Right back in the loss column for the Edmonton Oilers.
On Thursday evening, the Oilers played the second game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in just 72 hours. Unlike Monday’s game, the Oilers couldn’t rally late, falling 5-4 to the Eastern Conference team. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one.
In the final five minutes of the first period, the Blue Jackets took the lead. A shot by Charlie Coyle from the point was deflected in front of the net by Mathieu Olivier to give the Jackets a 1-0 lead.
Mathieu Olivier gives the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead.
: Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/ZMz4zXJVPL
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) November 14, 2025
Early in the second period, the Blue Jackets extended their lead to two, as Olivier stole the puck from Connor McDavid, drove the net, and Coyle tapped it in for a 2-0 lead.
Charlie Coyle extends the lead to 2-0.
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) November 14, 2025
The Oilers cut the lead in half midway through the second period. It was Matthew Savoie scoring his second career goal, deflecting an Evan Bouchard shot past the Blue Jackets’ netminder.
Matthew Savoie with the tip infront and cuts the lead to 2-1!
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) November 14, 2025
Less than two minutes later, the Oilers tied the game. After a faceoff win in the offensive zone, Bouchard found Leon Draisaitl with a cross-ice pass, one-timing off the post to bring the game to 2-2.
Leon laser-beam#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/7qM9iXXrhY
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 14, 2025
That lead didn’t last long, as the Blue Jackets retook it just half a minute later. A shot from the point bounced off the end boards, right to the stick of Denton Mateychuk in the slot. Late in the second, the Blue Jackets took a 4-2 lead thanks to poor Oilers’ defence and Adam Fantilli’s third goal in as many games.
Adam Fantilli makes it 4-2.
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) November 14, 2025
Things went from bad to worse about eight minutes into the third period, as Olivier was left all alone in front of the net, chipping it past Calvin Pickard. The Oilers had a quick response to stop the bleeding, as the puck found its way to Vasily Podklozin in the slot. Podkolzin made no mistake in scoring his third of the season.
Vasily Podkolzin cuts the lead to 5-3.
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) November 14, 2025
The Oilers made a game of it midway through the third period off a faceoff play. After the faceoff win, Draisaitl got the puck to Bouchard, who passed it back to the German. Draisaitl went far side to bring the Oilers to within one.
Takeaways…
Columbus deserved to win that game. The shots were similar, as the Oilers had 26 shots on net and the Jackets had 25. However, according to Natural Stat Trick, the Oilers only mustered three high-danger scoring chances to the Blue Jackets’ 12.
There was a lot of line blending during five-on-five play in this game. There were eight different lines with two or more minutes. The best of the bunch was the Jack Roslovic, Adam Henrique, and Vasily Podkolzin line, accounting for 67.87 percent of the expected goal share.
To start the game, the Oilers had Andrew Mangiapane with Connor McDavid and Matthew Savoie, with that trio accounting for 6.34 percent of the expected goal share. When Leon Draisaitl joined McDavid and Savoie, that trio had 65.49 percent of the expected goal share.
Mangiapane just hasn’t been a fit on the Oilers. He finished as a -4 in this game, giving him a team-worst -15 this season. Three of his six points came in the first three games, with two of his four goals coming in the first two games. It’s looking like a similar misfit to the Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner additions back in 2024.
On the other hand, Savoie had another strong game, scoring his second career goal. He played just under 20 minutes, which shows that the Oilers are starting to trust him in a top-six role. While he only had one point, he was all over the ice and even drew a penalty in the first shift of the third period.
McDavid picked up two assists, bringing him to 27 points, second in the league. With two goals, Draisaitl now has 12 goals this season, tied for second in the league. Evan Bouchard led the Oilers with three points, getting three assists in 25 minutes of ice time. Mattias Ekholm was held pointless but was +2, while all other Oilers defencemen finished as a minus.
Calvin Pickard had a tough start, allowing five goals on 25 shots for an .800 save percentage. At some point, the Oilers need to think about bringing on a new backup as Pickard has an .830 save percentage. That said, the defence didn’t help him much.
Edmonton’s seven-game road trip continues on Saturday, as they head to Raleigh, North Carolina, to play the Hurricanes on Saturday at 5:00 PM MT. The Oilers now sit 8-7-4 on the season.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
That could be a staple win.
On Saturday evening, the Edmonton Oilers made their third of seven stops on the Eastern Conference road trip, this time defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one.
It took the Oilers just three minutes and 47 seconds into the game. Darnell Nurse fired it down the ice from his own end, with the Hurricanes’ netminder turning it over to Jack Roslovic. The former Hurricane scored his sixth goal of the season.
Jack Roslovic with a CLEAN finish and the Oilers are up early in Carolina.#LetsGooOilers |
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) November 16, 2025
Roslovic then picked up his eighth assist of the season, six and a half minutes into the first period, as his power play shot went wide, but deflected off the back boards to Connor McDavid, who gave the Oilers a 2-0 lead.
The Oilers score their second goal past Frederik Andersen early in this game, with Connor McDavid getting on the score sheet.
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) November 16, 2025
There are a few tendencies from the 2025-26 Oilers, one of them being that they can’t hold the lead for their life. That was the case in this case as well, as the Hurricanes got on the board with 4:21 remaining in the first with a cross-ice one-timer to cut the Oilers’ lead in half.
The Hurricanes cut the Oilers' lead in half.
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) November 16, 2025
The game-tying goal came early in the second period, as the Oilers had a defensive zone turnover (another tendency this season). Down low, Stuart Skinner overslid, allowing Jackson Blake to pass from behind to the net to Nikolaj Ehlers, who buried it into the gaping net.
Turnovers and a frozen Stuart Skinner caused the Hurricanes to tie the game.
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) November 16, 2025
Six minutes into the third period, Zach Hyman got his first point of the season, as he dropped it to Leon Draisaitl. The German made a terrific pass to a streaking McDavid, with the Oilers captain tapping it into the net.
CONNOR MCDAVID WITH HIS SECOND OF THE NIGHT!
And Zach Hyman gets his first point of the season!
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) November 16, 2025
Again, that lead didn’t last long, as the Hurricanes tied it just 59 seconds later thanks to a goal from Jordan Staal. Thankfully, Draisaitl won the game early in overtime to give the Oilers three wins (all in overtime) in their last four games.
