Chicago Blackhawks vs Edmonton Oilers Game 12 NHL 26 (SIM)
Hey, it’s James Solowski from EA Sports and we are in Edmonton where we got a party on White AB after this one tonight. But first, the Oilers are ready to roll. And we are about set to drop the puck tonight. The Blackhawks take possession here on the opening drive. We are underway. Edmonton’s got possession of the puck and now they look to make something happen from the neutral zone. Quick pass to Heyman. Good stop by Knight. The key to being a great goalender is not giving up second shot opportunities and it’s playing the rebounds to the corner. He does an excellent job here. He says, “Let’s get physical on that play.” And that shot gets a lot of traffic. The Oilers get a hold of the puck. Man James, does he ever look shaken enough after that huge hit. I mean, I’m not sure if he got winded or if he’s injured, but he’s trying to make his way back to the bench. The Blackhawks will play it from the defensive zone. Puck moved over to McDavid. Moves around along the half wall. Tries to make a move and can’t hang on to the puck. Sometimes when you lose a puck, it’s a product of trying to do too much. Sometimes keeping it simple is more effective. Takes the shot. Oh, he stops. Rocket. Here’s a front. Great defensive play to pick off the pass. The Oilers carried along the wall. along the board by Nurse. Tries to get it over to Nazar. Here’s a pass. He scores. What a goal. Sometimes I think that the game is real slow for some athletes and in this case he is showing just that. I mean he is finding the open player. It’s like everyone else is standing still while he threads the needle. Chicago’s got to be feeling good about their game tonight here. They already lead in this one and they’ve been dictating the pace of play also. Well, they get the game’s first goal midway through the period, James, but I liked their game right from puck drop. I mean, the way that they’ve started, the urgency around the puck, they’ve hounded it. They’ve had a heavy forch check and now they get rewarded for their efforts. moves it to Wald. Chicago’s got possession at center. Sends it in on the attack. Ederson’s gained possession along the boards. Oh, nice use of the boards for the pink packs. Slagert’s got the puck along the ring and they cough it up in the neutral zone. Stopped by the goender getting a piece of that one. gets the puck over to Roman. Reaches out and uses the stick. Feeds the cross ice pass to Slagger. Moved up ahead here in the neutral zone. Works it across to Henrique. Ducks it in. Chicago’s got a hold of the puck now. Here’s a sprint for the loose puck. And there’s the whistle. Icing the call. [Music] More than half the period left to play. We’ve got a one- nothing hockey game thus far. Thear has won the draw deep in the defensive zone. Off the post. The Oilers are working hard to get back in this game. They weren’t off the post, but they’re generating offense. The coach, the staff, the entire team needs to stay confident here. They’re generating the looks. They just have to find a way to execute. And now it’s grabbed by Henrik. slides a diagonally tagle. They’ve got the defense outnumbered. Slides it across. Takes the feed. Nice save off the tender pad. Gets the full use of his stick on the pipe. Quick feed from Bard. Gain momentum up along the side. Dumps the puck in. The Oilers scoop it up along the boards. through the open ice. They’re picking up steam. Tries to dangle and the puck skips away. McDavid close to finding a hole there and does an extra move. Thought he had a little more time and space than he actually had and the play dies. Oh, excellent use of the stick as he knocks that one away. Blocked. Although that might be a save. Well, that is a save, James. I I don’t think the goalender would have gotten to position in time. He’s able to take it away. And for the off side will get a face off. Let’s have another look at that monster of a hit there, James. You got to love it. You have to have great timing and you got to know when your opponent’s vulnerable. [Applause] Past the halfway mark of this period, the Blackhawks have taken a one- nothing lead. Pakistan play resumes. Taken by Kulak. Puck scooped up by Heyman. Edmonton’s playing it from the side and it’s kicked away. Here’s a short pass to Dickinson. Here we go. Puck’s in deep. The Oilers have it against the wall and he takes the pass. Edmonton’s caught the puck against the boards. The Blackhawks have it from their own end. Oh, he hammered it. He knew exactly what he was doing going into this along the boards. James, I love that it was a clean hit. He finishes it off perfectly. Chicago’s going to play it from the corner. Both sides digging in for that puck on the wall. Chicago’s got the puck on the wall. Big time stop there. I love this save, James. I mean, the goalender is so aggressive on this play. Doesn’t give the shooter any time to get rid of it. from his own end. He picks up the puck, receives the pass, slides it across. Quick shot, makes the save. We got a whistle as the puck’s frozen here in the later stages of this period. Chicago’s ahead one- nothing. They win the draw and go attack deflected and a great cut save and both centers glide into the dunk as a face off set to resume. The orers take possession off the face. Puts it off the