EDMONTON — A step forward is exactly what was needed. Edmonton Oilers team that has been supporting lately. Victories are good at any time of the year, and Edmonton came out of the Christmas break with a score of 1-3.
But the fact that the Oilers looked better than ever in the new year, with Trent Frederic and Andrew Mangiapane listed as healthy scratches cheering on their team from the locker room in street clothes, well, told a different story.
“Yeah, something didn't work out. It's not like it's over,” Oilers head coach Chris Knoblauch said after Tuesday's morning skate, leaving any possible door open for the two players to be part of the process again. “They didn't play as we expected. They can give us more.”
Frederic signed an eight-year contract this summer and has three points in 41 games. Mangiapane signed a two-year free agent contract on July 1 but has lagged far behind.
The fact that both were declared healthy on the same night – both have taken turns appearing in the press box this season – was a stark reminder of how poorly GM Stan Bowman's two top free agent acquisitions have gone so far.
The Oilers got goals from deep from Kasperi Kapanen and Curtis Lazar in their 6-2 win over Nashville on Tuesday, a rare night this season in which a goal came from deep. Along with a hat-trick from Connor McDavidit was too much for the Predators team at the end of a six-game road trip.
“Overall, it was a pretty solid 60 points. Every line worked, every pair of defenders and (Connor Ingram) in goal made some huge saves to keep us in the game and keep us going,” said Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who recorded his 500th career assist after McDavid's hat trick.
“(It just means) I had a lot of really good players to give the puck to. I've obviously been here a long time (993 games) and played on some great teams with some great players.
“It just shows the quality of the players I played with.”
None better than McDavid, who is riding a legendary streak, a 16-game streak in which he scored 17 goals and 39 points.
McDavid scored on the power play, penalty kill and even strength.
“He's attacking right now. He's putting the ball in the net every chance he gets,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “Whether he's filming it or beating guys up and taking them there… it feels like there's always another level that he somehow gets to.
“We're trying to keep up with (Zach Hyman) and I. It's not always easy.”
McDavid is simply unstoppable with the Winter Olympics on the horizon, and there certainly isn't a coach in the NHL who knows how to blunt his offense.
“We wish we knew,” Preds coach Andrew Brunette said. “I think every team in the league is probably thinking the same thing. The penalty goal was a little bit of his own, but as we all know, he's an extremely dangerous player. If I knew how to stop him, I would have stopped him.”
Lazar played like a guy who would stay in the lineup – especially since center Adam Henrique left the game with an injury after just two shifts – and made a great rebound to make it 3-0.
“After I scored that goal, I told (McDavid) I’m going to win the Molson Cup this month, don’t take it personally,” Lazar joked.
And Kapanen has made a great comeback from injury, having been an important depth player during the Oilers' run to the Stanley Cup Final last season. He will have time to find his game, you can be sure of that.
“Sometimes you could tell I hadn't played in two and a half months,” said Kapanen, who had a goal and an assist. “But overall I think it was a pretty good try.”
It's just one game and roster spots are sure to open up again for Frederic and Mangiapane. But it's hard to say any veteran wasn't missed on Tuesday, as the Oilers beat Nashville in the second period to win on the road.
As the game progressed, the line of Ike Howard, Jack Roslovic and Matt Savoie, who replaced Henrique at center, found its footing. It's unlikely that Howard will leave the lineup.
“We have a lot of guys who can play in the bottom six, and right now we just want more from these (two) guys. It's kind of a reset for these two,” Knoblauch said.
OIL SPILLS: This was Edmonton's 20th straight game in which the first team to score won the game. The Oilers are 18-1-3 when scoring first. … McDavid's penalty goal was the Oilers' first at Rogers Place since Leon Draisaitl in 2018. … Draisaitl scored the Oilers' fifth goal, just his second at even strength since Dec. 1. He has 60 points from three-point play (1-2-3). … Edmonton is 15-2-2 in its last 19 games against Nashville.
