WHAT'S NEXT
The Oilers three-game road trip continues against the Florida Panthers on Saturday. The game can be seen on Sportsnet West and heard on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED. Puck drop is 2:08 p.m. MT.
POST-GAME UPDATES
Inside The Oilers Blog
The Oilers and Lightning each entered the match burdened by injuries, with notable offensive pieces from both sides absent, including Oilers Captain Connor McDavid as well as Tampa Bay Lightning forwards Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos.
"They were missing two of their best players and us missing Connor, we knew we had to buckle down and grind away," Riley Sheahan said post-game. "For the most part, other than maybe a bit at the start of the game, we did a good job of that.
"It was unfortunate we couldn't come out on top."
Tampa Bay extended their winning streak to nine games while the Oilers dropped their eighth consecutive road outing against the Bolts, going 0-7-1 since Dec. 9, 2009.
"We had lots of compete in our game and Smitty was really strong," Oilers Head Coach Dave Tippett said. "But mistakes ended up being the dictator in the game and we came out on the short end."
The Orange & Blue ended the evening 0-for-2 on the man advantage and allowed their 10th shorthanded goal against this year.
"In the third period we pushed and had a few chances but couldn't capitalize on the ones we needed," Tippett added.
A scoreless opening 20 minutes of play, which saw Smith make 14 saves, was followed by a three-goal middle frame as Jones' third of the year was sandwiched between Patrick Maroon's opening tally and Gourde's shorthanded go-ahead goal.
Former Oiler Maroon took advantage of an out-of-position and stick-less Smith at 4:39 of the 2nd by banking a puck in off the keeper from behind the goal-line.