postington’s trying to claw their way back into this one. A huge opportunity right there. They’re attacking teams and they find a way to get the punch to the net at the right time, but the food off the pipe and out. First period is in the books. The next 20 minutes is on deck next here on EA Sports. Programs for tonight’s game are available on the doors featuring listings. Second frame is underway as the puck is dropped. We’ve played a period here, Cheryl, and we’ve had an intermission to collect our thoughts. What do you make of what you see? The Orioles are fortunate that they’re only down by one goal heading into the second here, James. I mean, it’s been a brutal first period of turnovers. Just seems like there’s a lack of communication out there. Let’s move to the middle and that’s stopped. Knight’s got the puck and we’ll hang on for the whistle. Well, he hasn’t been busy, James, but he makes a key save right there. Really important that he keeps his head in focus in the game. Lots of hockey left to be played in this period. One- nothing is where we sit at this point. Knight’s got the puck and he’s going to hang on. And we’re moments away from getting back underway here with the puck drop. [Applause] Edmonton’s won the draw. Now, let’s see what they can do with it. And he makes the save. I’d say he has some fast twist muscle fiber in there because I’m telling you, he makes that save. I thought that was going in, but he just reacts and keeps it out of the net. Edmonton’s got a hold of it along the wall. Looking for space inside the B zone into the offensive end right up the middle. Passes it over. Blocked. You may have just stopped the goal. I think he did, James. I mean, you got to protect the house, especially when it’s a great threat shot like that. And he finds a way to get in front of that and play. into the bar. He goes, turns to the lane, passes home, and he shuts down. A great scoring chance there. Chicago’s going to play the puck from behind the cage. Tries to feed it over to Frederick, handles the pass, handles that one. We’ll get a face off after the puck stays covered up. inching closer to the midway mark of this period. Chicago’s up one zip. The Blackhawks win it in the defensive zone. We got it. Here we go. We knew that they were going to respond after he got clipped. They have to respond, James. It’s the right thing to do. If your star player gets bone crushed or clipped, you have to find a way to answer and respond for him. [Applause] And this one’s over. Well, he’s been sent to the ice. Didn’t keep his hands up and he took one hard. Well, bye-bye to both these guys here after that. You can certainly feel the energy in the building and the officials will feel it as well. And they’ve got to maintain control here and it’s the reason these guys just got ejected. Drop wins the draw here in the defensive zone. Moa quickly over to Kan carries it in shot and just on top. Well, great defense leads to offense and that’s what I’m going to say. As a former defender, James, who’s early on the PK, they attack the puck and they get an opportunity and they get the shorty. Well, everyone plays a role on a team and this PK unit, their role was not to get scored against. Listen, you’re trailing in the game. All you want to do is kill the penalty off. Instead, you wind up getting the equalizer. Huge momentum boost. And you can see the bench just explode when they score the goal. more ready for the draw. This man advantage. [Applause] Nan Hopkins takes possession after that center ice face off. [Applause] Official blows the play dead as the puck goes out of bounds. Nan Hopkins gets set for the face off here as they will continue to play short-handed. Edmonton’s won it now. They’ll go under attack and that goes off somewhere in front and doesn’t reach the net. Looking to break out here on the power play. Donado’s got it against the boards. Oh, love the defensive stick work there to poke that one away. North at the faceoff dot ready to win this draw on the man advantage. [Applause] Chicago’s done it in the offensive zone. Oh, how about that? Step it up. Get out the ice packs. A James, that’s what you got to do if you want to compete for a PK spot. He does exactly that. And he takes away the shot threat and he throws it across to Bard. The Blackhawks gain possession with the puck here on the offensive end. Let it go and the goal comes up with a piece of it to keep it out of the net. A little crashing and banging. Forces the turnover. Puck move back to center forcing them to regroup. Moves it over to Terrain through center along the wing. Avoids the poke check and maintains possession. Oh, look at the stretch with a kick save. And now he tries to get it across to Kaan. Feeds it over on the run. Swans at it with the glove and got just enough of it. Puck is frozen and we get a stoppage in play. [Music] Henrik’s ready for the draw as they continue to be short-handed here. Good job tangling up his opponent here. Chicago’s ready to go on the attack. And he loses possession of the puck after trying to make one too many moves. And a successful clearing attempt. The Blackhawks will play it in their own end. Coming down the left wing and into the zone. Oh, had a chance to make a nice move and the puck disagreed with him and they send it down the ice. Trying to get something