Share via email
Architecture

Participant grades: Edmonton Oilers use standard thrilling profitable script to beat Vancouver Canucks

By Mike D. Wagner

  1. Cult of hockey

Publishing date:

Oct 13, 2022 • October 13, 2022 • 6 minutes read • 8 comments The Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29) battles the Vancouver Canucks' Quinn Hughes (43) during first period NHL action at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Wednesday Oct. 102, 2022. The Edmonton Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl (29) battles the Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn Hughes (43) during first period NHL action at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Wednesday Oct. 102, 2022. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia

The Edmonton Oilers got down by three goals in this game, but scored the next five to win their home-opener against the Vancouver Canucks.

This advertisement has not been loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Oilers fans have seen this move before with Edmonton often getting down a few goals last season before storming back. It’s almost expected now, which maybe shouldn’t be such a surprise given the team has such stars as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, plus an ever-improving supporting cast.

By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

Overall, Edmonton has just 25 shots to 36 for Vancouver, but Edmonton had the slightly more dangerous shots, 18 Grade A shots to 15 for Vancouver, with each team have ten of the most dangerous 5-alarm shots (which go in more than 30 per cent of the time). Here’s the running count.

Evander Kane, 7. He led the Oil with eight hits, and one of them was crucial to the outcome. His nasty and unpenalized high stick on Quinn Hughes led to Edmonton’s first goal. I know it was a nasty play but as an Oilers fan, how can I hate it? The play might well have been the game’s turning point. He battled to win the puck in the third, then went to the net and almost snapped home a big goal in the third. He got hit with a cheap penalty for bumping Demko late in the game while trying to score a goal, but maybe we shouldn’t complain, given his hammering of Hughes. He made a fine and unselfish back pass to McD to set up the hat trick goal into the empty net.

This advertisement has not been loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Connor McDavid, 8. Three goals, one assist, eight major contributions to Grade A shots, and he didn’t really reach top gear this game. He played 23:36, with the oil down one forward. He had a quiet first period but came alive in the second with an assist and a goal, finishing off the table top hockey passing play with a one-timer finish on the power play. He set up Ceci with a low-high feed into the slot for a one-time shot early in the third. He took Hyman’s pass and pounded two slot shots on net late in the third to score Edmonton’s fourth goal.

Jesse Puljujarvi, 6. Solid effort, but just 12:59 of ice time in a game full of penalties. Moved into the slot in the first to take an Hyman pass and slam it on net, but Demko thwarted JP’s 5-alarm shot. A moment later he made a n-zone turnover leading to a 3-on-1 that almost game Vancouver a three-zilch lead. He popped the puck on the forecheck, leading to a Hyman jam shot. Thew a hard hit on the forecheck in the second.

This advertisement has not been loaded yet, but your article continues below.

  1. Edmonton Oilers Jesse Puljujarvi (13) battles with Los Angeles Kings Matt Roy (3) in front of goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) during first period NHL playoff action on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 in Edmonton.

    The Puljujarvi Push: Fresh start for the Bison King, Oilers GM says: “Let’s try it all over again”

  2. Alberta Oilers captain Al Hamilton participated in four ceremonial faceoffs in a week, this one at Winnipeg Arena with Jets captain Ab McDonald. Winnipeg owner Ben Hatskin performed the honors.

    Reflecting on the humble beginnings of Oilers’ hockey, fifty years ago today

Dylan Holloway, 4. Welcome to the NHL, kid! Rancid own-zone turnover, leading to Elias Pettersson deking goalie Jack Campbell for the game’s first goal. He got bumped down the line-up pronto. He played just 7:41. But showed a cool head to hold the puck and set up Ryan Murray’s great slot shot in the second.

Leon Draisaitl, 8. A goal and two assists. His turnover in the o-zone kicked off the Sequence of Pain on Vancouver’s second goal. He snapped in Edmonton’s first goal on a power play scramble. Along with RNH and Hyman, he was part of the brilliant passing play leading to McD’s second period power play goal. He made a cool and deadly feed to set up Nurse and tie the game late in the second. He came out of the penalty box in the third to set up Kane on a 5-alarm shot.

This advertisement has not been loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Zach Hyman, 8. The Oil’s best player of the night. Two assists. He made the Oil’s first good play of the game, diving on the PK to swipe a puck out of Edmonton’s end. A moment later he stole the puck in the o-zone and got off Edmonton’s first Grade A shot of the season, with the play then progressing to Hyman setting up JP’s first 5-alarm shot. Got a good jam shot late in the first. Great quick pass into the slot to Draisaitl on McD’s first goal of the year. Some great work on McD’s second goal, winning the puck in the d-zone, battling it up the ice and setting up McD.

