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Oilers Fall Short of Penguins' NHL Record as Winning Streak Snapped by Golden Knights
Feb 7, 2024
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 06: Chandler Stephenson #20 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a third-period goal against the Edmonton Oilers during their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 06, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Edmonton Oilers fell one victory short of tying the NHL's all-time win streak on Tuesday evening, falling 3-1 to the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights.
Edmonton entered Tuesday with 16 straight wins, one shy of the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins' 17-game streak.
The Oilers got off to a great start after Connor McDavid scored a short-handed goal on a 2-on-0 break to put Edmonton up 1-0 4:35 into the first.
William Karlsson's empty-netter in the closing seconds finished off Vegas' W.
It's a tough loss for Edmonton, just one win shy of tying the record, but the Oilers' win streak was an incredible run amid a tumultuous season.
Edmonton fired head coach Jay Woodcroft after a 3-9-1 start, replacing him with Kris Knoblauch. After two wins in the new era, Edmonton lost three straight, giving up 17 goals in the process.
The Oilers then rolled off eight straight wins, but their defense then struggled once again, allowing 15 goals in three consecutive losses.
Edmonton caught fire, however, with the 16 straight wins. All but one of the wins came in regulation or overtime. The Oilers allowed no more than two goals in the final 14 victories as well.
Losing to the defending Stanley Cup champions in their arena to end the streak certainly isn't anything to be ashamed of, and the Oilers can take solace knowing that they've completely turned their season around.
Edmonton will look to get back in the win column Friday when it visits the Anaheim Ducks.
NHL All-Star Skills Competition 2024: Results, Winners, Highlights and Reaction
Feb 3, 2024
TORONTO, ONTARIO - FEBRUARY 02: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts during the Fastenal NHL Fastest Skater during the 2024 NHL All-Star Skills Competition at Scotiabank Arena on February 02, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid is the winner of the 2024 All-Star Skills Competition.
McDavid took first place in the fastest skater, stick handling, accuracy shooting and obstacle course events Friday night to win the $1 million prize.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar finished the competition in second place, with the Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews and William Nylander close behind. The New York Islanders' Mat Barzal came in fifth.
The Vancouver Canucks' J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson, Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon, Boston Bruins' David Pastrnak and Oilers' Leon Draisaitl rounded out the top ten, followed by the Canucks' Quinn Hughes and Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov.
If you couldn't tune in Friday night, here's a recap of the eight events that led to McDavid's victory.
McDavid's 13.408-second lap around the rink marked the fourth time in his career he has won the challenge, making this first victory an easy bet for hockey fans.
We didn’t need to see McDavid skate to know he’d be the fastest
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and injured Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard, who has not played since suffering a fractured jaw on Jan. 5, were passers for this event.
Makar is the first player in Avalanche and Nordiques franchise history to win the competition, according to NHL PR. Auston Matthews was impressed with Makar's 102.5 miles-per-hour blast.
Meanwhile, all Canucks center J.T. Miller cared about was shooting faster than teammate Elias Pettersson. He succeeded by hitting a 102.3 mph blast over Pettersson's 98.4 mph shot.
"Made my night. That's worth a million bucks to me," Miller said about beating Pettersson, per NHL.com's Dan Rosen and Bill Price.
It was not lost on the fans present in Toronto that Pastrnak finished the event in 19.67 seconds. That's a number Leafs fans know well as the last year the team won the Stanley Cup.
The Los Angeles Kings' Cam Talbot, Vancouver Canucks' Thatcher Demko, Boston Bruins' Jeremy Swayman, New York Rangers' Igor Shesterkin, Winnipeg Jets' Connor Hellebuyck, Dallas Stars' Jake Oettinger, Colorado Avalanche's Alexandar Georgiev and Florida Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky were goaltenders for this event.
William Nylander vs. Talbot: 9 points
Auston Matthew vs. Demko: 7 points
J.T Miller vs. Swayman: 6 points
Mathew Barzal vs. Shesterkin: 6 points
Cale Maker vs. Hellebuyck: 4 points
Elias Pettersson vs. Oettinger: 3 points
Connor McDavid vs. Georgiev: 3 points
Nathan MacKinnon vs. Bobrovsky: 2 points
For this event, players had to choose one goaltender to take shots against for 60 seconds. Nylander won after saying he had selected Kings goaltender Cam Talbot "because he's standing right in front of me."
Nylander should have said he's picking Cam Talbot because the Kings have been garbage for the past month
Pettersson and MacKinnon were eliminated following the event.
