Edmonton Oilers suffer listless 4-2 loss in Columbus

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A day after the Edmonton Oilers seemingly received a jolt in the arm from their General Manager, they inexplicably turned in a hap-hazard effort against one of the worst teams in the league, en-route to a 4-2 loss.

A series of careless Edmonton giveaways fed the Columbus Blue Jackets’ offence early. And the 3-0 hole they dug for themselves proved to be too much for the Oilers to overcome…despite a solid effort from their goalie.

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It was a brief list indeed of Edmonton skaters that turned in the effort needed against a bad team who frankly out-worked them. You will see that reflected in the Player Grades that follow.

Here is the tale of the tape…

Edmonton Oilers Player Grades

CALVIN PICKARD. 6. One rattled off the post from behind a screen early and that proved to be a harbinger of not-good things to come. The 1-0 goal was also a screened shot from in-front, off a defensive breakdown deep in the D-zone. Followed that up with good stops on Jenner and Voronkov. The 2-0 and 3-0 were both awful turnovers with Pickard all alone left as the last defence. Locked it down from there and gave his team a puncher’s chance. Stoned Roslovic not just once but twice after an awful Bouchard turnover. Stopped 30 of 33. The best Oiler on the ice and deserved better.

CONNOR McDAVID. 4. Uncharacteristically fought the puck early and often. His feed to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins resulted in a post by The Nuge. Good 1^st Period back-check denied Gaudreau on a breakaway. Perfect skate deflection of the puck across to Hyman for the 3-1, 97’s 100^th point of the season. Hard hit staggered Provorov part-way through the 2^nd. Rang one off the post on the 5v3. 2 shots. But just not sharp.

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RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 5. The best (only) chance on the 1^st Period PP. Nicked the outside of the post later in the frame. Dangerous 2^nd Period chance off a pass from Kane. Maybe the best player on this line (that did not last long). But that is faint praise.

ZACH HYMAN. 5. Hammered home a skate pass from McDavid for the 3-1. His 43^rd on the season. Could not knife home a good 3^rd Period pass from Ekholm. Had 4 shots in all. But like his linemates, did not look particularly sharp otherwise.

DARNELL NURSE. 4. This pairing has a serious miscommunication on the 1-0 which left Nurse a shade late to the puck carrier and Desharnais to the free man in the high slot. A strong stick net side probably prevented a goal later in the 2^nd. An excellent back-track to erase a break by Texier. Secondary assist on the 3-2. -2.

VINCENT DESHARNAIS. 3. Rough, rough performance. Miscommunication between he & Nurse on the 1-0 leaving Desharnais’s man in the high slot uncovered. Worst 5v5 CF on the team at 6-20, 23%. Struggled against the speedy Jackets. -2.

LEON DRAISAITL. 4. Gained the zone then threw a hard back-hand into the middle on the 3-1 goal, earning him a secondary assist. Drew the slashing call that gave Edmonton their 3^rd Period 5v3. But absolutely crushed in this one 5v5 (10-20, 33%). Did win 62% of his draws.

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ADAM HENRIQUE. 5. A blocked shot helped turn the play in the other direction, leading to a 3^rd Period scoring chance. Good shot late. Won a couple draws. Responsible defensively.

EVANDER KANE. 6. One of the few Edmonton Oilers who looked engaged over the opening 20 minutes. And had as solid game over-all. Good D-zone stick. 3 hard 1^st period hits. Set up Nugent-Hopkins for a Grade A chance with a fine feed in the 2nd. Another opportunity off a McLeod pass. Whiffed on a 3^rd chance on a hard by both Carrick and Perry. A smart pass-shot toward the slot on the PP that Perry tipped home for the 3-2.

EVAN BOUCHARD. 3. Started well enough. Played a developing Columbus 2-on-1 as well as you can, with his partner caught up ice. And a heavy hit on Sillinger along the wall. Then, a hesitant play deep in his own zone led to just a terrible giveaway, forcing not just one but two big saves by Pickard. A lonnnng conversation on the bench with Paul Coffey followed. A couple more turnovers in the 3^rd. Part of a 1st Unit PP that struggled.

MATTIAS EKHOLM. 5. Caught up-ice on a Columbus 2-on-1 in the 2^nd. A bad pinch led to a hit crossbar. Threaded a pass through to Hyman for a good chance in the 3^rd. Ended up positive in terms of High Dangers (6-2) but was not his usual, dependable self.

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RYAN McLEOD. 4. Set up Kane for a dangerous chance in the 2^nd. But while he skated well, he did not seem to accomplish much at all. 40% on draws. Lost the shot-share battle convincingly.

WARREN FOEGELE. 3. Set up McLeod for a chance in the 1^st and had a bang-bang play of his own but could not cash. But then a god-awful giveaway along the wall in his own zone for the 3-0. It sapped much of the momentum Carrick may have gained with his bout. Sat & watched for a while after that. -2.

COREY PERRY. 6. Part of a 3-way play that resulted in a good chance by Kane in the 2^nd. Good not bury a greasy chance created by Carrick in the 2^nd. Drew a 3^rd Period trip. Camped out in front and scored a greasy one on a deflection late in the Oilers 3^rd Period PP to narrow the lead to 3-2. Led the Oilers with 4 shots.

BRETT KULAK. 6. The Oilers best defender on the night. Skated miles and was effective in that mode at both ends of the ice. Put in an impossible position by his partner behind his own net on the 2-0. Hard 2^nd Period shot. Easily led the D-core in 5v5 CF at 20-15, 57% and also strong on High Dangers at 4-2.

CODY CECI. 4. Seemed to be waiting for an icing call that never came on the 2-0 and his attempt at handling that puck down low was insufficient. Busted his ass back to cut off Danforth who was on a partial 2^nd Period break. Took Texier heavily into the boards in the 3^rd.

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SAM CARRICK. 6. An impactful 7:31 of TOI. Full credit to the new guy who, with his new teammates in a hole early, took a spirited fight with Columbus tough guy Mathieu Olivier and acquitted himself well. Nearly buried a deflection right off a faceoff in the 2^nd. Forced a puck across the slot which both Perry and Kane just missed.

MATTIAS JANMARK. 3. Did not make much happen. 2^nd Period turnover. -2.

DEREK RYAN. 3. Failed to get the puck deep at the attacking blueline leading to a chance by Columbus at the other end. 3^rd Period blocked shot. -2.

Edmonton’s record now sits at 35-20-2, 72 points. They remain 3^rd in the Pacific Division. The Oilers are just 1 back of Vegas with 2 games in hand.

Find me on Threads @kleavins, on Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, Mastodon at KurtLeavins@mstdn.social, and X @KurtLeavins.

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