The Edmonton Oilers won their first game of the year on the second of back-to-backs over Vegas on Sunday.

It was a tale of two halves, as the Oilers dominated the first thirty minutes and then, hung on for the 4-3 triumph.

Connor McDavid was magnificent, the best player on the ice. But honorable mention for Connor Ingram who wins his first for Edmonton. The Oilers were outshot 12-3 in the third.

Here is the tale of the tape…

Cult of Hockey player grades

Cult of Hockey player grades

 

 

 

 

CONNOR INGRAM. 7. 28 saves in his Oilers debut for the victory. A sharp blocker save early to break the ice. Good stop on Barbashev. A stuff on Hertl, too. And took away a look from Marner to round out a solid opening frame. Little opportunity to stop the 4-1. Spilled a significant rebound on the 4-2. I did not blame him at all on thr 4-3. Strong saves on Dorofeyev and McNabb. While he did not have to be fantastic in the third period he was solid, and capably handled the puck in his own zone to help out his D-men. A very encouraging debut.

CONNOR McDAVID. 9. Absolutely flying in this one. Took a smart feed by Draisaitl then absolutely shot past three defenders at light-speed before his deke made it 1-0. That was just a spectacular, hi-lite reel goal. Beat three defenders (again!) to draw a PP. Earned the secondary helper on the 2-0 on the resulting man advantage. A menace on the PK to end the first. Pass across to Nugent-Hopkins for the 3-0. Set up The Nuge twice on one shift but failed to extend the lead to 5-0. Five shots in 19:44. Currently at the very apex of his game. 12-14-26 on a ten-game point streak.

ZACH HYMAN. 8. Tipped one off the post early in the first. Credited with an assist on the 3-0 as the puck glanced off his skate in front. Backhanded home the 4-0 on a nice finish. Third period turnover. Four shots. Really making a strong push for Team Canada with play like this.

RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 8. His excellent hockey continues. Took a hard Draisaitl pass net-side and did not miss for the 2-0. Also bagged the 3-0 with a patient wrist shot at the other side of the cage. Secondary assist on the 4-0. Had two more chances to make it 5-0. Blocked shot late in the second.

EVAN BOUCHARD. 5. Solid enough effort. Partially at fault on the 4-1 PP marker. Walked by Smith late in the second and Ingram bailed him out. But he moved the puck confidently and well and he drew a third period PP. And on Defence, just one High Danger Against 5v5. Three blocked shots and +1.

MATTIAS EKHOLM. 5. Overcorrected in the slot leaving his man wide open for the 4-2. His line: 2 blocks, two hits and +1 in 21:15. Like his partner Bouchard, only allowed a single HDSC against 5v5 with him on the ice. More than solid.

LEON DRAISAITL. 7. Hot McDavid in full strike for the primary on the 1-0. Hit from behind by Hertle and made him pay with a painful chop. Snapped a terrific hard pass across the creaser to a waiting Nugent-Hopkins on the 2-0. Unlucky to not earn an assist on the 3-0 but was instrumental on the play. Caught on a partial break early in the second. Three shots. Led the team in 5v5 CF (15-12, 56%). 64% on draws.

VASILY PODKOLZIN. 5. Rugged performance, hard on his man. A zone clear and a hard backcheck in the second. Led the club with six hits.

JACK ROSLOVIC. 4. You could tell he was just a quarter-turn off after extended time ion LTIR. Smart third period clear.

DARNELL NURSE. 6. Activated and sailed a perfect pass to Hyman for the 4-0. Inadvertently tipped the puck into his own net on the 4-3. Big plays late while out defending the slender lead, a blocked shot and a zone clear helped keep it 4-3. HDSC’s 6-4.

ALEC REGULA. 4. Secondary assist on the 1-0. Too soft on his man on the 4-3. Tagged with four giveaways and was replaced on the second pairing by Stastney late in the game to protect the lead. High Dangers 6-5 5v5. Struggling as of late.

ADAM HENRIQUE. 4. Unusually rough night in the circle (29%). His high stick led to the Golden Knights 4-2 PP goal. Fighting it a bit lately.

MATT SAVOIE. 5. Fairly solid 5v5 effort on defence but not much going on with the puck. Missed an absolute sitter in the third.

ANDREW MANGIAPANE. 4. Put his team on the PK twice early in the game.

SPENCER STASTNEY. 6. Good clear on a first period PK. Bad giveaway on the second kill. Elevated to the second pair in the closing minutes of the game and responded with a key zone clear as well as a blocked shot. This kid has good stuff.

TY EMBERSON. 5. Heavy hit on Barbashev in the first. Clear on a first period PK. High Dangers 2-2.

CURTIS LAZAR. 4. Partly to blame on the 4-1 PP goal. A block and three hits in his first game back.

MATTIAS JANMARK. 7. Saved a goal early in the third by sweeping a loose puck off the goal line. And just a huge stick in the D-zone with the Vegas goalie out in the dying seconds. Two really key defensive fforts from the veteran.

MAX JONES. 6. Aggressive. Drew the penalty that led to the 3-0. A shot, a block and two hits in 7:65.

The Oilers are now 18-13-6, 42 points, third in the Pacific, just two back of Anaheim.

This article is not AI generated.

Leavins Cult of Hockey

Leavins Cult of Hockey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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