IT'S AN OILERS OVERTIME WIN ON HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA!
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) November 16, 2025
Takeaways…
Before the Oilers made a late comeback last Monday, I was going to be rather critical of Connor McDavid’s performance, as he had just six even-strength points in the season. Thankfully, his game has reached another level, as he finished the game with two goals and an assist, giving him 30 points this season, just three behind Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon. He’s now on an eight-game point streak with six goals and 16 points.
The other player with three points was Leon Draisaitl, who scored the overtime winner and picked up two assists, both on McDavid’s goals. Jack Roslovic had a goal and an assist, as he now has six goals and 14 points in 18 games. What a pickup.
Zach Hyman returned for the first time since Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. The Oilers threw him right into the fire, as he logged 23:10 minutes of ice time, finishing with an assist and 11 hits. It’s good to see him back in the lineup.
Stuart Skinner was the other notable performer from this game. He stopped 33 of 36 shots for a .917 save percentage, the second consecutive game Skinner has posted a save percentage higher than .900. It’s just the fifth time all season he’s had a .900 save percentage or better.
Edmonton’s best defence pair was the Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm pair. Every other player not mentioned was unnoticeable throughout the game. Bouchard picked up the lone point for a defender, an assist on Draisaitl’s overtime winner. He was a +2. The Alec Regula and Brett Kulak pair just doesn’t work.
In 20 games this season, the Oilers have gone to overtime in nine of them. More than half of their nine wins have come in overtime, as they’ve won just four games in regulation. They are the Edmonton Overtime Merchants.
Next up for the Edmonton Overtime Merchants is a matchup with the Buffalo Sabres on Monday at 5:00 PM MT. The Oilers have lost four of their last five matchups in Buffalo, with all five scores ending 3-2.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
Zach Hyman isn’t wearing a letter on his jersey (yet). He’s not the one giving postgame speeches or handling media responsibilities when things go wrong. But what he brings to the Edmonton Oilers goes beyond any official leadership designation. It’s the kind of leadership that shows up in how other players compete when he’s in the lineup.
Let’s start with Carolina. Hyman returned after missing 19 games, led the team with 11 hits in his season debut, and suddenly the entire roster played with an intensity that’s been missing all year. That’s not a coincidence. That’s what happens when a player leads by example in ways that force everyone else to match his standard.
Leadership isn’t always about words. Sometimes it’s about setting a tone that makes it uncomfortable for teammates to give anything less than full effort. Hyman does that every shift. He goes to the net. He battles in corners. He takes punishment in front of goalies. He does the work that nobody wants to do but everyone knows needs doing.
When your teammate comes back from five and a half months off and immediately throws 11 hits, that sends a message to the locker room. If Hyman’s willing to play like that in his first game back, what excuse does anyone else have for not matching that intensity? That’s leadership—raising the standard without saying a word about it.
Connor McDavid plays differently when Hyman is on his wing. He drives to the net more. He’s more aggressive in traffic. He knows Hyman will be there battling for rebounds and creating chaos that opens up space. That confidence changes how McDavid approaches the game.
Leon Draisaitl benefits from having a player like Hyman in the lineup even when they’re not on the same line. The opposing team’s attention gets divided. If you focus too much on McDavid’s line because Hyman is creating problems there, Draisaitl’s line takes advantage. If you shift attention to Draisaitl, McDavid, and Hyman exploit it. That dynamic only works when both lines have players who demand attention through their work rate.
The depth players feed off it, too. When they see Hyman—a proven 50-goal scorer who’s making millions—doing the dirty work without complaint, it sets the expectation for everyone else. You can’t coast on a team where one of your most talented players is also one of your hardest workers. That accountability gets built into the culture when leadership comes through actions rather than just words.
Hyman’s leadership style fits perfectly with what this Oilers team needs. They have McDavid and Draisaitl handling the offensive brilliance and public-facing leadership. They have Ryan Nugent-Hopkins providing veteran steadiness and adaptability. What they need from Hyman is exactly what he provides—a gamer with a willingness to sacrifice his body for the team’s success.
The leadership also shows in the little things. The way he communicates on the ice. The way he celebrates teammates’ goals. The way he picks guys up after mistakes instead of showing frustration. Hyman played in Toronto for years before coming to Edmonton—he knows what it’s like to play under intense media scrutiny and pressure. That experience helps younger players navigate the ups and downs of a long season.
What makes Hyman’s leadership particularly valuable is that it’s consistent. He doesn’t bring intensity for important games and disappears for less meaningful ones. He doesn’t cherry-pick when to compete. Every shift gets the same effort, whether it’s Game 1 or Game 82, whether the team is winning or losing, whether he’s feeling great or dealing with nagging injuries.
That consistency matters more than flash or vocal leadership. Players watch what their teammates do more than what they say. When Hyman shows up every single night willing to do the dirty work, it creates accountability throughout the lineup. Nobody wants to be the guy who’s not matching his competitive level.
Here’s what Oilers fans need to understand: Zach Hyman’s leadership isn’t about wearing a letter or making speeches. It’s about showing up every single night and doing the work that winning hockey requires. It’s about setting a standard through actions that makes it impossible for teammates to justify giving less than full effort.
Saturday night in Carolina, Hyman laid 11 hits in his season debut after missing five and a half months. The Oilers won playing with more intensity and purpose than they’ve shown all year. Those two things aren’t separate stories. That’s leadership. That’s what Zach Hyman brings to this team that no one else can replicate.
The Oilers have talent. They have superstars. They have experience. What they’ve needed is someone who leads by example in the unglamorous work that separates good teams from great ones. Hyman provides that every single shift, and the effect on everyone else is undeniable.
That’s worth more than not wearing an A (yet).
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The Edmonton Oilers made a couple of roster moves last week, sending Isaac Howard to the American Hockey League and Troy Stecher on waivers in order to make room for Zach Hyman to come off the LTIR.
