Lightning 1, Oilers 2
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Edmonton Oilers passed another stern test on Tuesday night, this one from perennial powerhouse Tampa Bay Lightning. The home side got a goal from each of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, strong netminding from Stu Skinner, and a 60-minute defensive effort from the team as a whole, collectively just enough to eke out a 2-1 win.
The contest featured the last EIGHT league scoring champions in McDavid (5), Draisaitl (1) and Tampa’s Nikita Kucherov (2), who among them had FIVE clearcut breakaways, not the sort of info one would normally associate with tight defensive hockey. But for most of the night it was tough sledding, not a lot of space, a stick or a body in every lane and not a lot of cheating for offence.
There was some high drama in the closing seconds as Tampa pushed for the equalizer with a 6-on-4 manpower advantage, producing a pair of Grade A shots in the closing 15 seconds and nearly scoring when Nick Paul high-sticked a puck off of Darnell Nurse in the Oilers crease and very nearly into the net. The refs (correctly) ruled a high stick had made contact , moreover there was no clear view that the puck ever crossed the goal line, though the visitors may have had a case that Nurse used his glove to keep it out.
The Oilers held a statistical edge as narrow as their margin of victory. They outshot the Bolts 25-22 on the night, and led in expected goals by 2.26 to 1.84. By our own video analysis at the Cult of Hockey, Edmonton had 12 Grade A shots to 7 by Tampa, with both teams mustering 4 of the highest danger, 5 alarm shots (running count).
Player grades
#2 Evan Bouchard, 5. Made a terrific stretch pass to send McDavid in alone in the early going, but no joy. Another of his d-zone passes had a less happy ending, taking a deflection to stay in the zone and leading directly to the 1-1. Fired a dangerous shot off the rush late in the second but couldn’t solve Vasilevskiy. Led all Oilers in ice time with 23:16, exactly 1 second more than both Ekholm and Nurse. Contributions to Grade A Shots (GAS): Even Strength +2/-3; Special Teams 0.
#10 Derek Ryan, 5. He’s been crushing it on the faceoff dot of late, winning 28/37 = 76% the last 5 games, including 5/6 for a team-best 83% in this one. Had a dangerous tip from the slot in the first that produced a dangerous rebound. But was among those beaten on the 1-1 when he was unable to suppress Jake Guentzel’s slot shot. GAS: ES +3/-1; ST 0.
#13 Mattias Janmark, 6. Played a strong defensive game, highlighted by his 1:53 on the penalty kill to lead all forwards. Played nearly a full minute in the critical 4v6 kill down the stretch. Had a chance to go for empty net glory but made the smart decision not to try to shoot the puck through big Victor Hedman at the point, instead banking it safely off the boards to enable the full change for a quartet of tiring defenders. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST 0.
#14 Mattias Ekholm, 6. Appeared to open the scoring when he wired an early blast past Vasilevskiy, only to have the tally overturned on review due to a microscopic offside infraction over half a minute earlier that cancelled out the entire sequence. Hammered another drive off the post in the middle frame. Was among those beaten on the 1-1. Coughed up the puck to Kucherov for a clear breakaway, but Skinner had the answer to whatever question it was Kucherov was asking with his unconventional move. That was the most consequential of his team-high 3 giveaways. Made some key defensive stops that didn’t show up on the stats sheet. GAS: ES +2/-3; ST 0.
#18 Zach Hyman, 5. It was his (allegedly) mistimed zone entry a microsecond ahead of the puck that cancelled out the Ekholm goal. Played his usual grinding game with 3 shots and 2 hits though nothing deemed as especially dangerous. Kept things clean at the defensive end in what was for him a low-event game. GAS: +0/-0; ST 0.
#19 Adam Henrique, 6. Played a tight, contained game with a bump in his grade for his work on the PK (1:43), highlighted by a patient, time-killing rush deep into Tampa territory against what seemed like all 5 Bolts skaters. Made a crucial touch to disrupt a cross-seam pass intended for Kucherov on that late 4v6. Played a big role on the faceoff dot with 10/18=56%. GAS: +0/-0; ST 0.
#25 Darnell Nurse, 8. Continued his strong play with another sound game. Split his even strength ice time almost equally between two partners, Stecher (9:19) and Kulak (9:04), the latter pair dominating their higher-leveraged minutes to the tune of 8-0 Corsi. Drew a penalty in the early going. Made a superb defensive stop to overtake Mitchell Chaffee in open ice, rub him out of the play and skate away with the puck. Started the play on McDavid’s goal deep in his own territory. Made a great stretch pass to send Draisaitl in alone, leading to the winning goal, although it was officially deemed unassisted. Fired 3 shots of his own including a terrific one-timer through traffic that forced an excellent save. Did just enough in the controversial sequence in the dying seconds. GAS: ES +4/-1; ST 0.
