Injury bug bites again, as Edmonton Oilers lose 4-3 SO loss to Detroit: Cult of Hockey Player Grades

The Edmonton Oilers had to settle for a single point in an underwhelming effort against the Detroit Red Wings, 4-3 in a shootout. Edmonton had three separate leads but could not hold any of them.

The Oilers led 1-0 after a low event first. It was tied 1-1 after two but mostly due to Tristan Jarry as Edmonton was outshot 17-7. The Oilers outshot the Wings 12-5 in the third which ended 3-3.

Edmonton also outshot the opposition 4-1 in OT. But Detroit eventually won in skills competition time 4-3.

Buried just below the headline…an apparent head injury to Zach Hyman.

Here’s the tale of the tape…

TRISTAN JARRY. 7. The Oilers’ best player. His first tough test was a drive to the net by Rasmussen on a Detroit Power Play in the first, Jarry made a nice pad save. Handled a tough wrister by Raymond as well for a scoreless first. Made first a strong right pad then a left pad saver to deny Arvidsson. Handled a hard blast by Larkin and then battled hard to glove a loose puck and get a whistle for his tired teammates. A big save off DeBrincat on the PK as well before a cross-seam one-timer finally beat him for the 1-1. No chance on the 3-2 or the 3-3 EN goal. Big stop on Faulk in OT. Stopped 1 of 2 in the shootout.

CONNOR MCDAVID. 5. An average game from 97. Part of the effective cycle that created the 1-0 goal earning McDavid the secondary assist. Slow to the passer on the 1-1. In on three chances on an early third period PP but no luck. Late to his man on the 3-3 EN goal to send it to OT, but the whole top units were pinned for over a minute. Set up Bouchard for a 5-alarm chance in OT.

VASILY PODKOLZIN. 5. Heavy hit his first shift. Went to the net, where a hard Draisaitl pass went off him and in for the 1-0. A strong board play set up Draisaitl in the high slot. Rang the crossbar after a terrific O-zone display by Draisaitl. Drew a penalty to start the third. Hit the post on a Leon feed. A third period penalty that I thought should have been a 4v4. Five hits led the team.

LEON DRAISAITL. 6. One-timer off a Mukhmadullin feed. Off an effective cycle by this line Draisaitl (who did most of the hard work on it) fired a puck in front, where it deflected off Podkolzin and in for the 1-0. Slick spin-a-rama backhander from the high slot. Amazing backhand pass to Nuge for two PP chances. Fed Mukhamadullin for a shot in the second. Fished a puck through coverage and dished backhand to Podkolzin who hie the crossbar. Dangerous chance on a third period PP. Fed Podkolzin who hit the post.

EVAN BOUCHARD. 6. Terrific job of walking the line and extending an early cycle by the first line. Among the culprits on the 1-1 goal, Bouchard failing to get a stick on the cross-seam. Drew a third period PP. Stood up Raymond with a stiff check late in the third. Another good night for him, 5v5 CF was 24-9, 73%. HDSC’s 3-0. 2 shots, 2 hits, 2 blocks.

SHAKIR MUKHMADULLIN. 6. His best game as an Edmonton Oiler. Sharp pass to Draisaitl for a one-timer. Used his size and reach to box out Larkin behind the Edmonton net. Hard shot off a Draisaitl pass in the second. Hard charge to the net in the third. CF 5v5 19-10, 66%, HDSC’s 3-0. Played 17:52. Encouraging.

RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 6. Slick strip deep in his own zone. Set up Hyman for a pair of chances on the PP. Tried once and again twice to shovel a Draisaitl backhand in on the PP but came up empty. His line put forth a terrific shift in the Wings zone and did all but score. Opportunity on a third period PP but could not cash. Key play in the Red Wings zone led directly to the 3-2. Rush and wrist shot chance in OT. Stopped in the shootout. Led the Oilers with 6 shots.

ZACH HYMAN. 5. Drew a second period PP. Had two shots at burying an interior feed from Nugent-Hopkins on the PP but could not. Took a hard but clean hit into the side boards, buckled and went down….and did not return. Not good at all.

KASPERI KAPANEN. 5. Fed Howard in the high slot for the 2-1 PP goal. Forced a Detroit offside in the third. Excellent defensive play on Larkin in OT.

RYAN SHEA. 6. A smart strip and clear on a first period PK. Whistled for a first period high stick. A play along the wall to keep the puck moving in the Detroit end on the 2-1 sequence. It was his shot from the point that was deflected home for the 3-2 goal. Excellent stuff of Larkin in OT. HDSC’s 0-6 5v5. The game’s 3^rd Star.

CONNOR MURPHY. 5. A clear and a great stick on a first period PK. But it was a stick at the top of the crease on the second PK that saved a goal, executed after he had fallen to the ice clearly injured. Shot block late in the third. HDSC’s 0-6. But five blocked shots.

OWEN MICHAELS. 5. Excellent PK shift late in the first period with a faceoff win deep in his own zone and then pressure up top to force a turnover. Had won consecutive faceoffs deep in his own end on the second period PK but no Oilers defenceman could get it to safety. Larkin hacked his stick right out of his hands but no call. His faceoff % was “just” 43% which was deceiving as most of his wins were when it counted.

ALEX FORMENTON. 3. May have earned a night in the press box. Could not get a handle on a nice stretch pass from Emberson early. Five-alarm giveaway on the 2-2. PK clear in the third. Crushed 5v5.

MATHIEU JOSEPH. 4. PK clear in the first. Skated one to safety on the second PK. Decent shot-handed but still not much at all 5v5.

JAKE WALMAN. 4. A disastrous Pk shift in the second, as he failed twice to clear Michael’s faceoff wins and then did not get a stick on the seam pass that led directly to the 1-1. HDSC’s -2 5v5.

TY EMBERSON. 5. Excellent stretch pass to Formenton for an early break. Subtle play in the neutral zone in the second, taking his man prevented a Detroit odd-man rush. HDSC’s 0-2 5v5. Played just 9:08.

COLTON DACH. 7. Was quiet early but came alive and then some in the third after being elevated to the second line after the Hyman injury. Secondary assist on the 2-1. Then, a high-skill tip from the high slot to (temporarily) put the Oilers ahead 3-2. 2 shots, 2 hits, named the game’s First Star.

TRENT FREDERIC. 4. Failed to clear the zone leading to an extended Red Wings cycle. No assist but a puck touch on the 2-1 goal. 2 hits, 0 shots. Looking for more than that from him.

IKE HOWARD. 6. After a quite evening he got a chance in the slot thanks to a Kapanen feed for the 2-1. Big goal for the kid, his first in the NHL in 363 days. Still played just 8:33.

The Oilers are now 8-2-2. They host Calgary Wednesday.

This article is not AI generated.

Bruce McCurdy, 1955-2025.

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