Ryan McLeod, 6. His bad line change shorthanded contributed to Pearson’s Grade A power play shot in the first. But played 16:19 and generally got his job done, with 4:43 of that on the PK.

This advertisement has not been loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Ryan Nugent Hopkins, 7. He played 5:31 on the PK, the most of any forward, and was generally effective. One of the Fab Four on Edmonton’s exceptionally good passing play on McD’s goal in the second. He won 13 out of 25 face offs.

Brad Malone, 4. Super quiet game, played just 4:21.

Devin Shore, 4. Ditto. Played just 5:34.

Derek Ryan, 5. He made a fine feed late in the second on a Bouchard one-timer. His hustle on the PK paid off in the third as he drew a penalty charging for the puck.

Darnell Nurse, 7th He led the Oilers in ice, playing 26:19. Not his best game, but plenty to like in the end. He was caught up-ice on Vancouver’s second goal. He took a bad penalty at the end of the first. running a canuck on a late hit in the o-zone; Vancouver scored on the power play. Ouch! I have to dock him a full mark for that. He allowed a pass into the slot for Horvat’s Grade A in the second. Made up for previous mistakes, popping the puck on the PK, then charging up ice to harpoon Drai’s brilliant horizontal stab of a pass into the net. Fired off a dangerous back-hander early in the third, then slid to break-up a Vancouver 2-on-1 break.

This advertisement has not been loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Cody Ceci, 7. Led the team in PK ice 6:49, but was solid in all situations, just as he was last year. Got off a wicked one-timer early in the third.

Brett Kulak, 6. He was skating and moving the puck well. He was caught on Vancouver’s third goal, failing to cover off Kuzmenko.

Tyson Barrie, 5. Quiet game for Barrie. He and Ryan got beat clean on Miller’s power play breakaway late in the second.

Ryan Murray, 7. He kept a clean sheet, not one major mistake on a Grade A shot against at even strength, the only Oilers d-man to do so. He got beat in the slot by Curtis Lazar in the first, but Lazar shot wide as Murray hacked him. He made a thrilling through the legs deke to gain the slot and launch a danger shot in the second. He made a fine pass to kick off a great Oilers rush late in the second. As the game went along, his play picked up, as did that of his partner Bouchard.

This advertisement has not been loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Evan Bouchard, 6. He made some fine passes this game. He caught got in a tough spot after Holloway’s turnover on Van’s first goal, then coughed up the puck a moment later leading to a Grade A Vancouver crease shot. He got beat on a breakaway pass to Pearson early in the second, then broke in for a 5-alarm shot of his own a moment later. Fired off a wicked slot harpoon late in the second off a Ryan pass.

Jack Campbell, 8. Good game in his debut. Not perfect, a few iffy plays, but lots of big saves. The first goal against was a tough play to stop but should he not have done better with JT Miller’s shot? That’s how I saw it. He made many big saves, though, as the Oilers fought back into the game, including stoning Pettersson as he charged on net on the power play. Great stop on Kuzmenko breakaway, then Pearson’s break-in stab, both in the first. Stopped Pearson again on a breakaway early in the second and stopped Miller’s breakaway late in the same frame. He came out of his net to play the puck and thwart a potential breakaway in the third.

This advertisement has not been loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Staples on politics

David Staples: Danielle Smith is her own greatest asset, but also her own worst enemy

Danielle Smith speaks after being sworn in as Alberta Premier-designate in Edmonton on Tuesday October 11, 2022. Danielle Smith speaks after being sworn in as Alberta Premier-designate in Edmonton on Tuesday October 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

At the Cult of Hockey

STAPLES: Holland promises fresh start for the Bison King

McCURDY: Reflections on 50 years as an Oilers fan

McCURDY: Oilers establish opening roster, but changes still pending

STAPLES: Not all NHL analysts are high on Oilers’ chances

LEAVINS: 9 things

This advertisement has not been loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Comments

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encouraging all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

Mike D. Wagner 1140 posts 0 comments

Love to write so I write about Edmonton my beloved City!!! Studied at University of Alberta, I love this place. Ask me anything!

You might also like More from author

Comments are closed.