Edmonton Oilers top goalkeepers in 5-3 loss to Philadelphia: Cult of Hockey Player Grades

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The perfect season for the Edmonton Oilers is no more.

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They lost a mostly entertaining 5-3 game (empty netter) against a very competitive Flyers club. And while I won’t put all the blame on the tall shoulders of the Edmonton goalie, it’s fair to say that the Philadelphia goalie was the best on the ice tonight. In fact, the Oilers dominated the shot clock in the second frame to a 12-6 tune, but Carter Hart kept his stick on it.

Possession was also key. The Flyers won 58% of the night’s draws, including a number of them late, deep in their own zone. Only McDavid was very lucky in the circle.

Here’s the story of the tape …

Edmonton Oilers Player Ratings

MIKKO KOSKINEN . 4. The difference tonight was the attention to the goal and it was a battle that the Oilers lost. There have been at least 2 goals from Koskinen that cannot enter. One was the draw behind his own goal for 2-0. The other, a shot that slipped through his pads from the top of the circle for 4-3. He wasn’t crazy about the 1-0 either, where Koskinen sold himself at one pole, giving himself no chance to cross and stop Giroux at the other. And while the 3-2 in the second final of the 2 ^{North Dakota} The period was a part of bad luck, at some point you also need a save. Koskinen did some good, at Giroux in the 1 ^{S t} and in Laughton on the 3 ^rd . But it was not good enough.

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CONNOR McDAVID . 8. I really liked your game. McDavid had 8 shots on goal, including his 7 ^th goal of the year off a detour. He got the secondary assist on the Hyman scoreboard, but also had great positioning in the sequence. He was involved in 46 wild chances, as he skated with drive and handled the puck with dexterity. 71% in his paintings, by far the best in the club. It was not the problem for the local team, far from it.

ZACH HYMAN . 7. Zach Hyman scored his 6 ^th goal of the season on a single timer from the slot, on a clever little pass from Jesse Puljujarvi. He logged 3 shots at net in total and when he digs deep, his contributions to chances outpaced those against by a wide gap of 2 to 1. Solid and solid performer.

JESSE PULJUJARVI . 7. Puljujarvi was very good at night. He was a net front at 2-2. And his orderly pass to Hyman helped create the 3-3. He had 3 shots and was very close on a couple more chances in 1 ^{S t} Period in which it failed by mere inches. He deserved a call right up front on the 3 ^rd , after he was thrown on the ice and bloodied in the process … but unfortunately, one did not arrive.

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NURSE DARNELL . 6. I couldn’t control the bouncing puck on the 3-2 goal that reached the end of 1 ^{S t} . The resulting shot found a thread behind Koskinen. In Nurse’s defense, that’s a hot potato and it took some great hand-eye coordination for the flyers player to punch him through. The nurse received 4 vaccinations and a “3 ^rd Assist with a good play at goal point 3-3. But he also had 4 gifts in 23:09, which is a lighter workload for him relatively. Good, but not great.

EVAN BOUCHARD . 7. Evan Bouchard’s extended 40-foot pass to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on a breakaway was a beautiful thing. And my game table is full of other examples of good, heady plays with and without the puck. 4 shots (3 of which came in the 3 ^rd Period only) and 3 take away meals. Set up Turris for a great look too late. He took a beating from Farabee on a good chance from the Flyers, but his goalie helped him that time. Otherwise, it looked right at home in the top couple at 11:22 pm from work.

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LEON DRAISAITL . 6. Got main assist in goal from Barrie. And he played a very effective 2-way game, with 2 especially notable back controls that divided the dangerous outings of the Flyers. But he also failed to win a key draw in the Flyers zone late, despite 4 cracks. Draisaitl played a whale game in many ways. But that sequence in the circle wasn’t Leon at his best, even if he faced veteran pivots on his strong sides. Still, he led the club with a surprising 26:57 TOI.

RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS . 7. You are really off to a very good start. Secondary assistance at 2-1 and 2-2. He has 9 assistants on the season, now. He narrowly missed the net on a breakaway after a thrilling pass from Evan Bouchard. He played 24:44 including many from both special teams.

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KAILER YAMAMOTO . 4. I had a glorious opportunity right in the slot on a McDavid pass but failed to collect. Decreased pro / con chances in an otherwise quiet effort despite playing with 2 linemates who had good games. Hmm.

DUNCAN KEITH . 6. A solid performance from Keith, who tied at 5v5 CF (14-14, 50%). He had a shot, a block, and a couple of takes to go at 17:25 from TOI, including 1:24 with little hand. A great recovery and clear in his own zone late, and under pressure. Had a couple of gifts, but finished a game 5-3 Even.

CODY CECI . 5. A second delay to cross the 1-0 crease. Ceci had 2 shots, 2 hits and a block (a notable one, in the 1 ^{S t} Period) at 4:31 PM. He ended up on the weaker end of pro / con opportunities, particularly 5v5. Solid.

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DEREK RYAN . 3. No shots, no hits, -2 for Ryan. Only 22% in giveaways. His least impressive game of the year.

WARREN FOEGELE . 4. The -2 he was tagged with was not entirely indicative of Foegele’s play. He had some effective moments in the cycle and recorded 4 strokes in a physical effort.

ZACH KASSIAN . 4. Like his linemate Foegele, I thought Zack Kassian had some effective moments and had 3 hits. But overall, the line was not as effective as it had been in the previous 5 games.

SLATER COOKIE . 5. Perhaps a slow touch to the front of the net at Koskinen’s 2-0 draw, but in fairness to Koekkoek, it was an explosive play created by the loss of the goalkeeper. 4 correct answers and a takeaway with a 3 ^rd matchup with Barrie who had a pretty solid night.

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TYSON BARRIE . 7. Your best game of the year by a field mile. He started with a standout reel goal in which he beat two Flyers and then showed tremendous patience to evade a stick and then return the puck home. A spectacular ending! Then his plate to McDavid made it 2-2. 4 shots at 20:35. Led all Oilers D-men in All Events CF (31-13, 70%). Had a 1 ^{S t} The period pinch turns into a 2v1 backwards. If they get this from him every night the greasers would be delighted.

DEVIN SHORE . 3. Trapped in no man’s land at 1-0, but it wasn’t his man who scored. He didn’t win a draw, but he also missed a few chances when McDavid doubled down at 4 ^th line. He played only 4:48. According to my Hockey cult colleague Bruce McCurdy, the club lost 1-9 to Shore on ice in pairs. I wonder if it’s not 100% yet.

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BRENDAN PERLINI . 3. Always be very wary of the fantastic unlikely suspects training ground. He got a shot at the net from an exit. But that was the only time I noticed it. All night.

KYLE TURRIS . 5. I thought Turris was fine A 1 ^{S t} Vintage shot. He looked great on the 3 ^rd but could not collect. Perhaps a little high in the 1-0 goal, although it was not his man who scored. He had 2 hits and a shot stopper.

The greasers are now 5 and 1. They will face Vancouver on Saturday.

Find me on Twitter @KurtLeavins

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