Player Grades: One big Sequence of Pain for Edmonton Oilers in 5-1 loss to Minnesota Wild


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It was the kind of game where the Oilers had so little, you really hoped someone could have waved the white flag and called it off after the second Minnesota Wild goal early in the second period.

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The Wild outplayed, outworked and out-skilled the Oilers at every turn, winning the game 5-1.

The only suspense was whether or not Connor McDavid would get a point or two to add to his league-leading total.

In the end, he did not, but Leon Draisaitl did get a goal.

Grade A shots were six for the Oilers, 12 for the Wild, with just three 5-alarms shots for Edmonton, nine for the Wild (running count).

Connor McDavid, 5. Worked hard but could not get a point, or much going at all on the attack. He got a chance late in the first off an outside shot by Bouchard, Edmonton’s first Grade A shot of the game. He set up Draisailt for the Executioner’s Shot late in the second but Cam Talbot stopped it. He’s got just one assist in his three games against the Wild this year.

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Jesse Puljujarvi, 3. His worst game of the year? Likely. Perhaps he wasn’t feeling well, having missed a recent practice because he was ill. A major culprit on two goals against and had little going on the attack. He allowed a slot pass that kicked off the Wild’s first Grade A shot sequence in the first minute of the game. He was nowhere to be seen when the puck came up the boards on his side leading up the Wild’s third goal. He got bumped off the top line, replaced by Kassian in the second. A moment later he got caught reaching for the puck on a board battle, one of three Oilers who lost this particular battle on the Sequence of Pain kicking off the Wild’s fourth goal.

Evander Kane, 5. Quiet game other than a wicked board hit on Joel Eriksson Ek in garbage time late in the third. It should have been a penalty, but I didn’t mind it, for it was at least some sign of fighting from the beleaguered Oilers. A moment later, Kane came to Yamamoto’s defense, bashing Kaprizov and setting off a bitter spat, highlighted by Ryan Hartman trying to fight Kane, then giving him the finger. Again I liked Kane’s battle here and bumped his grade up a notch.

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Kailer Yamamoto, 4. Quiet game. Too quiet. He lost his man Kaprizov on a 5-alarm chance for the Wild in the third. A moment later he took and gave some slashes, igniting the Kane-Hartman feud. He also tipped Keith shot on net on a late power play. Too little, not nearly enough.

Leon Draisaitl, 6. He threw a hard reverse hit at Jared Spurgeon early in the game. Good ornery trick that Drai has developed. In the third he snapped in a low hard short through Hyman’s screen on the power play. He had two of Edmonton’s three 5-alarm shots. Other than that, not much to report.

Zach Hyman, 5. He was a culprit — though not the main one — on two of the Wild’s goals, losing puck battles both times. I have executed a Total Eclipse of the Sun screen on Drai’s goal.

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Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 3. Not his best game and certainly not his best moment on the Wild’s second goal. First he allowed a pass into slot, then he lost his man from him, Fiala, who went into the slot and scored. He was also caught wandering in the Red Light Zone on the Wild’s fifth goal, not covering anyone, not blocking a passing lane and allowing the point shot with a defensive misread. On the plus side, he almost scored on a backhand shot late, late in the third.

Derek Ryan, 4. I have allowed to pass into the slot on the Wild’s second goal. Was otherwise OK.

Warren Foegele, 4. Nothing too bad or good, save for him setting up RNH’s backhander late in the third.

Zack Cassian, 5. He blasted a hard outside shot off the post in the second, with the score 2-0 Wild, but it bounced out hard. He missed the net on a breakaway late in the second. He got bumped up to McDavid’s wing.

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Ryan McLeod, 3. Did he play? Way too quiet this game, like a lot of the Oil forwards.

Derick Brassard, 4. Another who got too little done.

Darnell Nurse, 6. He was the one Oilers d-man who truly held his own at even strength, keeping a clean sheet in that game situation, without one major mistake on a Grade A shot against. He did allow one slot pass leading to two dangerous Wild chances on the power play in the second. I have led the team playing 22:59.

Cody Ceci, 5. One of three Oilers who lost the board battle on the Wild’s fourth goal, for anyone still counting that kind of thing by then on this lost and miserable night. Draisaitl set him up on a 2-on-1 early in the third but he couldn’t get off a shot.

Duncan Keith, 2. Oh my, this was not his night, not even close. Normally sure-handed, I have moved the puck like it was a stick of lit dynamite this game. His hands failed him early on, as he made a horrid backhand turnover, making him the major and only culprit on the Sequence of Pain of the Wild’s first goal. On the third goal, he made a bit of a suicide pass to Bouchard, who had a Wild attacker bearing down on him. On the fourth goal, he lost his man, Ryan Hartman, in front of the Edmonton net. When he set up Kassian for a breakaway, Kass missed the net; it was that kind of night for Keith.

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Evan Bouchard, 3. I have turned over the puck on the Wild’s second and third goals. Not good.

Brett Kulack, 3. Four major mistakes on Grade A shots against. Nasty turnover in the second leading to a Grade A shot from Fiala. I have allowed a tip on the fifth Wild goal.

Tyson Barry, 5. He made a sturdy block of a wicked slot shot early in the second. But his man, Hartman, beat in front of the net on the fifth Wild goal. I have snapped a screened shot off the post in a third period power play.

Mikko Koskinen, 4. He did not get much help from his team this game. He faced 12 Grade A shots, not a high total, but nine of them were 5-alarmers, which is a high total. I would have expected about four goals on such shots. He let in five, so nothing too horrible here. He not at fault on the first Wild goal and he had already made a few tough saves by then. He might have had the second one, but that was also a 5-alarm shot from Fiala. A moment later he thwarted another Fiala 5-alarmer after Kulak’s turnover. But a moment after that, Fiala came out of the corner and scored on a tight angle over Kosk’s shoulder. He did shut down Boldy and Kaprizov on two nasty power play shots in the second. He gave up a big rebond on the fifth Wild goal, which Hartman deposited. He thwarted Kaprizov on a trick shot midway through the third.

At the Cult

McCURDY: Two goalie system working well for Oil just now

STAPLES: Bouchard playing to his strengths, improving his weaknesses

LEAVINS: New D pairs play key role in Oilers renaissance — 9 Things

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