Player grades: Mikko Koskinen comes up extra big, leading Edmonton Oilers over Vancouver Canucks

Article content

If the Edmonton Oilers were trying to prove they could play without their three star players, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse, they did an OK job of it against the Vancouver Canucks on Friday evening.

Article content

Edmonton won 3-2 in a shoot-out, largely because Mikko Koskinen kept them in early, then was brilliant in OT and the shoot-out.

In total the Grade A shots were 17 to 15 for the Canucks, but when it comes to 5-alarm shots, Edmonton had 10 to five for Van.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 5. He won a battle at the blueline, then got a return pass to burst in on a breakaway late in the third but failed to score. But his line from him was n’t going this game, creating little on the attack.

Warren Foegele, 4. He failed to cover shooter JT Miller on Vancouver’s first goal. He felt in RNH on his breakaway late in the third. Too quiet this game, but why burn yourself out in garbage time of the 2021-22 season.

Derek Ryan, 4. I have allowed the slot penetration on Vancouver’s first goal. Too quiet.

Article content

Ryan McLeod, 8. He made major contributions to six Grade A shots. He set up Kane for a delicious slot shot in the second, but Kane missed the net. He charged in and directed on outside shot from Kane on net for a 5-alarmer early in the third. He got another 5-alarmer a bit later off another Kane pass. He set up Kane for a wicked one-timer shot in OT.

Evander Kane, 8. He made major contributions to seven Grade A shots, all at even strength. He led the team with eight shots. I have ripped a 5-alarm inside slot shot on net half-way through the second. His Total Eclipse of the Sun screen was essential to Edmonton’s first goal. He set up McLeod for two great shots in the third. But he was part of the Sequence of Pain on Vancouver’s second goal, he and Ceci letting Garland in to shoot. He also got burned on Hughes’ pass over to Miller for a 5-alarm shot in OT. He rifled a hard shot in OT on a 2-on-1.

Article content

Jesse Puljujarvi, 6. Half-way through the game I had to check the event summary to see if he was playing. A moment later Hyman set him up for a 5-alarm slot shot. And a moment after that, JP made a gorgeous backhand pass to send Devin Shore in on his own against the Vancouver goalie, Spencer Martin.

Zach Hyman, 7. He got Edmonton’s first Grade A shot with a high slot harpoon early in the second. He knocked down a clearance attempt to coolly set up Puljujarvi for a great shot. He charged in for a breakaway shot in the third and put it off the crossbar. He got one final breakaway chance late in OT, but the puck rolled off his stick from him.

Kailer Yamamoto, 7. He made a tricky backhand pass to set up Hyman on Edmonton’s first Grade A shot. Next he set up Kane’s 5-alarm shot, Edmonton’s first shot of that most dangerous quality. Worked hard all game and was generally productive.

Article content

Devin Shore, 7. His goal in OT gave the Oilers the win and 104 points on the season as a team, the most for an Edmonton team since 1986-87. Late in the second, he won the puck in the n-zone, again in the o-zone, then went in on a fine backhand break in attempt only to be thwarted. He drained his shot in OT, coming across the crease, then firing hard a forehand wrister.

Derick Brassard, 5. He dangerously tipped an outside shot on net late in the second. Quiet game otherwise.

Zack Cassian, 6. He played with a wicked whiner from taking a scary stick to the eye area against San Jose. He made a fine pass to set up the Tyson Barrie’s goal in the third. Extra mark just for playing in this one, allowing McDavid and Draisaitl to rest.

Josh Archibald, 6. His timely screen was key to Edmonton’s second goal. He tied for the team lead with Kulak for four hits in the game.

Article content

Cody Ceci, 6. Solid game but was partly guilty on Vancouver’s second goal.

Brett Kulack, 7. I have led the team with 25 minutes of ice time. He threw a solid hit on Quinn Hughes. He ripped in an outside shot early in the third, with Kane creating the distraction in front of the net. He failed to cut out a dangerous cross-ice dart to Miller in OT.

Tyson Barry, 6. He and Russell were caught out on a fine rush chance by Podkolzin late in the first. He got out of position on a dangerous sequence in the second period, with Pettersson hammering it on net. He wired in an outside shot through a heavy screen to tie the game in the third.

Kris Russell, 8. A rare high event game for Russell, with six major contributions to Grade A shots and three major mistakes on Grade A shots against. Overall, he was flying out there in what might be his last regular season game for the Oilers. He hammered Boeser in the third with a hit, then went into Bobby Orr mode the rest of the period. He kicked off a great chance for McLeod with a stretch pass in the third, then almost scored himself, tipping McL’s outside shot on net. He then won a battle to set up Hyman’s third period breakaway. He drove into the slot for yet another 5-alarm shot later in the third.

Article content

Duncan Keith, 6. Quiet game, which is good for a d-man. He kept a clean sheet, not one major mistake on a Grade A shot against at even strength.

Evan Bouchard, 6. More good than bad. He fired a hard shot on net late in the second, which Brassard tipped. I have bobbled a McL pass late in the third and failed to drain it into an open net. He also had a pass blocked in OT on a 3-on-1 rush.

Mikko Koskinen, 9. I have kept the Oilers in early and gave the team a chance to comeback. He in total faced 17 Grade A shots and six 5-alarmers, plus his work from him in the shootout. He made the game’s first big stop, thwarting a shot tip in the slot from Connor Garland, then thwarted a hot shot from Podkolzin, but was beat by a quick and nasty JT Miller slot shot. He rebounded with a huge save on Pettersson in the second. He should have done better on Vancouver’s second goal, a Grade B scoring chance shot from Garland from a sharp angle and outside. He came up big again in OT, slamming JT Miller’s point blank shot. He stopped Pettersson, Miller, Boeser, Podkolzin, Garland, and OEL in the shootout, bumping his mark up one full grade.