The Edmonton Oilers scored a 4-3 home victory over Vancouver on Sunday night. The final score made it look closer than it was. The Oilers were in the driver’s seat much of the game.
The McDavid-Draisaitl-Frederic line was dominant throughout the first period, pacing the club to a 2-0 lead after 1. They accounted for the 3-0 as well, the
score after 2. And the 4-0, too, which held up as the winner.
The Canucks scored three in the third to make it uncomfortable but Edmonton
was able to hold on.
In fairness to Vancouver, they dressed the lesser lineup of the two.
Here’s the tale of the tape…
Again, no Player Grades until the Regular Season. In their place, a hybrid of The Cult of Hockey’s Two Good Things, Two Bad Things, Two Numbers:
Good Things:
-McDavid-Draisaitl-Frederic. McDavid popped home Draisaitl’s rebound for the 1-0. Trent Frederic stuffed home a puck from the deep slot. The 3-0 was a Draisaitl PP one-timer just under the bar from the top of the circle. The 4-0 a give-and-go from 97 to 29 on a two-on-one. Honestly it was often Harlem Globetrotters-Esque when they were on the ice together. A four-point night for Draisaitl.
-Alec Regula. The size and long reach in his own end stands out defensively. But his right-handedness makes for very good transitions to Edmonton’s forwards. A lovely first period stretch to Mangiapane. A smart zone exit at 4v4. He is making a legitimate bid to make this club.
Bad Things:
-It was not all good for Frederic, however. He badly misplayed a puck along the wall in his own zone, leading directly to the 3-1. That is a play a veteran like him needs to make.
-Bouchard and Ekholm had some issues tonight. Four turnovers between them and some coverage issues. A rare night when both had 5v5 CF’s below 50%.
Numbers:
-Draisaitl, McDavid and Frederic had nine points between them. After a very quiet night in his first game with 29 and 97, Frederic came alive.
-Quinn Hutson has had a decent training camp. But he struggled mightily tonight, a 5v5 CF of 15% (2-11).
Odds & Ends:
-Stuart Skinner. Was near-perfect over two. Big double save off O’Connor in the first. Stuff on Sasson from the slot in the third. The 3-1 was a bad giveaway and a partial screen. The 3-2 was a lucky bounce off Ekholm’s skate in front. The 4-3 a one-timer with Vancouver’s net empty for the extra attacker.
-Ike Howard. It was his best showing of camp. Had lots of jump and seemed to have chemistry with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Andrew Mangiapane. Scoring chances were 6-3 5v5 with him on the ice. Two shots.
-Nugent-Hopkins. An assist on the 3-0. Faceoff win deep in his own end in the dying seconds. Steadying influence on Ike Howard’s wing I believe gave the youngster some room to show what he can do.
-David Tomasek, Noah Philp, Atro Leppanen. Not as noticeable tonight, but I will note they have also played a lot of hockey in a short period of time.
-He is headed to Bakersfield, but Josh Samanski showed well again, a give-and -go with Kapanen, and got a shift with Draisaitl in the third.
Oilers back in action Wednesday against Seattle.
This article is not AI generated.
Recently, at The Cult…
LEAVINS: What Kris Knoblauch’s line combos may say to Connor McDavid
LEAVINS: Oilers turn in a complete effort in 4-0 win over the Jets.
LEAVINS: Oilers lose to Seattle in lackluster pre-season game.
Bruce McCurdy, 1955-2025.
Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.