Welp...that could've been worse.
The Oilers started their 2018-19 campaign with a stumble and fall. It was an embarrasing effort to say the least. Every single thing that happened last year in a loss, happened in this game. Let's recap.
Stop me if you've heard this one before. The Oilers allowed the goal of the game, on the first shot of the game. Yup. Kyle Palmieri made it 1-0 Devils just 58 seconds into the game. Thankfully the Oilers would tie it a few minutes later. Hands up if you had Milan Lucic scoring the first goal of the Oilers season? Nobody? Didn't think so. On their 1st PP of the season, Connor McDavid decided to ignore the PP strategies and just took the puck into the offensive zone himself. He was flying, skating behind the net, and passed out front where Lucic burried his 1st of the season. So yeah, that must be a confidence boost for #27. Sadly, that's was as close to "being in this thing" as the Oilers would be. Period 1 ends with the scored knotted at 1 a piece.
Period 2 was the worst period of Oilers hockey I've seen in my 12 years of being a fan. Outscored 2-0 and outshot 10-3, the Oilers didn't register a shot on goal until the 17 minute mark of the 2nd. 17 minutes and they never had 1 shot on net. Even when the score was 3-1, Talbot was the only reason it was kept to that score at the end of the 2nd. Kyle Palmieri got his 2nd of the game, making it 2-1 and that was followed up by Travis Zajac making it 3-1.
Period 3 wasn't a whole lot better. Zajac potted his 2nd of the game making it 4-1 and that's where I shut it off. I followed on Twitter, catching a bit about where Leon Draisitl potted his 1st of the season off a feed from Milan Lucic and McDavid. I don't care who scored the empty netter for the Devils.
Positives:
1. McDavid - gets 2 points tonight and looked as good as he always does. Not much to complain about.
2. Lucic - After how last season ended, Lucic was looking for anything to get him going this season. He had a decent preseason with 3 points in 4 games, and he followed that up with 2 points tonight. He was physical, he was making smart passes, and he was engaged. Probably the best Oilers player on the ice bar-none.
3. It's over - nothing more to say here
4. It's only 1 game - 81 left to go, there is time to iron out a few things. But not much.
Negatives:
1. The effort - This team was garbage. I'm tired of making excuses. There is 0 excuse for how they played tonight. Getting 0 shots on net for the first 17 minutes of a period? Inexcusable. Not have having a decent looking PP? Inexcusable. Getting beat to every puck and losing every puck battle? Inexcusable.
2. Defence - Complete and utter shit. Nurse and Benning especially.
3. PP - What are they thinking? The PP looked like shit. Utter crap. No actual strategy, no actual purpose. The only reason they scored once was because McDavid decided to skate the puck in himself.
Let's hope they turn things around, fast.
