The Edmonton Oilers managed two points Thursday night in a 6-5 game neither side really deserved to win.
Zero debate who was the best club in the first period of this game as the Montreal Canadiens skated circles around the Oilers. But good goaltending from Pickard and a late goal by Tomasek on the Oilers third shot of the frame sent it to the room 1-1.
A couple quick ones from Edmonton in the second gave them a lead but then they spit the bit, allowing three in 1:52 for a 4-3 Habs lead after two. Montreal extended their lead to 5-3 in the third and it looked over with nine minutes left.
However, the Oilers scored three unanswered goals, two on the power play, for a ragged 6-5 victory.
Here’s the tale of the tape…
Cult of Hockey player grades
CALVIN PICKARD. 6. Would not have been a contest without him. Two difficult early saves off Evans and Suzuki (which they needed video review on). Could not stop the rebound on the 1-0, in part because his defenceman neglected to check the Canadien alone in front. Who would blame the goalie on that? Really tough stop off a fine, high Caufield deflection later in the first. Could have been 3-1 after 1 without Pickard. Forced into a stop on Caufield early in the second when the Hab beat Nurse to the net. A stop on Matheson through coverage. Got a pad on a Suzuki wraparound. But then came the 3-2 on a turnover, and Bouchard turnstile-d on the 3-3. You would like a save on the 4-3 but Caufield had all kinds of time to pick his spot. The 5-3 is a Canadien player left all along in the deep slot. That was all Pickard would allow the rest of the way, stopping 22 of 27 for the “W”. You maybe want one back, but that’s it.
CONNOR McDAVID. 7. The focal point of a dominant first period shift that ended with a hard drive right up the middle by 97 on net. A dangerous looking odd man rush shorthanded led to nothing. Found Leon twice on a second period PP but no dice. Cross-ice pass eventually led to the 3-1. Could not drain a rebound on a third period PP. Drew a power play and set up Draisaitl on the 5-4. Fed the puck in the middle for Nugent-Hopkins and the 5-5. Three assists, the shots, +3. Named the Second Star.
LEON DRAISAITL. 5. Good feed from behind the goal line to Frederic for a point-blank shot. A couple dangerous looking sorties up ice in the first looked promising but fizzled. Two shots and a post on an otherwise unsuccessful second period. Does not make the play up the wall on the 3-3. Did not look like his old self much of the evening. But then popped home the 5-4 PP goal on a perfect pass from McDavid in front. And had two important faceoff wins late to defend the lead (was 83% on the night).
MATT SAVOIE. 5. Put in a dogged effort, hard pursuit of the puck. He was a meaningful part of the O-zone cycle that led to the winning goal. But not many round numbers in his stat line to back that up. And his turnover led to a goal against earlier in the evening.
MATTIAS EKHOLM. 4. Secondary assist on the 2-1. Caught up on the 4-3 but far from the only guilty party on the sequence. This pairing had a rough night, but Ekholm was a secondary source of that pain, for certain. -2.
EVAN BOUCHARD. 2. What a disaster. A rare triple mistake on the 1-0 goal, first the turnover in the corner, neglected his man (the goal scorer) in front, then slashed said shooter after the fact, handing Montreal a man advantage. Then, a careless clearing attempt led to a Grade “A” chance against with less than three minutes left. Heavy hit on Dach in the second. Walked by Caufield like he isn’t even there on the 3-3. Scoring Chances 5v5 3-9 after two periods. Secondary assist on the 5-5. But at the end of the night High DangerChances 5v5 were 0-5 with him on the ice.
RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 6. Had been very quiet all evening. But suddenly a secondary assist on the 5-4. Then, a tasty backhand which drew the Oilers into a 5-5 tie. Came up big when it rally counted. +2.
ANDREW MANGIAPANE. 5. Effective. Blocked shot in the first. Picked up a back-pass from Nurse below the goal line and found net for the 3-1. One of the few Oilers forwards with a decent 5v5 night.
JACK ROSLOVIC. 4. Could not score on a patrial break just before Montreal stormed back to make it 3-2. Then, can not make a play with the puck along the wall springing Montreal for the 4-3. Shot off a good Henrique setup.
DARNELL NURSE. 4. High Event game. Bobbled the puck at the attacking blue then outskated by Cole Caufield for a chance Pickard stopped. Back-to-back icings in the second. Missed a doorstep pass from McDavid but kicked the puck back to Mangiapane who made it 3-1. Then, Nurse gave it right back by coughing up the puck in the corner on the 3-2. Went on a walk-about and left the front of the net, allowing the 5-3. But redeemed himself somewhat with a pass threaded through to Podkolzin for the winner.
JAKE WALMAN. 7. Still does not look quite 100% but was easily the Oilers best D-man on the evening…and it was not close. Blocked shot in the second. Floated a wrist shit into Adam Henrique’s sites and the veteran pivot executed a lovely deflection home for the 2-1 goal. Lost puck battle on the 5-3. Blocked shot in the third. Excellent keep at the point to draw the secondary helper on the 6-5 winner. The only defender north of 50% CF 5v5. High Dangers 5-4.
NOAH PHILP. 5. Strong defensive stick early. He earned the secondary assist on the Tomasek 1-1 goal with a hard dump in and was also the net front on the play as well. 60% on draws.
TRENT FREDERIC. 4. Point-blank opportunity early in the first off a Draisaitl pass. But faded after that. 5v5 CF 6-16, 27%. They need more from him.
VASILY PODKOLZIN. 6. A determined puck retrieval and then a fine cross-seam pass across to Tomasek for the 1-1. Very smart reset in the neutral zone to relieve the pressure on a dangerous shift. Heavy hit on Kapanen in the second. Poorly timed turnover at the attacking blue after a long shift and his teammates were dead tired. But a great goal to win it, got physical position on his check in front and then lifted a backhand high glove side for the 6-5. Named the First Star.
BRETT KULAK. 5. Strong defensive play on Anderson in the first. A terrific desperation defensive play saved a goal early in the second. Had ducked below the goal line as an outlet for Nurse but the turnover sent the puck the other direction and in for the 3-2. Gave Caufield too much time and space on the 4-3.
TY EMBERSON. 6. Held his own. High Dangers 5v5 3-1. +1 in 16:44. Maybe one of his better efforts, in fact.
ADAM HENRIQUE. 7. Strong game. Just missed a good chance right in front late in the first. Also set up Howard for a look. Two good defensive plays up high in his own zone in the second. Then, just a dandy tip in front to direct a Walman shot down and in for the 2-1. Set up Roslovic for a third period chance. 5v5 CF 61%. 60% on draws.
IKE HOWARD. 5. Late first period look off a Henrique setup. His forecheck drew a PP in the second. Late to his man in front on the 5-3 but not primarily at fault.
DAVID TOMASEK. 6. Scored his first NHL goal on a deflection late in the first frame. Third Period PP chance in tight. Added a couple hits.
The Oilers head to Seattle Saturday.
This article is not AI generated.
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Bruce McCurdy, 1955-2025.
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