On Tuesday night (April 7), the Edmonton Oilers secured a crucial point but ultimately fell 6-5 in overtime to the Utah Mammoth. This was Utah’s first win over Edmonton in six meetings.
This was a back-and-forth, high-event affair that saw plenty of scoring chances each way. Utah got goals from JJ Peterka, Nick Schmaltz (two), Logan Cooley, Alexander Kerfoot, and Clayton Keller. Curtis Lazar, Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Vasily Podkolzin, and Colton Dach scored for Edmonton.
Defence and goaltending were optional. Numerous egregious turnovers occurred, and neither netminder was able to bail out their team. This game got away from the Oilers, and they couldn’t hold on to multiple leads. Here are three takeaways from this frustrating loss.
Jarry Was Lacklustre
The Tristan Jarry trade looks worse for the Oilers every day. He was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins, sending Stuart Skinner the other way. This was an awful deal because not only is Jarry worse than Skinner, but he makes double the salary and has two more years left on his contract. At least Skinner was an unrestricted free agent (UFA) at season’s end. They have another terrible contract and must find a way to get out of it this summer, likely by attaching assets. This is not an ideal situation.
Related: Oilers Got Fleeced in Tristan Jarry Trade
He wasn’t good once again, stopping 25 of 31 shots for a brutal .806 save percentage (SV%). He now has an .882 SV% in 32 games this season. Those numbers are awful, and the eye test backs up his statistics. He looks uncomfortable in the net and doesn’t instill much confidence in the fan base or his teammates. When Connor Ingram is between the pipes, he has a calming demeanour, but Jarry is the opposite.
Fans collectively hold their breath with every shot, especially from a long distance with traffic. Jarry is inept at battling through screens. His movements are often erratic, and he constantly slides out of position. That was evident in the overtime winner. He slid across and went down early, before getting into position again, but it was too late. Keller was able to rip a shot upstairs as Jarry looked off balance, trying to reset. He was clearly jittery in the crease.
He also allowed a shorthanded goal at the end of the second period, which tied the game at four. Schmaltz walked in and beat Jarry cleanly from the left faceoff circle. That was a backbreaker to end the period, and that goal can’t go in. They needed a save there but didn’t get it.
Every Line Scored
On the positive side, every line made an offensive contribution. The Oilers are without Zach Hyman and Leon Draisaitl, meaning other players must step up. 13 different players registered a point. The depth players showed up in this one and made a positive impact.
Dach returned to the lineup after an 11-game absence and was on the third line alongside Jason Dickinson and Trent Frederic. He scored a huge goal to give his team a 5-4 lead early in the third period. His initial shot was stopped, but he pounced on his own rebound and buried it. He finished the game with one goal, three shots, and five hits in 14:01 of ice time. He was effective and had a noticeable game. If he can maintain his health, he could be a factor in the playoffs.
Lazar also scored a big goal just 11 seconds after the Mammoth took an early 1-0 lead. Adam Henrique found Lazar with a fantastic feed, and he went backhand through the five-hole. He had one goal, one shot, and three hits in only 7:51 of ice time. He maximized his fourth-line minutes, playing alongside Adam Henrique and Max Jones. The depth players are peaking at the right time, and hopefully, they can sustain this success as they approach the postseason.
Oilers Sat Back
Once the Oilers took a 5-4 lead 2:09 into the third period, they sat back, and it cost them. You can’t expect to defend for a full period and have success. They were constantly on their heels and lacked a sustained pushback. For extended periods, Edmonton was hemmed in its zone and had difficulty clearing the puck. Utah’s relentless pressure was overwhelming. Luckily, they secured a point because they easily could have lost in regulation.
Scoreboard Watching Is in Full Effect
The Anaheim Ducks lost 5-0 to the Nashville Predators, but the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Vancouver Canucks 2-1. As a result, the Oilers are currently tied with the Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division, both with 88 points and with four games remaining. Edmonton holds the tiebreaker. The Oilers are back in action on Wednesday (April 8) when they visit the San Jose Sharks. Keep following The Hockey Writers for all your NHL content throughout the season.
