Oilers complete 5-game homestand sweep with '80s-style win over Rangers
There might be something different about the Edmonton Oilers.
Finally.
Hosting the New York Rangers on Glen Sather night, the perpetually rebuilding club made a big statement by holding on for a 7-5 win, completing a homestand sweep by winning their fifth game in a row.
Taylor Hall (two goals, two assists) and Leon Draisaitl (four assists) led the way offensively - as they've become wont to do - while Lauri Korpikoski sealed the win with an empty-net tally that gave him a hat trick.
The appropriately high-scoring game was an unintentional homage to Sather's teams of the 1980s, and, more importantly, capped the perfect homestand.
| Opponent | Result |
|---|---|
| Boston | W 3-2 (SO) |
| Dallas | W 2-1 (OT) |
| Buffalo | W 4-2 |
| San Jose | W 4-3 OT |
| NY Rangers | W 7-5 |
The streak comes on the heels of a completely uninspiring and potentially backbreaking shutout loss to Garret Sparks and the Toronto Maple Leafs back on Nov. 30, with yet another first overall pick quite possibly on deck.
With the win over the Rangers, however, the Oilers leapfrogged both Anaheim - who lost on home ice to Carolina - and idle Calgary, and now sit a single point out of third place in the Pacific Division and two points out of second, slots which carry entry into the playoffs.
There's still a ways to go this season and the Oilers' defensive deficiencies remain more than apparent, but with a certain Connor McDavid set to return in the new year, anything is possible.
Putting together a nice little winning streak and climbing out of the basement is a good first step for now.