Edmonton Oilers give up 2-0 advantage, lose 3-2 in a shootout against Detroit: Cult of Hockey Player Grades

The Edmonton Oilers surrendered an early 2-0 over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night, and ultimately a standings point in a 3-2 shootout set-back.

This game looked more or less in hand 30 minutes deep, the Oilers up 2-0 and way ahead in terms of shots (23-8). But the Red Wings rallied, with two goals inside of three minutes. The Oilers missed some glorious chances to re-take that lead after that, including in Overtime.

Then, Dylan Larkin (the best player on the ice tonight) won it in the showdown after Edmonton had managed to kill off a Detroit PP in O/T.

The Oilers outplayed and outshot the Wings. But those things do not always show up on the scoreboard. And did not tonight.

STUART SKINNER. 7. Strong save on Rasmussen early on in the first. A good blocker save a few shifts later. Zero chance on a shoulder-high deflection through traffic on the 2-1. Stopped Raymond on a clear breakaway the very next shift. Another breakaway next time over the boards made it 2-2, a puck you might hope for a save on, but Skinner was also mostly left to his own devices and the puck got deflected at the last moment, too. Stopped Larkin on three successive opportunities later that same period. Had to stop him yet again on the first shift of the third. Then flashed a pad to absolute rob Larkin right in the slot on the third period PK. Stopped thirty-three of thirty-five. Couldn’t get one in the shoot out, though. But ultimately deserved better.

LEON DRAISAITL. 7. The best Oilers skater tonight. Dumped in the O-Zone on his second shift of the game but no call was forthcoming. Good feed in front that Podkolzin could not quite finish on. Slapped home a one-timer for the 1-0, his thirty-sixth. A fabulous pass beat two defenders but Podkolzin could not drain it five-hole (note the trend). A back-hander next shift just missed. Lovely seam pass to Bouchard on the PP for a chance. Smoked one off the post late in the second. Third frame PP shot. Whistled for a third period slash about half as hard as he absorbs on a nightly basis. Had ten shots. The game’s Third Star.

VASILY PODKLZIN. 4. Could not find the net on a fine feed from Leon early in the first. Went five-hole off a Draisaitl pass but the goalie managed to squeeze it safely between his pads. Zero hits.

VIKTOR ARVIDSSON. 5. Good defensive stick disrupted a Wings sortie in the first. A hit and a hard back check to his own net early in the second. Deflection in front in the back half of the third. Three shots.

JOHN KLINGBERG. 5. Nice outlet on his first shift. Felled with a heavy hit on his second. Displayed a nice touch with the puck under pressure throughout the game. Was on his man in front but the Wings’ stick tipped the puck out of mid-air for the 2-1. High Dangers 5v5 3-4, CF 45%. One shot. Solid start, though.

MATTIAS EKHOLM. 4. Sounded quite sick before the game, did not look that much better on the ice. Second period trip. A point-blank block and a clear on that third period PK. HDSC’s 6-5. Not his best, gave what he had

CONNOR McDAVID. 6. Secondary assist on the 1-0. Very nearly slipped home the 3-0 in a lightning-fast wrap-around. Dangerous looking back-hander on the second frame PP. terrific pass to Brown for a shot in the second. A neat little feed to Bouchard who wiggled through coverage for a chance. A tidy pass in front to Len who rang the post. Stopped in the shootout. Had a few issues handling the puck tonight. Rogers Place Ice? No?