Blackhawks explode in third period to rout Edmonton Oilers

The Chicago Blackhawks scored four goals in a span of 2:48 to dump the Edmonton Oilers 6-2 Tuesday night at Rogers Place.

For the third straight game, the Oilers allowed a power play goal early.

The Blackhawks’ Erik Gustafsson beat Oilers goaltender Cam Talbot with a point shot 1:55 into the game.

The Oilers had multiple power play opportunities late in the first. Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl buried his 30th goal to tie it, then rifled home a one-timer on a two-man advantage with 1:15 left in the first.

“Our power play was good. That’s about it,” Draisaitl said.

The goalies were the stars of the second period. Talbot denied Chicago forward Artem Anisimov from in tight.

“They were building their game and we started strong and went the other way.”

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LISTEN BELOW: Oilers head coach Ken Hitchcock speaks after a 6-2 loss to Chicago.

The Oilers’ Ty Rattie looked to have a sure goal late in the period, but Blackhawks netminder Cam Ward came up with a pad save.

The Chicago onslaught started 3:50 into the third on a goal by John Hayden. Blackhawks forward Dylan Strome put them ahead with a wrist shot over Talbot’s left shoulder 1:33 later. Chicago’s Patrick Kane slid home his 32nd of the season to make it 4-2. The Oilers challenged for goalie interference on the play but were unsuccessful, and Talbot was replaced by Mikko Koskinen.

“I was trying to get a timeout without a timeout. Just trying to do something,” Hitchcock said.

Former Oiler Drake Caggiula then stung to make it 5-2.

“Anytime a team trades you away you want to make sure when you come back you make a statement and make them miss you a bit,” Caggiula said. “I wanted to come in here and play a strong game and I thought I did, and I was rewarded with a goal.​

“Of course you try to stay positive, but then they get the third one and then they get the fourth one,” Draisaitl said. “We’re still trying to stay positive at that point, but we’ve got to figure it out.”

LISTEN BELOW: Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl reflects on the team’s 6-2 loss to the Blackhawks.

The four goals against in 2:48 was a new team record for the Oilers. Los Angeles scored four in 3:19 on Jan. 25, 1990. The Oilers wound up winning that game 7-6.

Dominik Kahun added one more for the Hawks.

“Even if it’s really tough right now, there’s still many games to play,” Oilers defenceman Oscar Klefbom said. “We’ve got to come together once again and play a solid game, because these games are so important right now.”

The Oilers (23-25-5) are winless in their last six games. They’ve gone 0-1-2 in their last three despite taking a lead into the third period in all three games.

They’ll visit Minnesota on Thursday.

–With files from 630 CHED’s Brenden Escott and Kyle Morris

Watch below: Some videos from Global News’ coverage of the Edmonton Oilers’ 2018-19 season.

1:20 Klefbom returns to Oilers lineup after injury

• Klefbom returns to Oilers lineup after injury
• Oilers’ Ken Hitchcock explains connection with legendary hockey coach Clare Drake
• Twitter reacts to Nicholson’s ‘something in water’ comment
• Shaye Ganam and Bryan Hall debate how to fix the Edmonton Oilers
• Edmonton Oilers fans wonder what’s next for the team after Chiarelli fired
• Timeline: Peter Chiarelli’s time with the Edmonton Oilers
• Edmonton Oilers fans on GM Peter Chiarelli being fired: ‘It was about time’
• Edmonton Oilers part ways with general manager Peter Chiarelli
• Ken Hitchcock will be Edmonton Oilers head coach until end of season
• ‘Our best fans in the league are frustrated right now,’ Nicholson says
• Nicholson says ‘something in water’ in Edmonton
• Edmonton Oilers looking for GM who can assess talent
• ‘He was disappointed,’ Nicholson says of Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli being let go
• How will management fix the Edmonton Oilers?
• Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli was fired after 2nd period against Red Wings Tuesday night
• Peter Chiarelli did not make Mikko Koskinen deal on his own, Nicholson says
• ‘We had to make this change’: OEG CEO Bob Nicholson on firing Peter Chiarelli
• Edmonton Oilers have fired Peter Chiarelli
• Online reaction to Edmonton Oilers firing general manager Peter Chiarelli
• Loyal to Oil event sees hundreds of industry workers attend Edmonton Oilers game

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