Breadcrumb Trail Links
Published Jan 16, 2024 • Last updated 5 minutes ago • 5 minute read
Warren Foegele (37) of the Edmonton Oilers, battles for the puck with John Tavares (91) of the Toronto Maple Leafs at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Jan.16 2024. Photo by Shaughn Butts-Postmedia Photo by Shaughn Butts /Shaughn Butts
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The Oilers ace, Stuart Skinner, came up big as Edmonton came from behind to beat the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2.
Edmonton’s defence was leaky and mistake-prone in this one, but not Skinner.
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He kept the Oilers in the game, making a number of brilliant saves in the first and second periods, with Leon Draisaitl finally scoring to make it 2-1 heading into the third. Edmonton just kept coming after that, with goals from Derek Ryan and Ryan McLeod.
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It was a franchise record 11th straight win for the Oil.
In the end, Edmonton had 13 Grade A shots, Toronto 14, with the subset of 5-alarm shots being six for the Oilers, ten for the Leafs. Grade A shots go in 25 per cent of the time on average, with 5-alarmers at 33 per cent.
Connor McDavid, 8. Huge effort, especially on the winning goal, where he helped scored with a most unlike McD-like play, a Total Eclipse of the Sun screen of the goalie. He seemed more ready than his teammate for this one and got Edmonton’s first Grade A shot on a wrap-around. A moment later Ekholm’s meritorious pass sent him in on a break-in. He charged in for another break-in Grade A in the second, then yet again late in the third. Contributions to Grade A shots (GAS): Even Strength +6/-2; Special Teams +0/-0.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 4. Not so effective in this one. He allowed the cross-ice pass on the opening goal. GAS: ES +1/-1; ST +0/-0.
Zach Hyman, 4. Some key defensive errors. He might well have picked up Matthews on the opening goal and he definitely should have had Reilly on the second Toronto goal. He won a break-in chance late in the first but failed to drain it. He was punished with a hard hit late in the game. GAS: ES +2/-2; ST +0/-0.
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Leon Draisaitl, 7. Came out slow. An early turnover led to a 4-on-2 rush against the Oil. An early Executioner’s Shot also missed the net. But found his ice legs and rammed a hard shot on net late in the first. He and Kane combined on a turnover sending in Nylander for a breakaway early in the second. But his backhand shot from a wide angle somehow found its way into the Toronto net late in the second. And he won a key board battle on the winning goal. GAS: ES +4/-2; ST +0/-0.
Evander Kane, 5. High event game, good and bad. He almost pounded in the rebound off Drai’s slammer late in the first. Played more of a physical game then he has of late, including a hammer of a hit on Matthews, but some iffy moments on defence. He allowed Brodie to walk right in for a Grade A in the third. A moment later he charged hard to net and almost scored. GAS: ES +3/-3; ST +0/-0.
Warren Foegele, 4. Quiet game. GAS: ES +0/-1; ST +0/-0.
Ryan McLeod, 8. Solid and fast, winning the coach’s trust to get a shift with McD and Drai late in the game, then making good on it with the game-winning goal. He made a fine pass to set up Ryan’s goal. His hard work on the forecheck kicked off another Grade A shot sequence a moment later. GAS: ES +3/-1; ST +0/-0.
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Derek Ryan, 7. What’s not to like? Almost tipped on net a shot in the second, then slammed home a slot shot early in the third to tie the game. GAS: ES +2/-0; ST +0/-0.
Mattias Janmark, 7. His smart fake shot and pass led to Ryan’s goal, the kind of skill Janmark flashes now and then. GAS: ES +2/-1; ST +0/-0.
Connor Brown, 6. Good hustle again in this one, but still no goal. Another 5-alarm shot, another stop by the opposition goalie, this time late in the first period. GAS: ES +2/-0; ST +0/-0.
James Hamblin, 5. His and Erne’s hustle sent in Brown on his 5-alarm chance in the first. GAS: ES +1/-1; ST +0/-0.
Adam Erne, 6. Some solid offensive play. He charged in and drove a Grade A shot on net late in the second. GAS: ES +2/-0; ST +0/-0.
Cody Ceci, 7. His two shot blocks kicked off the Virtuous Cycle leading to Ryan’s goal. His outside shot led up to McLeod’s winning goals. GAS: ES +2/-1; ST +0/-0.
Darnell Nurse. 3. Not his best game, far from it. He would have done well to cover for the onrushing Drai early in the second on Nylander’s breakaway. Two turnovers led to two dangerous Leafs shot later that period. He got beat for a 5-alarm break-in by Kampf in crunch time in the third. GAS: ES +0/-4; ST +0/-0.
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Evan Bouchard, 4. He started and finished the Sequence of Pain on the first goal, making a turnover in the n-zone, then failing to cover Matthews in the slot. But he settled down, made solid plays with the puck, including an empty-net goal. GAS: ES +1/-4; ST +0/-0.
Mattias Ekholm, 4. High event, with a bit more bad than good. His timing and decision-making was highly suspect early on. Made a poor read in the n-zone on the opening goal against. Made another bad pinch leading to a rush Grade A shot a few minutes later. But he clawed back a moment later sending in McD on a break-in. He got caught without a stick on Holmberg’s first period harpoon. He then blew a n-zone clearance, leading to a breakaway and a crease stuff shot, both 5-alarmers against. But he and Bouch made nice passes leading up to Draisaitl’s goal. GAS: ES +02/-5; ST +0/-0.
Vincent Desharnais, 4. Ugly turnover early on led to 5-alarm shot off the rush. He allowed in a dangerous to the slot late in the first. GAS: ES +0/-2; ST +0/-0.
Brett Kulak, 4. He lost a battle in the slot leading to a 5-alarmer late in the first. GAS: ES +0/-2; ST +0/-0.
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Stuart Skinner, 9. He got beat early, the post saved him early, and he only made his first strong save late in the first. He also had little chance on Toronto’s second goal. But he kept his team in it with a stupendous sprawling glove save off Pontus Holmburg late in the first. Huge save on Nylander early in the second, taking a small but potent bite of the puck, putting it off the crossbar. Another two huge saves, first on David Kampf’s break-in shot, then on the net scrum where he thwarted Bobby McCann. Big save on Matthews’ slot shot a moment later.
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