The puck doesn't stop here, Canucks drill the Edmonton Oilers 6-3: Game Grades

Article content

An historically bad start by Mikko Koskinen and some sloppy, undisciplined play by the guys in front of him led to a 6-3 Canucks win over the Oilers at Rogers Place Thursday night.

At times, it felt as if the home team may find their way back into this one. In fact, they drew within 2 goals of the Canucks twice but couldn’t hold onto the momentum.

The Oilers outplayed Vancouver over long stretches and out-shot them 42-27. But in the end, you can’t argue that Edmonton deserved to win.

Here’s the tale of the tape.

Edmonton Oilers Game Grades

MIKKO KOSKINEN. 1. Koskinen allowed 4 goals on the 1^st 4 shots of the game. The first 2 were more on D-zone breakdowns that Mikko, but the latter 2 were terrible goals on entirely insufficient efforts. Koskinen left his stick in toothpicks after he got the hook but before he skated off the ice at the 12:22 mark. But honestly? Even that effort took 3 tries before the stick finally shattered. The 4-in-4 sombrero from Koskinen has only been accomplished twice before in NHL history: By Dan Bouchard for Atlanta in 1979, and again by Don Beaupre with the Capitals in 1989. Thanks to Reid Wilkins for that trivia. Not what you want to see, 4 games from the playoffs.

Article content

MIKE SMITH. 4. Nice initial save by Smith on a shot from the point and then again on the rebound early in the 2^nd. A smart blocker save on Miller forced by Kahun turnover. On the 5-2, it was equal parts good fortune on Graovac’s part (as he released the puck from behind the goal line), and Mike Smith pulled ever-so-slightly off the inside post by the high shot…which in fact defected off his mask plate and in. The 6-3, however, leaked right between his pads. Earned a legitimate assist on the 4-1 with a sharp 120-foot head-manned pass, the 19^th helper of his career.

CONNOR McDAVID. 7. A 3-point night leaves Connor McDavid with 96 points and 4 games remaining in which to hit the century mark. The primary assist on Draisaitl’s 1st. A nice feed led directly to Puljujarvi’s 4-2 marker. Got the 2nd assist on Leon’s 2nd of the evening. An excellent back-check prevented a chance late in the 1^st. Sifted a nice pass to Caleb Jones for a late 2^nd Period opportunity. Awarded a penalty shot in the 3^rd and had the goalie beat on the deke but Demko managed to get his bad on the puck and keep it a 5-2 (at the time) game. Skated past a dangerously loose puck in the D-zone on the 6-3.

LEON DRAISAITL. 6. High event game, sure, but it was no contest without him. Drilled the puck home to the far side of Demko to break the 0-4 Oilers start. Draisaitl’s forecheck helped lead to the 4-2. And then Leon converted a Darnell Nurse pass with another one-timer for the 5-3 to give the Oilers a chance to get back into the game. But it wasn’t meant to be. Was late to the shooter on the 3-0 but still…that soft shot can’t go in. Tried to force a pass up into neutral ice in the 3rd but it was intercepted and turned in the other direction for the 6-3.

Article content

JESSE PULJUJARVI. 5. Jesse Puljujarvi’s one-timer off a pass by McDavid cut the Vancouver lead to 4-2. He couldn’t cash from the slot on another setup from McDavid and Draisaitl later in the game. Drew a 3^rd period penalty after being tripped up on a dangerous looking sortie but the club couldn’t cash on the PP. Beaten badly by the shooter on the 1-0. 2 shots, 1 hit. Imperfect game but he IS finding the net.

DARNELL NURSE. 4. It isn’t good when one of your team’s leaders let his frustration boil over. Nurse missed his check along the wall and then promptly swatter the loose puck to Hamonick for the 3-0. Drew a penalty but next shift took a needless retaliatory call. He and MacEwan did eventually dropped the mitts but it was a pretty uneventful affair and Vancouver will take that trade-off every day. Smart defensive play on Boeser down low late in the 2^nd. But this was not Nurse at his best.

