For the second time this season, the Edmonton Oilers struggled more than they should have done against a supposedly inferior Anaheim Ducks team. However, unlike the previous meeting in California, at least this time around they actually managed to win in Edmonton on Friday night.
In fairness the Ducks have been on a good run of form lately in winning six of their previous nine games, including coming off a rousing 4-3 overtime victory in Winnipeg the night before. However, the Oilers would have been crucified if they followed up the recent 5-3 loss in Anaheim with another defeat on home-ice.
The rematch in Edmonton had started off well enough for the Oilers, with them holding a 2-0 lead as they approached the halfway point of the second period. The opener came courtesy of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and was notable for the assist coming from Evan Bouchard to give him the 200th point of his NHL career. (He managed the feat in 303 games, the second-quickest in team history behind only the legendary Paul Coffey, who achieved it in 221 games.)
The second goal came from Darnell Nurse, who was arguably the Oilers' best player on the night but had to settle for the Third Star of the Game. Corey Perry had the primary helper, but the goal was notable for a secondary assist from his own goalie, Stuart Skinner.
Skinner continues to do his job well
On the subject of Skinner, he continued to show the excellent form which was on display during December, as he saved 27 of the 29 shots he faced against Anaheim. Still, the two goals he did allow let the visitors come back to tie the game at 2-2, 6:53 into the final period.
Skinner held his nerve with some crucial saves as the Ducks pushed for the game-winner in the third, before that man Leon Draisaitl popped up late on to clinch it for the Oilers. The way he controlled the puck with his stick (and first his foot!) was sublime, as he ultimately fired home with less than two minutes remaining to give the Oilers a 3-2 win.
Draisaitl has been on fire for the Oilers, being named Second Star of the Month for December. He leads the NHL with 28 goals -- five ahead of his nearest competitors ahead of Saturday's slate of action -- and the game winner against Anaheim was also a league-leading ninth of the 2024-25 season.
The five-time NHL All-Star discussed his penchant for game-winners postgame with the media, including Jamie Umbach of NHL.com. He said:
"I take big pride in stepping up when it's needed most, and it's always something that's really important to me. Some years, it seems to go your way in certain moments, and other years, it doesn't. That's just the way this league works, but obviously, I'll take it"
Draisaitl doesn't let himself off the hook
It was both admirable and a sign of the high standards Draisaitl sets for himself, that he was so self-critical of his performance, despite being named First Star of the Game. He said:
"I think we had a lot of good shifts. We had a lot of good looks. Their goalie made some big stops, but I think all in all, especially on my behalf and our line, just too many turnovers. We would have it, and then, a turnover would happen, and it'd just be kind of back and forth. But that's mainly our line tonight, so mainly me. But it happens. Those games come along every once in a while and you just learn from it."
No matter how self-critical Draisaitl is though, it doesn't take away from his ability to deliver in crunch time, as Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch discussed postgame. As per Mark Spector of Sportsnet, he said:
"Being clutch, that’s quite an understatement. Just because of how many things he’s done this year. In the third period, he had a couple of really good scoring chances. There was a high tip where the goalie made a great save, and the last one to catch that puck bouncing around and to release it as quick as he does and put it where he does, that’s an elite play."
With the win, the Oilers now move back up to fifth in the Western Conference, with an overall record of 23-12-3. Next up they will play the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night, to represent the first of seven road games in eight overall contests.
It will of course be a tough road -- no pun intended -- for the Oilers, as a pivotal point of the 2024-25 campaign. However, if Draisaitl continues to perform at a similar level, they're going to be tough for any opposing team to deal with.