5 Takeaways From Oilers’ 4-0 Win Over Islanders

Howard couldn’t put any weight on that leg and needed assistance off the ice. He was slowly finding his game and was playing well lately, so this is an unfortunate setback. Hopefully, this injury isn’t too serious. After the game, Howard was spotted walking with a slight limp. He was on his feet without a walking boot or cast, which is excellent news, because the initial incident didn’t look good.

Penalty-Filled First Period

Heineman’s five-minute major kicked off a penalty-filled first period. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins negated two of those five minutes after taking a tripping penalty. The period saw two more minor penalties. New York’s Victor Eklund took a trip, and Edmonton’s Trent Frederic had a roughing infraction. That was Frederic’s first of two minor penalties.

The penalties failed to spark much offence, leaving the shot count at just 7-3 for Edmonton. Only 10:44 of the first 20 minutes were played at 5-on-5. It’s hard to get everyone in the game and get into a flow when special teams is heavily involved.

The Oilers were better at 5-on-5, outchancing New York 4-2 and getting their feet moving early.
However, neither team generated any high-danger scoring opportunities.

Oilers Took Control in the Second Period

After a scoreless first, the Oilers took over in the second period. They scored three second-period goals and took the crowd out of it. Frustration boiled over for the Islanders, as they took two late minor penalties and a 10-minute misconduct.

Nugent-Hopkins had a big period, scoring two goals. Kasperi Kapanen made a great play on Edmonton’s first goal. He chipped the puck into the zone, outmuscled the defender, and found Nugent-Hopkins in the slot. Those plays are expected from the depth players. Once they got the lead, they didn’t look back. This was a mature effort.

Penalty Kill Perfection

The Oilers were fantastic on the penalty kill. They killed off all four New York power plays and didn’t allow a shot on their first two opportunities. The Islanders’ only shots came in the third period, registering four shots and three scoring chances. The Oilers’ penalty kill is one area that requires improvement. They were 24th in the league at 71.4 percent heading into this game. Hopefully they can climb into the top 15.

Jason Dickinson is finally healthy, and he should be a major contributor on the penalty kill. He was on the ice for 2:04 shorthanded and just one shot against and one scoring chance. Once Matt Savoie is healthy, he will also be a big part of the penalty kill. They have positive momentum, so they must keep it going.

Jarry With Another Shutout

Tristan Jarry dressed up as a brick wall for Halloween. He had another excellent performance. With an 18-save performance today, he secured his second consecutive shutout and extended his streak to 42 straight stops. He wasn’t tested often, but he came up big when it mattered. He only faced two high-danger shots at 5-on-5 and three overall. The Islanders had 2.16 expected goals. This was his 25th career shutout, and third with Edmonton. He became the sixth Oilers goalie to post back-to-back shutouts, and the first since Mike Smith in 2022.

Edmonton’s outstanding defence propelled Jarry to a shutout. They controlled play at 5-on-5 and played sound defensively. The Islanders were frustrated all game long, and it showed.

“We’re trying to create a plan that works all year long and into the playoffs. We’re trying to commit to doing things right. Our priority right now is to be better without the puck and try not to give up as much. Play that way every night, and you’ll have success,” Babcock stated in his postgame presser.

Jarry is at his best with less chaos. The Oilers are usually far too erratic in the defensive zone, and that doesn’t bode well for the veteran netminder. Lately, the Oilers have made his life much easier between the pipes, and the results show.

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