Another stinker.
That’s two stinkers in three games for the Edmonton Oilers, one against the Minnesota Wild and Sunday afternoon’s game against the Florida Panthers, with a thriller against the Washington Capitals in the middle.
Time for some major line-up changes, no? Maybe an injection of young speed and skill?
This time the Oilers came out with a yawning, sleepy performance against the Panthers and paid for it, losing 6-2.
Two of Florida’s three quick goals early in the second came because Oilers forwards moved too slowly coming back to their own zone., which is a sure sign of a team bringing its “ZZZZZZ” game.
And as for my prediction that a bottom line forward would score this game, forget about it. As a group they mustered just one Grade A scoring chance shot. Terrible.
Instead of scoring, one or two of these forwards likely signed their ticket to the AHL.
The Oilers look right now like a team that could use an infusion of talent. Not grit, not size, not toughness, but talent.
William Lagesson (or Caleb Jones), Gaetan Haas, Cooper Marody and Kailer Yamamoto anyone?
Maybe Joel Persson is good to go? Get him in.
Overall Florida had 12 Grade A chances to 9 for the Oilers (running count).
Leon Draisaitl, 6. He had a great chance to score on a McDavid set-up late in the first, using his speed to create a breakaway, but he couldn’t drain it. Early in the second period, his man Aaron Ekblad scored on a weak backcheck. Not good. But he got two assists, feeding RNH with a hard slot pass on the power play, then putting in a rebound shot off a Bear slapper. Great hands, as always, but some lapses.
Connor McDavid, 7. He set up two Grade A chances and had two dangerous shots himself, including one partial breakaway. This was not his fault.
Zack Kassian, 4. Did not make an impact.
Alex Chiasson, 3. Made even less of an impact.
RNH, 4. He made a key slot block early in the second and then drew a penalty. He was in on Neil’s goal with the initial tip. But he’s not exactly getting much done at even strength, is he?
James Neal, 6. The coaches replaced him on the top unit of the power play, but he gets one out there and a moment later banks in a PP goal. That’s a statement! He and McDavid led the team with four shots each. Another decent game for Neal in Edmonton
Jujhar Khaira, 3. He got off a Grade A scoring chance shot — only his second of the year — after some good work from his line in the first. But he was part of a group that failed to dig in and win battles on Florida’s painfully, slow developing second goal by Brian Boyle. It’s not like Boyle moves fast, but all the Oilers were puck-watching instead of puck-fighting.
Riley Sheahan, 4. Forgettable game.
Patrick Russell, 4. He’s got to do more if he’s going to stick in the NHL.
Tomas Jurco, 3. What’s up? What’s happening? Not much. The AHL may be his next stop.
Markus Granlund, 3. What’s up? What’s happening? Not much. If he was sent to the AHL as well no one would complain, though he does have some value on the PK.
Sam Gagner, 4. Slow coming back to his own zone on Florida’s third goal, taking away one outlet option for Bear. He did hustle at other times and threw four hits, most on the team.
Darnell Nurse, 6. There was nothing wrong with Nurse’s game. The top line players were generally not the issue this game, give or take that one weak Draisaitl backcheck.
Ethan Bear, 6. He played Alex Barkov well on a two-on-one late in the first to shut down a dangerous Panthers chance. Late in the first period, after Mike Smith was stunned by a shot and lost track of a rebound, Bear saved a sure goal, getting his stick in on a Jonathan Huberdeau jam shot. But Bear gave that back, turning over the puck on Florida’s third goal on a weak pass up the boards. In the third, Draisaitl put in his point shot on a rebound off the boards.
Oscar Klefbom, 6. He played 27:39 largely error free minutes. Not killing on the power play, though, and it may be time to try Bear there, no?
Kris Russell, 4. Not his best game, though he broke up an early two-on-one, batting the puck out of the air. Made a few major mistakes on scoring chances against.
Brandon Manning, 2. It’s time to bring in a more dynamic puck mover in this spot. Four major mistakes on Grade A chances against for Manning — not the kind of quiet game you want from a bottom-pairing d-man. Manning did this in only 10:10 of ice time. He was part of the weak defensive effort on Florida’s second goal. His turnover also led to two dangerous Florida bang-bang shots in the second.
Matt Benning, 3. First he had his shot blocked, then he got beat in the d-zone on Boyle’s goal. Also had a fly-by on a play that saw Florida get two Grade A chances in the second. He and Manning aren’t getting it done, as the offence pretty much dries up when they’re on the ice.
Mike Smith, 3. Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made the big saves and Smith did not, at least after he got rattled. He was sharp early making a number of saves on tricky shots. But he never looked right after taking a Mike Hoffman one-timer blast late in the first. He was not to blame on the first two Panther goals but did not look good on the third goal.
Mikko Koskinen, 4. Made a few good saves after he came on in relief but failed to stop a wrap-around shot, making the score 4-0 early in the third and, essentially, ending Edmonton’s hopes in the game.
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October 28, 2019 at 06:40AM
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