Neither of these moves was unexpected. Once the roster started getting healthy again, the Oilers knew they would have to make moves both to clear space and open roster spots. Before Stecher was waived, the Oilers were carrying eight defencemen, and there simply is not enough room for everyone. Even though neither player has exactly lit it up in the early going, the Oilers believe that both Alec Regula and Ty Emberson have higher ceilings and would prefer to keep them on the roster. Emberson, in particular, if he keeps up his current scoring rate of 1-2-3 in 16 games, would finish with around 15 points, which would beat his previous high of 13. A points-per-game mark of 0.1875 is roughly what you would want from a bottom-pairing defenceman.
With that in mind, Stecher was the odd man out and got caught in a numbers game. He was placed on waivers and claimed by the Toronto Maple Leafs, whose blue line has reportedly had trouble moving the puck. Stecher was not waived because he was not doing anything wrong. It was literally a numbers issue. Too many defencemen, not enough ice time. Good luck to him in Toronto. It looks like he has a real chance to get more minutes there.
As for Howard, we all knew that once the Oilers got healthier, he would be sent down to Bakersfield. As a player on an ELC, he does not require waivers, and while he did not perform badly during his time with the big club, going 2-1-3 in 17 games with a minus two, he also did not perform well enough to justify staying over more seasoned players. He showed he was not ready for a top-six role in the early going and was eventually demoted to the fourth line, even sitting out as a healthy scratch last week. Howard had never played an AHL game before, coming straight from the US college ranks, and while that is impressive, he did begin to look overwhelmed as the competition stiffened.
There is nothing wrong with that. It is not unusual for a first-year NHL player. Howard now goes to the AHL, where the pace will be a bit slower, the competition a bit easier, and he will have time to build his confidence. It is refreshing to see the Oilers recognize where a player is at developmentally instead of doing what they used to do, which was hand veterans like Sam Gagner and Jesse Puljujärvi undeserved minutes because they simply had no better options.
This means that in the battle of the rookies, Matt Savoie is dominating early on. Savoie has 73 AHL regular-season games and two playoff games under his belt, so it is no mystery why he looks more comfortable. He has five points so far to Howard’s three.
Two alumni succeeding in coaching roles
Mark Letestu
Letestu is currently the head coach of the Pacific Division-leading Colorado Eagles of the AHL, the affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche. He stepped into the role this past summer after putting in the work: one season coaching in the AJHL, then four years as an assistant and development coach with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. Congratulations to him, except when he plays Bakersfield, who also reside in the AHL’s Pacific Division and currently sit seventh.
Fans will remember Letestu as a bottom-six forward for the Oilers for three seasons during the decade of darkness. He signed with the Oilers in 2015-16, just in time for Rogers Place to open. Born in Elk Point, he came here specifically to play for his hometown team. Before that, he spent time in the Pittsburgh and Columbus systems, and after the Oilers chose not to re-sign him, he returned to Columbus before finishing his career with the Winnipeg Jets in 2019-20. He will always be remembered as a hometown guy willing to join a rebuilding team when the Oilers badly needed veteran leadership.
Jason Smith
Like Letestu, Smith was also hired as a coach this off-season, returning to Edmonton to take over the Oil Kings. This is a homecoming for Smith, who spent the bulk of his NHL career with the Oilers and served as their captain. His coaching career has been an absolute grind. He has been an assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators, an associate coach with the Prince George Cougars in the WHL, head coach of the Kelowna Rockets, and, most recently, an assistant with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the AHL.
Now he has the Oil Kings sitting first in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with a 17-4-1-1 record. Could another WHL championship or Memorial Cup run be in the Oil Kings’ future? With the way they are rolling, it is definitely possible.
Congratulations to Smith. Hopefully, he keeps it up. I would love to catch an Oil Kings win when I use my free subscriber tickets from Oilers Plus.
Three prospects on the rise in Bakersfield
Viljami Marjala
Marjala is heating up in a big way. He now has 2-11-13 in 14 games for the Condors. The minus two means he is not getting called up anytime soon, but offensively, he is absolutely putting himself on the radar for either a late-season call-up or a shot next season. There is no need to rush him. He is now second in Condors scoring. A 0.93 points-per-game pace is extremely impressive for a player in his first North American pro season.
Quinn Hutson
Marjala has developed strong chemistry with Hutson, which explains why both players are climbing the scoring charts. They are a big reason why Bakersfield has moved from eighth to seventh in the division. Hutson now has 6-6-12 in 14 games with a plus-three and 14 penalty minutes, placing him third in team scoring. The rookie pro started the season with the Oilers, playing two NHL games and performing about as expected for a first-year player. His current 0.86 points-per-game mark is excellent. He is a player worth keeping a close eye on and could easily be among the first forward callups this year, although Howard may challenge him for that spot later.
Roby Järventie
Järventie has climbed to fifth in Condors scoring with 6-4-10 in just 10 games, tied with Hutson for most goals. He also brings some snarl, sitting top five on the team with 1.2 penalty minutes per game. When the Oilers traded away Xavier Bourgault and struggling prospect Jake Chiasson to Belleville for Järventie, many fans shrugged. Bourgault has been solid for Belleville with 6-6-12 in 15 games, while Chiasson has only one assist. The change of scenery, though, appears to have benefitted Järventie immensely. He looks energized, confident, and capable of much more.
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The Edmonton Oilers might not be a good hockey team.
On Monday evening, they played the fourth of seven games on the road, falling 5-1 to the Buffalo Sabres. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one. Spoiler alert: There wasn’t a lot of good for the Oilers.
The Sabres opened the scoring thanks to a power play late in the first period. Noah Östlund was found all alone in front of Stuart Skinner. After a quick move to his forehand, he was able to beat Stuart Skinner gloveside for the 1-0 lead.
Noah Ostlund is found all alone in front of Stuart Skinner and quickly buries the puck on the Sabres' power play.
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) November 18, 2025
Four and a half minutes into the second period, the Oilers managed to tie the game. Leon Draisaitl found a trailing Jack Roslovic, who ripped it past the Sabres’ netminder. Unfortunately, that was the Oilers’ lone goal this game.
JACK ROSLOVIC REMAINS HOT!
His seventh goal of the year ties the game at 1-1.