Pepsi Obstacle Course
Connor McDavid: 40.606 seconds
Cale Makar: 43.435 seconds
Auston Matthews: 47.271 seconds
William Nyander: 49.065 seconds
J.T Miller: 49.351 seconds
Matthew Barzal: 1 minute 16 seconds
The obstacle course involved puck-handling, shooting at tiny nets and slaloming through a set of inflatable cans in what was arguably the toughest event of the night.
This obstacle course in the NHL skills competition is no joke. Guys are gassed.
The 2024 NHL All-Star game will take place with four teams battling in a three-on-three format beginning 3 p.m. ET Saturday at Scotiabank Arena.
NHL Rumors: Corey Perry, Oilers Agree to Contract After Blackhawks Exit
Jan 21, 2024
TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 09: Chicago Blackhawks right wing Corey Perry (94) during the NHL Hockey match between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks on November 9th, 2023 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Edmonton Oilers plan to sign veteran forward Corey Perry to a new contract, according to The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta.
Perry last played in the NHL on November 19. He was then placed on waivers, where he went unclaimed before his contract was terminated by the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks said an internal investigation had determined Perry "engaged in conduct that is unacceptable, and in violation of both the terms of his standard player's contract and the Blackhawks' internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments."
The 38-year-old was playing on a one-year, $4 million contract in Chicago.
Perry was skating just over 14 minutes per night with the Blackhawks prior to his termination. He had four goals and five assists in 16 games.
TSN's Frank Seravalli reported that no deal has yet been completed between the Oilers and Perry, although he added that things are "certainly trending" in that direction.
The Florida Panthers, New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning have also expressed interest in acquiring Perry, Seravalli said.
It is likely Perry will take a significant pay cut with his next contract, with Seravalli projecting the veteran's next deal to end up somewhere near the league minimum of $750,000.
In a statement shared following the termination of his contract, Perry said his "behavior was inappropriate and wrong."
"I have started working with experts in the mental health and substance abuse fields to discuss my struggles with alcohol and I will take whatever steps necessary to ensure this never happens again," Perry wrote.
"I hope to regain the trust and respect of everyone who has believed in me throughout my career," he added.
Perry, who Seravalli said "has been skating and training" in hopes of getting back into game shape, met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman the week of Jan. 10, according to the Associated Press' Stephen Whyno.
Perry is in his 19th season in the NHL. After 14 years with in Anaheim, where he helped the Ducks win a Stanley Cup in 2007, he had bounced around to the Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens and Lightning before signing with the Blackhawks in June.
If the veteran forward rejoins the NHL, he will regain the total of the most-penalized active player in the league with 1,392 PIM in 1,273 career games.
Perry is also eight points away from becoming the 16th active NHL player to cross the 900-point threshold.
NHL All-Star Skills Competition 2024: Full List of Participants Revealed
Jan 21, 2024
MONTREAL, CANADA - JANUARY 13: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates during the first period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on January 13, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
The field for the 2024 NHL All-Star Skills Competition is set after Vancouver Canucks stars Quinn Hughes and J.T. Miller were selected to participate in the festivities following a fan vote.
Both Hughes and Miller join a field of 10 previously selected players who will compete for a chance to win $1 million. The Canucks now boast the most players competing in the event as Elias Pettersson was previously selected.
Here's a look at the 12 participants:
David Pastrnak, F, Boston Bruins
Nathan MacKinnon, F, Colorado Avalanche
Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche
Leon Draisaitl, F, Edmonton Oilers
Connor McDavid, F, Edmonton Oilers
Jack Hughes, F, New Jersey Devils
Nikita Kucherov, F, Tampa Bay Lightning
Auston Matthews, F, Toronto Maple Leafs
William Nylander, F, Toronto Maple Leafs
Elias Pettersson, F, Vancouver Canucks
J.T. Miller, F, Vancouver Canucks
Quinn Hughes, F, Vancouver Canucks.
The new-look skills competition will kick off with each of the 12 participants taking part in four of the first six events—Fastest skater, hardest shot, stick handling, one-timers, passing challenge and accuracy shooting.
The top eight participants with the most points will move on to the seventh event—the shootout.
The top six point-earners will then move on to the eighth and final event, an obstacle course. This event includes all the skills and is worth double the points.
All-Star Weekend kicks off on Feb. 1 at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena, and the skills competition will take place on Feb. 2.
The All-Star Game is scheduled for Feb. 3. Instead of players competing for their respective divisions, this year's event will see captains paired with celebrities for the All-Star Player Draft to determine the teams.
