The Edmonton Oilers may have conceded nine goals to the Calgary Flames in Game 1 of the second-round series on Wednesday, but goalies Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen aren’t the only culprits.
• Also read: Jack-Adams: The three candidates are known
• Also read: “A great loss” – Gerard Gallant
“Nobody was where we needed them to start the game,” Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft said on the National Hockey League’s website. You never want to give two goals on failed tasks in the first two sequences.
Admittedly, veteran Mike Smith looked awful giving up on the first two pitches only to be thwarted again in the sixth minute. The goalkeeper gave in three times in 10 shots. However, the fact that the team allowed ten shots in six minutes remains inexcusable.
“If you lose 2-0 before the scale shows 19 minutes, that’s obviously not a good start,” commented striker Leon Draisaitl, not without bitterness. We weren’t ready together and it’s difficult to catch up with opponents throughout the evening.
Find a way to lose
The Oilers, who lost 9-6, didn’t provide much better support for backup goaltender Koskinen, who conceded five goals on 37 shots in his 53 minutes on the ice.
“We also gave up a goal early in the second period,” said Woodcroft. We fought to get a game but we can’t feel good about scoring six goals and finding a way not to win.”
The Oilers drew 6-6 early in the third period. Vain,
“It was a terrible start, we need to start better in Game 2,” said Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse. We are able to do this. I don’t think we’re frustrated. It was the first game in a 4/7 series. We know we need to get better in the second game and we will.
Whether Smith or Koskinen will be in goal for the Oilers on Friday night in Calgary remains a mystery. The aim is at least not to see the two in action again in the same game.