The Edmonton Oilers have now lost three in a row on what is turning out to be a very poor Eastern Road swing.
Edmonton only managed three shots on the Red Wings in the first period, none especially dangerous but at least the frame ended scoreless. No such good fortune in the second, though, Detroit emerging with a 3-1 lead.
The Oilers finally found their feet in the third and drew the game to within 3-2, but they could not find the equalizer. A Red Wings empty netter sealed it.
Make the final 4-2 Detroit.
Here’s the tale of the tape…
Cult of Hockey player grades
STUART SKINNER. 4. The Oilers best player in the early going. An early stop on Copp preventing Detroit from grabbing an early lead in this one. Also handled a high hard one off DeBrincat and a tough one off Berggren as well. A glove stop on van Riemsdyk to open the second. Little chance on the 1-0 or the 2-0. The 3-1 was a screen for sure but Skinner was also too busy in his own crease otherwise that puck might just hit him. Stopped twenty-one of the twenty-four he faced.
CONNOR McDAVID. 4. Looks “off”. In fact, he looked off a prime shot in the slot and instead his pass across to Mangiapane went nowhere. Sharp defensive stick in his own zone denied a shot against. Faceoff loss on the 1-0. Secondary assist on the 3-2. An exiting end-to-end rush ended with a shot but still no goal (scoreless in six). An unheard of 39% CF 5v5.
LEON DRAISAITL. 5. Had been very quiet all game but slammed home a perfect net side pass from Brett Kulak to make it 3-2. Then, inexplicably lost the puck on what appeared to be a clear-cut breakaway with the net empty. But like McDavid, generally had precious little going on 5v5 (41% CF). 67% on draws.
ANDREW MANGIAPANE. 4. Helped create some of the chaos in front on the 2-1. And played with some grit. But no shots in 17:42.
MATTIAS EKHOLM. 4. Early chance off a Henrique feed. Good stick on Kasper in tight. Hustled back to split up a fast-developing Detroit 3-on-1. Excellent play in the high slot to deny Finne of a Grade “A”. Iced the puck ahead of the 1-0 faceoff goal against. Could not sweep away the loose puck on the 2-0 but it was not his man that scored. However, he was basically an eclipse in front of Skinner on the 3-1. Part of a good sequence on the 3-2.
EVAN BOUCHARD. 4. Good rush led to an Ekholm chance at the other end. A couple hard shots on an otherwise unsuccessful second frame power play. Late to his man on the 1-0. Not the tire fire he has been of late but still not back to himself, either. -2.
RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 4. Effective third period forecheck. But no shots, just 36% on the dot and a quiet 5v5 game.
VASILY PODKOLZIN. 7. Heavy forechecking shift late in the first. A thudding hit on Brandsegg-Nygard in the second. Gained possession of the puck and kept it alive just inside the blueline before slinging a shot toward the net that Philp tipped home for the 2-1. Net front screen on the 3-2. High Dangers 5-1 5v5. One of the Oilers best skaters.
JACK ROSLOVIC. 4. No shots in 18:51, -1.
DARNELL NURSE. 4. Nurse’s man just walked right past him into the crease and deposited the 2-0. Big third period shot block to keep the game within reach. Three shots, five blocks, two hits in all. But High Dangers were 0-5 with him on the ice.
TROY STECHER. 3. Good play on Rasmussen in the third. But he was absolutely crushed 5v5, with a 5-18 CF (22%) 5v5. Was in “chase mode” all night.
NOAH PHILP. 7. Fine defensive stick in his own zone to break up a Red Wings cycle in the second. Then, just a terrific deflection from the high slot to direct Podkolzin’s shot in for the 2-1. 50-50 on the dot. Clearly had some jump and added 2 hits. +1. Named the game’s Third Star.
TRENT FREDERIC. 4. His turnover at the other end allowed the Red Wings up ice on the sequence that eventually resulted in the 2-0. Then a soft play on his man in the defensive end contributed to the collective sloppiness that led to the 3-1. Need more from him.
KASPERI KAPANEN. 4. Missed a hard body check attempt in the offensive zone, went off the ice slowly and never returned.
BRETT KULAK. 7. Secondary assist on the 2-1. A sharp zone entry to start the sequence on the 3-2 and then executed a sharp shot-pass to an un-checked Leon Draisaitl. Easily the Oilers best defender on the night. High Dangers 6-3 5v5 with him on the ice.
TY EMBERSON. 5. Hard, early body check separated man from puck. Turnover behind his own net led to a high danger against. But he was decent.
ADAM HENRIQUE. 5. Nice feed to Ekholm for a first period chance. A strong play along the wall resulting in a slot pass out to Howard. But a couple turnovers in the first as well. Two blocks and a hit. Not perfect, for sure, but these three had some chemistry.
IKE HOWARD. 5. Strong play in his own zone early. Could not get much wood on an excellent Henrique feed later in the first. Two shots. Hustled but results were few. A decent amount of TOI for the kid at 12:00.
MATT SAVOIE. 5. A dangerous wrist shot right from the high slot in the second nabbed by the Detroit goalie. One of the better Oilers forwards 5v5 and does a lot of little things right.
The Oilers finish their road trip in Ottawa Tuesday.
This article is not AI generated.
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