#27 Brett Kulak, 8. Was on the receiving end of a crushing hit by Emil Lilleberg in the early going. Not only did it not slow him down, he responded by nailing the same player with a pretty good hit of his own minutes later. He too divided his time between two partners, Nurse (9:04) and Emberson (8:51), flipping sides in the process, as Kris Knoblauch’s unusual deployment continues to bear fruit. Earned a secondary assist on McDavid’s goal with a good outlet pass. Chipped in on 4 consecutive Grade A shots in the first period. GAS: ES +4/-0; ST +0/-2.
#28 Connor Brown, 6. Finds himself on an all-right-shot fourth line these days, That line did get beat for the lone Lightning strike, though Brown wasn’t at fault. Good on the PK. 1 shot, 2 giveaways. GAS: +2/-0; ST 0.
#29 Leon Draisaitl, 9. Another outstanding game by the German, who was key to both Edmonton goals. Made an exquisite pass hitting McDavid in stride speeding through the neutral zone, as the duo connected once again on the patented Post-PK Power Shift. Was credited with the winner himself when he got behind the defence, received a fine stretch pass from Nurse, was robbed by Vasilevskiy only to be the beneficiary when the Tampa goalie’s attempted clearance of the rebound clipped Hedman’s skate and bounced in. His 20th of the season, first in the NHL to reach that milestone. His sixth game winning goal, also tops in the league. Goals aside, he played a solid 200-foot game, including his usual strong work of puck support in the d-zone and breakout passes therefrom. Flashed out his stick in the defensive slot to erase a Kucherov chance. Had something of an off-night on the dot (8/20=40%). GAS: ES +6/-0; ST +1/-0.
#42 Kasperi Kapanen, 7. Impressed with his defensive play. Combined with Emberson to make a key clear on the first period penalty kill. Hustled on the backtrack to make a fine defensive stop in the second. Paid the price to block a wicked Hedman blast in the third. Also played a role in the game winner as it was his speed and heavy pressure that forced the Vasilevskiy mistake. GAS: ES +2/-0; ST 0.
#49 Ty Emberson, 6. Played a dozen minutes at evens and another 2 on the penalty kill and acquitted himself well in both functions, especially behind his own blue line. Had a real chance to score with Vasilevskiy down and out; his shot was on-target but was blocked by a d-man on the edge of the blue paint. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST 0.
#51 Troy Stecher, 5. Just OK other than his effort level which was, as usual, outstanding. Did make one splendid defensive play to cut out a dangerous Michael Eyssimont pass. GAS: +ES +0/-1; ST 0.
#53 Jeff Skinner, 5. Decent effort but nothing rhymed. 0 shot attempts. Gave up little defensively, but did take a slashing penalty. Had a fine third period sequence deep in his shift in which he blocked a Hedman shot, recovered the puck, carried it to the red line and got it deep to enable a much-needed change for all hands on deck. By such details from rank and file players was this game won. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST 0.
#74 Stu Skinner, 8. Another fine showing from the big stopper, who has held his last 5 opponents to 2 goals or fewer (4-1-0, 1.41, .947). On this night he won a head-to-head battle with the netminder many view as the the best in the biz, and he won it by making one fewer mistake (0 to 1) than did his rival. Stoned Kucherov on a third-period breakaway. Made a pair of excellent stops in the final 15 seconds, stopping Nick Paul’s deflection from the edge of the crease, then stoning Brandon Hagel from the slot. 22 shots, 21 saves, .955 save percentage.
#90 Corey Perry, 5. Played 11 minutes, mostly on the fourth line though he did get 3½ minutes with Draisaitl. 1 shot, 1 giveaway, 1 unnecessary icing down the stretch. GAS: ES +3/-1; ST 0.
#92 Vasily Podkolzin, 7. How far has he risen in the eyes of his coach? High enough to be entrusted with a crucial 60th minute shift in a 4v6 situation, the game on the line. In part because one of the main 4 PKers, RNH, was in the box, but he was the next choice. Made two contributions on the game winner, first with a strong backcheck on Kucherov, won battle, and pass to Nurse, then with a race up-ice to help force the issue (and the mistake) on Draisaitl’s rebound. (See: video above Draisaitl comment.) No shot attempts, but some solid work along the walls and 2 hits, which is enough to lead the team these days. Drew a high-sticking penalty which drew blood but somehow not a double minor. A late and unnecessary icing play was his iffiest moment. GAS: ES +2/-0; ST 0.
#93 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 5. Quiet night at both ends of the sheet. Made a great pass on the powerplay to set up a high-end chance by McDavid. His late, unlucky tripping penalty was untimely to say the least, but Skinner and his other teammates had his back. GAS: ES +1/-1; ST 0.
#97 Connor McDavid, 7. Had an early breakaway when sprung by Bouchard, but couldn’t solve Vasilevskiy. Settled that score on a second opportunity, tally, building up speed into the neutral zone, taking Draisaitl’s pass in full flight, splitting the defencemen and beating the ‘tender with his patented backhand-to-forehand deke. A breathtaking tally that will loop on highlight reels for months to come. GAS: ES +2/-1; ST +1/-0.
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