WHAT'S NEXT
The Oilers three-game road trip ends against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. The game can be seen on Sportsnet West and heard on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED. Puck drop is 2:08 p.m. MT.
POST-GAME UPDATES
Inside The Oilers Blog
"We played pretty hard and pretty sound positionally," Oilers Head Coach Dave Tippett said post-game.
"We found a way to get a win."
In yet another outing where the Oilers were playing without several key members of their club, with the exclusion of forwards Connor McDavid, James Neal, Joakim Nygard and Zack Kassian due to a seven-game suspension, the Oilers sought offence from other parts of their lineup.
"When you're missing a lot of people out of your lineup, you got to make sure you're sound in a lot of areas," Tippett added. "I thought we were tonight."
Enter Adam Larsson. The defender received a pass at the blueline after a strong shift of cycling by the Oilers top line, blasting a point shot glove side on Florida Panthers keeper Sam Montembeault for his first of the year at 15:14 of the opening frame.
The goal was also Larsson's first in 59 contests, with the last time he illuminated the red lamp coming on Feb. 19, 2019, against the Arizona Coyotes.
"He said that's his one for the year and he's done," joked Tippett.
Goaltender Koskinen was perfect through 40 minutes with 19 saves, making his best stop on Panthers forward Noel Acciari, who found himself all alone on an in-tight attempt that Koskinen snared with his trapper.
"He was making saves left and right," Yamamoto said of Koskinen. "We need him down the stretch."
Draisaitl provided the Oilers with some insurance just 13 seconds into the 3rd period, putting back Yamamoto's net-front rebound for his first of two points of the afternoon.
The German ended the game with one goal and one assist as he continues to lead the NHL in points with 92.
