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Edmonton put an 11-game win streak on the line against their Pacific Division rival Seattle Kraken on Thursday.
And thanks to a 2/5 Oilers Power Play, a 2/5 PK, a favorable (and correct) Coach’s Challenge and an outstanding performance by Stuart Skinner, they extended it to 12. That ties the Canadian franchise record set by the 1967-68 Montreal Canadiens.
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The Oilers had a territorial advantage over the first 20 but gave up 3 Grade “A” breakaways and were down 2-0. But then they scored three in 7:01 of the 2nd to
take a 3-2 lead. And they shut it down from there. Make the final 3-2.
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Related but not: What an inadequate exhibition of officiating from referee Steve Kozari.
Here is the tale of the tape (of which there was plenty of the Pride variety during warmups at Rogers Place on this night):
Edmonton Oilers Player Grades
STUART SKINNER. 8. Left mostly to his own devices in the 1st frame as Seattle had no less than three breakaways. Little chance on the 1-0 or 2-0, managed to hold his own on a 3rd attempt which then skittered wide. Managed a tough Gourde deflection early in the 2nd. Good in-tight denial on an Eberle chance. Same on a Yamamoto chance a couple shifts later. Handled a difficult deflection early in the 3rd. Blocker save through traffic. Terrific pad stop on McCann on a 3rd Period PK. Another good grab through a screen of Evans. Then one more excellent save off a hard shot from McCann late. Stopped 25 of 27, but his performance was in fact better than the numbers might suggest.
CONNOR McDAVID. 6. Drew a holding call on a partial break but then seconds later whistled in the 1st by referee Steve Kozari for one of the weakest slashing calls you will see all season. Then, a turnover deeper in the O-zone led to a goal against. Called again for a rather mild roughing call early in the 2nd but his mates killed it off. Hard forecheck drew a call which the Oilers concerted for the 2-2. Forced a turnover on a hard forecheck that Hyman just missed on. Extrended his point streak to 12 games with a nifty backhand to Hyman for the 4-2. 67% on faceoffs.
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RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 6. Battle won along the wall leading to a clear on the 1st PK of the game. An assist. A little better than break even CF at 5v5. Part of a lately struggling PP that broke out tonight with a couple. His biggest contribution came on the perfect 5/5 PK.
ZACH HYMAN. 7. A good tip on the PP just missed. Won a puck battle off the faceoff and then was part of the exchange on the 2-2 PP goal. Could not squib hone a turnover forced by 97 early in the 3rd. 3rd Period take away. Back door stuff on the 3rd period PP for the 4-2.
DARNELL NURSE. 5. Career game #600. Could not contain the pass across on the 2-0. Then, juggled a puck in front that McLeod almost deposited into his own net. Two blocked shots on a 2nd Period PK. Ill-advised O-zone holding penalty in the 3rd but it was killed off. Got stronger as the game went on but was just “ok.”
CODY CECI. 7. Rock solid game. Just one High Danger Chance Against 5v5. Terrific flow of play metrics. And a significant part of a Penalty Kill (3:11 SH TOI) that was a perfect 5 for 5.
LEON DRAISAITL. 9. The best player on the ice. Perhaps his best two-way performance of the season to date. Draisaitl beat his man then fired a hard wrister at Daccord early in the 1st. In the 2nd, swung the puck on net after an excellent zone entry, earning him an assist on the 2-1 as Foegle buried the rebound. He banked home a Hyman rebound for the 2-2 PP goal (his first since December 8th). Then a sublime backhand feed to send Foegle in all alone for the 3-2. Set up for a chance at the hatty early in the 3rd. 3rd period back check interrupted a Seattle sortie. Secondary assist on the 4-2. 13/14 on draws.
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EVANDER KANE. 7. Dangerous shot on the 1st Period 4v4. Tried to force a pass through and it was turned the other way for the 2-0, although both of Edmonton’s best defencemen were beaten on the play. His quick forecheck led directly to the 2-1 and a well-deserved assist for him. Head’s up play off the wall to assist on the 3-2, his 600th career NHL point. His best game in a long time.
WARREN FOEGELE. 8. Buried a Draisaitl rebound from the circle for the 2-1. Then he blazed across the Seattle line, picked up a terrific Draisaitl pass and fired it high for the 3-2. Pretty goal. A hard wrister off a Draisaitl feed early in the 3rd was almost the hatty. 5 shots. Has really hit his stride on Draisaitl’s right hand side.
MATTIAS EKHOLM. 5. Let his man (the eventual goal scorer) slip away from him on the 2-0. Took a tripping call after a bad Bouchard pinch led to a Seattle odd-man rush. Crushed Eberle with a hit. Terrific read and clear on a 3rd Period PK. Absorbed a high hit from Gourde in the 3rd which resulted on a major. Handed out 4 hits. HDSC 5v5 3-1 (but the “1” was a doozy”).
EVAN BOUCHARD. 4. Got puck watching and let his man get behind him on the 1-0. His wrist shot from the point was nearly tipped home by Hyman. But also looked off a couple chances to blast one early. Good top-to-bottom pass on the PP on the 3-2 sequence. An ill-timed pinch led to the sequence where his partner Ekholm took a tripping call. 3rd period turnover. Has been a bit off, as of late.
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RYAN McLEOD. 5. Nearly scored on his won goalie after Nurse had bobbled the puck in front. Hard wrist shot booted out by Daccord late in the 2nd. Led his line with a stifling shift in the Seattle end in the 3rd. Good stick in the 3rd. Solid PK work.
DEREK RYAN. 6. Just missed squeezing home a rebound after a Desharnais shot. Dangerous back-hand chance late in the 2nd. Clutch face-off win deep in his own zone on a 3rd period PK. Terrific penalty kill work over-all, in fact. 60% in the faceoff circle. Some of his best hockey as an Oiler.
MATTIAS JANMARK. 6. Good clear on a 1st Period PK. Displayed terrific puck protection and then pass to McLeod who Daccord had to stop with a quick toe.
BRETT KULAK. 4. Let a man sneak behind him for a 3rd Seattle breakaway of the 1st Period but the Kraken skater could not cash. 3rd Period shot block and
then a subsequent zone clear. High Dangers 5v5 0-3.
VINCENT DESHARNAIS. 6. Very nearly had his 2nd of the season with a chance right from the slot later in the 1st. Took a high stick to the face but there was no call. A fine keep at the blueline and a shot to follow in the 3rd. 4:14 on the PK.
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SAM GAGNER. 5. Won an early puck battle deep in the D-zone leading to a clear. 1st period shot block. Smart 3rd Period stick. Solid return.
JAMES HAMBLIN. 5. Played with jump. His line chewed up some valuable O-zone time. 75% on draws. He was better than his low CF numbers suggested.
CONNOR BROWN. 6. Fine takeaway and puck rag on a 2nd period PK. Important clear on a subsequent PK. A fine back-check his next shift out. 3rd period shot, one of 3. Could not drain the empty net goal.
Edmonton’s record now sits at 25-15-1, 51 points…3rd in the Pacific Division. It is the latest installment of The Battle of Alberta on Saturday.
Find me on Threads @kleavins, on Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, Mastodon at KurtLeavins@mstdn.social, and X @KurtLeavins.
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2024-01-19 05:39:56Z
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