Published Jan 16, 2024<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 5\u00a0hours ago<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/span><\/p>\n In the coolest thing to go all the way to 11 since Spinal Tap\u2019s amplifier, the Edmonton Oilers brought their winning streak to a deafening crescendo Tuesday by storming back to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs like they were John Bonham\u2019s drum kit.<\/p>\n If it gets any better than extending a franchise-record victory march at the expense of the national media\u2019s favourite cuddle toy, you\u2019d have had a hard time convincing the raucous fans at Rogers Place of it.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n REGISTER TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n They took as much joy in laughing last at all the transplanted invaders from Toronto \u2014 jacked up on hubris and $13 beer and looking to ruin the party \u2014 as they did in seeing their team win its 11-straight game.<\/p>\n In a playoff-feel thriller that lived up to the billing, the Oilers came back from 2-0 down in the final 25 minutes on goals from Leon Draisaitl, Derek Ryan, Ryan McLeod and an empty-netter from Evan Bouchard to win for the 19th time in the last 22 games.<\/p>\n \u201cIt did feel like a playoff game,\u201d said Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner, the backbone of Edmonton\u2019s victory. \u201cIt was so loud in there. It was a little bit of a reminder of how the playoffs were last year. It makes it a lot of fun. I\u2019m glad we were able to beat Toronto and beat the Toronto fans out there.\u201d<\/p>\n It is the latest show of strength from a team that hasn\u2019t lost since Dec. 19 against the New York Islanders. They\u2019ve outscored their opposition 44-19 in that time and held the other team to two or fewer goals nine times.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought it was a good, competitive hockey game,\u201d said Draisaitl. \u201cIt\u2019s a good team over there, lots of skill and they defend really well for how much skill they have. We showed some composure again and stuck with it, so it\u2019s another huge win for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Headline News<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n From being tied for last place in the NHL in mid November to winning 11 straight and 19 out of 22 continues to be the story of the NHL\u2019s first half. It\u2019s something Skinner says can be traced back to those soul-searching moments when their season seemed like it was slipping through their fingers.<\/p>\n \u201cA big reason for it is how we started, being able to come together as a team, leaving no man behind,\u201d he said, adding this group reminds him of the one that fired it up down the stretch last year.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember when Mattias Ekholm got traded here last year we were on a heck of a heater as well (18-2-1 to finish the season). We\u2019re just feeling really good. It\u2019s been fun being able to play like this together.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Getting the tying and winning goals from a couple of role players isn\u2019t lost on an Oilers team that is rounding itself into a very complete package.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s our team right now,\u201d said Draisaitl. \u201cYou can send out any line against any match up and be OK with it. A couple of really big goals by Clouder and Rhyno.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s the seventh time in this 11-game run that the Oilers had to come from behind to win. This time they were down 1-0 on an Auston Matthews goal just 27 seconds after the opening face off.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n On a night that was supposed to belong to the shooters, the goaltenders had the upper hand for most of the game. Martin Jones kept the Oilers from catching up and Skinner, who faced two breakaways in the second period, kept the Leafs from pulling away.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was amazing, especially early on,\u201d said Draisaitl.\u00a0 <\/span>Throughout the entire game he made some big stops at the right time. He\u2019s been great for a long time now and so it was a really good game by him.\u00a0\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n He didn\u2019t have much chance on the Morgan Rielly goal that put made it 2-0 at 10:52 of the second period, and that\u2019s when it looked like the Oilers streak was in trouble.<\/p>\n It was the third-straight game in which the Oilers didn\u2019t have a goal in the first 30 minutes, but it was also the kind of game they just won four of during their streak \u2014 hanging around, hanging around, keeping things close and low-scoring until it was time to snap a couple of goals and come way with the points.<\/p>\n They used the formula to beat Ottawa 3-1, Chicago 2-1, Detroit 3-2 and Montreal 2-1.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you do it a couple of times and you win a couple of games late you build trust in that and you build that level of comfort in knowing there\u2019s no rush to open it up,\u201d said Draisaitl. \u201cI think it\u2019s just a maturity level that we\u2019re reaching that obviously needs to continue to develop and get better.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Sure enough, when Edmonton cut it to 2-1 on a seeing-eye backhand from Draisaitl late in the second period and tied it on a goal from Ryan early in the third, it looked like deja vu all over again.<\/p>\n It was. McLeod\u2019s goal with 3:05 left in regulation capped the comeback.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you win 10 in a row, you have a pretty confident group heading into the third period,\u201d said McLeod. \u201cYou think you are going to win, so we went in with that confidence and came out on top.\u201d<\/p>\n Life is good right now for the hottest team in hockey.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels great, winning always feels great,\u201d said Draisaitl. \u201cBut we worked extremely hard to put ourselves back into it and by no means can we let off the gas. It\u2019s something we need to be aware of. I thought we did a great job of that tonight again. We\u2019re not even halfway through the season yet. There\u2019s lots of hockey left.\u201d<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Share this article in your social network<\/p>\n![\"Ryan](\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/dsc_6930.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&h=216&sig=4tLt88uRQZB6Uer2kGhPVA\" "\\"\\"")
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) of the Edmonton Oilersrounds the net and is faced with Noah Gregor(18) of the Toronto Maple Leafs at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Jan.16 2024. Photo by Shaughn Butts-Postmedia<\/span> Photo by Shaughn Butts<\/span> \/Postmedia<\/span><\/p>\nArticle content<\/h2>\n
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