Edmonton Oilers down Canucks 3-2 in shootout

Article content

The Oilers and Canucks played a bit of a sleeper for over 40+ minutes on Monday night at Rogers Place.

A fair bit of rust still appears to be on the Oilers game, while an industrious Canucks squad made life difficult for Edmonton. But this particular Vancouver lineup did not have the skill at the other end to gain them the “W.”

The game turned entertaining in the O/T and ended in the Oilers favor with a Viktor Arvidsson goal in the shoot-out.

Article content

Here is the tale of the tape…

STUART SKINNER. The Oilers’ starting goaltender was excellent. A couple big stops during a goal mouth scramble. Stoned Smith on a 1-timer. Then stopped him again late in the first. A sharp save through heavy traffic early in the third. Big stop later in the third off Sprong. He stoned him yet again in Overtime. And…wait for it…booted out yet another Sprong drive in the shootout. Stopped 21 of 23. The Oilers #1 looks ready to rock.

LEON DRAISAITL. The trio of Draisaitl, Arvidsson and Skinner had chemistry on the opening shift and created a good chance, but the rest of the game they looked like they were getting used to one another while at 5v5. A close call in the second, but Skinner could not convert a Leon feed. A shift later Leon held off two attackers while dishing Skinner for another opportunity. Good chance in front off a 97 pass. Big defensive play on Sprong in Overtime. Hammered one home in the shootout. 61% on draws.

VIKTOR ARVIDSSON. Played well, even if the line itself was a bit off. Drilled a hard blast from the hashers after Draisaitl found him all alone in the high slot. Could not find net on a good pass from Gleason late in the second. Started the 2-1 sequence from behind the net and then was a menace in front when the Gleason puck went by. Won the game in the shootout with a picture perfect deke. Sure like his hustle.

Article content

Article content

JEFF SKINNER. Fought it most of the night. Could not find the handle on a Leon pass in the second. Found the range on another Leon feed but the Vancouver goalie had the answer. Nasty giveaway in OT.

CONNOR McDAVID. McDavid and Draisaitl wove some magic on the first period power play, but Leon fired it through the goalie’s legs and wide. Great feed to Podkolzin but the latter’s stick was lifted. Walked his old teammate Desharnais for a late period opportunity. A pretty one-touch pass to Corey Perry on the 1-1. Fed the point for the Gleason slapper on the 2-1. Received a stretch pass from Stecher and dished it off to Leon for a shot. Set up Gleason in OT but the rearguard could not finish. Puck squibbed off his stick in the shootout.

VASILY PODKOLKIN. Could not get a stick on a terrific feed from McDavid late in the first. A couple hard second period hits. Seemed to fade into the background a bit in the third.

COREY PERRY. Excellent chance late in the second, but just missed sliding the puck into the open net. Notched the 1-1 goal on a lovely effort between him and McDavid. Perry took a deft touch pass from ninety-seven, beat a couple of defenders and then slid a backhand, fore hand deke home. Got his nose dirty when a Canucks player took a liberty or two with 97. You like to see that. CF of 78% 5v5.

Article content

ADAM HENRIQUE. Smart veteran game. A dangerous wraparound in the first off, a good feed from Brown. Smart tip & clear on the PK early in the third. Another veteran stick cleared the zone in overtime. 64% on draws.

CONNOR BROWN. Hustled. Fed Henrique for a wraparound early. Looked to have the winning goal on his stick but got caught from behind before he could get it away.

MATTIA JANMARK. An excellent second period pass that Caggiula could not convert.

JAMES HAMBLIN. Quiet night but no big mistakes, either. Not sure he did enough to earn a roster spot.

DRAKE CAGGIULA. An excellent chance in front later in the first. Was not quite as noticeable in the second half of the game but still solid (CF% of 73% 5v5). Has been good in pre-season.

LANE PEDERSON. Played on wing again tonight. A blocked shot and then drew a call in the first period. A hard hit later in the period. His best pre-season game. But will it be too little, too late?

BRETT KULAK. Smart first period stick in front of his own net to snuff out a Vancouver chance. Played a very calm, even game back there, looking very much like the veteran NHL D-man that he is.

Article content

JOSH BROWN. Beat the puck square, including a fumble along the wall which he then iced with the Henrique line at the end of their shift. Did win a puck battle for a clear on a 3^rd Period PK. But did not have a great night. High Dangers 3-5 5v5.

TRAVIS DERMOTT. Sharp recovery at the attacking blueline to prevent a jail break by the Canucks. An impressive job of angling off Sherwood on a developing play in the neutral zone. Good defensive stick. Earned the second assist on the Perry goal. High Dangers 3-1 5v5. Did not hurt his chances with a solid effort.

TROY STECHER. Had a good first including a feed that created a good chance for Caggiula. Had a terrific look late in the frame but fired the puck wide. Good late second period clear. A rush and shot in the third and followed that up with a hard cut to the net and a back-hand chance. Beautiful stretch pass up to ninety-seven which created a scoring chance for Draisaitl. High Dangers 4-2 5v5. Did himself some favors tonight, one would think.

BEN GLEASON. Good stop on a second period PK shift. Fed Arvidsson for a late second period chance. Fine feed to a breaking ninety-seven late. It almost ended in OT after a setup from McDavid. With the Oilers traditional puck movers not in the game, Gleason got some PP time and performed well. High Dangers 3-0 5v5. Forcing his name into the conversation, at least.

Article content

TY EMBERSON. Struggled. A well-managed clear in front of his own net to backhand a puck out of danger. A shot on net later in the frame. Knocked off the puck in his own end a couple times in the second and could not stop the pass across on the 1-0. Stripped off the puck behind the net on the PK. Shot block in OT, one of 5. 3 giveaways.

Now on Threads @kleavins. Also, find me on Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at [email protected]. This article is not AI generated.

Recently, at The Cult…

McCURDY: Edmonton Oilers move another 5 guys out of camp

STAPLES: Edmonton Oilers release veteran sniper

LEAVINS: Is this key Oilers defender a “4” or a “5”?

Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.

Article content