Year after year, the Edmonton Oilers showcase a dazzling offense, only to be undermined by inconsistent and porous goaltending.
The Oilers narrowly escaped a late-game collapse, holding on for a 4–3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in preseason action at Rogers Place. While defensive inconsistencies reemerged, they were ultimately overshadowed by the dominant performance of Edmonton’s top line.
Leon Draisaitl led the charge with a four-point showing—netting two goals and adding two assists—while Connor McDavid contributed a goal and two assists of his own. Trent Frederic also recorded a pair of points, including a goal, in a performance that showcased notable chemistry among the trio. Goaltender Stuart Skinner stopped 25 of 28 shots but faltered in the third period, surrendering three goals that nearly upended the whole game.
Vancouver’s goals came courtesy of Aatu Räty, Braeden Cootes, and Jonathan Lekkerimäki, while defenseman Filip Hronek chipped in two assists. Thatcher Demko made 20 saves in a solid, if unspectacular, effort between the pipes.
McDavid and Draisaitl are reunited and rejuvenated
Despite continued concerns on the back end, Edmonton’s top line looked markedly more synchronized than in their disjointed 4–1 loss to the Seattle Kraken earlier in the week. Draisaitl, McDavid, and Frederic combined for all three points on each of the Oilers’ first two goals, setting the tone early.
McDavid opened the scoring just 1:28 into the first period with a wraparound tally. After taking a feed from Draisaitl and having his initial shot blocked, he regained control, dragged Demko out of position, and slid the puck through Hronek’s legs to give Edmonton an early lead.
At 11:37 of the period, Frederic doubled the advantage, crashing the net to bury the rebound off a McDavid wrist shot that snuck through Demko’s five-hole. The sequence originated from a quick neutral zone regroup, exemplifying the line’s aggressive, north-south approach.
Late in the second period, Draisaitl—long regarded as the NHL’s preeminent power-play weapon—extended the lead to 3–0 just three seconds after a faceoff win by McDavid. The veteran center ripped a one-timer from the right circle past Demko, underlining Edmonton’s lethal efficiency with the man advantage.
The third period, however, was anything but comfortable for the Oilers. Vancouver struck twice within 43 seconds to open the frame. Räty cut into the lead with an unassisted snipe over Skinner’s shoulder from the right circle. Seconds later, a deflection off Cootes brought the Canucks within one.
Draisaitl responded with a crucial insurance marker. Following a dazzling individual effort from McDavid—who toe-dragged to his backhand and threaded a cross-crease pass—Draisaitl fired home his second of the night, restoring a two-goal cushion.
Vancouver pulled Demko for the extra attacker late in regulation, and the move paid off when Lekkerimäki blasted a shot past Skinner with over three minutes remaining. But the comeback fell short, as the Oilers withstood the late push to seal the win.
Peanut Butter Skinner Time
Vancouver opened the third period with a surge, netting two goals in just 43 seconds against a visibly unsettled Skinner. The first came courtesy of Aatu Räty, who capitalized unassisted with a precise snipe over Skinner’s left shoulder from the right circle. Moments later, a deflection off Braeden Cootes’ skate brought the Canucks within one.
The momentum shift, however, was short-lived. Leon Draisaitl responded with a clinical one-timer that halted Vancouver’s comeback bid. The play was orchestrated by Connor McDavid, who toe-dragged to his backhand before threading a cross-crease pass to Draisaitl, who made no mistake in finishing past a sprawling Thatcher Demko.
Vancouver would pull their goaltender in favor of the extra attacker, a gamble that briefly paid off when Jonathan Lekkerimäki unleashed a blistering shot that beat Skinner with just over three minutes remaining in regulation. Yet the tally proved insufficient, as Edmonton held firm to secure the victory. Draisaitl’s final goal ultimately stood as the game-winner.