Want to know how your team is doing? How you stack up among the big dogs? Boston, play.The Bruins, who are among the league’s top yardsticks due to their consistency and expertise, will tell you exactly where you stand.
Although they performed admirably to rally from a 4-1 deficit late in the second period to win a point in a 6-5 overtime setback, Edmonton’s record since returning from
“If we had the answers we would fix it right away,” said winger Corey Perry, who scored his third goal in four games and had a second period scrap to further cement his value here. “If we play the way we can, the way we did in the last five minutes of the second period… that’s how we have to play. It’s proven to be successful. We know we can do it, we just have to put it together.”
It was quite the one. In the second half, Boston scored three goals in a row to establish a 4-1 lead. With three straight goals by Edmonton, the score was tied at four. And in the final seconds, the teams exchanged goals 42 seconds apart to tie the game at five and force overtime. It was an impressive comeback against a side that is adept at maintaining a lead.
Now let’s talk about those flaws, faults, and gaps.
Edmonton’s suddenly unreliable penalty kill, which shattered a record, gave up its 11th goal in the previous seven games. After Edmonton’s bye week, they are presently 11 for 24 when it comes to opposition power plays.
The second period remains a black hole, as well. Boston pumped three goals on Edmonton in the middle frame, making it 16-5 for the opposition over the last seven second periods, with three of Edmonton’s five goals coming against Dallas.
And Edmonton’s celebrated improvement in goaltending and team defence (remember 14 straight games with two or fewer goals allowed?) has melted into 32 goals against in their last eight starts.
“We’ve got to have a better second period,” said Warren Foegele, who took the place of an ill Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on the first line and scored two goals. “It’s something that’s bleeding into our game, and something we know we’ve got to improve on.”
But the Oilers have been a third-period juggernaut all season and it was no different when the chips were down in this one.
