NEWSLETTER
This was always going to be a more difficult task than the previous four games for the Chicago Blackhawks. The Edmonton Oilers did exactly what they needed to do to bury the Blackhawks in their own mistakes en route to a 5-2 win for the Oilers. Chicago was consistently bailed-out by goaltender Kevin Lankinen tonight, even with him giving up five goals. Most of those five, you cannot hang on him alone. With the loss, the Blackhawks fall to 5-10-2, their first loss under interim head coach Derek King.
The Oilers got on the board first in the first period, the goal coming from Connor McDavid because of course it did, and that would signal the first deficit for Chicago in their last 12 and a half periods of hockey. The 1-0 goal coming from McDavid extended his point-streak to begin the season to 17 games, and opened the floodgates for Edmonton. A minute later, it would be 2-0, five minutes after that it was 3-0, and then three minutes after that it was 4-0 and there was never a path back for Chicago.
Alex DeBrincat was the only Blackhawks skater to make a significant impact on the ice tonight, netting both goals in the 5-2 loss. His first coming late in the first period, a double-tip from him and Kirby Dach on a shot from Seth Jones.
This might’ve been a double deflection with Kirby Dach and Alex DeBrincat? #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/NeC4WUU2P2
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) November 21, 2021
Through the second period, it was Lankinen standing tall in net for the Blackhawks, keeping them “in the hunt” while still down 4-1. The middle frame began as bad as you could imagine for the Blackhawks as Edmonton pinned Chicago in their own zone for what seemed like the entire first eight minutes of the period. In the process of not being able to get out of their own zone, Connor Murphy and Caleb Jones each logged a 4:50 minute shift. Yes, you read that right, a FOUR MINUTE and FIFTY SECOND shift. After weathering that kind of storm, the Blackhawks and Oilers stayed in a 4-1 game heading to the final period.
The Oilers were able to run through all four forward lines before Chicago cleared the zone. I don't think I've ever seen that in an NHL game.
— Daniel Nugent-Bowman (@DNBsports) November 21, 2021
Mid-way through the third period, after killing a penalty, Philipp Kurashev and DeBrincat broke out for a two-on-none breakaway with DeBrincat burying his second goal of the game.
Philipp Kurashev jumps out of the box and connects with Alex DeBrincat, who scores his second of the night. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/FI0bYne7Vc
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) November 21, 2021
11 goals on the season for DeBrincat through 17 games. He is once again on a 50+ goal pace this season. He is a superstar in this league.
Unfortunately, the rest of the Blackhawks were not buzzing like DeBrincat was tonight. Chicago was constantly shooting themselves in the foot with turnover after turnover that led to scoring chance after scoring chance for Edmonton. The Oilers are not a team to make mistakes against. The final nail in the coffin for tonight’s game came off, you guessed it, a turnover that led to a breakaway for Leon Draisaitl all alone against Lankinen. He scored, of course, and it was over. 5-2 the Oilers win.
Find the full box score here.
