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Anders Nilsson giving Oilers opportunity to turn season around

Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / Getty

A disheartening 3-0 loss in the center of the hockey universe appeared to be another low point for the perpetually rebuilding Edmonton Oilers.

With Connor McDavid shelved and unable to make his first appearance near his hometown, the Oilers were shut out by a seventh-round pick making his NHL debut, looking completely uninspired in the process. As a result, fortunetellers were naming them the favorites to win the draft lottery (yes, again) as they headed back to Edmonton for a four-game homestand, with their heads hanging in shame.

And then a former New York goalie stepped in to help try and right the ship, and not the one you'd have expected.

Back in the NHL after a year-long KHL hiatus, Anders Nilsson - a third-round pick of the Islanders in 2009 - has assumed the Oilers' starting job in lieu of Cam Talbot, who was brought in from the New York Rangers by general manager Peter Chiarelli to be the team's supposed stabilizing force in net.

The 25-year-old Nilsson has been spectacular in backstopping the Oilers to three straight wins on home ice, one of which they really had no business coming out of with a victory.

Opponent Result Saves
Boston W 3-2 (SO) 38
Dallas W 2-1 (OT) 42
Buffalo W 4-2 32

With the win Sunday over Buffalo, Nilsson improved his record to 8-7-1, with a save percentage of .922. As head coach Todd McLellan pointed out after the win, solid goaltending makes a world of difference:

The three-game streak has propelled the Oilers to within three points of Arizona for third place in the Pacific Division, which is also a playoff spot. At 11-15-1, however, they're also only two points up on last-place Calgary, meaning the Oilers' season really could go anywhere from here.

With Nilsson playing at a high level, and with a a certain rookie phenom set to come back sometime in the new year, tales of the 2015-16 Oilers' demise may be premature.

Emphasis on maybe.

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