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The Edmonton Oilers extended their amazing winning streak to 15 consecutive games Thursday with a 3-0 blanking of Chicago.
Goaltender Calvin Pickard was excellent, stopping 27 for the shutout, his first in the NHL since November of 2018 and 5th of his career.
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The Oilers top line was the best unit on the ice, producing all 3 goals. Then Edmonton shut it down late, allowing just 2 shots over the final 10 minutes.
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The streak of 15 is among the 5 best in league history, and tied for 3rd best ever. It’s really something else.
Here is the tale of the tape…
Edmonton Oilers Player Grades
CALVIN PICKARD. 10. Pickard made the most of his 100th career NHL start. Was strong early. Made an important save early when he managed get a blocker on a shot by Entwistle (which then also kissed the post) off a Chicago 2-on-1. Another stop off another Chicago 2-on-1. Then an even better glove save on Kurashev later on in the 1st. Shortly after the 1-0 Pickard made a stop up high to help preserve the lead. The next shift, nabbed a short side attempt from Entwistle. Then denied Entwistle on a penalty shot attempt 5-hole (and had blocked the shot on the breakaway that led to the call as well). He squeezed a dangerous deflection by Johnson late in the 3rd. We do not hand out “10’s” lightly at The Cult of Hockey but Pickard earned it and then some. What a great story.
CONNOR McDAVID. 8. Three-point night, his first multiple point game in some time. His line mostly dominated over the first 20 but did not get much to show for it. Set up Leon Draisaitl for a good look early. Thumped Dickenson with a heavy hit halfway through the 1st. Just missed a high chip that climbed over the Black Hawks cage late in the 1st. Denied by the blocker on an early 2nd Period chance. Back-handed home a Nugent-Hopkins pass into a gaping net for the 1-0. Darted wide & then slung a perfect pass across to Hyman for the 2-0. Potted the empty-netter late.
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LEON DRAISAITL. 8. Was throwing darts all night for a well-earned 3 assist performance. Could not convert an early set-up from McDavid. Terrific cross-ice pass to a hard-charging McLeod in the slot but the latter was denied. Strong 1st Period backcheck. Funneled a pass through to a pinching Ekholm for a chance that skiffed just wide. Late 1st Period turnover. Fed 97 for a chance early in the 2nd. Started the sequence that led to the 2-0. Early 3rd, fanned on a hi-to-lo pass from McDavid. Delicate pass from the wall on the 2-0. Dished one to Hyman in the slot but Zach was denied. Slick little pass led to the 3-0.
ZACH HYMAN. 7. 2 hits and a shot in the 1st. Charged hard to the net and was rewarded when he slapped a one-touch over Mrazek’s outstretched pad for the 2-0, his 29th of the campaign. Almost had his 30th on a fine Draisaitl pass but Mrazek’s blocker was a shade quicker. This line was dominant most of the time they were on the ice together, a pile of O-zone time.
DARNELL NURSE. 6. 1st period shot, one of 3. Pretty much broke even in shot shares. Solid performance.
CODY CECI. 7. 50% CF 5v5, High Dangers 5-4. Battled hard.
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RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 7. A razor-sharp pass across to McDavid for the 1-0. Knifed a pass from Kane wide early in the 2nd. 2nd period backhand but could not find net. Very good 2nd period back-track in the neutral zone. 63% in his return to the pivot position.
EVANDER KANE. 6. 2 hard 2nd Period hits. Threaded a fine pass to Nugent-Hopkins whose deflection just skipped wide. Fired a Warren Foegele feed into the slot high. Drilled a wrister shot high that the goalie just got a glove on. Led the club with 4 hits and was dangerous around the net.
WARREN FOEGELE. 5. Fine pass put front to Kane for a 1-timer in the 2nd. Worked hard, especially along the walls and behind Chicago’s goal line.
MATTIAS EKHOLM. 8. Strong defensive play to cover up for a Bouchard on a Chicago 2-on-1. Darted in from the point and just missed the net with a fine Draisaitl feed. +2. Was the best defenceman on the ice. 5v5 CF 23-13, 64%. High Dangers were 8-2 with him on the ice. In other words: Dominant. A literal and figurative tower of power.
EVAN BOUCHARD. 5. A poor 1st Period. Early turnover. Allowed Foligno to get in behind him for an odd man rush but Ekholm & Pickard managed to clean it up. Then, lost a brief puck battle along the wall, forcing his goalie to make a sharp save. Did draw a penalty late in the 1st. And evened out as the night went on. Sharp play deep in his own zone to kick off the rush on the 2-0. Ended up +2.
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RYAN McLEOD. 6. Strong one-timer in the 1st off a sublime pass by Draisaitl but the goaltender got a glove on it. This line delivered a hard, grinding cycle shift early in the 2nd and dominated the next time they hopped over the boards too. Sifted a pass over to Holloway for a chance in the 2nd. Could not drain the chance created by a brilliant Holloway rush. 55% on draws.
DYLAN HOLLOWAY. 6. A big part of the above-mentioned shifts by Line 3. Good chance off a McLeod pass in the 2nd. Could not slip a wrist shot past Mrazek short-side early in the 3rd. High skill on display as he wove through the Hawks defenders and set up Mcleod for a 1-timer. Looks terrific, like he has a new lease on life.
CONNOR BROWN. 6. A good back check deep into his own zone in the 1st to help alleviate pressure from the Chicago forecheck. Effective member of this trio in the Chicago zone. Moving very well these days.
BRETT KULAK. 7. His speed showed well against the hard-working Hawks. Beat two Black Hawks at the offensive blueline to help set up a terrific Janmark chance in front. 63% CF 5v5, High Dangers 4-2.
VINCENT DESHARNAIS. 5. Sharp deny on a dangerous developing Chicago rush in the 2nd. Handed away a puck at the attacking blueline and then fouled the puck carrier leading to a penalty shot…which Pickard stopped. HDSC 4-2 with him on the ice 5v5.
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DEREK RYAN. 5. Putted a pass over to Janmark for a late 2nd Period chance. 50% on draws. Solid.
MATTIAS JANMARK. 4. Spin-a-round shot late in the 2nd. But did not have a lot else going on.
SAM GAGNER. 5. Won a board battle to help clear his own zone early in the 2nd. Did it all over again a shift later. Solid shot shares with him on 5v5.
Edmonton’s record now sits at 28-15-1, 57 points…3rd in the Pacific. Nashville is next up on Saturday.
Find me on Threads @kleavins, on Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, Mastodon at KurtLeavins@mstdn.social, and X @KurtLeavins.
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2024-01-26 05:26:15Z
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