as the shot on the second unit powerplay. I have not been a fan of Benning’s play this season but why is he not the obvious pick for that unit?
Drake Caggiula
Caggiula is like that kid who wears his costume a week before Halloween and has managed to ruin it before the actual big day. Over the last few games Caggiula has been dressed like someone who is in danger of losing their job... it's one of those complicated costumes that you have to spend 10 minutes explaining to everyone. Caggiula has been physical at the right times, has helped his linemates and been rewarded with some goals.
Last night the costume finally came off and Caggiula was back to his normal self. CF% dropped dramatically for almost every player that he shared the ice with. He was also a huge culprit on a couple of the power play goals against. McLellan was like the mother who pretends that the costume looks great and decided to “reward” Caggiula’s non-existent play with some time on Connor McDavid’s wing. Caggiula finished the night with one shot on net.
Milan Lucic
Lucic has frequently been seen in his costume...a superhero costume of his own making he likes to call "Captain Clutch." He has worn this costume so often that it's started to seep into the minds of his coaches. How else can you explain that whenever the Oilers are down a goal with a couple of minutes left in the game he is the one who goes over the boards? Once again last night when the game was on the line Lucic was on the ice, fumbling pristine passes from McDavid and being responsible for turnovers resulting in lost possession.
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The Oilers finished the month of October going 6-4-1 which is still really good and something the team should hang their hats on. Likely we will see a few line-up changes before the Chicago game on Tuesday which should include both Puljujarvi and Evan Bouchard returning to the lineup.
The Chicago game will be Evan Bouchard's 9th game which is certainly something to keep an eye on. I'm still of the belief that the team will choose to keep him on the roster. We will likely have an answer on that by the weeekend.
For all my readers who are either going out to parties, taking their kids Trick or Treating, or staying at home with the lights off hoping no one rings their door.... I wish you all a safe Halloween.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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