It was Auston Matthews vs. Connor McDavid on Hockey Night time in Canada on a Saturday evening (Feb. 1). What extra are you able to ask for? The Edmonton Oilers have been on the lookout for a win, however sadly, their comeback fell simply quick, as they misplaced a troublesome one to the Toronto Maple Leafs by a rating of 4-3.
Toronto dominated early, as they have been up 3-0 simply 12:50 into the primary interval. William Nylander, Matthew Knies, and Bobby McMann bought the celebration began for the Leafs earlier than Evan Bouchard bought the Oilers on the board 11:27 into the second interval. Mitch Marner restored Toronto’s three-goal lead simply 18 seconds into the third interval, however Edmonton wouldn’t go away, as they bought targets from Zach Hyman and Corey Perry to make the sport fascinating. Leon Draisaitl thought he tied the sport with two minutes remaining, however the play was deemed offside, which ended the comeback bid.
Regardless of the valiant comeback try, there wasn’t a lot positivity on this one. Listed below are 5 takeaways from this disappointing loss.
Oilers Had a Brutal First Interval
The Oilers battled the Maple Leafs on prime-time tv, and Edmonton laid an absolute egg within the first interval. They have been merely not able to play, and Toronto made them pay.
Associated: Maple Leafs Dominate First Interval and Maintain on for 4-3 Victory Over Oilers
This was an embarrassing effort from the web out. Stuart Skinner seemed extraordinarily shaky, permitting rebound after rebound, and the defenders weren’t serving to in any respect. They have been giving the puck away like sweet on Halloween.
Within the first jiffy, Nylander fully walked round defenceman John Klingberg, who fell down attempting to defend, resulting in a breakaway. Then, Bouchard had a number of horrible turnovers which led to offensive zone time for Toronto. That led to some Oiler penalties, and so they proved expensive. Nevertheless, Bouchard was significantly better within the last two durations. He scored a aim from his patented “Bouch Bomb”, and registered an help whereas limiting the turnovers via the ultimate two durations. However, that horrible begin was nonetheless an excessive amount of to beat.
Oilers Missed Mattias Ekholm
The Oilers have been with out veteran blue-liner Mattias Ekholm, who’s been underneath the climate all week. Because of this, the defensive pairings have been all combined up. Darnell Nurse performed with Klingberg, Bouchard performed with Brett Kulak, and Ty Emberson performed with Troy Stecher. The absence of the Swedish defenceman was very a lot observed on this one, particularly in that abysmal first interval. He’s a chilled presence again there and averages 22:45 in ice time a sport. These minutes can’t be changed, and it’s abundantly clear that this group nonetheless must discover a second-pair, right-shot defenceman by the commerce deadline. They want extra depth on the blue line come playoff time, as a result of accidents do occur, in order that they must be ready.
Abysmal Particular Groups Show Expensive
These brutal opening 20 minutes have been enhanced by the 2 power-play targets allowed on Toronto’s solely two alternatives. The penalty killers did a poor job of boxing out the entrance of the web. Skinner gave up some juicy rebounds, and whereas he wanted to regulate them, the defenders wanted to do a greater job of not permitting their opponents to get to these free pucks.
The Oilers’ energy play was additionally 0-for-2, which didn’t assist issues. If they simply scored one aim on the person benefit, this sport possible goes to extra time. Whereas they did generate some possibilities and had 10 pictures throughout their two energy performs, the Maple Leafs’ goaltender denied all of them.
Oilers Acquired Goalied Once more
This has been a theme all through this season, however as soon as once more, Stuart Skinner was the second-best goaltender on the ice. He was completely brutal within the first interval, permitting three targets on 12 pictures and 4 targets on 28 pictures general for a putrid .857 save share (SV%). Two targets have been the results of poor rebound management, and the fourth went proper via him. He wanted to provide you with some large saves, or at the least hold the Oilers within the sport, however he did neither.
The Oilers have been significantly better within the last two frames for essentially the most half, outshooting Toronto 34-16. However, Joseph Woll answered the bell.
“We have been significantly better within the second and third, and their goaltender performed very well, particularly within the final two minutes of the sport. We had quite a few possibilities, however he made many high quality stops,” head coach Kris Knoblauch mentioned throughout his post-game presser. Woll made an important save within the dying moments of the sport, which solidified the victory.
These well timed saves are essential for achievement, and Woll delivered, whereas Skinner didn’t. In keeping with Pure Stat Trick, the Maple Leafs had 2.76 anticipated targets to the Oilers’ 5.08. In all conditions, Edmonton had 36 scoring possibilities to Toronto’s 21. Primarily based on these numbers, the Oilers ought to have received this sport, however goaltending was finally the distinction.
Oilers’ Comeback Fell Quick
When Marner prolonged Toronto’s result in 4-1 simply 18 seconds into the third interval, that appeared just like the nail within the coffin. Nevertheless, the Oilers battled again till the very finish. They made the sport extraordinarily fascinating, but it surely wasn’t meant to be, because the tying aim was millimeters offside.
This was a irritating end result, however that’s what occurs while you fail to begin on time. Edmonton has fallen behind far too many occasions this season and it’s value them. Continuously chasing the sport isn’t a recipe for achievement. They merely must be higher out of the gates.
The Oilers have their annual abilities competitors on Sunday (Feb. 2) at Rogers Place earlier than hitting the highway for a mini two-game journey on back-to-back nights in opposition to the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks. Then, they arrive dwelling for one sport in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche, earlier than kicking off their 4 Nations Face-Off break.
