Edmonton Oilers win streak ends after 3-1 loss despite terrific game in Vegas: Cult of Hockey Player Grades

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What more legitimate litmus test of the Edmonton Oilers 16-game winning streak could there possibly be than the defending Stanley Cup Champion (the club that vanquished the Oilers last season) Vegas Golden Knights?

And in the end, the 17-game record set by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins remained intact despite an entertaining, hard-fought affair in the desert.

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The Oilers out-shot and out-chanced (83-50) the Golden Knights. But Aiden Hill was terrific at the other end. Make the final 3-1 (EN).

Excellent hockey game. Here is the tale of the tape…

Edmonton Oilers Player Grades

STUART SKINNER. 6. Managed a difficult shot from Hague from the point later in the 1^st. Made the first save on the 1-1 goal but could not contain the rebound. Reacted as if he picked up the puck a shade late through a screen on the 2-1. 3^rd goal was an empty netter. Stopped 21 of 23. In the end, Aiden Hill was one save better than Stuart Skinner.

CONNOR McDAVID. 7. Finished off a 2-on-0 with Leon Draisaitl by 1-timing Leon’s perfect pass home low glove for the 1-0, short-handed. Hard back check disrupted a Vegas sortie after a Bouchard shot was blocked at the point. Circled the net then fed Leon who was robbed by Hill’s diving stop. Bouchard hammered one of his passes off the post. Ticked one off the post later in the 1^st. A sprint up the middle of the ice early in the 3rd chased by a wrister that Hill just got a piece of. Charged back to strip the puck then turned it back and fed Draisaitl for a 1-timer but Hill denied him.

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RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 6. Sneaky pass led to a hard Hyman jam later in the first. Highly effective with the puck creating in the Vegas zone. A fantastic 23-10, 70% CF 5v5.

ZACH HYMAN. 6. A hard jam in the latter stages of the 1^st. The flow of play was strongly in Edmonton’s favor with him on the ice. Had 3 shots. But could not find net.

DARNELL NURSE. 8. Played a terrific game. A strong defensive play on Paul Cotter on what appeared to be a slow developing odd-man situation for Vegas late in the 1^st. Elite speed on display as he tracked down a loose Kolesar on a partial break in the 2nd. Great up-ice feed to McDavid for a chance. Not able to corral the puck on the 2-1. HDSC’s 6-3 5v5.

CODY CECI. 6. Blocked shot on a 1^st Period PK. Partial screen on the 2-1. 3 shots on net. But High Dangers were 6-2 with him on the ice and against strong competition.

LEON DRAISAITL. 7. Strong 2-way effort. Sifted a perfect little pass into the slot for McDavid to fire home for the 1-0. A couple shifts later, just missed by inches a 1-timer off a pass from Foegele. Swallowed some stick early in the 2^nd but alas there was no call. Robbed by Hill’s arm in a cross-the-crease dive. An interception and then neat pass in front to Kane for an early 3^rd period chance. Hard 3^rd Period back-check. Stoned on a 1-timer off a McDavid feed. Then another back-check forced a Vegas chance wide.

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EVANDER KANE. 6. Good defensive stick in the 1st helped disrupt a Vegas play in the O-zone. Hard back check bailed out Foegele after a sloppy turnover. Solid play continued into the 2^nd with a feed to Ceci for a shot, a shot of his own, then a net drive which drew a power play. Just missed a chance in front immediately before the eventual winner was scored down at the other end. Was physical, 3 hits.

WARREN FOEGELE. 4. Fought it tonight. Good feed across to Draisaitl for a 1-timer in the 1^st. bad neutral zone turnover but bailed out by a hard back check by Evander Kane. Whistled for a 2^nd Period hold. Poor positioning on the 2-1. Was back but part of the confusion on the 2-1. Busted his ass to save an empty net goal late.

MATTIAS EKHOLM. 6. Could not box out his man on the 1-1. Perfect timing to break up a developing Vegas off-man rush in the 2^nd. But High Dangers were just 7-2 5v5 on his watch.

EVAN BOUCHARD. 5. Shot blocked at the blueline and turned the other way, but a McDavid back check helped erase it. Executed a tricky walk along the offensive blueline, leading to a good chance by Hyman in front. Had two shots at knocking his man off the puck on the 1-1 sequence and failed to, and then did not take a man in front with the rebound rattling around. A turnover late in the 1^st. Hammered one off the post off a McDavid feed in the 2^nd. He looked off too many shot attempts.

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RYAN McLEOD. 7. This line’s speed (71 & 55) and tenacity (90) disrupted the Vegas zone all night. McLeod and Holloway kept Vegas pinned deep with a rolling cycle in the 1^st. A 3-way play between him, Perry and Holloway created a dangerous chance early in the 2nd, but the puck deflected high and wide. The trio struck again part way through the 3^rd. Highly effectively line all night long. Just did not score.

DYLAN HOLLOWAY. 7. Part of a highly effective cycle with McLeod in the 1^st. Another series by this line resulted in a chance. Hard 2^nd Period back check. Chips a back over to McLeod whose shot deflects wide. Then created a good chance for Perry in deep. Yet another chance was created part-way through the 3^rd. Led the Oilers in 5v5 CF at 14-3, 82%. Sure looks like be belongs here.

COREY PERRY. 6. Head’s up pass led to a McLeod chance. Got a chance in tight off a hard by play by Holloway. Could not finish a 3^rd period chance created by this line as well. Looks good with the two kids so far.

BRETT KULAK. 7. Excellent performance. Darted in from the point with a hard shot in the 1^st. A fine defensive play in the 2^nd neutralized a Vegas off-man rush. An equally impressive play against Marchessault negated a chance.

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VINCENT DESHARNAIS. 7. Strong play at his own blueline helped quickly turn the play in the other direction, ending in the McDavid 1-0. A well-earned assist for him. A fine 2^nd Period feed sent Kane in alone and helped draw a PP.

DEREK RYAN. 5. Gritty. 1^st period blocked shot. Smart pass to Kulak for an excellent chance in the 1^st. 67% on draws.

MATTIAS JANMARK. 5. Two 1^st period hits. Could not jam home an industrious opportunity from Connor Brown.

CONNOR BROWN. 5. Smart clear up the wall in his own zone. Steal in the 2^nd. Engineered a chance on net for Janmark in the 3^rd. Was much better than his fancy stats suggested.

Edmonton’s record now sits at 29-16-1, 59 points. They remain 3^rd in the Pacific Division. Anaheim is next.

Find me on Threads @kleavins, on Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, Mastodon at KurtLeavins@mstdn.social, and X @KurtLeavins.

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