The Edmonton Oilers lose a rough-and-tumble affair 4-3 despite a late comeback- Player Grades
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The Montreal Canadiens got the jump out of the gate on the Oilers Wednesday night and were rewarded for their tenacity with a 2-1 lead.
Then, an egregious giveaway gifted Montreal a 3-1 edge. Soon after, the officials blew a goaltender interference call on the 4-1. It sure looked over at that point. But to their credit, the Oilers didn’t fade away…and turned this game into a desperate 4-3 finish. But I can’t imagine too many people arguing that Montreal wasn’t the best team on the ice and full value for the victory.
The refereeing in this one left a lot to be desired. In the Monday game, they let the physical stuff go and for the most part…who minds that? But they looked the other way on a lot of cheap stuff tonight, and certainly not all of it by Montreal. 87 hits thrown, the Habs with a slender edge 46-41.
Here’s the tale of the tape.
Edmonton Oilers Game Grades
MIKE SMITH . 5. Was sharp early and kept the Oilers in the game, with stops off Byron, Merrill and Toffoli. No chance on the 1-0 or the 2-1. Was completely surprised by an ill-timed back-pass by Archibald on the 3-1. And Anderson clearly knocked the stick out of Smith’s hand with a kicking motion on the 4-1. I can’t explain the non-call and don’t buy the NHL explanation that it was “incidental”. I supported Dave Tippett’s decision to challenge it. With the score 4-1 what did he have to lose? Smith stopped 27 of 31. Was not the problem.
CONNOR McDAVID . 7. McDavid scored an absolute beauty to tie the game up at 1, on a breakaway where 97 went forehand-backhand-forehand and then elevated it above Allen. Took a backhand from Draisaitl and subsequently threaded one of his own through a crowd to Nugent-Hopkins for the 4-2. Then, his wrister from up high was deflected by Puljujarvi in front for the 4-3. Connor had 3 shots and 2 hits in 27:10 of work. McDavid had to battle through an assortment of sticks, legs, arms and other impediments, but to be fair…he offered a few of his own in the other direction as well. Although Corey Perry is awaiting his Oscar on McDavid’s “roughing” infraction.
JOSH ARCHIBALD . 4. Josh Archibald will see that D-zone giveaway in his sleep tonight. It was a panic play from a player we’re not used to seeing panic from. And his bowed head after the play told the story. Still delivered 2 shots and 6 hits but the most a lot of people will remember is his unfortunate role in the 3-1.
JESSE PULJUJARVI . 6. Scored the 4-3 by being a better door than a window in front of Jake Allen and managing at the same time to get his stick on the McDavid wrist shot. In it went! A great chance early off a feed from Archibald. Had a bit of bad luck in the final flurry as the puck got hopping on him a couple times. On the other hand, on the 1-0 he was beaten out at the red line, and then was not able to pick up his back-check (the goal scorer) in time. Added 3 hits.
DARNELL NURSE . 5. Spent too much time defending. Now, Nurse defended reasonably well and certainly did so in a hard-nosed fashion. Darnell mostly bent but didn’t break in 25:38. He was also in the photo on the 1-0 but I had no quibble with his decision on the play. 4 hits. Good, but not great.
ETHAN BEAR . 5. Like his partner, Ethan Bear spent entirely too much time in his own zone. He was partially at-fault on the 1-0 although he stayed with the same attacker that he had picked up high in the zone. Sometimes, you have to give the shooter credit for nice play. Bear had a shot, 4 hits and 2 take-aways.
RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS . 6. Scored the 4-2 with Mike Smith out of the net in the dying minutes. That was one of 3 shots on net. 26:31 was a lot of TOI for his first game off the Disabled List. I thought Nugent-Hopkins was better than average in the rough going, under the circumstances.
LEON DRAISAITL . 5. Draisaitl played a hard-nosed game, and generally gave as good as he got. Although I’m pretty sure a careful study would show he lost the cross-check battle with Shea Weber who apparently has immunity from persecution on such matters. A tidy little backhand pass by Leon led to the 4-2 goal. 4 shots of his own, 3 hits. Whistled for a 3 rd Period Interference call for checking a man who had released the puck a split-second later. After all they had let go (on both sides) included what had been inflicted upon him, that call was laughable. 63% on draws.
KAILER YAMAMOTO . 4. An “E” for effort but in a game that was ever rougher than the one before it I thought Yamamoto had a tough time having the same impact on the game that we’re used to from him. His only shot in 18+ minutes came on a nice set-up by Nurse.
CALEB JONES . 6. Had a very good game and was one of the Oilers best D-men on the night. A lovely pass up the middle set McDavid free for the 1-1. A 1 st Period shot. An excellent 2 nd Period stick in the neutral zone to break up a dangerous looking Habs rush. Had made a terrific play to angle an attacker off on his own zone then give the puck away in the slot for a 5-alarm chance. Made an o.k. impact in just 11:42 of work.
ADAM LARSSON . 4. Flat-out beaten outside by Josh Anderson on the 2-1 after a weak chip in the neutral zone allowed the play to break down and head in the wrong direction. Worse, it came a mere :11 after McDavid had just scored the 1-1. Great play by Anderson? Yes. Should an NHL D-man allow that? No. Has Larsson had that happen to him more than a handful of times all season? No Had 5 hits. Gave it all he had. But that one error was costly.
DEVIN SHORE . 4. Didn’t play a bunch after the Kassian injury, just 7:33. 2 hits, a shot, a block. Was -1 but wasn’t the culprit on the play. But also, did not survive the changes for-against battle well.
DOMENIK KAHUN . 3. Played just 5:44. A nice takeaway early in the 1 st Period. But was throttled on changes for-against.
ZACK KASSIAN . INCOMPLETE. Suffered a leg injury in a rather mild (within the context of that game) encounter with Shea Weber along the end boards and had to be helped to the room after just 1:25 of TOI.
KRIS RUSSELL . 6. Kris Russell and Tyson Barrie were the only pairing to come close to breaking even on chances for and against on this night. Was only officially credited with 1 shot block but I counted 2 in one shift in the 1 st Period alone, likely saving a goal on a flurry deep in the slot. 3 hits and 2 shots in 15:53.
TYSON BARRIE . 5. Barrie earned the 2 nd assist (his 32 nd on the season) on the Puljujarvi 4-3 goal. He and Russell had pretty good luck moving the puck through a stiff defensive effort by Montreal and defended well in their own zone. My eye tells by Barrie may be a bit knocked up but didn’t miss a shift.
GAETAN HAAS . 5. Didn’t play a bunch. Was stripped of a puck in the 1 st Period that turned into a Montreal chance. James Neal teed one up for Haas whose slapper was hard but handled by Allen. 50/50 on the dot. I think his ice time was a product of the Oilers chasing the game and not necessarily poor play.
ALEX CHIASSON. 5. Alex Chiasson squared off and fought Corey Perry early, a result of the incidental contact with Carey Price the previous game. 1 hit. Set up Haas for a decent 2 nd Period chance. An effective forecheck took advantage of an Allen error and created a chance for Shore.
JAMES NEAL . 4. Neal played with an edge, when the play was in tight around him, and was credited with 4 hits. Was more challenged when he needed to use his feet, which is the issue when he’s in the lineup.
The loss drops the Oilers to 27-16-2 on the season, remaining a single point back of Winnipeg for 2 nd in the Canadian division.
Next up? 4 days off before Winnipeg on the 26 th .
Find me on Twitter @KurtLeavins
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