The Edmonton Oilers opened their three-game highway journey on Saturday (Nov. 16), falling 4-3 in time beyond regulation to the host Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Area. Mitch Marner notched the successful objective for Toronto simply forty seconds into the 3-on-3 sudden loss of life.
With their victory, the Maple Leafs improved to 8-3-0 at Scotiabank Area, which ranks among the many higher residence data within the NHL. Contemplating that the majority visiting groups are discovering little success in Toronto this fall, the Oilers may really feel joyful to be leaving city with a degree for the time beyond regulation loss.
Associated: Marner’s Time beyond regulation Objective Lifts Maple Leafs Over Oilers
However the Oilers aren’t most groups; they’re the defending Western Convention champions and a favorite to win the Stanley Cup in 2025. To date in 2024-25, the Oilers usually are not residing as much as the sky-high expectations they’ve created for themselves.
So there probably isn’t a lot solace to be discovered amongst Oilers followers, who lit up the post-game exhibits after watching the occasions of Saturday evening from afar. Listed here are three takeaways from the Oilers’ loss in Toronto that designate the unease in Oil Nation.
One other Blown Lead
Cease me in the event you’ve heard this earlier than: the Oilers began the third interval with extra targets than the opponent however didn’t have extra targets than the opponent when the third interval ended.
Because of targets from Adam Henrique and Connor McDavid, Edmonton was forward 2-1 by way of 40 minutes. The Oilers’ lead held up till 13:08 of the third interval when Leafs ahead Matthew Knies tied issues up. Lower than a minute later, Bobby McMann scored to offer Toronto the lead. Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl responded with a objective at 18:31 to make the rating 3-3, earlier than Marner finally ended issues in OT.
This marked the fourth time within the final 5 video games that the Oilers have held a lead with lower than 10 minutes to play within the third interval and wound up both shedding the sport in regulation or going to time beyond regulation. Over these final 5 video games, Edmonton has surrendered 9 targets within the third interval. Examine that to only six targets within the first two intervals mixed.
Whereas Edmonton’s late-game breakdowns have been significantly egregious of late, it is a season-long development. Via 18 video games, the Oilers have surrendered 15 and 16 targets within the first and second intervals, respectively, and 24 targets within the last sport.
Primarily, the Oilers are giving up one and a half occasions the targets within the third interval as they’re in intervals one or two. What is occurring in the course of the second intermission that’s turning this crew right into a dumpster hearth?
Nightmare Recreation for Bouchard
Effectively, the likes of what was seen on Saturday from Oilers blueliner Evan Bouchard actually isn’t serving to the Oilers maintain pucks out of their web. Whereas he’s at all times been recognized extra for his scoring and playmaking, Bouchard’s defensive play has been abysmal thus far this season, and it reached a nadir at Scotiabank Area.
With Edmonton lower than seven minutes from victory, main 2-1, Bouchard tried a really ill-advised go that went off the skates of McDavid and bounced straight in entrance of Edmonton’s web. Knies pounced on the free puck and blasted it previous Stuart Skinner, who by no means had an opportunity to forestall the game-tying objective.
BOBBY MCMANN!
His second of the evening provides the @MapleLeafs the lead within the third! 🍁
📺: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/RvL7hFZ8eI
— NHL (@NHL) November 17, 2024
That was dangerous sufficient, however the beleaguered rearguard’s evening bought worse on his ensuing shift, as Edmonton pressed to regain the lead.
Stationed on the level simply inside Toronto’s blueline, Bouchard couldn’t maintain the puck within the zone, then half-heartedly skated again to retrieve it. In the meantime, McMann was racing in the direction of the puck and caught as much as it just some ft in entrance of the Oilers web, the place the ahead fired residence his second objective of the sport to place Toronto in entrance 3-2.
This isn’t the primary time that Bouchard has given lower than most effort and ended up costing the Oilers dearly. The 25-year-old confirmed throughout his breakout marketing campaign in 2023-24 that at his finest, he’s one of many high offensive rearguards within the NHL and a succesful defender. Bouchard must get again to that degree instantly, particularly contemplating what occurred to Darnell Nurse early within the center body on Saturday.
Nurse Will get Knocked Out
Alongside Brett Kulak, Nurse has comprised Edmonton’s finest defensive pairing this season. His latest play ranks among the many higher stretches of his profession.
Thus, it was an enormous blow to the Oilers when Toronto’s Ryan Reaves delivered a brutal hit to the pinnacle of Nurse, leaving the Edmonton defenceman dazed and bloodied on the ice. Reaves was assessed a five-minute match penalty at 2:41 of the second interval, whereas Nurse was helped to the locker room and didn’t return.
Reaves is for certain to be suspended for the play, the one query is for what number of video games. However that basically received’t be any consolation to the Oilers, who now could should go with out Nurse for a while.
Whereas Nurse is reported to have been strolling round and joking with trainers after the sport, the Oilers didn’t present an official replace on his standing. When head trauma is concerned, restoration timelines will be robust to challenge and a return to motion can’t be rushed.
Beginning Monday (Nov. 18), Edmonton performs 4 occasions in a span of six days. The Oilers then have 5 days off earlier than their subsequent sport. For nevertheless lengthy Nurse is sidelined, strain can be on the remainder of Edmonton’s D-core, Bouchard included, to step up.
The excellent news for the Oilers is that, regardless of all their points, they’ve a file of 9-7-2 for 20 factors, simply 4 again of the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights. Edmonton will look to select up two factors when it takes on the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Monday.
