Edmonton Oilers turn in a rock-solid, 2-way effort in 4-1 win over Dallas

The Edmonton Oilers’ Kailer Yamamoto (56), Mattias Ekholm (14), Connor McDavid (97), Evan Bouchard (2) and Evander Kane (91) during first period NHL action against the Dallas Stars at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Thursday March 16, 2023. Photo by David Bloom Photo by David Bloom /David Bloom/Postmedia

The Edmonton Oilers turned in one of their best defensive efforts of the season, in a 4-1 home victory over a very tough Dallas team.

Edmonton got yet another steady performance in net by Stuart Skinner, a shorty to take a 2-goal lead, then a timely Power Play goal to restore that gap. An empty netter salted it away. Meanwhile, the beleaguered Edmonton PK was a perfect 4-for-4. Make the final 4-1 Oilers.

There was also a moment of silence preceding the hockey game, in remembrance of the two Edmonton Police Service members murdered in the city early Thursday morning. You could have heard a pin drop. On a tough day for the City of Champions their hockey team gave them something to cheer about.

Here is the tale of the tape…

Cult of Hockey Player Grades

STUART SKINNER. 8. Stuart Skinner gave the club the saves it needed tonight. A quiet 1^st Period against Dallas but was put to work in the 2^nd and he delivered. Made a fine stop on Pavelski through a screen, then stuffed Benn short-side moments later. Then, a tremendous blocker save off Benn yet again through an impossible screen by Hintz. Fine positional save off a dangerous Lindell tip early in the 2^nd. Finished off his night with a good save on Hintz in the 3^rd and the Dallas goaltender out. Stopped 25 of 26. Named the game’s 1^st Star.

CONNOR McDAVID. 8. After a terrific defensive play by Desharnais deep in the Oilers zone McDavid snapped up the puck and flew past Dadonov before threading a picture-perfect pass through Suter to the hard-charging Janmark who made no mistake on the 2-0. Had offered a key defensive stick earlier in that shift. Smart back-check into his own zone in the 2^nd. Couldn’t slap home a nifty setup from Draisaitl who was behind the net. Created a rebound for Kane on a 2-on-1 break but they could not convert. Took a dirty knee-on-knee hit from Robertson in the last 2 minutes of the 2^nd, 97 skating away annoyed but unhurt. Netted the 3-1 insurance goal on the Power Play in the 3^rd with a wicked wrist shot right from the middle of the slot. That was his 57^th, tied Ryan Smyth for the 6^th most in franchise history at 296. Named 2^nd Star. 131 points on the season. Ala Reid Wilkins, Only Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri and Paul Coffey have hit 130 in franchise history.

KAILER YAMAMOTO. 4. 2nd Period interference call. Did create a good chance for Foegele in the 2^nd. Could not convert his best chance of the night off a pretty pass from McDavid, as Oettinger made a fine glove save. Could not contain his check on the 2-1 against, the primary fault against. Having a tough time getting on track.

EVANDER KANE. 5. Finished a check hard on Dellandrea as the latter attempted to drive the net. Good net drive on a 2^nd Period PP but could not scoop home the rebound. No luck on a rebound off a McDavid rush a couple shifts later, either. 4 hits. Drew the tripping call that led to the 3-1 PP goal. Rang the post on the man advantage.

DARNELL NURSE. 6. A neutral zone turnover in the 2^nd but made up for it with an excellent close on Pavelski seconds later. Got neither puck nor man on the 2-1 goal against. 2 shots, 2 hits, 2 blocks. But High Dangers 5v5 were 4-6.

CODY CECI. 6. Shot on net created a rebound Nugent-Hopkins just missed on. Heavy hit on Hintz early in the 2^nd. Maybe gave a little too much gap on the 2-1 but not the primary culprit on the play. HDSC’s 3-6 at 5v5.

LEON DRAISAITL. 7. No assist but integral in the sequence leading to the 1-0, 29 really had his feet moving on the play. Threw a fantastic pass through to Nugent-Hopkins who could not finish. Fed McDavid from behind the net for a point-blank chance in the 2^nd. Hard, on-the-tape pass across the ice to a waiting McDavid for the 3-1. Power drive up the middle a shift later, probably should have been a call on the play. 61% on draws against an excellent faceoff team.

RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 7. Had numerous chances, 4 shots in all. A head’s-up pass to Foegele net-side on the 1-0 goal. Just missed depositing a rebound off a 1^st Period shot by Ceci. Had another opportunity in the same frame off a terrific Draisaitl pass. Steal and clear with the Dallas net empty. 5v5 CF 17-7, 71%.

WARREN FOEGELE. 7. Opened the scoring by slamming home a nifty pass from Nugent-Hopkins. Excellent forecheck created a chance for Nugent-Hopkins on the 1^st shift of the 2^nd Period. Co-led the Oilers in shots with 4. Led the club in 5v5 CF (17-6, 74%). What a roll he is on.

MATTIAS EKHOLM. 8. A tower of strength. A neat pickpocket of Jamie Benn deep in the Oilers zone in the 1^st. Calm clear on the 1^st Period PK, too. A couple zone clears on a 2^nd Period PK. Led the club in ice time with 22:38 of work. 2 blocked shots. 4 takeaways and +3. Ala Bob Stauffer, Ekholm is +13 in 8 games as an Edmonton Oiler.

EVAN BOUCHARD. 8. Managed the puck quite well. A smart defensive play early, when he cleared a puck out of his own crease. A clever shot pass got the puck through traffic where Nugent-Hopkins and Foegele teamed up on the 1-0. A well-deserved assist on the play. This pair was excellent. Named 3^rd star.

NICK BJUGSTAD. 6. The Oilers best shot early, a wrister that Jake Oettinger managed to snag. Hit the post with the net empty late. Physical, led the Oilers in hits with 7! Has been a very solid addition.

KLIM KOSTIN. 4. Had some serious issues handling the puck along the wall. Blocked a shot. O-zone takeaway led to a 3^rd period chance. But did not have a good go and was crushed in the shot shares in limited work.

MATTIAS JANMARK. 7. Drove the net hard on a 2-on-1 with McDavid and knifed home a terrific pass from 97 to make it 2-0. Excellent play along the wall to clear the zone under pressure early in the 3^rd. Salted this one away with an empty netter late against his old team.

BRETT KULAK. 6. Whistled for a highly suspect, “barely there” hook late in the 2^nd. Allowed just a single High Danger chance against.

VINCENT DESHARNAIS. 6. Rescued an errant puck right out of mid-air from his own crease, denying Domi, and was rewarded with a secondary assist when McDavid carried the puck up the ice and fed Janmark for the 2-0.

DEREK RYAN. 5. Diving clear on the 1^st Period PK. Drew a 2^nd Period hook.

DEVIN SHORE. 5. Smart blocked shot and clear on a 2^nd Period PK.

PHILIP BROBERG. 5. High Dangers 5v5 3-1 with him on the ice. Light night, just 9:02, but a shot, a block and +1. To his credit, most of his shifts were on the right side. Not always an easy assignment.

The Oilers are now 38-23-8, 84 points. That is good for 3^rd in the Pacific, 3 up on Seattle where the Oilers are headed next.

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