Philadelphia Flyers vs. Edmonton Oilers Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 15th 2024
Preview and Prediction
The Edmonton Oilers have experienced this situation before, struggling to gain momentum at the beginning of the season as they search for a way to turn things around.
Just a short while after making it to the Stanley Cup Final, the Oilers have lost their first three games of the current season.
They will attempt to break this losing streak when they face off against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday evening in the final game of their four-game homestand.
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"From top to bottom, including myself, everyone needs to step up and improve," stated Edmonton's captain Connor McDavid. "We are not a team that gives up easily, and we never have been. It is not ideal to start the season with three consecutive losses, but it is not an insurmountable challenge for us to overcome."
In their three defeats, the Oilers have been outscored by a total of 15-3. Their most recent losses came at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks and the Calgary Flames, two teams that did not qualify for the playoffs last season.
"We have been showing up and playing, but that is not enough in this game. It requires desperation, and right now, we are lacking that," commented Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch.
On a positive note, the Oilers started the previous season with a record of 2-9-1 before making it to the Stanley Cup Final. However, this poor start ultimately led to the firing of their head coach, Jay Woodcroft, and his replacement with Knoblauch.
"It is clear that we are not off to a good start," admitted McDavid. "Some of the goals we have conceded have been due to bad luck, but ultimately, our performance has not been good enough. There are many ways to explain it, but the bottom line is that we need to improve."
The Flyers began their season with a four-game road trip, and they have split their first two games so far. They won their season opener against the Vancouver Canucks in a shootout, but then lost 6-3 to the Calgary Flames the following night.
"It is impossible to win every game in this league," stated Philadelphia forward Joel Farabee. "We just need to focus on ourselves and keep improving every day during this trip."
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Travis Konecny is currently the top scorer for the Flyers, with two goals, including his first short-handed goal of the season. Last season, Konecny led the NHL with six short-handed goals. Philadelphia has also scored two power-play goals in eight opportunities so far.
"There are some positive aspects, but also some areas that need improvement," said Farabee.
In their game against the Flames, the Flyers fell behind by two goals in the first period, but managed to narrow the deficit to 3-2 by the end of the second period. However, they ultimately lost the game after giving up two more goals in the final minutes.
"There were many good moments in the game, but there are also many things we need to work on," commented Flyers coach John Tortorella. "There were some mistakes. We will continue to work on our game and strive for improvement."
The Flyers demonstrated their willingness to stand up for each other during their game against the Flames.
In the second period, Tyson Foerster received an instigator penalty and a 10-minute misconduct after defending his teammate Jamie Drysdale, who had been hit hard by Martin Pospisil.
"We will not allow ourselves to be pushed around," declared Farabee. "That is what being a Flyer is all about."
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Edmonton Oilers Recap OCT 15TH 2024
Leon Draisaitl scored 56 seconds into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers won their first game of the season on their fourth try with a 4-3 come-from-behind victory against the visiting Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.
Connor McDavid hit the post on a breakaway but got the puck back and fed Draisaitl, who was trailing on the play, for the game-winner.
Adam Henrique, Connor Brown and Evan Bouchard also scored and Stuart Skinner made 27 saves for the Oilers, who trailed 2-0 after the first period.
Matvei Michkov scored his first two NHL goals, Morgan Frost assisted on both of those markers, Bobby Brink also scored and Samuel Ersson made 29 saves for the Flyers, who went 2-for-7 on the power play.
Bouchard scored on a one-timer off a feed from McDavid to tie the game at 3-3 at 16:18 of the third period. Draisaitl, who played on the top line with McDavid, also assisted on the goal.
Michkov scored on two power plays in the first period.
Michkov, the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, scored the first goal after Owen Tippett's shot went wide of the net and off the end boards. Michkov, 19, was positioned near the right post, and he stuffed the puck across the goal line for a 1-0 lead at 4:46, his first NHL marker in his third game.
Edmonton unsuccessfully challenged the play for goaltender interference, putting Philadelphia back on the power play.
The Oilers killed that penalty, but the Flyers went back on the power play less than a minute later, and Michkov scored on a one-timer from the bottom of the right circle to make it 2-0 at 9:21.
Edmonton briefly celebrated a goal when Bouchard hit the net with a point shot, but the goal was immediately waved off because of goalie interference.
Since the Oilers had already lost one challenge, they risked a double-minor penalty if they lost another.
Henrique scored with his backhand off a rebound to cut the Oilers' deficit to 2-1 at 6:26 of the second.
Brown followed with a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle off a feed from Jeff Skinner to tie the contest at 2-2 at 14:01 of the second.
The Flyers couldn't capitalize on a 40-second five-on-three late in the second period, but Brink scored nine seconds after the second penalty expired to make it 3-2 with 23 seconds left until the third.