going here with this man advantage as they start from their own end. Oh, and some smooth skating to lose the defender there. Oh, just a great heads up play by Jones. Stoppage in play. Offside the call. Morris ready to take the draw here on this power play. The Blackhawks get a hold of the puck off the draw aside by Skinner. Puck moved back to the neutral zone. Chicago’s looking to break out. Time to taken away here on this man advantage. Keeping it simple and creating some speed, but they have to gain entry fast. And he gives it over to Moore. The Blackhawks main advantage comes to an end and not the result they were looking for. Giving up a shorty. The expectation when you’re on a power play is to score a goal, not give up one, James. This is a tough one to take for this group. Well, past the midway mark of this period, we got a tie game. They win the faceoff here in the road end and take possession. Ed’s got the puck at the defensive end. Here’s a pass to the middle. Comes up with a stop. There’s the whistle as the goalie hangs on. [Applause] Officials have got both teams ready and it looks like play is set to resume here. Dickson’s won the draw and they’re on the attack. He got out of it. Goender hangs on for the whistle. offenses on face off and he wins the draw. Sends a pass over. Great use of the twig as he puts that one away and that shot goes nowhere as the lane was filled and some good footwork to kick it away. Rani’s made an incredible play right there. I mean, he’s stumbling. He looks like he’s going to fall almost, but he’s off balance. And that’s the key. The puck isn’t exactly where he wants it, but he still manages to find a way to get a shot off. He grabs the puck here at the point, moves it to the middle, and that’s deflected off someone in front. Good heads up defensive play as he extends the stick. The Oilers gain possession in their own end. Scooped up along the wall by Felino. Straight pass in the left wing up the middle. Now Chicago’s on the attack. Picked up along the wall by Matt and we got a whistle as the goalender decides to hang on to this one. Just here in the late stages of this frame, we are all tied up in this one. The Blackhawks will go to work here in the offensive zone. Oh, that has some heat on it. He makes the save. [Applause] The Oilers win the draw and that pass is intercepted. Good hand to bat it down. Quick pass across to dry cidle and that one’s picked off. Puck hops onto the bench and we got a stoppage in play. Some last second communication before both teams get ready to drop the puck here. Over here. The Oilers win it and he takes the feed, fires it on net and makes the save. Knight’s been dominant in the crease tonight. He’s turned away a lot of high danger shots and he’s really found a way to build some momentum for his team. Give him a real opportunity to win. [Music] The Oilers win the face off there. The Oilers gain control of the puck against the wall. Oh, he had that corner, but he puts it off the outside of the post. The Oilers looking to break the tie here and they ring another one off the post. So frustrating, James. takes the feed at center and moves forward. And he takes the feed. Chicago’s got the puck against the half wall. He almost gained control of the puck. Oh, and he tracks it perfectly in the offensive end. Edmonton’s got the puck inside the defensive zone. [Applause] [Music] There’s the horn bringing period number two to an end. 40 minutes down, 20 to go. Third period action is coming up. [Applause] Officials are set. Third period action is coming up. It has been a fantastic match up here. Back and forth at both ends of the ice. Let’s see what happens in the third. Ches around the courtship. Here’s a shot and makes the save. Edmonton’s got it in the wrong zone. Reads the pass perfect and picks it off. Looking to make something happen in the offensive zone. And a great save. Skinner has been outstanding tracking pucks and making huge saves like that one right there right from the slot. Redirected off one of his own line there. Here we go. Off here. [Applause] [Music] And now they’re in front. So these next two shots are critical. They want to play with a ton of energy and keep their opponent guessing. We’ve seen this before. The play comes back in your own zone. There’s a scoring chance that they’re unable to convert on and you get going the other way and you’re able to execute. It really is a 200T game. The Oilers now have the lead here in period number three. And it’s crunch time now. It is crunch time. It is crunch time, James. I mean, it’s been back and forth all game. Now you find yourself in the lead. So, you have the momentum. You’ve killed your opponents. So, continue to hold it. Continue to apply the pressure along the half wall with the puck. And there’s the shot on the play. Can swooping in on the attack. Here they come through center and into the offensive end. Here’s a chance in front and there’s the whistle as the puck is covered up for a stoppage. [Applause] [Music] Lots of time left in this period. Edmonton’s got a one-goal lead and they take possession here inside the offensive zone. can’t hang on after that hit. And now he moves it to Bertusi. Big time hit. That had some hot sauce on it. It certainly did, James. I mean, it was thunderous. You can see the whole bench light