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OILERS TODAY | Post-Game 1 vs. CHI
POST-GAME RAW | McDavid, Nurse
POST-GAME RAW | Klefbom, RNH
POST-GAME RAW | Coach Tippett
WHAT'S NEXT
The Oilers face the Blackhawks in Game 2 on Monday. The game can be seen on Sportsnet and heard on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED. Puck drop is 8:38 PM MT.
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Inside The Oilers Blog
"We made far too many mistakes and lost too many battles, simple as that," said Head Coach Dave Tippett. "If you don't elevate your game going into the playoffs, you're going to be behind and that's where we were."
Edmonton got the start they wanted in the opening frame, but certainly not the finish, as Connor McDavid started the scoring with a power-play goal, but the Blackhawks responded with four in a row to go up 4-1 after 20 minutes.
Chicago took a too-many-men penalty 1:27 after the opening faceoff, sending the NHL's best man-advantage corps from the regular season out onto the ice, and they made no mistake. Oscar Klefbom passed the puck down to his right to Leon Draisaitl, who zipped a perfect cross-ice feed to a streaking McDavid, who sniped a wrist shot just underneath the crossbar for his sixth career playoff goal.
That was as good as it got for the Oilers in the first, though, as the Blackhawks battled back in a big way with four goals in a span of 7:06. Some sloppy play in the defensive zone allowed Dylan Strome to scoop up a loose puck at the side of the net and bank it in past Mike Smith to even the score at 1-1 at the 5:51 mark of the period.
Chicago then got its first power play of the game and also converted, with their captain Jonathan Toews delivering a snipe of his own for his 129th career post-season tally. Brandon Saad's deflection extended the Blackhawks lead to 3-1 just 1:21 later, with Toews striking again for his 130th career playoff marker at the 12:57 mark of the opening frame.
Edmonton's power play struck again 4:13 into the second period to cut Chicago's lead to 4-2, as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins made a brilliant behind-the-net pass to McDavid, who found Draisaitl in front for a one-timer as Corey Crawford was sprawled across the crease in an effort to keep up with the frantic play and precision Oilers passing.