TYSON BARRIE. 5. Moved the puck up the wall to Connor McDavid, leading to the 4-2 goal, Barrie’s 37^th assist of the campaign. Barrie wasn’t perfect defending but wasn’t the problem on this night. In fact, the puck was very often headed in the right direction with him on the ice.

RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 5. Maybe the Oilers more consistent 2-way forwards on what was a a bad night for the team. A late 3^rd Period chance after Bear and Jones had traded passes at the point. A good clear on the 3^rd Period PK. 3 shots, 2:43 on the PK.

DOMINIK KAHUN. 4. 2^nd Period turnover, forcing Smith to make a good save on Miller. 1 shot. Not nearly as visible as he has been as of later.

Article content

KAILER YAMAMOTO. 6. Probably deserved better than he got for his effort tonight. His hard work and pass led to a good Barrie point shot in the 1^st. A terrific 2^nd Period shift led to a Larsson shot, a Nugent-Hopkins shot and a great chance for Kahun who missed the net…all 3 created by #56. He’ll score again…eventually.

DMITRY KULIKOV. 3. Handed the puck away on the 2-0, and while he did block a shot in an effort to make up for it his initial gaff was “damage done”. Committed a 2^nd Period turnover that did NOT go in. A 3^rd Period stick covered up a Mike Smith misplay. Lost the chances for-against game.

ADAM LARSSON. 6. Larsson was the Oilers best defender on the night. Unfair that he should shoulder a -2 for his well above-average effort. Examples? One of his best series was a tremendous PK shift in the 2^nd in which he blocked 2 shots and then clean the puck on a 3^rd effort. Reprised that effort on a 3^rd Period PK.

RYAN McLEOD. 4. Had some issues on coverage. Over-skated the puck after a Kulikov shot block on the 2-0. Not hard enough on a loose puck in the high slot on the 4-0. Set up Nurse for a 2^nd Period shot. His won draw gave Neal a chance. A pass later that period gave Chiasson a good opportunity. Needs to shoot more.

PATICK RUSSELL. 4. 2 shots and a give-away. A good 3^rd Period clear. I say the following with respect: Russell always solid but almost never impacts the game in a significant way.

JOSH ARCHIBALD. 4. Had a 2^nd Period breakaway but couldn’t get the rolling puck on net. Killed the final few seconds of a 3^rd Period PK with a good clear. Took a 3^rd Period trip. 5 hits.

Article content

CALEB JONES. 4. It wasn’t your night when the game notes include: 1^st Period giveaway. 2^nd Period giveaway. 3^rd Period giveaway. I haven’t seen much strong evidence that Jones is ready to man the 6D spot in the playoffs. Hope he turns it around.

ETHAN BEAR. 5. Some shaky mixed in with a decent bit of good. Had lost his stick on the 5-2 but had succeeded in skating his check past the goal line, however  the puck still found a way in. Helped clear the zone on a 3^rd period PK. Set up by McDavid and Draisaitl in the 3^rd. Committed a 3^rd Period turnover. Poisted excellent for-and-against numbers (All Events 26-12, CF 69%).

JUJHAR KHAIRA. 4. Physical. Led the team with 6 hits. 3^rd Period turnover. Nothing going on with the puck, though. -1 12:29 of TOI.

ALEX CHIASSON. 4. Chiasson was one of a couple players who lost puck battles in the high slot on the 4-0. Scrapped Travis Hamonic after a late, mid-ice hit to the head that went uncalled (the hit, that is, not the fight). Saved a goal with a big shot block after Smith had turned the puck over and the net was gaping.

JAMES NEAL. 4. Couldn’t sneak home a quick shot off a Ryan McLeod faceoff win. Had a chance late off a Patrick Russell pass. 3 shots in 11:41. -2.

The loss leaves the Oilers remaining in 2^nd Place in the Canadian Division, 7 up on Winnipeg. The Jets are 2 up on the Habs for 3^rd.

Next up? Another against the Canucks, Saturday.

Find me on Twitter @KurtLeavins

Recently, at The Cult…

McCURDY: 3 key reasons why the Oilers have climbed the standings

STAPLES: Why the Oilers are a solid playoff pick

LEAVINS: Oilers clinch a playoff spot with win over Canucks

STAPLES: The Connor & Leon show stop Vancouver