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Normally, getting only 15 shots on goal is a recipe for disaster in the NHL but even that low total couldn’t stop the red-hot Edmonton Oilers.
They pulled out a 2-1 victory Tuesday in Chicago and will look to extend their winning streak to nine games in Detroit on Thursday. If they’re successful, the Oilers would tie the franchise record for consecutive victories.
“Once we get rolling and feeling our game like we are now, it feels like we can’t lose,” defenseman Brett Kulak said. “We’re kind of in that space right now, and you want to hang on to that, enjoy it and stack up the wins when you’ve got that kind of mood.”
Edmonton’s goals against the Blackhawks came from two usual sources — Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. The Oilers were outshot 21-7 in the last two periods but Chicago didn’t score.
“Obviously not our best, but give them credit,” McDavid said. “They worked, they clogged things up, they played a solid game. (Goaltender Stuart Skinner) held us in and I thought we did just enough to get a win.
“They’re obviously a banged-up, young lineup, excited lineup. Those are sometimes the toughest games to play. A little bit scrambly, a little bit all over the place.”
In their previous game, Zach Hyman notched his third hat trick of the season as the Oilers defeated Ottawa 3-1. Hyman didn’t even have a shot on goal against the Blackhawks.
“I think we were just good enough to get the win and it definitely wasn’t our best game,” coach Kris Knoblauch said. “It wasn’t a Picasso by any means, but sometimes you have to gut those out. … We know we need to get better than that, so we’ll take our two points and move on.”
The Red Wings come into the game well-rested after a productive trip to California. They won all three games during the journey, including a suspenseful 3-2 victory at Anaheim on Sunday.
The Wings’ special teams were sharp in each game, as they didn’t give up a power play goal.
“Our special teams were excellent and that’s been a trend of late,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “Our penalty kill has been lights out here of late with a really nice run. But what both special teams gave us was momentum.
“We scored on the power play, we had a ton of good looks, we hit a couple posts, we had some open looks and it just gives you some momentum and obviously some huge momentum on the kill.”
Dylan Larkin scored on a power play in Anaheim. Joe Veleno snapped a 10-game goal-less streak in the second period and Michael Rasmussen was credited with the game-winner with 1:07 remaining when Moritz Seider’s shot bounced off his skate.
“We left Detroit feeling like we played a couple good hockey games and the results were coming and they came on this trip,” Larkin said. “We kind of found the mojo we had when we were healthy and getting great goaltending.
“I believe the PK was maybe 100 percent on the trip. We had a lot of big kills and just (did) little things. It’s a good feeling in here and we need to build off that going home.”
–Field Level Media