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) November 18, 2025
The game-winning goal for the Sabres came midway through the second period, as Tyson Kozak rifled it past a sliding Skinner from the faceoff dot. Just over a minute later, the Sabres extended their lead to 3-1 as Beck Malenstyn was able to tip a point shot past Skinner.
The Sabres extend the lead to 3-1.
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) November 18, 2025
Midway through the third period, the Sabres won an offensive zone faceoff. Östlund took it around the net, got to a high-danger spot, and beat a screened Skinner to put the game out of reach. Tage Thompson buried the empty-netter for the 5-1 lead. Yikes.
Takeaways…
The biggest positive from this game is that Jack Roslovic continues to roll. His goal in the second period was his seventh of the season, bringing him to 15 points in 19 games. Andrew Mangiapane and Leon Draisaitl picked up assists.
Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm were solid; Bouchard finished with a 0 for +/-, while Ekholm was a +1. The other defenders had a brutal game, with Jake Walman being one of the worst skaters on the ice.
Connor McDavid briefly left the game late in the third, but he returned before the end of the game. Unfortunately, his point streak came to an end after eight games. It was one of his worst games of the season, if not the worst, as he had a ton of giveaways.
Vasily Podkolzin fought Peyton Krebs at the end of the second period, just the second fight the Oilers have had this season. At least someone showed that they cared.
Any other skater not mentioned was either unnoticeable or had a poor game. That makes sense, as the Oilers had just five high-danger scoring chances in this game, with the Sabres having 14. In fact, the Oilers gave the Sabres 35 scoring chances in total.
Stuart Skinner finished with four goals allowed on 27 shots for an .852 save percentage, not great. He made some big saves to start the third period, but they needed him to steal a game here. Just a poor performance all around from the Oilers.
Edmonton’s trip from hell continues on Wednesday, as the Oilers head to Washington to take on the Capitals at 5:00 PM MT. So far this road trip, the Oilers are 2-2-0, with both wins coming in overtime.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
To sit here and say the penalty kill has been a major issue for the Edmonton Oilers would be a bit disingenuous.
They’ve operated at an 81.5 percent clip following Monday’s loss to the Buffalo Sabres, the 13th-ranked penalty kill. At home, they’ve one of the best on the kill, at a 90.5 percent clip that’s fourth overall, but on the road, it’s one of the worst at 75.8 percent, ranking 25th.
One change this season has been in the defenders. Mattias Ekholm leads the way in PK time on ice at nearly 36 minutes, while Evan Bouchard is up to 35 minutes on the penalty kill, which, on a per-game rate, is the highest of his career next to the 2021-22 season. Brett Kulak and Darnell Nurse, meanwhile, have played 29 minutes and 27 minutes, respectively.
The results may not be what you would assume, as the Oilers’ penalty kill has been very effective with Bouchard on the ice, allowing just 6.9 goals against per hour, below the league average rate this season of 7.6. All but five of his minutes have been paired with Ekholm, and that pair is allowing 7.8 goals against per hour — not a poor number by any stretch — while allowing below-average numbers in terms of quality allowed.
What we see from other defencemen on the penalty kill is concerning trends. While the Oilers have faired well in terms of goals against when other defencemen are on the ice, one stands out above the rest: Darnell Nurse.
While above the ledger in terms of goals against per hour, the Oilers are getting absolutely caved when he’s on the ice killing penalties, allowing expected goals against and scoring chances against at nearly two times the league average rate. Bailed out by great goaltending, he and his partner, Jake Walman, have clearly struggled this season, and Noah Ostlund’s game-opening power play goal was a great highlight of it.
Ostlund sneaks in behind Nurse, receives a pass from Isak Rosen, and has all the time in the world to beat Stuart Skinner in tight. Nurse was wholly unaware of Ostlund’s positioning, as Walman A) didn’t communicate about a man getting behind Nurse and B) actually ended up giving Ostlund more room in front of the net.
These issues for Nurse on the penalty kill aren’t recent by any means. As Jonathan Willis pointed out in his above tweet that sparked this deeper dive into the penalty kill, the results with Nurse on the ice have been among the worst for any defenceman in the last four years.
In fact, since the Oilers hired Knoblauch, the team is giving up twice as many goals against with Nurse on the ice as with him off. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, no Oilers defenceman has spent more time killing penalties than Nurse over that time.
That’s starting to change this season, though. Bouchard has emerged as a viable penalty killer, while Nurse’s time-on-ice short a man has dipped roughly 40 seconds per game as a whole. He began the season as a primary penalty killer, as through Edmonton’s first six games of the year, he averaged 1:34 in ice-time. From Game 7 (at Ottawa) through Game 15 (at Dallas), Nurse averaged 57 seconds per game on the penalty kill.
Edmonton’s brutal 9-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche saw Nurse play just under four minutes on the kill, but in the games since, he’s averaging 1:45 per game.
All of this to say one thing: if the Oilers want to see their penalty kill improve, taking Nurse off the unit entirely is the route to go. And for Nurse himself, it might help him simplify his game.
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the Daily Faceoff DFS Hockey Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at [email protected].
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In most mid-tier horror movies, at some point in the movie, one of the characters enters a dark room or goes outside in the dark, and while watching, you say, “Don’t go in there!”
But they do, and they get killed.
It’s essentially the same process watching the Edmonton Oilers right now. The outcome has become predictable. Horribly predictable.
The team’s defensive decisions, with and without the puck, cause you to say, “Don’t go there!”
But they do, and it leads to a goal against.
The Oilers were incredibly sloppy in the first period last night in Washington, and it cost them. They battled their way back into the game in the third period, but then they couldn’t get a key stop in that frame from Stuart Skinner.
On Washington’s fifth goal, Skinner got across late, mainly because he moved a few inches to his left, which I felt was odd, because Dylan Strome was coming down the right side on his backhand. The pass was more of a threat than the shot. Skinner originally moved slightly to his left, which meant he had to move even farther to his right to make the save on the pass. The play was a pretty straightforward read, and while it would have been a solid save, it wasn’t an impossible one to make, but he was late getting across. It also looked like he pushed across to the player, not the stick blade, and you want the goalie targeting that angle, because Anthony Beauvillier is a left shot, and the pass across had farther to go. Even having his blocker forward a bit more would have cut off the angle more.
