The Edmonton Oilers again lose a game they appear to have under control.
The Oilers had built a 2-0 lead over the Blues into the second period and honestly, they seemed to have the game reasonably well in-check. But a St. Louis power play and then an odd bit of luck in their own zone later it was 2-2.
Edmonton really carried the balance of play through most of the third (outshot them 7-4), but then a bad defensive breakdown by a familiar figure resulted in the 3-2 Blues goal…and that’s all she wrote.
St. Louis had lost seven straight. Hmmm.
Here’s the tale of the tape…
Cult of Hockey player grades
CALVIN PICKARD. 6. Big opening toe save on a Thomas wraparound to prevent St. Louis from taking an early lead. That was a tough stop. And he followed that up with solid stops on Buchnevich, Bjugstad and a third through a tough screen from Joseph. Gave his team the opportunity for a lead after the first 20. Started the next 20 just as strong: A blocker on Broberg and nabbed a dangerous puck from a Suter chance right in front. Robbed Suter again a few shifts later. Did not get over to his post in time to handle the PP one timer for the 2-1 goal. Had come out to face a shot from the slot which rattled wide, grabbed by Thomas and then banked off the post, Pickard and in for the 2-2. Sharp glove on Holloway part way through the third. Made the initial save through heavy traffic but got zero help from his D-man with the rebound. Stopped 19 of 22. Played well enough to win.
CONNOR McDAVID. 7. Excellent first period backcheck after a Blues pick on an Oilers skater turned into a developing odd-man rush. Earned career NHL point 1,100 on a velvety assist on the Roslovic power play marker. Secondary helper on the Mangiapane goal. Whistled for a deserved hooking call which led to the Blues’ 2-1 PP goal and gave St. Louis life. Had issues on coverage on the second goal against as well.
RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 7. Had a very good game. Got the puck deep to Connor McDavid to earn the primary assist on the 1-0. String defensive stick in his own end on a second period PK shift. Primary assist on the 2-0. 5v5 CF 24-9, 73%. Named the game’s Second Star. The Oilers best forward.
ANDREW MANGIAPANE. 6. Had one of his better games. A shot block in his own end then scampered up the ice and swept a one-time effort from a McDavid pass home for the 2-0. 3 shots, +1.
EVAN BOUCHARD. 4. High to low pass on the 1-0 goal. Did not aggressively front the shooter on the 2-1. Could not hammer home a good setup by Podkolzin in the third. Honestly, he had been decent for most of the night but then did not either touch his man nor the man’s stick in front on the winner. He just kinda stood there. I just do not understand what he was trying to do there.
MATTIAS EKHOLM. 5. He and Savoie teamed up for a zone clear on the second period PK. Big shot block on Schenn in the second kept the score 1-0. Another one early in the second. Same shift knocked down a neutral zone pass that looked to be sending the Blues off on a sortie. He and Bouchard were too passive at their own blue ahead of the 3-2.
LEON DRAISAITL. 4. Not much rhymed for him. An early feed set up Podkolzin for a chance. And even better job finding Roslovic open part-way through the same frame. Won the faceoff then net front on the 1-0. Second period backcheck. Flatfooted in his own zone leafing to a Grade “A” by Faulk up the middle. Good defensive stick in hos own zone in the third. An off night on draws and 0 shots.
VASILY PODKOLZIN. 5. Early shot off a Draisaitl pass. the 1-0. Hard working shift created a Grade A for Philp and then had a chance of his own thanks to a hard-working forecheck by Lazar. A feed to Bouchard for a late third frame chance. Two shots but -2. Good effort as always.
JACK ROSLOVIC. 6. A great chance from another Leon feed later in the first. Finally broke the seal on the Power Play, pushing off his check in front then depositing a perfect McDavid feed upstairs for the 1-0. His backcheck helped disrupt Suter on a partial break in the second.
DARNELL NURSE. 6. A solid effort from Nurse. Erased Faulk with a heavy hot in the third. A blocked shot earlier in the same shift. 3 shots, 2 blocks, 4 hits in 20:54. Only two high dangers on his watch 5v5. You will take this kind of game from Darnell every time out. The Oilers best D-man on the night.
JAKE WALMAN. 5. Terrific stick led to a Lazar scoring chance at the other end. A hard shot glanced off the end boards to Nugent-Hopkins who rung the post with it. A stick prevented a cross seam pass late in the third. He sure makes them better and he is still not 100% yet.
ADAM HENRIQUE. 6. Continues his fine play of late. Beat two Blues defenders and then drive the net hard for a dangerous scoring chance. Second period takeaway. Third period shot block. Very good feed to Frederic in the third but he could not drain it.
MATT SAVOIE. 6. A shot on net and then drew a holding call with good work along the wall, the man advantage leading to the 1-0. A very good pass to a hard charging Adam Henrique in front. Combined with Ekholm for a valuable clear on a second period PK. Second frame opportunity from a Frederic feed. Did not stop the pass on the 2-1 goal.
TRENT FREDERIC. 5. Playing in his birth city in this one. Nudged a puck inside to Savoie for a chance in the second. Another nice feed through to Lazar for an opportunity. A thudding check om Parayko near the end of the second, staggering the big man. Could not bury a Henrique feed late in the third. Six hits.
BRETT KULAK. 5. Guilty of a bit of a walkabout on the 2-2. But otherwise pretty solid again. High Dangers 3-2 5v5. Played a much healthier 21:122 after being underused as of late.
TY EMBERSON. 5. Stubborn defensive play as Joseph drive the Edmonton net. Blew a wheel in his own zone and it was what should have been his check that ended up banking the puck in off the post, Pickard and in for the 2-2.
NOAH PHILP. 5. A second period chance created off an industrious shift by Podkolzin. Poor metrics 5v5. 75% on draws.
CURTIS LAZAR. 5. Hard forecheck created a chance for Podkolzin in the second. Stormed in for a shot off string lays by Walman and Frederic to create the chance. Positive impact in just 7:57.
IKE HOWARD. 4. Second period hooking call. Benched for a shift for that. Did not have much going on otherwise. Played just 7:00.
This article is not AI generated.
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