Oilers Beat Wild 4-3 in OT: What Did We Learn?

Sometimes, a win tells you more than the final score suggests. The Edmonton Oilers beat the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in overtime Tuesday night, but the way they got there offered a little more to think about than another two points in the standings.

Edmonton built a 3-1 lead, watched it disappear in the third period, and needed overtime to finish the job. There were some impressive performances, a reminder of the danger Connor McDavid creates, and a few reasons to wonder whether the Oilers are quite as comfortable protecting a lead as they would like to be.

McDavid and Draisaitl Remain a Problem for Everyone.

Let's start with the obvious. Connor McDavid had three assists, while Leon Draisaitl scored twice, including a power-play goal with three seconds remaining in the first period. Draisaitl added another early in the second, and Edmonton appeared to have established control.

McDavid's opening-night production has been remarkable. His three assists extended his season-opening point streak to nine games, giving him 26 points, including six goals and 20 assists. Those numbers are difficult to comprehend, even for someone who has watched him dominate NHL defences for years.

But the interesting part isn't simply that McDavid and Draisaitl are producing. It's how quickly they can change a game. Their ability to find one another under pressure makes every power play dangerous, and it was fitting that Evan Bouchard eventually ended this one with a power-play goal in overtime.

The Oilers have plenty of offensive firepower. The question is how consistently they can make that advantage count over a full game.

A Three-Goal Night Still Needed Some Help.

Edmonton looked comfortable after Mathieu Joseph made it 3-1 early in the second period. Minnesota, however, didn't go away. Kirill Kaprizov cut the deficit to one in the third, and Ryan Hartman tied the game a little more than two minutes later. Suddenly, a game the Oilers appeared to have under control was headed to overtime.

That's worth noticing. Good teams don't have to dominate every shift, but they do need to find ways to close out games. The Wild deserve credit for pushing back, yet Edmonton will want to examine how quickly its two-goal cushion disappeared.

There is another encouraging side to this. The Oilers didn't fold when Minnesota came back. They regrouped, earned a four-on-three power play in overtime after a too-many-men penalty, and Bouchard finished the job with a blistering wrist shot past Jesper Wallstedt.

What Did Oilers Fans Learn?

Edmonton improved to 7-1-1, winning seven of its first nine games. That's an excellent start, and there's no need to apologize for winning a game that becomes uncomfortable. Still, Tuesday offered a useful reminder: offensive talent can rescue a team, but it shouldn't have to do all the rescuing. If the Oilers can pair their extraordinary scoring ability with more reliable third-period hockey, they’ll give opponents even fewer ways back into games.

For now, they'll take the two points. Sometimes, learning how to win a messy game is part of becoming a better team.