Again, it wasn’t an easy stop because it was another odd-man rush, but you need a key stop at times. I also didn’t love Ekholm going so hard to Strome, when he’s on his backhand, rather than staying in the middle and allowing him to shoot on his backhand. Washington got some from Logan Thompson, who wasn’t great, but made two key saves in the third period when Edmonton was pressing for the tying goal. Last night, via Clear Sight Analytics, Edmonton had nine high danger (HD) chances and seven mid chances, while Washington had eight HD and seven mid. Edmonton had 11 low danger chances to Washington’s four. The difference was that Washington had 3.25 expected goals and scored five, while Edmonton had 3.62 expected goals and scored four.
Porous defence and unreliable goaltending have been the script too often through 22 games. They will either choose to play better, or the losses and frustration will continue to mount.
Edmonton was a top-10 defensive team in 2024, after Kris Knoblauch arrived, and they ranked there again last season, but this year, they are floundering. They aren’t tough enough in front of their own goal. They lose too many battles on the boards and still make too many unforced errors that lead to quality scoring chances. They don’t have elite goaltending, so when you combine that with weak and inconsistent defending, you get a team with 22 points in 22 games and ranking 29th in GAA at 3.64.
The Oilers have allowed four goals in 11 games, the most of any team in the NHL. And it isn’t just on the goalies. If you are going to be a bottom-10 team in defensive metrics, you will need a great goalie to cover up your issues. Edmonton doesn’t have that, and I don’t see one available in a trade.
What can change?
Skinner and Pickard can play better, but only to a certain level. Neither is capable of stealing games regularly. The goalies making a few more stops will help, but the main area Edmonton can improve more is their defensive coverage.
They’ve proven they can be better defensively. They’ve ranked in the top 1o each of the past two seasons. Playing sound defensively is based on hard work and commitment. You have to commit to making the right plays regularly. Make the right decision with the puck. Get good positioning in front of the net and tie up the offensive player’s stick. Win battles in the corner. Don’t make low percentage passes, hoping for an offensive rush chance. The players can do this.
The coaches need to demand more from their players. History shows us that assistant coaches who are promoted to head coach often struggle. Some can have success, but historically, it has been hard. I wonder if that is part of the equation with Mark Stuart. He was on the staff and oversaw the penalty kill, but now he’s the main man running the defence. Can he crack the whip when necessary? Is his messaging being heard? Ultimately, Kris Knoblauch is the head coach, and he is the one who decides on ice time and situational play for players. The coaches have to become more of the solution.
General Manager Stan Bowman decided to return both Skinner and Pickard. It clearly isn’t working, so the onus is on him to find a replacement. Connor Ingram has made six starts with Bakersfield. He’s had two quality starts, one good start and three rough ones. His last two starts were classified as good and a quality start. Bakersfield only has three more games this month, including back-to-back this weekend, so he likely will have two more starts before the end of the month. If both are good, maybe he’s an option for a December recall — maybe even earlier, but if the Oilers are still leaking chances defensively at the tune they are now, will Ingram be able to save the day? That’s a big ask for a guy who hasn’t played an NHL game since last February, and last season in 22 appearances, he posted an .882Sv% and 3.27 GAA. Hoping he can ride in on a white Stallion and save the day could easily turn a fairytale story into a horror film if their defensive struggles remain.
Bowman has to look everywhere. Matt Murray, the third goalie in Seattle, could have been an option, but he got hurt last week and is now out for six weeks. Buffalo is carrying three goalies with Colten Ellis, Ukko-Pekka Luukonen and Alex Lyon. They claimed Ellis on waivers earlier this year, and he’s started the last three games, but he allowed six last night in his third straight start. Would they consider trading Luukonen or Lyon? Lyon has started 12 games for them and posted solid numbers, while Luukonen has had his own struggles. He has this year plus three more at $4.725m. Edmonton doesn’t have the cap room to acquire him, unless they move out other pieces, and right now, he has many questions about his game.
There is no obvious answer. The Juuse Saros rumours don’t make much sense. I’d be stunned Nashville would want to retain a high percentage of his cap hit for seven years. Maybe $1.5m of it, but the more they retain, the more you have to give up, making it worth their while. I don’t see how he’s a realistic option, but it is Bowman’s job to strengthen the goaltending, so he has to find one.
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Brett Kulak (27) reacts during the second period in game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
SNAPSHOTS…
— Brett Kulak is noticeably struggling. He is fighting the puck. He is hesitating and allowing guys to beat him. It is obvious he’s lacking confidence. In 10 games this month, he’s been outscored 15-0 at 5×5. Last night, the Capitals scored a goal on each of Kulak’s first three shifts of the game. On the first goal, Tom Wilson beat him to the net with good positioning and banged home the rebound. On the second goal, Kulak lost the puck battle behind the net, play continued, and Alex Ovechkin deflected a point shot to make it 2-0. The third goal was a broken play as the puck bounced off an unsuspecting Ty Emberson’s stick (it was hard to see if Draisaitl tried passing it to him, or if the puck just ricocheted) on the right boards and right onto the stick of Ryan Leonard who had speed and Kulak was caught in a rough spot (through no real fault of his own) and Leonard was able to walk in and score.
Kulak was on the ice for 2:31 in his first three shifts and was -3. He finished the game with 11:28 at 5×5, and he was outshot 8-2 and outscored 3-0. In the other 39:45 of 5×5 play, Edmonton outshot Washington 25-11 and outscored them 3-2. I’ve never seen Kulak struggle like this since he arrived in Edmonton on March 22nd, 2021. He’s been very consistent, but this is easily his worst stretch, and Knoblauch will have to look at giving Kulak a “reset” in-game if the struggles continue.
— David Tomášek showed some great hands on his third-period goal. His goal, along with Darnell Nurse’s second goal, came with the third and fourth lines on the ice. It was their first 5×5 goals of the month and much-needed for a team struggling for 5×5 offence.
Tomasek tally#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/fMZIGVkBsW
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 20, 2025
— Through 22 games last season, the Oilers had allowed 69 goals and 46 at 5×5. This year, they’ve allowed 80 overall and 58 at 5×5. Allowing 2.63 goals against/game at 5×5 is awful. Last season, the Chicago Blackhawks allowed the most 5×5 goals with 207. That was an average of 2.52/game.
