Edmonton Oilers’ Key Moments From 2019-20

Out of all seasons to announce a pause, it had to be this one, didn’t it? It couldn’t have been during one of the three seasons that the Edmonton Oilers accumulated 62 points in the last decade? As frustrating and heartbreaking as this situation is (overall), it doesn’t change the fact that the playoff-hungry team produced a collection of crazy, exciting, memorable moments over the last 71 games. 

So let’s hand out some awards for the most notable moments from the 2019-20 season while we await the fate of hockey!

And the award for the most memorable game, the most surprising, pivotal, annoying (and the list goes on) moment goes to…

Most Sigh-Of-Relief Moment

When Connor McDavid smashed into the net after Mark Giordano dropped to the ice and stuck out his stick as an attempt to stop the speedy forward from scoring during the second period of the last game of the 2018-19 season, Edmonton fell into a whirlpool of worry. It also didn’t help that throughout the summer, management kept mum about No. 97’s recovery. 

Even when the captain showed up for the Oilers’ first game of the season against the Vancouver Canucks, fans held their breath. Many wondered if he would still drive to the net with the same speed and ferocity. Would he still be the same McDavid? But fans’ worries vanished when No. 97 showed a familiar flash of brilliance during their season opener. 

The award for the Most Sigh-Of-Relief Moment goes to… No. 97’s highlight-reel, game-winning goal against the Canucks. It proved that his knee injury was behind him. It was such a relief!

Most Annoying Moment

Is it worth even bringing this one up?

The 2019-20 Battle of Alberta encompassed several award-winning moments, including the most annoying moment. It all started when Matthew Tkachuk pummeled Zack Kassian with questionable hits. 

At one point, the annoying Calgary Flames’ winger obviously saw that Kassian was in a vulnerable position behind the net, skated from above the goal line, and hit him. The “code” usually asks for people to fight back when they execute a potentially dangerous hit, but nope, this doesn’t apply to Mr. Turtle!

Which leads us to the award for the Most Annoying Moment:

When Tkachuk turtled while Kassian threw the pest around. The incident resulted in the Flames converting on the power play and taking a 4-3 lead, while Kassian sat in the penalty box. Oh, and No. 44 got a two-game suspension, too. 

When Draisaitl generated Hart Trophy talk during McDavid’s injury. While he recovered, Draisaitl was busy getting 12 points in 6 games. Numerous moments proved that he can play without McDavid, but this helped to cement the fact that he’s a force to be reckoned with. 

Most Memorable Game

Let’s just get right to it. 

The award for the Most Memorable Game goes to… when the Oilers beat the Flames 8-3 in a very spirited Battle of Alberta. This old-school, feisty, high-scoring game provided entertainment from all angles. After 102 penalty minutes, a line brawl, a goalie fight, and 11 goals, the Oilers came out triumphant. If you plan on re-watching any game during the pause, this one needs to be it.

The Oilers have had a tremendous season so far. Hopefully, we will get to witness more memorable hockey moments sooner than later.