In Edmonton, the Vancouver Canucks had only four shots on goal through the first 12:22 of the game on Thursday night.
Problem for the Oilers was, they were all goals for the Canucks and a 4-0 lead.
“You play the same team four [times] in a row and they’re bound to figure you out and put together a [good] game,” Edmonton’s Connor McDavid said. “They’re a competitive group over there and they’re not going to just lay down and go to sleep on us. They came out and did exactly what we thought they were going to do and we didn’t respond well enough.”
McDavid had three assists on the night in a 6-3 loss to the Canucks.
Thatcher Demko made 39 saves in the win.
“We’ve had a couple games where some top-end guys have taken over the game on the other team and we were not getting results,” Vancouver coach Travis Green said. “But any time you’re talking to a team and trying to teach and keep them confident, getting a win goes a long way. And I think tonight was an important win for our group.”
Nils Hoglander, Jack Rathbone, Travis Hamonic, and Jayce Hawryluk scored off those first four shots of the game.
“It’s the start that our group needed to build some confidence through the 60 minutes and get a much-needed win tonight to break that little [losing] streak we had going,” Demko said. “It happens, and I’m sure [Koskinen] will bounce back.”
Leon Draisaitl scored twice for the Oilers.
“We probably needed a win like this and it’s fun,” Hamonic said. “As the season grinds along, it’s never going to go necessarily the way you think and want. But you have to slow things down and enjoy the wins when they come your way and then reset tomorrow. It felt good, it felt like we had been grinding for a little bit and it was nice to get one.”
Tyler Graovac and Brock Boeser also scored for the Canucks.
McDavid was awarded a penalty shot in the game after being taken down on a breakaway.
“The penalty shot, I was kind of swimming there for a second, to be honest,” Demko said. “Quick hands, he’s a good player, obviously everyone knows that. He has a handful of things that he can go to in a situation like that and I was just trying to be patient. I thought he had me beat there for a second. I was just trying to get a leg out and luckily got a piece of it.”
Jesse Puljujarvi also scored for Edmonton.
Mikko Koskinen was the victim of the four-goal barrage, after which he was relieved.
“The first one was poor coverage, the second was a poor turnover and the third and fourth ones should have been saves from our goalie,” Oilers head coach Dave Tippett said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that, the first four shots go in your net, so it’s a big hole to jump out of.”
Mike Smith made 21 saves in the mop up.
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