The Edmonton Oilers handed the previously winless Islanders their first victory of the season on Thursday, on Long Island, 4-2 (EN).

The Oilers were the better club in terms of puck play, possession and chances. But a couple ugly gaffs by a veteran blueliner were too much to overcome. And Edmonton is still not sharp on the attack.

Islander vet Bo Horvat had a hat-trick in a winning effort.

Here’s the tale of the tape…

Cult of Hockey player grades

Cult of Hockey player grades

 

 

 

 

STUART SKINNER. 6. Skinner was left to his own devices on the Barzal 1-0 goal after Bouchard coughed it up in the neutral zone. The Oilers goalie otherwise stopped everything that was going to hit the net including stops on Drouin, Lee, DeAngelo and then a massive starfish-like sprawl to rob Duclair. Good stop on Horvat to open the second, then robbed him again with a left pad a couple shifts later. Victimized by another Bouchard mistake on the 2-2 shorty. Sharp poke check kept the puck away from Barzal on the PK in the third. Save on a really tough PK deflection. Beat by a one-timer from the slot on the PP for the winning goal. Deserved better.

CONNOR McDAVID. 5. A very dangerous turnover in his own end to start the game. Fabulous wraparound attempt later in the first. Fed Draisaitl on the power play for the 1-1 goal. Thrilling dash to open the second. A dangerous bank attempt on the PP. Darted in past his man late in the second but could not stuff it home. Inexplicably looked off a slot shot for a pass to noted goal scorer Troy Stecher who could not corral the disk. Five shots on the night. But -3 (although one was an empty netter he bore no blame for).

ANDREW MANGIAPANE. 4. Not much going on. 5v5 CF 9-14, 39%. -2. His least effective performance so far.

DAVID TOMASEK. 6. Just missed a sitter on the PP but then a quick touch pass off the next faceoff to earn an assist on the 1-1. Took an O-zone penalty in the second but his mates killed it off. I like what he brings but those chances have to start to go in.

MATTIAS EKHOLM. 5. Solid enough evening but spent a lot of time covering up for his struggling partner. That reflected somewhat unfairly in his fancy stats, But Ekholm did have three shots and three blocks in 22:13. Let me be clear: He was NOT the issue on this pairing. Which leads us to…

EVAN BOUCHARD. 1. We all know how good of a player Evan Bouchard is. But what a god-awful opening twenty. Early five-alarm turnover. Did it again late in the frame but Matt Barzal made him made pay with the 1-0. At the end of the period Duclair beat him twice more but Skinner stood strong. Four High Dangers Against in just a single period. Then, absentmindedly lost his man on Horvat’s 2-2 shorty in the second. Finally, misplayed the situation on the empty net goal. -3. My advice? Burn the tape.

LEON DRAISAITL. 6. Spectacular backhand pass across the attacking zone to Jack Roslovic who could not quite finish. Popped a puck put into the crease for Tomasek early in the man advantage. But then snapped home a hard shot stick-side on the PP for the 1-1 after winning the faceoff to start the sequence. A couple chances off Nugent-Hopkins feeds on a late first period PP but could not cash. Turnover in the O-Zone forced Nurse to make a big play at the other. Led the forwards in TOI at 25:22. 67% on draws.

RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 6. Swallowed up a fine pass from Emberson and absolutely ripped a wrister shot high glove on Big Save Dave for the 2-1. Set up Draisaitl twice on the PP late in the second. Lost a battle along the wall on the 2-2 shorthanded goal. Five shots. The game’s Third Star.

JACK ROSLOVIC. 5. Could not stuff home a terrific Draisaitl backhand in the first. The play was headed in a positive direction while he was on the ice 5v5 and had four shots.

DARNELL NURSE. 6. Edmonton’s best defenceman. Hustled back hard to break up a developing Islanders odd man rush in the first. Smart steal & clear on a second period PK. A great stick busted up an Islanders 2-on-1 late. A blocked shot and a clear on the third period PK. High Dangers 3-3 5v5.

TROY STECHER. 4. Lost battle led to a quality Islanders chance later in the first. Tripping minor just past the half-way point of the third. Not off to a strong start this season.

TRENT FREDERIC. 4. Give and go with Podkolzin led to a hard snapper up the right-hand wall in the second. Solid third period back-check. But took a needless O-zone penalty late in the third which led to the game winner. I docked him a full mark for that.

VASILY PODKOLZIN. 5. Chip pass off the wall to Frederic for a good second period opportunity. Stole a puck in the neutral zone then powered in on net with a backhand. Played with intensity.

KASPERI KAPANEN. 5. A rush chance in the first. A jam chance in the latter stages of the third. Decent enough.

BRETT KULAK. 6. Solid performance, using his speed to close quick on his man and win races to the puck. High Dangers 5v5 just 3-1, a very good number for the veteran. One of a few Oilers who looked good this evening.

TY EMBERSON. 6. His best effort so far this season. Beaten by Palmieri when he turned the wrong way on his man in the second. A very fine cross-zone pass to Nugent-Hopkins who steamed in and ripped home the 2-1. High Dangers 5v5 were 3-1.

ADAM HENRIQUE. 5. Had been excellent on the penalty kill, his play on Horvat late in the third his finest moment shorthanded. Lost a 50-50 draw on the 3-2 PP goal. But he was 67% on the dot on the night. Was not great 5v5.

IKE HOWARD. 5. Effective forecheck contributed to the trip on his linemate Savoie and eventually the 1-1 PP goal. Hustled to negate an icing early in the second. Played just 8:19.

MATT SAVOIE. 6. His dogged forecheck led directly to the Oilers second power play of the period and the 1-1 goal. Drew another PP in the third but his teammates could not do anything at all with it. Super-cool play behind his own goal line to help gain a PK clear. Was quite effective.

The Oilers return to action Saturday in New Jersey.

This article is not AI generated.

Leavins Cult of Hockey

Leavins Cult of Hockey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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