Breadcrumb Trail Links
Published Dec 22, 2023 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 6 minute read
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 22: Jonathan Quick #32 of the New York Rangers makes the first period stop on Zach Hyman #18 of the Edmonton Oilers at Madison Square Garden on December 22, 2023 in New York City. Photo by Bruce Bennett /Getty Images
Article content
Lightning struck twice, once Thursday, once Friday, both time knocking dead teams opposing the Edmonton Oilers.
For the second time in two nights the Edmonton Oilers battled back from one-goal deficits entering the third, each time scoring four goals in quick succession in the third to secure victory, this time a 4-3 triumph over the New York Rangers.
Article content
The Oilers were passive and disorganized in the first period, but came on like mad men in the second, driving five 5-alarm shots on Jonathan Quick. They kept it up in the third, scoring four quick goals in under seven minutes of play, Zach Hyman, then Evander Kane, then Warren Foegele, then Ryan McLeod.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.
- Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.
- Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
- Support local journalism.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.
- Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.
- Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
- Support local journalism.
REGISTER TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account.
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
- Enjoy additional articles per month.
- Get email updates from your favourite authors.
Article content
The Rangers scored two late goals, but Edmonton’s lead held.
In total, both teams had 10 five-alarm shots, the most dangerous ones that go in 33 per cent of the time, while Edmonton did better on Grade A shots, which go in 25 per cent of the time on average, getting 17 to New York’s 14.
Connor McDavid, 8. He got better as the game went along, going from poor early on to brilliant later on. His line got outworked by New York’s checking line in the first half of the game. He was late coming back to help on defence on New York’s first goal. His hard slot shot was blocked late in the first. He ramped up his game on a power play late in the second when he first set up Draisaitl, then charged in for a Grade A shot of his own. On Edmonton’s next power play he made a brilliant pass to set up Hyman’s 5-alarmer, then set up Draisaitl’s trusty harpoon, but no goals. He charged up ice in the third to set up Hyman and Ekholm’s magic on Edmonton’s first goal. He won 11 of 17 face-offs. Contributions to Grade A Shots (GAS): Even Strength +3/-3; Special Teams +5/-0.
Zach Hyman, 8. He got it done when a goal was needed. Solid all game. He charged down the wing and got the game’s first Grade A shot, putting it off the post. He took McD’s feed at the net but could not put it past Quick on a second period power play. He scored Edmonton’s first with a brilliant give-and-go with Ekholm, striking in an equally brilliant backhand shot. GAS: +2/-0; ST +2/-0.
Headline News
Thanks for signing up!
Article content
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 5. Quiet game, but he did his bit. GAS: +1/-2; ST +1/-0.
Leon Draisaitl, 6. Do the Oilers have two strong scoring lines all of a sudden? It looks like maybe. Definitely maybe. Draisaitl lost a battle early leading to a Grade A shot, then later in the period missed the net on a great break-in chance. He hammered a power play slot pass from McDavid on net in the second but failed to score. A moment later his turnover led to a 3-on-1 shorthanded break-in but Skinner made up for 29’s mistake. He launched a wicked and wide open Executioner’s Shot on net in the second but could not beat fast Quick. GAS: +2/-2; ST +4/-1.
Warren Foegele, 9. Fantastic play from the Oil’s second best winger this season and best player this game. One goal, one assist, both crucial plays. He led the team with six shots. He charged in took a Grade A shot in the first off Draisaitl and Bouchard’s pass work. He sent up Brown on the rush for a 5-alarm PK chance in the second. He went hard to the crease and slammed Drai’s rebound off the post early in the third, but failed to score. All his good work paid off when he drove into the slot and snapped a wicked shot past Quick for Edmonton’s third goal. A moment later, he charged in again, fired a nasty shot then passed the rebound to McLeod for Edmonton’s fourth goal. GAS: +5/-0; ST +1/-0.
Advertisement 4
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Ryan McLeod, 7 Has he found a spot where he can produce more on the attack? Second line winger on Draisaitl’s line may be the magic cure for McLeod’s scoring woes. One goal and one assist in this one after two goals last game. He took a big hit in the first, but bounced up and threw a big hit. He made a nifty pass at the blueline on Foegele’s goal, then went to the net to put in Foegele’s pass on Edmonton’s fourth score. GAS: +2/-0; ST +0/-0.
