Oilers Take Five of Six Points on New York Swing Despite Shootout Loss to Devils

The Edmonton Oilers wrapped up their three-game New York road trip with five of a possible six points, even though Tuesday night’s shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils left head coach Mike Babcock far from satisfied with the performance.

The defeat was Edmonton’s first road loss of the season after a 7-0-0 start away from home. It also ended a three-game win streak in which the Oilers outscored their opponents 12-1.

Babcock liked some parts of the effort but not others. “We feel fortunate to get a point here tonight, they were better than us,” he said. The coach was especially critical of the second period, when Edmonton was outshot 16-3 and outscored 3-1. “I don’t know what was going on there, but they were way better than us, way faster than us,” Babcock said, noting his team kept turning the puck over.

The Oilers caught a break late, however. Trailing 3-2, they went to the third period with a 57-second 5-on-3 advantage. Leon Draisaitl scored. The game stayed tied through the third and overtime, and the Oilers eventually lost in the breakaway challenge. Those late penalties in the second, after being absolutely dominated for 20 minutes, allowed them to salvage a point.

The Oilers will try to figure out what went wrong there, but be pleased with the bigger picture. “It’s a good road trip. I didn’t like it as much today, but good road trip,” Babcock said.

Leon Draisaitl, who has 13 goals in 16 games, also liked what he saw from his group on the trip. He liked the consistency the team showed over the three games and believes the group is moving in the right direction. “The second period today was not our best, but I think we’re trending in a good direction,” he said.

“The work ethic, the expectation to be heavy and physical and be fast, are there,” Jason Dickinson said. “Sometimes the execution is missing in puck play and decision-making, and that’s probably where we could really tidy things up.”

Babcock said the team is making progress and is finding more contributors. 

Edmonton had netminder Tristan Jarry to thank for the point in the final game. He could not be blamed for any of the Devils’ three goals, two of which came on the power play. He made 31 saves in his best game of the season, and he got some help from the post on a third-period shot that hit the outside of the net, bounced off him, and sat in the blue paint while he scrambled to find it.

He's coming along, earning two shutouts in his last three. 

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins played his 1,038th NHL game, surpassing Kevin Lowe for the franchise record, and was among Edmonton’s best skaters. The 33-year-old scored a goal and added an assist, giving him seven points in his past five games. The only thing missing was a shootout goal to give his night the fairy-tale ending it deserved.

He and Jarry might have been Edmonton's two best players. 

“He’s way stronger, his stick’s way heavier, he is way smarter,” Babcock said. “He’s not even in shape yet, so just imagine when he gets in shape.”

The Oilers travel today to start a four-game homestand that starts Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks. “This road trip, I think, has been a success,” one player said. “We’re just gonna continue this at home.”

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