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The Edmonton Oilers gutted out a few 4-2 win over division rival Los Angeles.
Stuart Skinner came up big in net, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman were explosive on offence and Evan Bouchard made a few brilliant attacking plays to lead Edmonton.
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In total, Edmonton had 13 Grade A shots, eight for the Kings, with the subset of 5-alarm shots seven for the Oilers, four for Los Angeles.
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Connor McDavid, 7. Two assists. He continued his brilliant run of assists, slicing over the puck to Zach Hyman late in the first for a one-timer goal. Contributions to Grade A Shots (GAS): Even Strenth: +3/-2; Special Teams +0/-0.
Leon Draisaitl, 8. His best game in some time. One goal, one assist. He got the game’s first Grade A, tipping a slap pass from Bouchard. He got Edmonton’s second goal in similar fashion on the power play, tipping in Bouchard’s outside wrister. Two great plays leading up to Bouchard’s early third period goal, first winning a board battle to key a rush, then setting up Bouch’s harpoon. He barged in for a couple third period Grade As. GAS: +7/-1; ST +1/-0.
Zach Hyman, 9. Edmonton’s difference maker in this one. In the middle of most good moments. In one of Edmonton’s first bursts of life, he puck protected into the slot and slammed a backhander off the post. A moment later he harpooned in Edmonton’s first goal. He almost jammed in McD’s wrap-around rebound in the second. His hustle drew a penalty late in the second and the Oil cashed in on the PP. Excellent screen on Bouchard’s early third period goal. A moment later he dug out the puck for a wicked Drai slot shot. GAS: +5/-1; ST +0/-0.
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Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 6. For much of the game, until’s RNH’s brilliant rush and insurance goal, his line sawed it off in a quiet fashion, getting little done on the attack but giving up nothing much in its own zone. RNH won a key faceoff leading to a zone clearance on the 5-on-3, but then he and Ceci were too aggressive, allowing Kempe in for a 5-alarm rip a moment later, then allowed a dangerous pass and slot shot, typical of Edmonton’s over-aggression on the PK of late. GAS: +1/-0; ST +0/-3.
Evander Kane, 5. Had a good hit but not much else. GAS: +0/-0; ST +0/-0.
Mattias Janmark, 7. He had earned a promotion to the second line by standing up for McDavid against the Flames and played his usual solid defence. Nice kicked pass on the RNH goal. GAS: +1/-0; ST +0/-0.
Ryan McLeod, 6. Some fine moments but no cigar. He failed to drain a deep slot shot in the second, as well as a wide-open breakaway shot early in the third. GAS: +2/-1; ST +0/-0.
Warren Foegele, 7. Strong work. His hustle on the forecheck led to a McLeod’s 5-alarm shot in the second, then he made a sweet pass to set up McLeod’s breakaway early in the third. GAS: +2/-0; ST +0/-0.
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Corey Perry, 5. Won his share of battles, drawing a penalty in the third. GAS: +1/-0; ST +0/-0.
Derek Ryan, 4. He was late to the rebound off the end boards on the first goal against, but was otherwise fine. GAS: +0/-1; ST +0/-0.
Dylan Holloway, 5. Looked good in a limited role. He got bumped up to the RNH line for a shift in the second and brought some needed skill and speed. GAS: +0/-0; ST +0/-0.
Connor Brown, 6. Quiet game, save for one brilliant pass to set up RNH. GAS: +1/-0; ST +0/-0.
Darnell Nurse, 4. Started out with some iffy hockey, got stronger. He and his partner Cody Ceci have struggled mightily for more than a month and that continued early on, as both allowed the pass through the low slot on L.A.’s first goal, neither player taking the shooter. GAS: +0/-2; ST +0/-0.
Cody Ceci, 4. As weak as Nurse on the first goal against. He was also caught out on Kempe’s second period PP 5-alarmer. But helped shut down Kings down the stretch. He played just 17:55. GAS: +0/-2; ST +0/-2.
Mattias Ekholm, 7. Another big game from Edmonton’s best d-man. He made a great move sliding into the slot and almost scored late in the second. GAS: +1/-1; ST +0/-0.
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Evan Bouchard, 7. Excellent game except for one hideous blemish. One goal, one assist. He moved the puck well early on and made a key pinch, kicking off the Virtuous Cycle on Edmonton’s first goal. But he made perhaps the lamest defensive mistake on the season, getting beat cleanly at the Oilers blueline with a weird fly-by that took him right out of the play. He redeemed himself a bit with an outside wrister on the power play that Drai tipped in net. He ripped a slot shot off a McD pass early in the third, then a moment later scored on his fearsome bomb of a shot. GAS: +4/-1; ST +1/-0.
Vincent Desharnais, 7. He kept a clean sheet at even strength, not one major mistake on a Grade A shot against. He made a solid attacking play early on, moving down the boards and throwing the puck into the slot. GAS: +0/-0; ST +0/-0.
Brett Kulak, 7. Good game, smart on the puck, smart without it. GAS: +2/-1; ST +0/-0.
Stuart Skinner, 8. Not much chance on the first goal against, a defensive SNAFU, or on the second, which was FUBAR. He made a massive save off of Kemp on the second period 5-on-3. Was solid otherwise and made a few huge stops. He faced 40 shots, just eight Grade As but made no major mistakes.
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2024-02-27 05:23:39Z
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