LAS VEGAS, NV - The Mullett Arena was certainly a scrappy place to earn two points.
Looking to get back into the win column on Monday against the Arizona Coyotes ahead of tonight's rematch with the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena, the Oilers came away from the Coyotes' Den located on campus at Arizona State University with a 5-4 victory, but it wasn't without its scrapes and scratches.
"It felt a little different in that building, but we said this morning that it didn't matter where we played the game," Head Coach Jay Woodcroft said. "It was more about trying to find a way to win the game and get two points in a tough building versus a team that's only lost one time [at home] in regulation in their last ten."
The Oilers traded chances with an eager and energetic Arizona side in the opening frame and found goals on the power play, at even strength and shorthanded from Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse to lead 3-2 through 20 minutes before Leon Draisaitl's 300th career NHL goal with five-and-a-half to go in the second period had Edmonton ahead by a pair.
"I actually thought that was our best period by far," Woodcroft said of the middle frame. "I thought we went into it with the psychology of defending hard and defending first, and I think we have to continue that."
However, that approach for Woodcroft and the Oilers did not continue into the final frame. Just like how the fans feel on top of the ice at Mullett Arena with their proximity to the ice, Arizona got on top of Edmonton in the first five minutes of the third period.
"I thought there were a couple of shifts in the third and they made us pay," Woodcroft said. "I thought we could've been harder around our own net, and there were just a couple of individual situations that can be handled better."