Published Dec 28, 2023 • Last updated 29 minutes ago • 4 minute read
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 28: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers shoots on goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first period at SAP Center on December 28, 2023 in San Jose, California. Photo by Thearon W. Henderson /Getty Images
The Edmonton Oilers visited the Shark Tank in San Jose for the second time this year, but with a dramatically different result. In November, the arena proved to be Woodcroft’s End, as the Oilers looked soft and lazy in losing a crucial game that proved to be the deciding game in coach Jay Woodcroft’s firing.
I don’t know if the Oil had revenge on their mind given how disappointed the group evidently was with Woodcroft’s axing, but they certainly skewered the Sharks on Thursday night.
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This time the Oilers came out determined to win and quickly found themselves with a 4-0 lead, out-hustling and out-skilling the Sharks.
It was the kind of dominating performance that had you counting up the win at the end of the first, maybe even noting that the win would get the Oilers back to real .500, 16 wins and 16 losses in 32 games.
In total, Edmonton had 11 Grade A shots to 12 for San Jose, with the subset of the most dangerous shots, 5-alarmers, going four to three for the Oilers.
Connor McDavid, 8. He came out like smokestack lightning on the first shift, turning and twisting defenders as they tried to keep up. He got some pay off a few shifts later, charging up the ice to set up Hyman. He slammed a Hyman feed off the post in the third. Contributions to Grade A Shots (GAS): Even Strength +3/-1; Special Teams +0/-0
Zach Hyman, 8. Strong first shift where he set up the first goal, then followed up a moment later driving the net and deflecting in McDavid’s pass. He drove hard to the net to help create useful havoc on Edmonton’s fifth goal. GAS: ES +3/-1; ST +0/-0.
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Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 6. He made a swell line change to send out McLeod on an o-zone possession, leading to McL’s goal. RNH was part of the chaos on a 5-alarm shot against in the second. He was in the right place at the right time to deflect in Ceci’s outside shot for Edmonton’s fifth goal. GAS: ES +1/-2; ST +0/-0.
Leon Draisaitl, 7. He hustled back hard to get a slash on big Hertl in the first period, denying the veteran a 5-alarm slot shot with a veteran move. But a moment later his turnover led to a 4-on-2 rush. He went to the net hard in the first and drove in Foegele’s pass for Edmonton’s fourth goal. He helped set up Foegele for a Grade A in the second then moved fast into the slot for his own nasty shot. A moment later he launched his dread Executioner’s Shot on net but failed to score. GAS: ES +5/-3; ST +0/-0.
Ryan McLeod, 8. He’s playing just now like he’s big as a damn mountain. His seeing-eye wrister, a Grade B shot, found its way past the rookie San Jose goalie Magnus Chrona. Late in the first he banged in hard and fast on the forecheck to kick off the Virtuous Cycle leading to Draisaitl’s goal. GAS: ES +1/-0; ST +0/-0.
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Warren Foegele, 7. He made a beauty of a heads-up pass to set up Draisaitl late in the first. He set up Drai’s harpoon late in the second. GAS: ES +3/-0; ST +0/-0.
Derek Ryan, 5. He led the most quiet of the four Edmonton lines but they sawed it off. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST +0/-0.
Evander Kane, 5. He blasted Okhotiuk with a wicked hit in the second. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST +0/-0.
Mattias Janmark, 5. Quiet game but no harm when he was out there. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST +0/-0.
Adam Erne, 7. Best game of the year for Erne? Maybe. He redirected an outside shot for a Grade A in the first. He and Hamblin then pulled off the old Detroit Double Screen on Bouchard’s bomb of a goal in the first. He charged in hard to set up a Hamblin slot shot in the second. GAS: ES +3/-0; ST +0/-0.
James Hamblin, 6. Screener of the Bouch goal. He almost jammed in one of his own in the second. GAS: ES +2/-0; ST +0/-0.
Connor Brown, 6. He made a nifty, behind-the-back pass leading to a Grade A shot in the first. A moment later got his second point of the year on Bouch’s bomb. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST +1/-0.
Darnell Nurse, 7. His wicked poke check kicked off the rush ending in Hyman’s first period goal. His turnover in the third led to a 5-alarm shot against. GAS: ES +1/-2; ST +0/-0.
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Cody Ceci, 6. Quiet but effective game, the kind he’s played all year. GAS: ES +1/-2; ST +0/-0.
Mattias Ekholm, 7. He fired a couple hot ones on net early on. He made a spin move to set up Bouch’s lamp-lighting bomb in the first. GAS: ES +2/-2; ST +0/-1.
Evan Bouchard, 7. One goal, one assist. He wired in a slapper for a goal in the first. He got beat down the wing, allowing a 5-alarm shot in the second. GAS: ES +1/-2; ST +0/-0.
Vincent Desharnais, 6. He made an excellent block at the side of the net to help prevent a goal half-way through the second. GAS: ES +1/-1; ST +0/-1.
Brett Kulak, 7. He made an early own-zone turnover but no damage. He made a fine defensive stop late in the second. GAS: ES +2/-1; ST +0/-0.
Stuart Skinner, 9. He was not peppered with a great many of the most dangerous shots but he stopped all of them. He made a sharp save off Fabian Zetterlund early on. He continued to look sharp, especially on Ohkotiuk and Eklund snipes early in the second and Duclair’s harpoon in the third. He preserved his shut-out with two great saves on the penalty kill late in the game.
At the Cult of Hockey
McCURDY: McLeod silencing critics
STAPLES: Which old Oiler might fit best?
McCURDY: On the Oilers, the World Junior, and the cost of going “all in”
STAPLES: The best thing about each Edmonton Oiler
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