Activity in the NHL trade market has
picked up in recent days, spurred along in part by the approach of
the league's annual holiday roster freeze period…
Oilers Fire Jay Woodcroft After 3-9-1 Start to NHL Season; Kris Knoblauch to Be HC
Nov 12, 2023
EDMONTON, CANADA - OCTOBER 29: Head coach Jay Woodcroft of the Edmonton Oilers looks on during the game against the Calgary Flames at the 2023 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic at Commonwealth Stadium on October 29, 2023 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
The Edmonton Oilers have fired head coach Jay Woodcroft after the team's disappointing 3-9-1 start to the 2023-24 campaign, the team announced Sunday:
The #Oilers announced today that head coach Jay Woodcroft & assistant coach Dave Manson have been relieved of their coaching duties.⁰
Hartford Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch will assume head coaching duties with the Oilers & will be joined by assistant coach Paul Coffey.
The 47-year-old took over during the 2021-22 season after Dave Tippett was fired, leading the Oilers to a 79-41-13 record in parts of three seasons and two playoff berths.
The Oilers will replace Woodcroft with Kris Knoblauch, currently the head coach of the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack. He previously coached superstar Connor McDavid with the OHL's Erie Otters.
Should have mentioned that this was a @SWhyno story on Knoblauch
The Oilers lost in the Western Conference Finals in his first season and the second round of the playoffs last year. But the team's brutal start to this season did him in.
"No one's happy with where we're at," he told reporters on Thursday when asked if he was concerned about his job security. "We all own it. We can be better, and that's where my focus is."
The Oilers won 4-1 over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night, offering what felt like a possible reprieve for Woodcroft. It wasn't to be, and it's fair to question if the head coach was really the biggest issue for these Oilers.
Edmonton goalies have a 3.92 goals-against average, the third-worst mark in the NHL, and a league-worst .866 save percentage. Superstar Leon Draisaitl has just one goal in his last 10 games. McDavid—who has exceeded 100 points six times in his career, put up 153 points last year and is the NHL's best player—has just 10 points in 11 games (though an upper-body injury he dealt with earlier in the year might be playing a part).
"Everybody goes through struggles. We're no different. We're human. It's been a really long time since we've gone through something like this," McDavid told reporters on Friday. "It's not fun. It's not fun to go through it as a group."
This time around, however, it cost Woodcroft his job. Knoblauch will be tasked with helping these Oilers regain their mojo and make a push for the postseason.
"I don't think anyone obviously feels very good about their game or is feeling very confident out there," McDavid added on Friday. "How do you instill that? If I had that answer, I probably wouldn't be playing hockey. I'd be a billionaire somewhere. It's not easy. Confidence is a tricky thing."
It's a worst-case scenario come true for the Edmonton Oilers. When Jack Campbell arrived as a free agent and signed a five-year, $25 million deal, it's a good…
Jack Campbell Waived by Oilers; Signed 5-Year, $25M Contract in 2022
Nov 7, 2023
EDMONTON, AB - NOVEMBER 04: Edmonton Oilers Goalie Jack Campbell (36) makes a save in the second period of the Edmonton Oilers game versus the Nashville Predators on November 4, 2023 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Jack Campbell's time with the Edmonton Oilers is coming to an end a little more than one year after signing a five-year, $25 million deal with the team in July 2022.
The Oilers are placing Campbell on waivers amid a disastrous start to the 2023-24 season, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Campbell has struggled since signing with the Oilers following a two and a half year stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
During the 2022-23 season, the 31-year-old went 21-9-4, but also posted a 3.41 goals-against average and .888 save percentage in 36 games (24 starts). He was led by a high-scoring offense that often masked his struggles in the crease.
This year has been a different story as Edmonton's offense is off to an unusually slow start.
Last season, the Oilers had the No. 1 scoring offense in the NHL averaging 3.96 goals per game. Through the early stages of the 2023-24 campaign, Edmonton's offense has been one of the worst in league, averaging just 2.64 goals per game, which ranks 26th.
The issues with Campbell and Edmonton's goaltending situation have been on full display. Campbell went 1-4-0 with a 4.50 goals-against average and .873 save percentage in five games.
Stuart Skinner has been equally as disappointing, posting a 1-4-1 record with a 3.99 goals-against average and .856 save percentage in seven games.
Following a 6-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Monday, Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft ripped into his goaltenders, telling reporters, "Our goaltenders wear the same jerseys as the rest of the team. Are there moments that our goaltenders can be better? Yeah, there are."
Due to a combination of goaltending and scoring issues, the Oilers are second to last in the NHL with a 2-8-1 record.
Despite the struggles, TSN's Ryan Rishaug reported Tuesday that he doesn't believe there is a goaltending trade "imminent" for the Oilers. He added that Calvin Pickard could be recalled from the AHL's Bakersfield Condors.
Pickard hasn't played in the NHL since the 2021-22 season. He is 2-2 with the Condors this year and has posted a 2.03 goals-against average and .939 save percentage.
The Oilers are back in action on Thursday against the last place San Jose Sharks, and Skinner figures to start that matchup.
