The Edmonton Oilers concluded a decidedly tepid eight-game homestand at 4-4 after losing on home ice to the Maple Leafs.
A brisk opening twenty minutes ended deadlocked at 0-0. It was 2-1 after two, Toronto re-taking the lead just nine seconds after Edmonton had tied it at 1-1 although the Oilers had a lot of zone time and 18 shots.
The Oilers were whistled for back-to-back minors in the third and the PK promptly surrendered back-to-back power play goals. Then, an empty netter sealed it.
Make the final 5-2 Toronto. Leafs goaltender Antony Stolarz deserves his share of the credit for that.
Here is the tale of the tape…
Cult of Hockey player grades
CONNOR INGRAM. 4. An early denial on Domi with his toe. Stops on Roy and Robertson as well. Shouldered away a Nylander shot. Two early second period stops on McMann. Little to no chance on the deflected 1-0 goal. He threw a hot potato at Nurse’s feet on the 2-1 goal, a shame as he had made a terrific save on the 2-on-1 seconds earlier. Excellent glove save on Domi in the third. Little chance on the 3-2. Could not get across in time on the 4-2. Stopped 22 of the 26 he faced. Was not great.
CONNOR McDAVID. 5. Never really got on track. Darted in on goal part way through the first but fouled along the way setting up a first period power play. Took a mid-ice hit from Carlo but regained his feet. Bank shot attempt. One timer from Leon’s usual office but he was denied. Terrific backhand pass to Nugent-Hopkins early in the third. Wired a pass to Draisaitl late but Leon could not drain it. 4 shots, -1. Rough night on faceoffs too (36%).
RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 5. Great strip turned into a McDavid one-timer. The goalie got a piece of a wrist shot after a lovely pass from McDavid. But this entire line had some struggles. 2 shots, +1.
ZACH HYMAN. 5. Hard play along the wall to free up McDavid who drew the tripping call. Hammered one on goal on an Oilers PP. Hustled hard but ultimately did not get enough done. -1.
EVAN BOUCHARD. 6. Played a short-handed Leafs 2-on-1 very well. Excellent transition play with a gloved puck at his own blueline to a feed to Walman for a chance at the other end. Good shot off a Draisaitl seamer in the second. Fed McDavid for a one-timer. Knocked down an ariel pass late in the second. Good defensive play at his own blueline to help spring McDavid & Nugent-Hopkins the other way. I thought he was decent but High Dangers 5v5 were 4-7.
MATTIAS EKHOLM. 5. Hard point shot in the first. Terrific defensive stuff on the dangerous Nylander. HDSC’s 3-6 5v5. Solid.
LEON DRAISAITL. 6. Shot from the slot off a great play by Kapanen. Curled a gorgeous feed over to Hyman on the PP but he was denied. Heady defensive play in his own zone at the buzzer. Drifted a seam pass across to an activating Bouchard for a shot. A shot and a setup for Frederic right after the 1-0 shift. A shot and a pass to Podkolzin right after the 2-1. A puck lost in his feet turned into a Toronto chance. Commanded zone time with Janmark and Frederic for a hard second period shift. Pass to Kapanen for an early third period chance. Robbed by Stolarz with the net empty. 76% CF. 53% on the dot. 4 shots.
VASILY PODKOLZIN. 6. Tremendous puck possession play in the Toronto zone before dishing it off to Kapanen for the 2-2. Hard charge to the net part way through the third. 78% CF 5v5.
KASPERI KAPANEN. 7. A hard forecheck and then passed the puck right to Draisaitl in the slot. Another heavy hit near the end of the opening frame. Third period shot from a Draisaitl pass. Took a Podkolzin feed, deked Domi out if his jock and deposited a wrist shot high for the 2-2, terrific high skill play! The best Oiler over 60 minutes. Named the game’s Second Star.
DARNELL NURSE. 5. Dropped Roy down to his pants with a hard first period hit. Nurse tracked Carlo down and went at it over the McDavid hit. Nurse’s grade up a full mark for that. Could not tame the bad pass from Ingram on the 2-1 goal, one I put far more on the goaltender. His line was 4 shots, 5 hits. HDSC’s 7-5.
JAKE WALMAN. 4. Hot shot later in the first period. A really poor change created a Toronto odd man rush on what (eventually) turned into the 1-0. Absolutely blasted one up and over the goaltender’s pad for the 1-1. Couldn’t knock down the pass on the 4-2. HDSC’s 5-5. But the couple defensive miscues stood out…in a bad way.
JOSH SAMANSKI. 5. Primary assist on the 1-1. Could not get back to the slot in time after the turnover in the corner. A backcheck in his own zone broke up a Leafs sortie next shift. Played 9:55.
MATT SAVOIE. 4. Took an interference call (somewhat questionable, to say the least) at the attacking blueline and the Leafs scored the 3-2 with him in the box. Then, could not get a stick on the seam pass on the 4-2.
JACK ROSLOVIC. 6. Not bad. The faceoff win on the 1-1. His line had other spurts of excitement too at 5v5 (70% CF). Two shots.
SPENCER STASTNEY. 5. Did not box out his man in front on the 1-0 goal but that was a terrific deflection. Hustled back to prevent a developing Toronto break. And generally, was solid 5v5 after that (74%).
TY EMBERSON. 5. Smart puck play at the point earned him a secondary assist on the 2-2. More than solid (15-5 5v5, 75%). 2 hits, +1.
TRENT FREDERIC. 5. A good forecheck converted into feed to Mangiapane for a shot. Point-blank shot off a Draisaitl pass. 4 Hits. -1.
MATTIAS JANMARK. 4. Took a short-handed high sticking minor putting his club down 5v5 and was in the box when the 4-2 went in. 2 turnovers.
ANDREW MANGIAPANE. 5. Dangerous shot from a good Frederic setup. Dug in and got his nose dirty in an altercation with Ekman-Larsson. Did not seem quite right to have those calls evened up. A steal nearly turned into a chance as soon as he exited the box. Another shot early in the second. Turned the puck over in the Leafs end, eventually turning into the 1-0 at the other and consequently missed multiple shifts after that.
The Oilers are now 28-21-8, 64 points, tied with Vegas atop the Pacific.
This article is not AI generated.
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