The Oilers came within a post of a point in St. Louis Wednesday, on a night when the Blues were the better team on-balance.
Both Mikko Koskinen and the Oilers penalty kill were terrific. But the Edmonton power play had the game on it’s collective stick no less than 4 times and came up empty…including a 6-4 man advantage that continued right down to the final buzzer.
The Blues dominated in the 2nd frame in particular. But an 18-8 Oilers advantage in shots down the stretch sure made this one interesting.
Ultimately, make the final 2-1 Blues. Here’s the tale of the tape:
Edmonton Oilers Player Grades
MIKKO KOSKINEN. 8. Mikko Koskinen was nothing short of tremendous versus the Blues, stopping 42 of 44 shots. Stoned former Oiler David Perron on an excellent 1st Period chance and then denied him yet again with a spectacular blocker save in the 2nd. A late save short-side on Schenn in the 3rd kept the game close. Koskinen was not picked as a star by the St. Louis media. Shame on them. We may be seeing him claim the 1st job from between he and Mike Smith.
CONNOR McDAVID. 5. Frustrated all night long up against Ryan O’Reilly (played nearly half of his TOI against 97) and the Blues shutdown pair of Colton Parayko and Jay Boumeester. That’s different than McDavid not playing well offensively. He did manage 3 shots in 22:19. And set up Draisaitl for a good 2nd Period chance. However McDavid was also one of the players principally responsible for the 2-0 goal when he let the late man drift unchecked into the slot.
JOAKIM NYGARD. 4. Often over-matched by the far more physical Blues. Managed 1 shot in 13:24…a lot of that alongside McDavid. Yes, he can skate and forecheck. But he’s miscast in the Top 6.
ZACK KASSIAN. 5. Played a key role in the 2-1 goal as Kassian led the forecheck into the zone and then created a large diversion that took the St. Louis goaltender out of the play. Awarded with an assist for his efforts. Kassian was also guilty of failing to get the puck deep into the offensive zone in what turned out to be the 2-0. Leveled a crushing hit on Oskar Sundquist. His 500th career NHL game deserves a nod as well.
DARNELL NURSE. 6. Failed to shoulder check at the offensive blueline as Ethan Bear was changing behind him on the 1-0. But to be fair, even if he had I’m not sure he would have had a chance to catch Brayden Schenn. 2 shots and a block in 21:21 including 3:31 shorthanded. Probably the Oilers best 2-way D-man tonight.
ETHAN BEAR. 4. Drew a 1st Period PP. A big clear in the slot mid-way through the 2nd. Was he a little slow getting off the ice on the change that handed St. Louis a breakaway? I say yes, although I certainly don’t hang the goal solely on him. Did lose his check below the goal line on the 2-0 though. A dangerous shot on a 2nd Period PP. Played 20:29. Generally played well but a couple of his mistakes were costly.
LEON DRAISAITL. 7. Centered the Oilers best line over the first 2 periods in between Gagner and Neal and was the Oilers best skater. Re-united with McDavid and Kassian for most of the 3rd. Hit the post with 19.3 seconds left. Assisted on the Neal goal to draw within a point of league-leading McDavid in the scoring race. Had 8 shots and fought through a really tough physical battle against the Blues in order to do so. A terrific stick broke up a 2nd Period PP effort by St. Louis and turned into a short-handed chance. Didn’t stop in front on the 2-0 but I thought he was supporting the D-man on the play. Played 23:41. 50% in the faceoff circle.
SAM GAGNER. 6. All 3 players on the 2nd line were well above 50% in CF% on the night, Gagner 14-8, 63%. 2 shots in 11:53 as well as a post. Set up Neal for a very good 1st Period opportunity. Next shift he set up Draaisaitl for another. But he and James Neal also had a malfunction just inside the St. Louis blueline that turned into a breakaway in the other direction for the 1-0. But the puck was headed in the right direction for a majority of his shifts.
JAMES NEAL. 6. His 18th of the season drew the game close at 2-1. It was a terrific shot as most of Neal’s body was behind the goal line but he still found twine with Jake Allen down and out in front. That was one of 4 shots for Neal. But he and Sam Gagner were also partially at fault on the 1-0.
OSCAR KLEFBOM. 6. Good clear on a 1st Period PK. A terrific steal and clear in a 2nd Period PK. His line at the end of the night included 2 shots, 2 blocks, 2 giveaways and a healthy 26:02 TOI. However, he was also part of a power play that came up empty over 4 opportunities and 6:33 of ice-time.
ADAM LARSSON. 7. His best play of the game was a shot block with the net wide open. Larsson managed to get his heel on it and direct it wide. Played a hard-working 19:49 including a close-to-perfect 5:40 shorthanded. Has really found his game of late.
RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 5. Had 5 shots on net. Did set up 97 for a chance on a 1st Period deflection-pass. Good clear on a 2nd period PK. The effort was there but not a lot went his way. The best example of that was a 2nd Period back-check that likely saved a goal only to inadvertently tick the puck over the glass to put his club on the PK.
JUJHAR KHAIRA. 5. A good D-zone takeaway in the 1st. A very good block and clear on a 2nd Period PK. Contributed to the penalty kill in a meaningful way overall, logging 2:42 TOI with St. Louis on the man advantage. 2 shots, 3 hits and a block.
ALEX CHIASSON. 4. 2 shots and a hit in 12:14. I didn’t mark him with a single defensive miscue but in a physical game against a big team I thought Chiasson did not make the impact they need him to.
KRIS RUSSELL. 5. A 1st Period giveaway. A good clear on a 2nd Period PK. Over-all played a pretty low-event 12:50.
CALEB JONES. 5. Battled hard, if not always successfully. But the majority of the time the kid bent but did not break. Unfairly nicked with a -1 as he was just coming onto the ice when the 1-0 was going in. A Dangerous shot from the point was 1 of 2 on the night.
RILEY SHEAHAN. 5. This line was hammered in possession at 5×5. Sheahan was 3-11, 21% CF. 5×4 was a different story, though, where Sheahan and crew sparkled in 3:12 worth of shorthanded work. Great clear on a 1st Period PK. Being just 22% on face-offs contributed to the puck chase that too often ensued on his watch.
GAETAN HAAS. 4. Did draw a 1st Period PP. And he and Nygard had a very effective 2nd Period 4×4 shift. But Haas spent too much effort trying to go through that St. Louis D rather than dump & go around. 0 shots in 8:34.
JOSH ARCHIBALD. 4. Very effective on the PK with a clean slate over 2:58 of work. But crushed 5×5 and managed a lone hit in just 9:38. Not the spunky Archibald we’ve seen the past couple.
The Oilers sit 3rd in the Pacific at 19-14-4. They host the Penguins Friday.
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