Postgame: Oilers @ Red Wings – 3/14

The important take-away from the Red Wings’ 2-1 shootout win over the Edmonton Oilers is two much-needed points. With the Wings in the East and the Oilers in the West, that Edmonton walked away with a loser point doesn’t matter for Detroit’s playoff chances.

That said, Edmonton is the worst team in the Western Conference. Second-worst team overall. There is no way the Red Wings should have required a shootout to get the win. Second-worst defense in the league and Detroit only managed a single goal. I get that the Wings have injuries but they’re not trying to make the playoffs with the team they could have, they’re going to have to do it with the team they’ve got. What they’ve got didn’t look all that good tonight.

On the positive side, Teemu Pulkkinen looked okay in his debut. Not afraid to shoot the puck, that’s for sure. And that second period hip check was awesome.

Unfortunately, the player that really stuck out was Brendan Smith for his awful giveaway leading to Edmonton’s goal. Absolutely inexcusable.

As I said off the top, though… Two points.