The Edmonton Oilers edged to within just two points out of the Pacific Division lead Tuesday after a 5-4, come-from-behind OT win over the Ottawa Senators.
The Oilers traded a pair of goals with the Sens in the first. Then, Edmonton’s defensive struggled continues with two goals on broken plays in the second,
to make it 4-2.
But the Oilers put the boots to the Senators in the third, to storm all the way back. And then win it in the extra frame.
Final shots 36-21Edmonton.
Here is the tale of the tape…
Cult of Hockey player grades
CONNOR INGRAM. 6. The 1-0 was a terrific wrist shot high off a 2-on-1 created by an Edmonton turnover. Ingram only got a fraction of the 2-1 before it drifted into the netting. Got just enough glove on a break later in the first period. The 3-2 was a back-door feed and the 4-2 a long, wild scramble in front. Good glove save on Cozens. And a key stop on Grieg to keep it at 4-3. Only faced three shots in the third period. Stopped 17 of 21 for the win.
CONNOR McDAVID. 7. Ripped a wicked shot shorthanded from the slot. A steal, and then a feed to Hyman for a chance. Slid a pass to Nugent-Hopkins for a good look late. Puck watching on the 3-2. Darted in on a break part way through the first but the puck went off the goalie’s glove and the bar…and out. Golfed one off the goalie’s skate and out. He and Draisaitl swapped multiple Power Play chances before the 4-3, on which he earned an assist. Heavy third period hit. Sifted a terrific pass to Hyman who missed an open net. Tackled in OT to draw the PP in extra time. Slid the puck over to Bouchard for the winner.
RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 6. A good stick and a clear on the third PK of the opening frame. Looked off a good shooting opportunity on the second period PP. Dangerous shot toward the end of the second. Screened the goalie and the puck went off his skate and in for 4-3. 5 shots co-led the club.
ZACH HYMAN. 6. Wrist shot off a McDavid pass. Took a shot off his foot that sent him limping to the bench. Missed an open net off a terrific McDavid pass. But redeemed himself by slamming home a Draisaitl shot pass for the equalizer with the net empty at the other end. Great deflection in OT. 5 shots, 3 blocks.
JAKE WALMAN. 3. Rough, rough night. Five-alarm giveaway on the 1-0. Lost battle on the 4-2. CF 5v5 30%, HDSC’s 2-5. Sat the entire third period. The coach suggested after the game that it may have been more injury related.
EVAN BOUCHARD. 7. A second period turnover coming from behind his own net eventually resulted in the 3-2. Secondary assist with the high-to-low pass on the 4-4 goal. A Howitzer from the point to end it in Overtime, his eighteenth of the year. 4 shots. HDSC’s 4-2. Has 22 points in his last eleven games. Skated an amazing 28:37.
LEON DRAISAITL. 9. Dominant performance. Tremendous pass to Savoie for a bang-bang chance. Then swooped in to bang home an Ekholm rebound for the 1-1. Two excellent feeds to Roslovic in between. Pool shot from behind the net and in for the 2-2, thirty-two for him. Nearly had a third in that frame off a Nurse feed. His shot deflected off Nugent-Hopkins’ skate and in for the 4-3. Fed Nurse for a chance later in the period. One-timer in OT. Faceoff win and Secondary assist on the 5-5. Points on all 5 Oilers goals. 67% on draws. The game’s First Star. Now 90 points on the season.
MATT SAVOIE. 7. Early turnover at his own blueline. Hard work in front on the 1-1. Speedy puck recovery led directly to the Draisaitl 2-2 goal. Burst in down the right side off a feed from Roslovic but could not punch home the equalizer. 2 shots in 16:32.
JACK ROSLOVIC. 6. Dangerous opening twenty. Sprung on an early breakaway by Ekholm and fired it just wide. Received a couple Draisaitl passes as well for good looks. Offensive sortie early in the third helped lead to a PP and the 4-3 goal with the man advantage. Sprung Savoie for a great chance then followed it up with a wrap-around attempt.
DARNELL NURSE. 7. Edmonton’s best D-man, his best effort in months. Solid strip and clear on the second first period PK. Took an obvious holding call part way through the second. Keep at the blueline on the 2-2. Slung a puck on net that Leon almost bagged for a first period hat trick. Sharp play broke up a developing 2-on-1. Sprung McDavid on a second period breakaway. Good third period chance off a Draisaitl feed. 3 hits. 5c5 CF 69%, HDSC’s 5-1.
TY EMBERSON. 5. A bit late fronting the shooter on the 2-1 PP goal against. Third Period neutral zone giveaway but the Ottawa player hit the post. High Dangers 5v5 3-1.
JOSH SAMANSKI. 6. Backhand pass to Kapanen late in the second. Gained the zone and found some open ice before feeding the blueline for a chance. Rock solid in just 8:08, CF 78% 5v5.
VASILY PODKOLZIN. 6. Leapt to a teammate’s defence after the Ekholm hit and forced Ridley Grieg to eat a couple hard rights. Took the instigator but his buddies killed it off. Hit the post on a second period PP. A shot the next shift. Good backhand off a right-side charge. 6 hits. CF 73%.
TRENT FREDERIC. 5. Solid defensive stick in the second. Part of the scramble around the net on the 4-2, although he had his man. Drew a second period hooking call after a hard cycle shift in Ottawa’s end.
MATTIAS EKHOLM. 7. Lovely pass up the gut to Roslovic who just missed the net. His shot shook loose from the Ottawa goalie and bounced around until Draisaitl hammered it home for the 1-1. Ekholm’s 300th career helper. Flattened by a hit behind his own net. Two clears on the third PK of the first. Cool, collected play under pressure to safely melt away the clock in the third. HDSC’s 7-2. 25:14 TOI.
SPENCER STASTNEY. 5. Secondary assist on the 1-1, his first as an Oiler. Overpowered in front on the 4-2. Third period shot which Henrique nearly tipped home. HDSC 5v5 5-5.
ADAM HENRIQUE. 5. Clear on the second PK of the game. Among the scramble in front on the 4-2 but his stick had snapped. Just missed a third period tip from a Stastney shot. 67% on draws.
CURTIS LAZAR. 5. Hard hit in the first, one of three in the period. But left the ice with an injury toward the end of the period and would not return. Coach Kris Knoblauch post-game suggested he would be out a week or more.
KASPERI KAPANEN. 5. A shot mid second period shot. Part of the fire drill on the 4-2. Another shot off a Samanski pass late in the same frame.
The Oilers are now Third in the Pacific, 30-24-8, 68 points, two back of Vegas for first place.
This article is not AI generated.
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