It was a night for the defencemen as Tyson Barrie got to show off not once but twice in the Florida Panthers vs Edmonton Oilers game.
This was their first meeting in the new NHL season and it was going to be a crucial one given that both team’s prior opponent, the Carolina Hurricanes, had pummeled Oilers and been scratched apart by the Panthers.
You could say there was some smirking going on seeing as the Oilers have a reputation to uphold and a defeat against Hurricanes would be embarrassing.
A slow first
The First Period started out slow with only 2 second penalties dished out for infractions on the ice, but it was the Second Period that things really turned on.
Just before the 12th minute mark, defenceman Tyson Barrie found himself in the right place at the right time. Thanks to an assist from McLeod and Janmark, the puck was delivered to Barrie to slam straight down the middle and under Knight’s legs.
The Third Period burst into action with a Power Play comeback from the Panthers’ Bennett. After assisting Forsling to make a failed Power Play, Bennett collected the deflection and blasted the puck past Skinner to make it 1 – 1.
Barrie was back just before the 7th minute with his very own Power Play that shot between Knight’s legs and into the net.
Vital last 5
The last 5 minutes of the third were the most tense of this game. Panthers were in the process of trying to clear the puck from the danger-zone but some quick one – two play from Draisaiti and Foegele helped tangle up Panthers’ defence and Foegele to fire the puck into the net.
Their celebrations were cut short when less than a minute later Bennett scored again off an assist from White and Gudas. The No#9 managed to get in close with Skinner but it was too much for the goalie to counter.
Oilers were already 3 – 2 ahead but they had to hold the lead. With less than 2 minutes to go, it was Nugent-Hopkins that confirmed Oilers would take the game thanks to an assist from McDavid and Puljujarvi.
Final score Oilers 4 – Panthers 2.
Oilers sit 6th in the Western Conference with 18 points and 4th place in the Pacific Division. Florida Panthers are 8th in the Eastern Conference with 17 points and 4th in the Atlantic Division.
Hockey Hall of Fame
Did you know that three veteran Canucks are being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday?
Check out our profiles of the Sedin brothers and Roberto Luongo below:
