Pre-Scout: Can the Oilers enact revenge on the Minnesota Wild? |
Maybe Edmonton Oilers fans can resonate with this quote from Minnesota Wild coach Jon Hynes.
“The one thing I will say is that when you go through 82 games, they’re not all gonna be Picassos, right?” said Hynes.
Right you are, Mr. Hynes. Both teams would approach this ethos from different angles after their last efforts.
The Oilers are coming off a bizarre three-goal come-from-behind 4-3 win in overtime over the San Jose Sharks that spanned the full range of emotions.
The Wild also won their last game in Calgary on Thursday night by a 4-1 score. But it lacked…and could say more about the state of the Flames than the Wild.
Minnesota was up 2-0 at the first intermission, but were outshot 13-3. In total, the Wild had just three High Danger Chances at 5-on-5 in the whole game, according to Natural Stat Trick. Filip Gustavsson was tidy in a 29-save victory.
“But good teams find ways to win, even when you’re not at your best. We got the goaltending when we needed it. Obviously, early in the game, or throughout the game, the penalty kill came through for us to keep the score where it was, and then we had our opportunities on the power play,” Hynes continued.
“We were able to find a way to finish. I think that is a good sign, but I think we all know it wasn’t our best tonight.”
When you’re best are the best
Minnesota’s victory vaulted them over the........