Evander Kane, 7. Best game in weeks. He worked well as a checker with Ryan. Kane rushed in hard late in the first and rammed a shot on net that Janmark almost jammed home. Early in the third he drove a shot off a scrambled faceoff on net, then when Quick coughed up an uggo rebound, he slammed it past the New York goalie. GAS: +3/-0; ST +0/-0.
Derek Ryan, 7. Stepped up as third-line centre. He tipped Kane’s outside shot off the post late in the second. He battled like a demon on the face-off kicked off the Kane scoring sequence. He won all seven of his face-offs. GAS: +3/-0; ST +0/-0.
Matthias Janmark, 6. He went hard to the net, creating some havoc on Kane’s goal. GAS: +2/-0; ST +0/-1.
Advertisement 5
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Adam Erne, 5. Made no major mistakes in 7:01 of ice time. Enough said. GAS: +0/-0; ST +0/-0.
Connor Brown, 6. Some good moments. He battled hard to get the puck up and out along the boards on a dangerous New York cycle in the first. He made a fine play to win the puck and send in Foegele on a short-handed break in the second, then charged hard to take Foeg’s pass and put it on net for a 5-alarm shot, but no goal. GAS: +0/-1; ST +0/-1.
James Hamblin, 5. Did his bit in a small number of minutes, 8:05. GAS: +1/-2; ST +1/-0.
Evan Bouchard, 8. Great game, keeping a clean sheet at even strength, not one major mistake on a Grade A shot against at even strength. He blasted a few wicked hard shots on Quick in the second. He flashed his stick to poke-check the puck, kicking off the Tic-Tac-Goal sequence on Edmonton’s first score. GAS: +2/-0; ST +0/-0.
Matthias Ekholm, 7. He went one way but the puck went another, courtesy of a brilliant chip play by Mika Zibanejad, heading right to a wide open Blake Wheeler in the slot on New York’s first goal. His snazzy pass set up Hyman’s goal early in the third. GAS: +2/-1; ST +0/-1.
Advertisement 6
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Darnell Nurse, 7. Tower of power. Led the team with five blocked shots and 25:08 of icetime. He made an excellent diving stop to thwart an early 2-on-1 rush, then broke up a nasty rebound chance in front of Skinner a moment later. Cody Ceci. He allowed an early Grade A shot on net from Wheeler. GAS: +0/-2; ST +0/-1.
Cody Ceci, 7. Got it done defensively and made one huge offensive play. He kicked off the cavalcade of joy on Foegele’s third period goal with a battle won and stretch pass. GAS: +1/-1; ST +0/-2.
Brett Kulak. 7. He also kept a clean sheet. He made a swell pass back to Kane for an outside shot that Ryan almost tipped in. GAS: +1/-0; ST +0/-0.
Vincent Desharnais, 6. Lots of hard work, no major ugly moments. GAS: +0/-1; ST +0/-0.
Stuart Skinner, 8. His best game in weeks. In the end, he outplayed Jonathan Quick. Skinner thwarted Wheeler’s backhand on his first big test, but Wheeler got him on the next one, a tricky play and difficult shot to stop. Two big stops a moment later on a net front scramble. He took a hard Zibanejad shot in the facemask early in the second, the blast shaking him up. A veteran move to shake off his mask and shut down the play? Could well be the case. He made a massive stop on Zibanejad a moment later. Another monster stop on a 2-on-1 shot from Chris Kreider in the second. He got beat late on a power play when the Rangers slammed and jammed the puck from beneath him into the net, then a last second shot also got by him.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 22: Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts after a shot knocked his mask off during the second period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on December 22, 2023 in New York City. Photo by Bruce Bennett /Getty Images
Staples on politics
Alberta Premier on Trudeau Liberal alarmist climate policy: “I have to question whether or not Steven Guilbeault is trying to cause riots.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Photo by File photos
Recently at the Cult of Hockey
McCURDY: Deep dive into Edmonton’s excellent ten game run
LEAVINS: Player grades from 6-3 comeback win at Jersey
STAPLES: Edmonton Oilers prospect goaltender crushing it in the AHL
McCURDY: Wretched special teams sink Oilers on Long Island
Article content
Share this article in your social network
2023-12-23 03:45:00
#Player #grades #Lightning #strikes #Edmonton #Oilers #pound #thirdperiod #goals #beating #York #Rangers
