The Edmonton Oilers were the better team all night long against Vancouver on Saturday, and full credit for the 3-1 triumph.

The Oilers dominated the first, but Thatcher Demko kept the game at zeroes. However, Edmonton kept its foot on the gas in the second, sending it to the dressing room 2-0 with the shots 28-9.

Vancouver pulled to within 2-1 with a third period goal on a D-zone fire drill. But Edmonton endured a late penalty and a 6v5 Vancouver push. Final shots 37-15 final score 3-1 on a night the Oilers PP went 0-5

Here’s the tale of the tape…

 

 

 

 

 

CALVIN PICKARD. 7. Not busy early, his best save a high hard one from Boeser in the high slot. But also made a critical toe stop on an own goal shot from Mangiapane. Bailed out Philp with a big save to open the second. Screened in the turn-around shot in tight on the 2-1. Next shift, a big save on that would have evened it at two. A strong save on Pettersson with the goalie out late in the third. Solid puck handling performance. Strong effort from the veteran for the 3-1 win.

CONNOR McDAVID. 6. Drove hard to the net for a shot early in the first. Terrific pass out front to Frederic that the winger could not quite drain but they drew a PP on the sequence. Just barely missed on a one-timer short side off a Frederic one-touch. Fed Tomasek for a great chance in front on the PP. Just missed a wicked wrister wide late in the second. An electrifying rush and shot near the end of the second. Took a stick to the groin from Myers that the Zebras saw fit not to call. Secondary assist on the 3-1. 80% on draws. 71% CF.

LEON DRAISAITL. 6. Sweet pass in front to Tomasek for a power play one-timer. Good PK clear at the end of the first. Set up Bouchard for a second period chance. Laid bog Tyler Myers on his behind mid-way through the second. Slick feed that Frederic could not drain. Drew a tripping call for the Oilers third PP. Set up Connor for a late second period chance. Absolutely robbed by Demko with a spectacular reach-behind glove save. Scored the 3-1 ENG with a backhanded from the attacking blueline. 71% CF.

TRENT FREDERIC. 6. Way more chemistry with 29 & 97 than we had seen up until tonight. A bang-bang chance from the top of the crease off a McDavid feed that also drew a PP. very fine one-touch pass that McDavid just missed the one-timer on. Could not bury a fine Leon pass in the second. Drew a late third period PP with some hard work on the wall in his own zone. Four shots, 3 Hits.

MATTIAS EKHOLM. 7. Tower of power. Led the Oilers in 5v5 CF with an astonishing 18-2, 90%! High Dangers 5-0.

EVAN BOUCHARD. 7. Excellent. Led the club in ice-time with 25:43. Good opportunity out of a Draisaitl setup in the second. Excellent setup for Nugent-Hopkins in a second period PP and had a shot of his own as well. Terrific cross-ice pass to Draisaitl but Demko robbed him. High Dangers 5-0.

RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 6. Pulled a defender toward him and then fed Savoie for an excellent early chance. Putted a nice one in front to Tomasek on the first period PP. Fine defensive stick in his own end in the second. Just missed a hard wrister on the second period PP. No assist on the 2-0 goal but his zone entry and forecheck helped create the chance for Mangiapane, also took out a defender in front on the play.

ANDREW MANGIAPANE. 7. Playing career NHL game #500. Almost scored in his own goal (Pickard was a last-moment toe save) and then turned the puck over in the neutral zone on the same rough first period play. Picked off an errant pass deep in Vancouver territory and calmly picked the low corner stick side on Demko for the 2-0. Fine feed to Savoie for a third period shot. Third Star.

MATT SAVOIE. 5. Almost had the 1-0 early with a fine deflection that Demko barely got a pad on. Similar play in the third, only Mangiapane with the pass on this one. 4 shots.

DARNELL NURSE. 8. Had an excellent game. Stretch pass led to Savoie’s early chance. Looked to have the 1-1 but it was washed out due to a high stick. Squared up immediately with Kane after the high hit on Regula. Primary assist on the 3-1. Big, gutsy blocked shot late. 5 shots, 3 blocks, 2 hits.

ALEC REGULA. 5. Survived a physical test. Solid defensive play on Kane in the second. Took a high hit behind the net from Kane that should have been a call. Took another (clean) heavy shot from him in the third. Has to keep his head up. Was otherwise quite good.

NOAH PHILP. 8. Scored his first NHL goal on a nice give-and-go with Kapanen for the 1-0. Pranced up the middle and tossed a hard pass to Podkolzin for a dangerous first frame chance. Turnover forced a Pickard save early in the second. Second period chance from a Podkolzin feed. Pressure on Myers led to a Puck Over Glass Oilers PP. Named the game’s First Star.

VASILY PODKOLZIN. 6. Great chance in the first from a Philp feed. Strong feed to Philp for a second period chance. Secondary assist on the 1-0 after starting the sequence with a heady defensive play in his own zone.

KASPERI KAPANEN. 6. Slick give-and-go led directly to Philp’s 1-0 goal. Blocked shot late. Led the Oilers with 6 hits.

BRETT KULAK. 6. Great stick denied a Vancouver 2-on-1 late in the second. 2 shot blocks and +2 on the night.

TY EMBERSON. 4. Let his man get away from him in front on the 2-1. High Dangers 1-3.

ADAM HENRIQUE. 5. A terrific second period backcheck broke up a developing Vancouver odd-man rush. 2 blocks, 2 hits, 2 blocks. 70% on draws.

IKE HOWARD. 4. The work rate was there. The results were not.

DAVID TOMASEK. 6. All kings of opportunities in this one. The best chance on a first period PP from right in front. A couple whacks at it on the next PP from a McDavid pass, then drilled a one-timer from a Draisaitl pass from behind the goal line.

The Oilers draw to 1-0-1 and hit the road…and take on the Rangers Tuesday.

This article is not AI generated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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