Here is a quick look at the Oilers’ GA/GP averages for the past decade:
- 2025: 172 in 82 GP for 2.09.
- 2024: 152 in 82 GP for 1.86.
- 2023: 168 in 82 GP for 2.04.
- 2022: 173 in 82 GP for 2.10.
- 2021: 116 in 56 GP for 2.07.
- 2020: 152 in 71 GP for 2.14.
- 2019: 178 in 82 GP for 2.17.
- 2018: 176 in 82 GP for 2.14.
- 2017: 140 in 82 GP for 1.70.
- 2016: 170 in 82 GP for 2.07.
Sitting at 2.63/GP right now is inexcusable. The Oilers’ GA/60 at 5×5 is 3.11 as a team, which ranks 29th in the NHL.
— Here’s a look at each player’s GA/60 at 5×5 this season.
Players GP TOI/GP GA/60 Players GP TOI/GP GA/60 Leon Draisaitl 22 16:38 1.97 Zach Hyman 3 18:28 3.25 Ty Emberson 17 13:55 2.03 Kasperi Kapanen 6 11:51 3.37 Jack Roslovic 20 15:39 2.11 Mattias Ekholm 22 17:33 3.42 Darnell Nurse 22 18:59 2.73 Brett Kulak 22 16:03 3.57 Evan Bouchard 22 17:35 2.79 David Tomasek 15 8:44 3.66 Vasily Podkolzin 22 14:15 2.87 Jake Walman 16 17:57 3.76 Curtis Lazar 9 9:10 2.9 Matt Savoie 22 11:34 3.77 Connor McDavid 22 17:39 2.93 Mattias Janmark 6 10:08 3.95 Trent Frederic 22 11:51 2.99 Noah Philp 15 9:22 4.26 Adam Henrique 22 11:34 3.06 Andrew Mangiapane 22 13:24 4.68 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 16 13:16 3.11 Alec Regula 8 11:46 5.1 Isaac Howard 17 8:57 3.15
Draisaitl has the lowest, while playing the fifth-most minutes 5×5. Darnell Nurse has logged the most minutes 5×5 and has the fourth lowest GA/60, while Evan Bouchard has the fifth lowest. I find some people use GF% when ranking overall play, but that includes offensive numbers, and whichever D pairing plays more with McDavid and/or Draisaitl have a better GF%, because they will be on the ice for more goals scored. I’m not suggesting Nurse has played great, far from it, as the team has struggled. I’d like Nurse to be more assertive, especially physically, and his passing is still an issue, but in terms of goals against, which impact the game more than shots against, he’s been much better at limiting them compared to Mattias Ekholm, Brett Kulak and Jake Walman. Those three are all in the top-seven TOI/GP, and they’ve been on for too many goals against.
— If you use GF% for 5×5, consider teammates. For example. Nurse has played 48 minutes with both McDavid and Draisaitl on the ice, then an additional 79 minutes with McDavid and 91 minutes with Draisaitl. A total of 208 minutes with them, and he’s played 198 minutes without either. Bouchard has played 113 with both, 106 with McDavid and 78 with Draisaitl for a total of 287 minutes, and he’s skated 88 minutes without either of them.
Bouchard has played 88 of 385 minutes (22.8%) without McDavid or Draisaitl
Nurse has logged 198 of 406 minutes (48.7%) without them.
Bouchard should and has been on the ice for more goals scored, although not by a lot (17-15). He’s been on for 18 GA while Nurse is at 19. Both need to be on for fewer goals against, as 2.73/60 and 2.79/60 are still too high. Many of their teammates have struggled equally as much, and in many cases, more. This is why Edmonton ranks 29th in GAA and GA/60.
— After his two goals last night, Nurse is tied with Cale Makar and Zach Werenski for the league lead in 5×5 goals with five. The rest of the Oilers’ defence has combined for four. Makar has five goals on only 25 shots, while Werenski has 48 shots and Nurse has 49. But note that Edmonton has played three more games than Colorado and two more than Columbus.
Apr 3, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) makes a save against the San Jose Sharks in the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
LINEUPS…
Oilers…
- Savoie – McDavid – Roslovic
- Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Mangiapane
- Frederic – Henrique – Hyman
- Janmark – Tomášek
- Nurse – Bouchard
- Ekholm – Kulak
- Walman – Regula
- Emberson
- Pickard
The skaters remain the same, and I’m expecting Calvin Pickard to start. The Oilers have two games remaining on their seven-game road trip and need to find a way to at least win one of the final two road games. They are 1-8 in Tampa Bay in the McDavid/Draisaitl era. Their only win came on November 8th, 2022, when Jack Campbell stopped 35 of 37 shots in a 3-2 win. They’ve been outscored 36-17 in their eight losses. Ouch.
Lightning…
- Guentzel – Point – Paul
- Hagel – Cirelli – Kucherov
- Girgensons – Gourde – Bjorkstrand
- Douglas – James – Goncalves
- Moser – Raddysh
- D’Astous – Cernak
- Lilleberg – Santini
- Vasilevskiy
Victor Hedman was moved to IR today, so they could activate Nick Paul off of LTIR. Paul will play with Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point. Point has had a slow start with only 3-8-11 in 18 games, but he does have points in the past two games, and Tampa is hopeful he’s emerging from his early-season funk.
Tampa’s blueline has four defenders with fewer than 200 games of experience in Darren Raddysh (182), Emil Lilleberg (132), Steven Santini (125) and Charle-Edouard D’Astous (12). With no Hedman or McDonagh, this could be Edmonton’s best chance in the last decade to get a win over Tampa Bay.
Game Day Photoshop by Tom Kostiuk
TONIGHT…
GAME DAY PREDICTION: Edmonton’s struggles in Tampa continue. Oilers lose 5-3.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Nikita Kucherov scores a goal. He has 13 goals in 18 career games vs. the Oilers. That is his highest goal/game rate (0.72) against any NHL team.
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: David Tomášek scores in consecutive games.