up with that kid. It’s timely. It also generates a ton of momentum for his team. Quick pass to Nazar. gets it to the middle and he denies that great opportunity there. Let’s have a look at that last hit. I mean, that was absolutely huge, James. You know that this is a momentum changer. You can see the bench erupt with that one. More than half the period left to play. The Oilers are clinging to a 2-1 lead. Dickson’s won the face off, but now let’s see what they can do. Shots him down. What a fantastic save from a high danger scoring area, James. And I mean, he’s bailing his team out. They have to do a better job of protecting the middle of the ice. The Blackhawks moving ahead. They’ve got numbers here. Here’s a chance. Oh, he gets a blocker on it. What a stop by Skinner. This goalie, he deserves a highlight pack. I mean, he’s made many huge saves tonight that has given his team momentum, and it’s about the timeliness of a save to sort of reset the momentum in a game and give your team an opportunity to win. And that’s exactly what he’s done between the pipes tonight, James. [Applause] Chicago’s failed to convert on scoring opportunities and lots of them here in this third period. The Oilers win the defensive zone faceoff and he handles the cross ice pass. Dumps it in. Loose cut battle along the boards. Big play inside the defensive zone. [Applause] See if we can pick up some momentum again here as a faceoff is ready to go. Off the face off they take the puck. Handles the puck. They’ve got numbers shot and he keeps that one out as he gets a piece of possession of the puck. Bushards moving the puck to his Ozone. Slides it to Nan Hopkins. Angles it over to Donado. Chicago’s in transition. The Blackhawks ready to go on the attack. Works it across to McDavid. He’s going to stick. Oh, I think he got confused what he was going to do there. You can see him looking at the goalender whether he’s going to shoot or Well, he’s thinking he’s running out of real estate. Slides it diagonally to Britoski. Cut by Kinski and a strong effort on that play. Great positioning by the goalender to redirect it to the corner getting it out of danger. Quick pass to Dickinson. The Overs get a hold of the puck along the boards. Taken along the wall by Dryidle. tries to feed it over to McDavid, picking up steam in the offensive zone. Oh, to finish him with the paddle save. I would have lost the puck three times by the time that I’d been handled like that by the coverage. I I mean, but he does it. He just knows how to move and maneuver his body around the puck. He can shield it and he maintains possession for a great shot on net. Big fight for it along the boards and a heads up kick pass over to his teammate. sends it in deep, takes the pass, gets it over to Kappan. Oneonone with the goender. Here we go. Oh, stop it. Wow. Well, a critical juncture of the game in the third period. You’re still close. And then you stop and deny a breakaway like that. I mean, ice in the veins right now. James really message sending to his team as well. They got to get going. Well, I like this play, James. When you’re leading late in the game, you make good blue line decisions. That’s what we used to call them anyway. And you put the puck in deep and you just kill some valuable time here in the late goings of the period. It’s 2-1. Nice start winning the draw here inside the offensive zone. Big time stop there. It over on the back hand. Oh, he takes some off. Absolutely love this save, James. I mean, the shooters at point blank range right in that low slot and it just taken away grand lararseny. [Applause] Final minute to go here in the third. What a save. Chicago’s gained possession along the boards. Gets the puck in deep. Edmonton’s got control of it now from their own end. Look at this. They’ve got some bodies here on the attack. Knight’s going to pounce on the punk to get a whistle here. And there’s a strategy to this one. It is. And it’s a good strategy. Listen, they’ve been outplayed and he’s been phenomenal in the net. And every play matters. And the right one right now is to pounce on this cup, get the whistle, and reset the time in one zone. And a great save. slides the puck across to the KF moves it to Dickinson. The Oilers have a hold of it in the defensive zone. In desperate need of a goal here, they’ve got the extra attacker out. The Blackhawks gain possession with some open space at center. We got a whistle as the puck sails into the bench. Official signals for the players to get into position and we’re about ready to drop the puck. [Applause] Chicago’s got a hold of the puck off the drawing up at center. Look at that head. Maybe try to wear down the opponents here. Final four sounds bringing this one to a close. The Oilers got off to a great start. I mean, just really slow down and roll the rest of the way. Yeah, it’s a balancing act really. You want some offense, but then you also have to be able to play on the other side of the puck. It was all one way in the first period. They settled in, were able to protect the middle of the ice, deflect to the perimeter, and they gave him a real opportunity, and they got the W. Well, that puts a bow on the night here this evening. From all of us here at EA Sports, I’m James Silski. See you. [Applause]
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