A three-goal third period by the Oilers on Thursday to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets in Edmonton, 4-1.
The loss was devastating for the Jackets who dropped out of a playoff position with the Montreal Canadiens assuming the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Zack Kassian scored for the Oilers – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
“We’ve talked enough,” Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. “We just have to have some sort of urgency to try and get back into this or we have no chance. I just don’t think we understand the level that we need to play at right now.”
Kyle Brodziak, Zack Kassian, Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins struck for the Oilers who, surprisingly, are within five points of the second wild card in the west.
“It was a tight game, and as a group it’s a good team over there,” Leon Draisaitl said. “I thought we stuck with it and it wasn’t perfect by any means. Sometimes it’s just a matter of sticking with it longer than the other team and I thought we did a good job of that tonight.”
Mikko Koskinen made 19 saves to get the win.
“I thought we stayed patient till we got our energy back and really started to play,” Oilers coach Ken Hitchcock said. “We played a patient, smart hockey game and then the big boys took over in the third period, which is kind of how you draw it up.”
David Savard scored the lone goal for the Jackets.
“Them getting one early in the third was tough,” Blue Jackets forward Matt Duchene said. “It’s hard for me to put my finger on what is going on right now. We had some good looks but finishing and creating that offense is a problem for us right now. We have to figure out what’s going wrong. I wish I had answers.”
The Oilers still have time but they cannot afford a loss down the stretch.
“It was a pretty defensive effort from the start of the game on, there was [seven] shots total in the first period and you don’t see that too often,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “It was definitely tight-checking and neither team gave up much defensively. We just stuck through it and stuck with it and had a good third period and came out with the win.”
[WATCH: Blue Jackets vs. Oilers highlights]
Joonas Korpisalo made 18 saves in taking the loss.
We just have to play better. They were playing for nothing and we were playing for something and that’s not what it looked like. We have to find energy somewhere” Seth Jones said. “Enough with the meetings and enough with the talk, we have to find ways to motivate ourselves individually and be the best player you can be every night for this team.”
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