Oilers can not hold 2-0 lead against ‘Canes, slip 4-2 in Overtime

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The Oilers opened the game strong but the ‘Canes dominated the back-half of the opening frame. Edmonton was lucky to emerge with the 1-0 lead.

The Oilers carried a 2-0 lead into the third, but Carolina scored twice to draw even and force extra time.

Then at 3v3 OT, the Oilers threatened to end it multiple times, only to have Aho slap one home at the other end.

Make the final 3-2 Carolina, in a highly entertaining but sloppy affair in which both goalies were strong.

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Here is the tale of the tape…

STUART SKINNER. 8. 14 first period saves including a great one on Svechnikov early in the first. Then, an even better one off a one-timer by Aho on the Power Play later in the frame. Opened the second with two more terrific saves, the initial one on Svechnikov again but then pulled a Jarvis attempt out of thin air under heavy traffic in front. Late in the second Skinner absolutely robbed Aho by getting his trapper arm on a shot in tight. A circus-like save on the PK early in the third but a slapper finally beat him for the 2-1. The 2-2 was an odd man rush due to a bad Oilers change. The OT winner Skinner had zero shot at. Not often at The Cult of Hockey does a goalie gives up three and gets an “8”. But Skinner was excellent. The Oilers best player.

CONNOR McDAVID. 7. Opened the scoring by first tidying up a miscue in the Oilers zone then racing the puck up ice and firing a wrist shot from the faceoff hasher that went bar-in. He and Leon could not convert on a first period 2-on-1 a bit later on. Made it 2-0 in a second effort on the power play after receiving a fine Draisaitl pass and beating two ‘Canes on his way to the net. That was his fifty-sixth career regular season multi-goal game. Sent Hyman in all alone early in the third. McDavid and Draisaitl dominated in OT but could not cash. On his way out of the zone on the 3-2 winner. Nice to see the Power Play finally cash in.

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RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 5. A better performance. Primary assist on the 1-0 with a short pass to a streaking McDavid. Set up Hyman for a great chance in O/T. Only one High Danger against during his 5v5 time.

ZACH HYMAN. 4. Won a puck battle on the first shift. Drew a first period trip. Sprung by McDavid early in the third but his deke and backhand were denied. OT chance fund an outstretched toe.

EVAN BOUCHARD. 5. High event game. A fine defensive play on Slavin on a fast-developing Hurricanes sortie. But a couple of poor reads in his own zone, all in the first. Drew a PP and then earned the second assist on the 2-0. Took a high percentage chance in 3v3 OT and got neither puck nor man. High Dangers 7-1. Five shots, three blocks, but four giveaways.

MATTIAS EKHOLM. 7. The best D-man on the ice tonight. 5v5 High Dangers chances were 8-1 on his watch. Buried Svechnikov with a heavy hit during a first period PP. Two zone clears on a late second period PK. Two shots, two blocks, four hits in 23-30.

LEON DRAISAITL. 6. First period cross-check put his club on the PK. Drew a call with a hard charge to the ‘Canes net. Could not quite get his stick on a McDavid pass on a first period 2-on-1. A terrific backhand pass to McDavid for the 2-0, and it was Leon’s zone entry that had started the sequence. Found Skinner for an excellent third period chance. He and McDavid dominated in overtime and Draisaitl won three critical faceoffs. But they could not solve the goaltender. Left all alone to try and defend a 2-on-1 in OT.

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JEFF SKINNER. 6. Played very well. Good feed to Draisaitl, drawing a penalty with a hard play to the Carolina net. First period turnover leading to a long Carolina stretch in the D-zone. Just missed on a PP deflection off a Nurse shot. That would have made it 3-0. A shot and then went to the net to get his own rebound later in the second. He and Draisaitl teamed up for a chance, after which Skinner collected his own rebound and nearly tucked it in short side.

VICTOR ARVIDSSON. 5. The flow of play was generally in a positive direction with him on the ice 5v5. But I felt it was Draisaitl and Skinner driving most of that. Responsible defensively. Two shots.

DARNELL NURSE. 6. Playing the right side. A shot on the second period power play that Skinner just missed on a deflection. Closed fast and hard on his man on the PK late in the second allowing Ekholm to clear. Critical rebound clear with the score still 2-1. Lone man back on the 2-2 goal and unable to get a stick on the pass across. High Dangers 4-6 5v5. If you do not appreciate just how hard it is for a Defenceman to play on both sides in all situations…you have never tried to do it yourself.

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TRAVIS DERMOTT. 4. Struggled. Late second period penalty after a scramble in front. 2 blocks. A giveaway. On for the 2-2. High Dangers were 3-6 5v5.

ADAM HENRIQUE. 3. And excellent first period PK with a D-zone faceoff win and subsequent clear. But absolutely crushed 5v5, with an ugly 3-20, 13% CF. And just 33% in the circle where he is usually money. Struggling after a good start to the year.

VASILY PODKOLZIN. 5. Smart first period back check. Shot block a shift later. A wrap-around bid in the second. A steal in his own zone which resulted in another Edmonton man advantage. Excellent forecheck early in the third. The fancy stats say he was not good, but the eye test says Podkolzin was the best Bottom-6 player on the team tonight.

COREY PERRY. 4. A couple opportunities right around the net early in the third. O.K. on the O-zone. But challenges speed-wise from the blueline back.

BRETT KULAK. 5. His speed was noticeable against a very quick Hurricanes club. 5v5 he was 3-3 in terms of High Danger Chances For/Against. A shot, two blocks, two takeaways.

TROY STECHER. 5. Helped save a goal with a play net side in the first. Sawed off in High Dangers 5v5 at 3-3. +1 in 15:45.

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DEREK RYAN. 4. A single, :48 shift in the first. Fed Perry out front in the third. Struggled to deal with the speed of this game. Was 71% in limited face-off duty.

MATTIAS JANMARK. 2. A terrible giveaway on the 2-1 And too late back to catch the back man who made the score 2-2. A 5v5 CF of 17%!

CONNOR BROWN. 3. Good stick & clear on a first period PK. But not much else going on with the puck. And a 5v5v CF of 21% suggest not much good was happening without it, either. ut of position on the 2-1.

The Oilers season record goes to 2-4-1.

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

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