Oilersnation is reviving the Top 100 Edmonton Oilers of All Time list, a project originally created by the late Robin Brownlee in 2015. Marty McSorley comes in at No. 62 on our updated 2025 list. He was ranked No. 34 on Brownlee’s original list.
You’d think that Marty McSorley played his whole career with the Edmonton Oilers — that’s how much of a fan favourite he was.
But that wasn’t the case. McSorley only played 206 games as an Oilers over four regular seasons and two stints: from 1985-86 to 1987-88, and again in 1998-99.
He was shipped as part of the Wayne Gretzky sale to the Los Angeles Kings on August 9, 1988, as a bodyguard for Kings owner Bruce McNall’s new prized possession. But Gretzky insisted on McSorley coming with him.
His career ended in infamy with one of the worst on-ice incidents in hockey history, assaulting Donald Brashear when he connected with a stick swing to his head, which led to a criminal conviction and the subsequent end of his playing career.
But Marty McSorley played 961 NHL games, not just because he was a goon, although he was ferocious. He was tough, but also an effective hockey player, and a two-time Stanley Cup champion.
He may also have the NHL record for most times being bare-chested on the ice with how his equipment slunk off his body during a tilt.
Notable
Marty McSorley went undrafted out of junior with the Belleville Bulls of the OHL, but was signed by the Pittsburgh Penguins as a free agent.
He jumped right to the NHL in 1983-84, scoring nine points and 224 PIMs. After largely playing next season in the minors, the Edmonton Oilers acquired him for the rights to goaltender Gilles Meloche in 1985.
This is when McSorley became the heir apparent to Dave Semenko as Gretzky’s Bodyguard, registering 265 PIMs. They played together in 1985-86, but Semenko’s lack of versatility made him expendable, and he was dealt the following season.
McSorley also showed flashes of being able to play forward and defence, which he did throughout his career.
His on-ice play improved as part of back-to-back Stanley Cups, scoring 4-3–7 in the 1987 playoffs, and then setting a new career high in points the following season with 9-17–26.
His ability as a protector was valued enough that he tagged along with Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings (along with Mike Krushelnyski), and McSorley’s best playing days were ahead.
The finest season was 1992-93, the Kings’ eventual Stanley Cup Final appearance season, where he scored 15-26–41, a career high 399 PIMs, and then was a huge factor in the playoffs, some suggesting his play was only outshone by Wayne.
Health and suspensions started to get the better of McSorley, never dressing more than 68 games in a season again, and bouncing around to Pittsburgh again, Los Angeles again, the New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, the Oilers again, and finishing in Boston, where the bleak end awaited.
The Story
McSorley was a clear fan favourite for his dogged protection of his teammates, knowing at times he was going to cross a line to get a point across.
McSorley’s nasty streak came out in Game 3 of the Smythe Division Finals against the Flames, a classic lightning rod moment in the BoA. The Oilers, perceived as underdogs, had taken both games in Calgary.
As Kevin Lowe recalls in the book Champions: The Making of the Edmonton Oilers, McSorley was dazed by a nasty hit from Gary Roberts and was seeking vengeance.
When Mike Bullard jumped out on the ice, McSorley speared him, simultaneously to Charlie Huddy scoring a 2-1 goal. To an irate Calgary bench, the goal was allowed, but McSorley was given five and a game, and then suspended for three games.
Bullard said about his former Pittsburgh teammate in McSorley, in Mark Spector’s book The Battle of Alberta:
His physicality also made the Boston Bruins become unglued in the pivotal Game 3 of the SCF. Ahead 2-0 in the series and tied 1-1in the game, McSorley collided heavily with defenceman Michael Thelven at center. No penalty was called, but Thelven was hurt, requiring a stretcher to leave the ice.
McSorley got under the skin of the opposition, so much so that early in his Oilers tenure in 1986, after a brutal BoA brawl, Doug Risenbrough took McSorley’s jersey with him to the penalty box and sliced it with his skates.
In an era where playing on the edge and crossing the line was part of the deal, McSorley is a fondly remembered Oiler for being one nasty SOB.
As a personal aside, McSorley was the first big leaguer I ever met as a teenager in Vermilion, when the Stanley Cup was doing a tour before Hockey Day in Canada. He was really kind to a long-haired teenage dork like me and signed a crummy 1991 Score hockey card. Thanks, Marty.
Edmonton Journal, September 13, 1985
What Brownlee said
The Last 10
Through the first quarter of the 2025-26 season, the Edmonton Oilers are facing a familiar problem: an inconsistent goaltending duo that isn’t giving them enough. The results continue to trend in the wrong direction for Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, and the organization’s patience may be wearing thin.
TSN Hockey insider Darren Dreger discussed potential trade partners on OverDrive this Thursday, citing the organizational depth for the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres as opportunities for Edmonton.
With Alex Lyon’s success this season and Colton Ellis working his way into the Sabres’ rotation, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is a guy the Sabres might be looking to move.
On the Bruins’ side of things, Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo continue to block 26-year-old Michael DiPietro from a chance at an NHL job despite sparkling numbers in the AHL. He finished with a .927 SV% for the Providence Bruins last season and has a .932 in his first eight starts this year. He might be an option if the Oilers consider him an upgrade on Pickard.
Last week, NHL Network insider Pagnotta named the Montreal Canadiens’ duo as another one to watch.
Montembeault is coming off a fantastic 2024-25 with the Canadiens, but has struggled so far this season. Rookie Jakub Dobes has been the better netminder in Montreal through the first quarter of the season, and their top goalie prospect Jacob Fowler is off to a great start to his first pro campaign for the Laval Rocket.
Buying low on Montembeault could be an interesting move, considering he has been a reliable starter for several years before his recent slump. But Edmonton might not make that move mid-season unless Montembeault starts to show signs of improvement.
And then, there’s Connor Ingram, whom the Oilers bought low on at the start of the season. If he can continue to improve after a tough start in Bakersfield, he has the upside to be a potential solution down the line.
The case for bargain-bin goalie additions
Fans often want a big splash when it comes to trades. Former Vezina Trophy candidates, Juuse Saros and Ilya Sorokin, are sometimes cited as ideal targets for the Oilers. Unfortunately, those types of acquisitions aren’t easy to pull off, especially mid-season.
