The offence offers up a parched performance as the Edmonton Oilers fall 5-2 to Philly: Cult of Hockey Player Grades

The Edmonton Oilers dropped an afternoon tilt against Philadelphia on Saturday.

The home team got off to a spirited start, but poor puck management mid-frame resulted in a 3-1 deficit after one. The Oilers narrowed it to 3-2 after two with Calvin Pickard holding his club in it. But then the offence went dust dry, the first Oilers shot not coming until 6:22 of the third. At one point, Pickard made 18 consecutive saves between Oilers shots. That will not get it done.

The Flyers found an insurance marker and an empty netter sealed it. Make the final 5-2 Philly.

Here is the tale of the tape…

 

 

 

 

CALVIN PICKARD. 6. The 1-0 was a deflection on front off the rush. The 2-0 a screen on a third attempt after Pickard had made excellent saves on the two previous shots. The 3-0 nicked off a Flyers skate at the crease. None of the three would be considered “on” Pickard but sure could have used a save on at least one of them. Big save early in the second on Zegras to erase an Emberson turnover. Equally important toe save on Dvorak after Bouchard got beat wide. Back-to-back stops near the end of the second frame to keep it at 3-2. And a PK stuff on Tippett to get it to the room within reach. The 4-2 was a deflection through a double screen. Stopped 24 of the 28 he faced. Gave his team a puncher’s chance in a game they did not really deserve better.

CONNOR McDAVID. 6. A good feed to a hard-charging Hyman for a first period chance. Hard hit on Konecny on the wall. Exploded up the middle swallowed up an Ekholm pass and wristed it blocker side for the 3-1. Then set up Bouchard and Ekholm with back-to-back chances near the end of the first. Blew clear past York on a spectacular PP rush. Primary assist on the 3-2. Drew a PP a couple of shifts later. One of the few Oilers with offensive mojo, registered 6 shots. 28% on draws.

ZACH HYMAN. 5. Grade ‘A’ chance blocker-ed away in the first. A steal and second Grade ‘A’ later in the frame but could not bury that one either. Missed call late as Konecny chopped him down in the slot. 66% CF 5v5. Yeah, had his looks, but could not finish.

RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 5. Secondary assist on the 3-2. Dogged effort to create a scoring chance later in the first. 3 shots. 63% CF 5v5.

EVAN BOUCHARD. 5. Hard first period shot. Neutral zone turnover on the 3-0. Walked Dvorak and Pickard bailed him out with a terrific toe save. Absolutely hammered a point shot home for the 3-2 on the PP. Decent with the puck, bit of an adventure without it.

MATTIAS EKHOLM. 7. A good, blocked shot in the first. Intercepted a Flyers pass and laid a perfect area pass up to McDavid foe the 3-1 breakaway goal. Another key block in the second. Third Period hold. 3 shots, 2 blocks. 68% CF 55v. Easily the Oilers best D-man on the day.

LEON DRAISAITL. 4. Great feed into the middle to Podkolzin from the wall for an early chance. But his line was on for two against in the first. Sprung McDavid for a PP break. No assist but a critical zone keep on the 3-2 PP goal. Never did really get it going. High Dangers 1-3 with him on the ice. 55% on draws.

VASILY PODKOLZIN. 4. Had been under the weather and in fact did not look quite himself in this game. Good chance early off a Draisaitl pass. Could not handle a hot potato up the wall from Nurse on the 2-0. Yeah, it’s a bad pass but you must do something with that puck. Looked off a good chance early in the third.

JACK ROSLOVIC. 4. Too late on the backcheck on the 1-0. Good feed to Nurse for a shot. But no shots of his own and 2 giveaways.

DARNELL NURSE. 3. Rough opening frame. Overly aggressive in the neutral zone, turning what was a two-on-two into an odd man rush and the 1-0. Fumbled the puck deep then tossed a grenade up the wall to Podkolzin who did not handle it well on the 2-0. Picked a fight with Hathaway to try to ignite his teammates. -2.

ALEC REGULA. 4. Failed to intercept the pass into the middle on the 1-0. Blocked shot to open the second. Took a high sticking call. Important third period block. Miserable 5v5 (29% CF).

MATT SAVOIE. 4. Very responsible two-way hockey in the opening 40. Very effective Pk shift late in the second. Two shot blocks through 40. Lost faceoff on the 4-2.

IKE HOWARD. 4. Noticeable backcheck in the first. 0 shots.

QUINN HUTSON. 3. Very quiet. 0 shots, 1 giveaway.

SPENCER STASTNEY. 3. A real off night for him. Missing his usual quick first step. Failed to take a man or block the puck on the 4-2. -3.

TY EMBERSON. 4. Awkward giveaway led to a dangerous chance against in the second. Failed to clear man or puck on the 4-2.

ADAM HENRIQUE. 4. Decent PK work from the veteran but 5v5 his line was thoroughly outplayed. Just 36% on faceoffs.

MATTIAS JANMARK. 4. Drew the penalty that led to the PP and the 3-2 goal. But crushed 5v5.

TRENT FREDERIC. 3. Played just 8:12. 0 shots, 1 hit. CF 5v5 25%.

The Oilers are now 20-16-6, 46 points. Nashville is in next.

This article is not AI generated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Bruce McCurdy, 1955-2025.

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