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 lead. And the officials blew a goaltender interference call on the 4-1. It sure looked over at that point. To their credit, the Oilers didn’t fade away though…and turned the 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.

The refereeing 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 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. I supported Dave Tippett’s decision to challenge it. Stopped 27 of 31.

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CONNOR McDAVID. 7. McDavid scored a beauty to tie the game up at 1, with a breakaway where 97 went forehand-backhand-forehand and then elevated it above Allen. Took a backhand from Draisaitl and then threaded a backhander 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. 3 shots and 2 hots in 27:10. 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.

JOSH ARCHIBALD. 4. He’ll 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 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 managed at the same time to get his stick on the McDavid wrist shot. 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. On the 1-0 he was beaten out at the red line, and then was not able to pick up his back-check in time. Added 3 hits.

DARNELL NURSE. 5. Spent too much time defending. Now, Nurse defended reasonably well and certainly did so hard. Darnell mostly bent but didn’t break in 25:38. Was also in the photo on the 1-0 but I had no quibble with his decision on the play. 4 hits.

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ETHAN BEAR. 5. Like his partner, Bear spent entirely too much time in his own zone. Partially at-fault on the 1-0 although he stayed with the same attacker, he picked up high in the zone. A shot, 4 hits, 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 and I thought Nugent-Hopkins was better than average in the rough going.

LEON DRAISAITL. 5. Played a hard-nosed game, and generally gave as good as he got. A tidy little backhand pass led to the 4-2 goal. 4 shots of his own, 3 hits. Whistled for a 3rd 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) 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. A lovely pass up the middle set McDavid free for the 1-1. A 1st Period shot. An excellent 2nd 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 impact in just 11:42.

ADAM LARSSON. 4. Flat-out beaten outside by Josh Anderson on the 2-1 after a weak chip in the neutral zone. Worse, it came a mere :11 after McDavid has 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.

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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 1st 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, at least) encounter with Shea Weber along the end boards and had to be helped to the room. That was after just 1:25 of TOI.

KRIS RUSSELL. 6. Russell and Tyson Barrie were the only pairing to come close to breaking even on chances for and against. Was only officially credited with 1 shot block but I counted 2 in one shift in the 1st 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 2nd assist (his 32nd 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 1st 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 2nd Period chance. An effective forecheck took advantage of an Allen error and created a chance for Shore.

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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 2nd in the Canadian division.

Next up? 4 days off before Winnipeg on the 26th.

Find me on Twitter @KurtLeavins

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