The Edmonton Oilers lost the battle for 1^st Place in the Pacific Monday night with a 3-2 Overtime loss to Las Vegas.

Mikko Koskinen was the game’s 1^st Star with 45 saves in a game where the Connor McDavid-less Oilers (ill) were out-shot and out-played. At one point from the 1^st to 2^nd Periods in fact, the Oilers went 18:18 without a single shot on the Vegas net. As anyone will tell you, that takes some doing. And it’s part of a disturbing recent trend that needs reversing, pronto.

So yes…you can be unhappy with the over-all performance by most of the club’s skaters. That’s easy and obvious.

But at this time of year and with the Oilers where they are in the standings, the single point to get the club to 83 is not insignificant…to say the least. In fact they are now 7 points clear of the Wild Card cut line with just 12 to go.

Glass half-full. Here’s the tale of the tape:

Edmonton Oilers Player Grades

MIKKO KOSKINEN. 8. The Oilers best performer on the night and by a mile. Early saves on Pacioretty, Marchessault and Nosek helped set the tone for what was a tremendous performance by the big Oilers netminder. A 4^th big stop off Nosek again ended a 1^st Frame where the shots were 15-3 Vegas. Made himself huge on a hard-charging Paul Stasny to thwart what looked like a Grade “A” scoring chance in the 2nd. Stoned Nate Schmidt on a 3^rd Period 2-on-1. In the end, the Oilers likely don’t get this point without Koskinen. The 3 goals against gives you a totally unrealistic view of just how well he played. Named the game’s 1^st Star.

LEON DRAISAITL. 4. His physical play behind the net was an un-official assist on the Nugent-Hopkins marker. Set up Nugent-Hopkins for a good 2^nd Period chance and a glorious one for Kailer Yamamoto in the 3^rd. But did not have a shot-on-net of his own. Not a fan of how long his over-time shift stretched. It didn’t lead directly to the goal against. And when he finally could go to change Bear had possession but couldn’t maintain it. Easily led all forwards in TOI at 24:21. 54% on draws and he took a bunch. But not himself. Looked fatigued most of the evening.

RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 7. He and Draisaitl had a couple of opportunities in the 3^rd Period with the score still tied but couldn’t cash on those. Did snap home the 2-1 goal however with a quick wrister after good work behind the net by Yamamoto and Draisaitl. Flat-out terrific on a 3^rd Period PK where he chipped in 2 clears and a stick which broke up yet another dangerous developing play. Named the game’s 2^nd Star. The team’s best skater.

KAILER YAMAMOTO. 6. Earned the primary assist on what at the time was the go-ahead 2-1 goal by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with a dogged forecheck behind the Vegas net. Had the game on his stick later in the 3^rd after a terrific pass by Draisaitl sent him in on a partial break but shot high. 6 hits (6!) in 19:18, Among the Oilers best skaters.

DARNELL NURSE. 5. Had a pretty solid game when you consider that on a night when the club was outshot 48-24 Nurse had 7 hits (including a hard 1^st Period slam on Cousins) and 5 blocks. In the heavy going against a hard-charging Vegas forecheck Nurse fared better than most. But he and Bear were also crushed in possession. It was a long night for the Oilers D-core but I had a hard time finding much fault with Nurse’s game.

ETHAN BEAR. 4. A smart early rush up-ice led to a chance. Cleared the zone through heavy Vegas traffic part-way through the 1^st. A lovely shuffle and shot to the net early in the 3rd, then a similar play a couple of shifts later led to the 2-1. Just missed scoring the winner in O/T with a drive to the net after a dandy pass by Nugent-Hopkins. However, a give-away in his own zone later in the same shift led directly to the game winner. Seriously spoiled an otherwise decent night. Led the D-core in TOI at 25:22.

GAETAN HAAS. 6. Showed lots of jump as he drew in for the ill Connor McDavid. No pressure. But Haas responded well with 6 hits in just shy of 12 minutes of effective work. The one that stood out to me was a hard, clean effort on Zack Whitecloud.