Both Saros and Sorokin are locked into long-term deals worth well over $7 million annually. The contracts are too long to expect salary retention, and the Oilers don’t have much money to move out due to all of the trade-protected contracts on the roster. I don’t see a realistic way for Edmonton to make room for contracts like these until the offseason.
And of course, there’s the volatility of goaltending, which makes committing that kind of money a risky proposition in the first place. Even Saros and Sorokin have been vulnerable to down years in the past. Saros, in particular, had an underwhelming 2024-25 season, posting a .896 SV% and -4.68 GSAx, according to Evolving Hockey.
The goalies circulating in the rumour mill lately might not be the sexiest additions, but history has proven that there can be value in shopping for goalies in the bargain bin instead of making the flashy move.
The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Arturs Silovs in July for Chase Stillman and a fourth-round pick, and he’s rewarded them with a fantastic season, ranking near the top of the league this year in most key metrics.
The San Jose Sharks traded Mackenzie Blackwood last season in early December to the Colorado Avalanche, who didn’t give up a first-round pick or a blue-chip prospect in the deal. He completely turned their season around, becoming an immediate upgrade.
The Vegas Golden Knights dealt Logan Thompson to the Washington Capitals for a pair of third-round picks in 2024, and he’s given them Vezina-calibre goaltending ever since. The list goes on.
Opportunity, environment, and confidence are all seemingly more impactful with goalies than with any other position. Buying low on good goalies stuck in crowded organizational depth charts is a type of bet that has historically paid off without the cap risk and assets required to trade for the big names. It appears that might be the direction the Oilers are headed, at the very least, as a stopgap until next offseason, when they will have a much better cap situation.
Now, that doesn’t mean Edmonton should be enthusiastic about every cheap trade candidate available — Luukkonen, for example, might not be a risky acquisition given that he’s only in year two of a five-year deal worth $4.7M annually and has yet to live up to that contract. Searching the bargain bin isn’t about making an easy move for the sake of change and praying it works out; it’s about making smart bets on underrated players.
At some point, the Oilers will need to make a real effort to stabilize their crease. If they play it right, and take a calculated swing based on quality scouting and data analysis, the answer in goal may not be the marquee name everyone expects — but the bargain they never saw coming.
Rejoice, the Edmonton Oilers have won a regulation game.
On Saturday evening, the Oilers played their seventh and final game on their road trip, visiting the Florida Panthers. They got a brief modicum of revenge on the team that has beaten them in the last two Stanley Cup Finals, winning 6-3 for their first regulation win in November. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one!
Just 25 seconds in, the Oilers opened the scoring. Jack Roslovic took a shot from an awful angle, but it found a hole through Sergei Bobrovsky to give the right-shot forward his eighth goal of the season.
Jack in a flash️ #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/ccxBnwu097
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 23, 2025
The Panthers tied the game at one thanks to a goal six and a half minutes into the game, as Anton Lundell poked the puck in. It didn’t take long for the Oilers to get their lead back, as Roslovic was able to score his second of the game with a nice shot over Bobrovsky’s glove.
Double shot of Jack#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/Ra9O8blAuE
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 23, 2025
With about six minutes left in the first period, the Oilers extended their lead to two, as Mattias Ekholm fired a loose puck into the back of the net from the slot. It was the left-shot defenceman’s second goal of the season.
Ek fires it Holm#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/sSTJqoCR3C
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 23, 2025
What’s better than a 3-1 lead? A 4-1 lead. The Oilers got their fourth nearly seven minutes into the second period, as Vasily Podkolzin went up high on Bobrovsky, finding what little daylight there was.
Podz perfect#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/clKqRVEiRY
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 23, 2025
The Panthers are the reigning back-to-back Stanley Cup champions for a reason, so a push came. Their first came midway through the second, as Mackie Samoskevich was left all alone above the faceoff dot, one-timing it past Skinner. Three and a half minutes later, Sam Reinhart scored on the power play to bring the Panthers to within one.
Thankfully, the Oilers bent but didn’t break. They were able to hold onto the one-goal lead before Connor McDavid and Matthew Savoie scored empty netters for the 6-3 win.
Savoie makes it#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/iCovV215Fe
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 23, 2025
Takeaways…
Starting with Connor Clattenburg, he had two opportunities to score his first career goal, being robbed in the first period and just missing the net on a two-on-one early in the second. He wasn’t much of a physical presence/pest until late in the game, as he gave A.J. Greer a cross-check after the Panther got into it with Mattias Janmark. With Greer tied up, Clattenburg got a few punches in and even put him in a headlock. Good stuff.
Speaking of Greer, he needs to be suspended for that gutless play early in the first period. During a scrum, it looked as if he and Trent Frederic were going to drop the mitts. Greer didn’t, and instead used a double-leg takedown. Very dangerous, and he should be suspended for it.
TRENT FREDERIC TRIED GETTING AJ GREER TO DROP EM AND GREER GOT THE DOUBLE LEG TAKEDOWN ON FREDERICpic.twitter.com/ZDYHLQ8pIW
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) November 23, 2025
That was it for the chipiness in this game. There were some big hits, though. A Panther laid a picture-perfect hip check, while Ty Emberson, Leon Draisaitl, and even Connor McDavid had big hits as well.
That was easily Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm’s best game of the season. Both defencemen finished as +5, not too often you see that. Bouchard has three assists, and Ekholm had a goal and two assists. Darnell Nurse was the other defender with a point.
It was a quiet game for McDavid (empty net goal) and Draisaitl (primary assist), but the Oilers’ depth came through. Jack Roslovic scored twice, what an addition he has been, while Vasily Podkolzin scored his fourth of the season.
Matthew Savoie had a great game. His lone point came on an empty net goal, but he was all over the place and was able to force a handful of turnovers with his forecheck, one of which led to a goal.
It was a nice bounce-back game from Stuart Skinner, stopping 35 of 38 shots for a .921 save percentage. In the second period, the Panthers fired 20 shots on the Oilers’ netminder. He gave them a chance to win this game.
For the first time since Nov. 10, the Oilers play a home game on Nov. 25. They’ll host the Dallas Stars at 7:00 PM MT, before heading back on the road for one game against the Seattle Kraken later in the week.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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