EDMONTON — There’s formally clinching a playoff spot, after which there are the the most important, late-season wins opposed to the chasers that lead you to that time the place you in spite of everything get that X beside your identify.
For the Edmonton Oilers, this 4-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights was once the latter. At the Saturday afternoon after a Friday night time Slipknot live performance right here at Rogers Position, the Oilers left Vegas striking again in fourth position within the Pacific, seven issues at the back of Edmonton with six video games to play.
“Vegas were feeling just right about their recreation, and went in and whacked a just right Calgary group (6-1 on Thursday),” mentioned Zack Kassian. “They arrive in right here, and for us to place in combination a commentary recreation like that, it is helping our team confidence-wise.”
How about back-to-back 4-0 wins for Edmonton? At the highway opposed to a determined Nashville group, and at house opposed to a Vegas membership that wanted this one much more than the Preds?
Mike Smith was once in between the pipes for each goose eggs, changing into handiest the 7th goalie in Nationwide Hockey League historical past to report back-to-back shutouts after turning 40.
The remaining man? You will have heard of him …
Martin Brodeur.
“I’ve mentioned it a lot of instances,” mentioned Smith, who has carried out selective amnesia to the injury-plagues opening two-thirds of his season. “Right now of the season, you wish to have to be at the height of your recreation and be a large reason you’re headed to the playoffs.”
Is he ever.
In his remaining 10 video games — 9 begins, plus a reduction look in that 9-5 debacle in Calgary — Smith’s numbers are all-world: 8-1-1, a .940 save proportion and 1.98 goals-against moderate. He stopped 39 pucks on Saturday, after turning away all 30 on Thursday night time in Nashville.
The Golden Knights got here in on a 7-1-1 run however discovered the door to the fortress barred close by means of the 40-year-old, whose lengthy hair would have allowed him to suit proper in on the earlier night time’s soiree.
“Two truly just right ones for him in a row,” marvelled head trainer Jay Woodcroft. “It’s no longer simple, however he is making it glance adore it is.”
Have in mind what we mentioned about those Oilers after they have been swept by means of the Winnipeg Jets in Spherical 1 remaining spring? They wanted far more beef up scoring, everybody complained. They needed to to find techniques to win video games that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl didn’t win for them.
Neatly, in a pivotal stretch-run matinee Saturday, 9 Oilers had only one level each and every — nobody had two — and neither McDavid nor Draisaitl registered some degree.
The sport-winner was once arrange by means of fourth-liner Kassian and got here off the stick of 7th defenceman Kris Russell, who had no longer scored an NHL objective since March 2019. That made this objective the primary for Russell underneath GM Ken Holland, who’s in his 3rd season right here.
“Now, he’ll forestall telling me that he scored 35 in junior (37, if truth be told),” Woodcroft mentioned, joking. “I am more than happy for Kris, any individual who’s a team-first person, any person who lays his frame at the line. For him to attain that gigantic objective for our group at a crucial time within the recreation, I believed it was once superb.”
The reality this group scored 4 aims with just one top-six ahead registering some degree (Evander Kane’s lend a hand) is strictly what they want to see every so often. And relatively than push for issues, because the superstars were recognized to do previously, Draisaitl (67 in step with cent within the circle) and McDavid (64 in step with cent) merely dug in and made positive that Smith’s sheet remained blank.
It has no longer long past not noted.
“Connor has been riding the bus,” mentioned Smith, who has watched his captain evolve right into a a lot more well-rounded, two-way participant this season. “Whether or not he’s needless or no longer this night, the best way he’s operating clear of the puck. … I don’t assume he will get sufficient credit score for a way he’s truly dedicated to the defensive aspect of the puck and his struggle degree, the compete degree.
“While you see your captain – who’s over 100 issues (and primary in) the scoring race – competing like he’s, I believe it doesn’t provide you with any excuse however to leap in and play the best way he’s. It’s been spectacular to look at.”
Another just right signal?
How about superb video games from two bottom-six bangers, Kassian and Warren Foegele, two modern day intensity forwards who’ve the velocity and measurement that merely needs to be on show in video games like this one.
Foegele stole a puck and sped round Alec Martinez for the back-breaking breakaway objective that made it 3-0. In the meantime, Kassian was once bodily and efficient all night time, characteristics that experience long past lacking for too lengthy with this participant.
“Zack Kassian performed probably the most absolute best video games I’ve observed him play since I’ve been right here,” mentioned Woodcroft. “He was once easy, simple and direct. He was once bodily, and made a pleasing play on that first objective. He was once superb for us this night.”
Goaltending, intensity scoring, defensive play …
They’re placing a group in combination right here in Edmonton, and at simply the precise time.
