The best thing about the Edmonton Oilers pre-season turned out to be a goal against.
It meant that it was over.
Eight long games after it started, the Oilers marathon exhibition schedule ground to a merciful conclusion Friday night in a 3-2 overtime (of course) loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
Conor Garland scored 90 seconds into the extra period to close the book on Edmonton’s training camp. The Oilers, for what it’s worth, finished 4-2-2 after playing maximum allowable games.
And it wasn’t especially pretty. Icing a lineup that will be very close to their opening night roster, the Oilers were just OK in a contest their coach considered rather messy considering how deep they are into the process.
That’s not a great sign for a team in transition, with a lot of new and young faces, that is eager to get off to a quick start this season.
“The first period we were a little sleepy, the second period was our best period and the third period we were back to being sloppy,” said Kris Knoblauch.
Two out of three ain’t good, but the first rule of training camp is never read much into training camp, so the Oilers will quickly turn the page on this one and get ready for Wednesday night against the Calgary Flames.
And they will forget that these were veteran players late in camp guilty of some pretty bad puck management.
“We were giving up the puck too much, especially in the offensive zone, just inside the blue line,” said Knoblauch. “It really fed their transition. Then you have to defend.
“But it’s exhibition, the last one, fortunately. Now we get to the regular season and the intensity should ramp up.”
The new Zach Hyman
Edmonton’s first unit power play had David Tomasek taking injured winger Zach Hyman’s spot as the net front presence. He didn’t look too out of place there, logging 1:53 of ice time on Edmonton’s two power plays and almost scoring on a close-range deflection that Hyman would have been proud of.
“I’m just trying to ask what the guys need and work with the coaches,” said Tomasek. “I just got a little unlucky in the first period, that tip went right into his glove. Hopefully (a goal) comes when it’s a little more important.
“But it’s good we got some reps there and, especially for me in that position. I’m happy that (the power play) were able to score one in the second. It looked pretty good.”
Tomasek also set up a nice even-strength pass to Kasperi Kapanen who scored his third of the preseason. It’s been a big jump, coming over from Sweden to try and make a stake for himself on an NHL contender, but he’s feeling better by the day.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said the 29-year-old centre. “It was a long pre-season but I’m happy that I got those (five) games, I needed that. Today was another decent performance by me. I’m trying to get better every game, improve and get used to everything.”
Skinner stays home
Stuart Skinner was supposed to start the game in goal but came down with the illness that’s been circulating in the Oilers dressing room. He played in just two pre-season games (3.05 GAA, .870 save percentage), but that will have to be enough to get him ready for opening night.
Calvin Pickard stepped in to play his fourth game and finishes the pre-season with a .904 save percentage.
“Fortunately for us, Picks had an outstanding third period,” said Knoblauch. “Made some really nice saves to get it to overtime.”
The Edmonton Oilers’ goalie Calvin Pickard (30) makes a pad save against the Winnipeg Jets during second period preseason NHL action at Rogers Place, in Edmonton Friday Sept. 26, 2025. Photo by David Bloom
Heavy hearts
Vasily Podkolzin, a former Canuck, returned to action after his trip home to Russia following the sudden passing of his father. Several Canucks players came up during the game to offer their condolences.
Late in the second period Podkolzin sent Canucks superstar defenceman Quinn Hughes to the bench and then to the dressing room after a hard hit. Hughes returned to the game in the third period.
Vasily Podkolzin #92 of the Edmonton Oilers high fives teammates after scoring a goal against the Chicago Blackhawksduring the second period at the United Center on January 11, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
This and that
Jake Walman played one pre-season game and that was it. He missed the rest of camp with an injury, but Knoblauch expects him back for the season opener.
Kapanen played six games and picked up 20 penalty minutes (a 10-minute misconduct and five minors). He also had three goals.
This was Edmonton’s first game against Evander Kane since he joined the Canucks. There was no drama.
Newly acquired Vancouver Canucks forward Evander Kane talks to media at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C., June 26, 2025.
E-mail: rtychkowski@postmedia.com
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