Edmonton Oilers Take Kings To Final Seconds, Lose 2-1

The Edmonton Oilers level of play was several stratospheres higher in Los Angeles Thursday night, compared to that stinker of a hockey game against Ottawa on Tuesday. But they were also up against one of the best teams in hockey. And despite an even effort and a hard, late push by the Oilers, the Kings ultimately triumphed, 2-1. Lots of good in this one, though, Oilers fans.

9 Things:

9. Quick, who led the Edmonton Oilers in Corsi tonight? Nail Yakupov (18-13, 58%). Yak finished the night with 4 shots, on a line with Anton Lander and Jujhar Khaira that was perhaps the Oilers most consistent. Yakupov also had the game on his stick in the dying seconds, but Jonathan Quick was equal to the task.

8. O.K., let address the elephant(s) in the room: Both Teddy Purcell and Justin Schultz were healthy scratches tonight. Why, do you suppose? In Purcell’s case, it’s not poor play, although he has gone cold lately. With Schultz, it could have been performance-related. Or…both have been traded. We wait.

7. I have been wondering how Zack Kassian would look in the Top 6, and the answer is in. He brings an abrasiveness to that line with Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl, and a decent set of mitts which delivered a goal on a nice 3-way play with his linemates. A great back-check by Hall on that play. Kassian was named 3rd Star.

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6. That was by far and away the best game Adam Clendening has had as an Edmonton Oilers player. We all knew that he had offensive upside, and he did move the puck with authority tonight. But I was surprised with how capable he defended tonight, considerably better than the player he replaced.

5. Jordan Oesterle put in an admirable effort, against a big, bulky opposition. With the puck he was really very good, creating, spotting seems, making smart, short passes. He sure helps this team move North faster. On defence, his lack of size was exposed on several occasions, but he battled through. Was on the ice in the final minute, in his 6th NHL game. Way to go, kid.

4. I saw Jordan Eberle do a lot of things tonight that aren’t typically a big part of his game. In particular, Eberle was the deep man in his own zone in the 1st Period. He went into the corner, bodied his man, acquired the puck, and fought off a check while moving the puck to safety…like a player who wants to be here. He, Benoit Pouiot and (in particular) Connor McDavid created some excellent chances on the evening, but just couldn’t cash.

3. At the end of the night, Jonathan Quick was one save better that Cam Talbot. But both goaltenders were excellent. It could be easily said that either team would have lost, tonight, without their goalie. For Talbot’s part, he stopped 34 of 36 shots, and again…gave his club a chance to win. His glove save on Jeff Carter in the 1st Period, to keep the game knotted at zeroes was his best stop of the night. Anders Nilsson has big pads to fill tomorrow.

2. The Edmonton Oilers held an edge in face-offs in the first half of the game, but the swing in momentum corresponded with the Kings slowly taking over in that department. L.A. pulled ahead in both face-off wins AND possession, and eventually on the scoreboard as well, in the 3rd. In fact, both L.A. goals were consequent of the Oilers losing draws in their own end: Connor McDavid the center on one draw, Mark Letestu the other, although neither was beaten cleanly. They were “team” losses.

1. Brandon Davidson was flat-out spectacular tonight. He played like a top pairing D-man, on both ends of the puck. One play in particular stands out in my mind: Stripping the puck in his own end, rolling off a check behind his own net, rushing the puck all the way up the ice, and then placed a lovely pass to Connor McDavid. Wow, what a sight. What a find this kind has turned out to be. He was strong all over the rink, against a big, heavy team. Lead the team in TOI at 22:17.

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Winning, even getting a point out of Los Angeles, would have been considered by most to be a monumental task. The fact that the club came so close, and put up such a good effort, is encouraging.

But fact is…they are now win-less in 6, and face a very good Anaheim Ducks team tomorrow, in the 2nd of back-to-back road games. You could argue…the job gets harder, not easier.

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