As the Oilers pay more attention to detail, it paves a better second half for goaltender Mikko Koskinen. The Oilers leave Philadelphia a 3-0 win, but should we be talking about the 39 save shutout from Mikki Koskinen? Or that they scored only five goals on the Oilers in the past five games?
This game was a very low-event hockey game. A kind of game coaches love, but the fans hate. The Oilers have just two shutouts all year, and both have come with Jay Woodcroft as behind the bench. This play change has benefited the fans and the team as they start to rack up points to get back in the playoff race in the West.
They went through one of the most challenging road trips each team faced this season and came out with two points. At the same time, they played an excellent, all-around game in each. Do you say that that is a victory? Edmonton came to Philadelphia, struggling, and played a patient, grinding game. They scored three goals – each coming in the final five of a period. An excellent defensive effort to build off of is what Edmonton needed.
Draisaitl sniped from long-range in the first, and Yammammoto scored off of a rebound in the second – with all his linemates hovering over Carter Hart in the crease. When playing a playoff-type defensive game, you get a playoff-type goal that Edmonton doesn’t score enough.
With about 28 regular-season games remaining, Edmonton needs to play each one as they did in Carolina, Tampa, and Philadelphia. Even though Mcdavid and Draisaitl had a two-point night, this is the beginning of an identity that is beginning to shape here in Oil Country.
Koskinen has quietly put up some elite numbers in the face of criticism.
If his team continues to improve defensively, there’s no reason to think Koskinen’s game will decline markedly. He has a 12-2-2 record on the road, with a .919 save percentage and a 2.59 GAA. He has settled his game down remarkably, as his saves percentage climbed to .905 with the shutout.
Even Mikko Koskinen will admit that his game is growing more and more from near the beginning of the season.