TYLER ENNIS. 3. A 1^st Period take-away. His possession numbers were decent, but in the real world Ennis didn’t game a big impact on the game at all.

ZACK KASSIAN. 4. Kassian and Larsson teamed up for a decent 2^nd Period chance that may have grazed the post. A slick inside-outside move led to another decent look later in that same frame. Moved well. 15-13, 54% CF. 2 hits, But also 3 give-aways.

OSCAR KLEFBOM. 4. A mis-handle of the puck in the corner that in the blink of an eye ended up in the back of the net. But in fairness to Klefbom, if there is proper coverage in front of the net, that probably doesn’t happen. Took a 1^st Period cross-checking minor. A good interception helped gain possession in Overtime. An assist, 3 shots, 2 blocks in 22:27. Not bad, but also far from great.

ADAM LARSSON. 4. Would have graded higher but I docked him significantly on the Vegas 2-2 goal. Either he or Athanasiou needed to stick with the man in front. Neither did. He otherwise played a hard, physical game and won a number of battles down low against a withering forecheck. 4 hits and a block.

RILEY SHEAHAN. 4. I wonder if Sheahan is sick, hurt, or simply worn down? That’ll happen to a very good 4C who has been forced to play 3C minutes all season. On the 2-2 Sheahan won the draw, but coverage broke down rapidly from there. 3 hits, 2 take-aways. 47% in the circle.

JOSH ARCHIBALD. 4. Josh Archibald’s best opportunity with the puck was a hard 2^nd Period drive to the net on his backhand after a good pass from Athanasiou. But this line didn’t often have the puck headed in the right direction on this night. Game as always, 4 hits but also -1.

ANDREAS ATHANANIOU. 3. Both he and Larsson headed for the puck carrier in the corner on the 2-2 when Klefbom and Sheahan were already there and with Jonathan Marchessault (of all people) along in front. At the other end Athanasiou had 3 shots on net, tied for 2^nd most on the club.

MATT BENNING. 5. Took a licking and kept on ticking. Benning was under physical duress all night. But while he surely bent in a number of painful looking ways, Benning did not break. Took 2 heavy checks behind his own goal line in the 1^st in order to allow the puck to clear the zone safely. 3 blocks and 2 shots in a tough 15:23 slog. +1.

KRIS RUSSELL. 5. Russell and Benning formed an effective 3^rd pairing. A block on a 1st Period PK. A rush up-ice led to a good back-handed shot on net late in the 3^rd. 2 shots. 2 take-aways. +1. Sawed-off in possession on a night where his club was generally smoked in that category.

JUJHAR KHAIRA. 5. Khaira is holding his own as a 4C on a heavy 4^th line. 67% on draws. 6 hits, a shot, a strip and +1 in 13:32. Set up Neal for a solid 1^st Period chance, one of only 3 in the Period total! Not much to complain about in Khaira’s game, he was solid.

ALEX CHIASSON. 6. Scored for the 2^nd consecutive game with a dandy tip in front off a point shot by Oscar Klefbom. It was his only shot of the night. Added 2 hits and a consistent, physical game. Took a 3^rd Period tripping minor. But on-balance he was pretty good. And has been for a bit, now.

JAMES NEAL. 5. James Neal was one of the few Edmonton Oilers to have a decent 1^st Period and earned a well-deserved assist on the Alex Chiasson goal with some hard slogging along the wall in the O-zone. A chance in front earlier and a deft deflection that just missed as well. Faded a little after that.

It should be noted that the Oilers didn’t draw a single power play, not one. Hard to argue that they deserved one in the first 30 minutes. Didn’t get any favors from the Zebras in the final 30 or O.T., though, where they did.

That included the obvious “carry” by a Vegas defender late in the 3rd which was missed or ignored. Take your pick.

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