The penalties didn’t help.
The Edmonton Oilers found themselves down 2-0 early in Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers because of them.
The first two Flyers goals came on the power play, also the first two of 18-year-old rookie Matvei Michkov’s National Hockey League career.
Playing without that edge that resulted in eight infractions, though, might have led to a different result for the host Oilers, perhaps a loss instead of an eventual 4-3 overtime victory.
Oilers players and their bench boss described the intensity as a necessary boost while saying they’d like to cut down on shorthanded situations.
On the one hand: “We took some penalties that we didn’t need to take on.”
On the other: “It’s an emotional game, and tonight we had it, and it definitely helps you.”
Both are quotes following the game from head coach Kris Knoblauch, who …