GAME RECAP: Ducks 4, Oilers 3

EDMONTON, AB – Put out an APB on Lukas Dostal for grand larceny. 

The Anaheim goaltender was exceptional between the pipes, turning away 46 of 49 Oilers shots on the evening, and backstopping the Ducks to a 4-3 victory on Saturday afternoon. The 22-year-old stood on his head for most of the third period, making several huge stops on a late Oilers power play to help steal the victory for the California team.  

The Oilers saw goals by Darnell Nurse, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid, while Tyson Barrie extended his assist streak to six games and has recorded 12 points in his last eight contests. 

The Oilers will now head back out on the road for a quick road trip starting on Monday against the Nashville Predators and wrapping up on Wednesday versus the Dallas Stars. 

Video: POST-RAW | Evan Bouchard 12.17.22

FIRST BLOOD

That was more like the Darnell Nurse Oilers fans know and love.

The defender opened the scoring on the evening, firing a wrist shot to the point that made its way by Lukas Dostal for his fifth goal of the season.

Nurse was coming off a tough effort on Thursday night against the Blues where two of his turnovers lead directly to Blues goals. The defenceman bore the brunt of the blame himself in the post-game press conference, while Head Coach Jay Woodcroft reiterated, they win and lose as a team.

Nurse currently leads all Oilers players in plus/minus with a plus-10 rating and came into tonight’s contest leading the team with 24:02 minutes logged per game.

GOLD MEDAL MEMORIES

Rogers Place has been pretty kind to Ducks third-overall pick Mason McTavish during his young career.

The 19-year-old helped open the scoring for the Ducks, taking both Oilers defenders with him before sliding a feed to Connor Carrick for the quick tap-in goal.

The last time he was at Rogers Place, McTavish famously swiped a Topi Niemela tip off Team Canada’s goal line to save the day for the 2022 World Junior squad. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Kent Johnson scored the game winner moments later to lead Canada to their 19th Gold medal at the tournament – with McTavish subsequently named the tournament’s MVP.

McTavish currently sits third on the Ducks in scoring in his rookie season with 18 points (4G, 16A) in 32 games.

Video: EDM Recap: Oilers’ late rally falls short in 4-3 loss

STROME-COOKING

Ryan Strome seems to love playing his former team.

Midway through the second period, the Ducks forward intercepted an Oilers pass and sauntered in on the breakaway on Stuart Skinner, roofing the shot by the goaltender’s glove to give Anaheim a 3-1 advantage.

The goal extended his point streak over his former club to five games, with three goals and five assists over that stretch. In 100 games with the Blue & Orange, Strome recorded 36 points. Since then, the 29-year-old has registered 212 points in 295 contests between the Rangers and Ducks.  

Video: POST-RAW | Leon Draisaitl 12.17.22

TURNING POINT

Another game, and another missed clearing opportunity that cost the Oilers.

It was a giveaway by Evan Bouchard six minutes into the third period ended up in the back of the Oilers net less than 10 seconds later. The goal came from a rather innocuous shot from defenceman John Klingberg, who floated the puck from the half wall off Skinner’s far post and behind the screened Oilers keeper, giving the Ducks a 4-3 advantage in the final frame.

Video: POST-RAW | Stuart Skinner 12.17.22

POWER-PLAY PERFORMANCE

The Oilers top-ranked power play continues their scorching hot start to the season.

Edmonton had been peppering Ducks starter Lukas Dostal with shots through two periods, but the Anaheim goaltender had been standing tall, holding on to the visitors 3-1 advantage.

A late cross-checking penalty by Trevor Zegras allowed the Oilers to creep back into the contest. It was Ryan Nugent-Hopkins standing on the doorstep who buried the rebound opportunity past Dostal to trim the deficit to a single goal entering the final period.

The marker was Nugent-Hopkins’ 15th of the season, and it opened the floodgates for the Oilers offence. Edmonton ramped up the pressure in the Ducks offensive zone, forcing the California club to take a pair of early penalties to start the third period.

The Oilers captain made them pay, burying a Draisaitl cross-crease pass by Dostal for his 28th goal of the season. McDavid is now on a 12-game point streak with 12 goals and 15 assists over that stretch.  

Video: POST-RAW | Evan Bouchard 12.17.22

PARTING WORDS

Check back for reaction to tonight’s game following post-game media avails.