Edmonton Oilers’ home ice hopes still alive after 4-1 road win over Jets: Cult of Hockey Player Grades

The Edmonton Oilers still have an outside shot at home ice advantage in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the L.A. Kings after beating the league’s best team in Winnipeg Sunday evening, in convincing fashion 4-1.

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Both clubs had substantial chucks of their “A” lineups either in the press box or resting/recovering at home. But to the Oilers’ credit, they played like they wanted it more than the Jets. And Edmonton got contributions up and down the lineup in what was a pretty complete effort.

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Here is the tale of the tape…

STUART SKINNER. 7. A solid first period bold-faced by an excellent save off a dangerous Niederreiter deflection late in the first. Stopped the initial drive on the 1-1 goal and no chance on the rebound. Not particularly busy, seventeen of eighteen Jets’ drives stopped. But he was more than solid on his return from injury. Named the game’s Third Star. All of this is a particularly good sign indeed, with the playoffs just around the corner.

CONNOR McDAVID. 8. Missed a wide-open net after a dandy setup by Skinner. Fed Skinner for a chance from the slot seconds later. Did it again with comparable results a shift later. A pickpocket at the Jets blueline followed by a perfect pass inside to Connor Brown for the 1-0. A master class in puck possess on the second period Power Play. A feed to Henrique in the second, who rang the post on that PP just before the 2-1 goal. All that man advantage was missing was the theme music from the Harlem Globetrotters as McDavid took total command of the offensive zone. A pass to Brown late in the second clunked the post. Could not find that range n yet another strong Skinner set up late in the third. Won the faceoff on the 4-1 EN goal, his ninety-ninth point of the campaign. Four shots. 5v5 CF 84%! +3. Looks to be in fine post-season form.

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JEFF SKINNER. 7. This new trio had chemistry! A neutral one turnover and tripping minor on the same first period shift. Nice tip thirteen minutes into the game. Terrific setup to McDavid who missed an open cage. Followed with a shot of his own on a McDavid pass. Had another shot off a ninety-seven pass a shift later. He drew a power play with an aggressive play toward the Jets net. An effective backtrack on Connor to prevent a Jets chance early in the third. One final set up to ninety-seven, but Connor whiffed on that one. 5v5 CF 25-6.

CONNOR BROWN. 8. An important part of a highly impactful line with McDavid and Skinner. First period PK clear. Received a pass all alone in front after the McDavid steal and deked the goalie, finishing back-hand for the 1-0. Hit the post late in the second. 5v5 CF 26-6, 81%. The game’s Second Star.

DARNELL NURSE. 7. Excellent game. On for a single High Danger against 5v5. Key defensive stick on Kyle Connor on the first. Blocked a shot with the net empty. Played a team high 24:19. Looks like a different player from the Nurse that began last year’s playoffs. That could be critical.

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EVAN BOUCHARD. 7. Smart defensive stick disrupted a Jets sortie in the first. Secondary assist on the 2-1 after a shot from the point. Played 24:15. And minus the defensive hiccoughs we often see from him. Solid performance. Scoring chances 5v5 were 13-1 with him on the ice.

MATTIAS JANMARK. 5. A hard back check in the first period helped thwart a Jets 2-on-1 created from a favorable bounce at the Winnipeg blueline. A shot. a block.

VASILY PODKOLZIN. 5. Heavy hit on Niederreiter in the defensive zone in the first. Whistled for a 50/50 slash, and the Jets scored the 1-1 on the resulting PP.

VIKTOR ARVIDSSON. 6. Good chip chance in the second. Sealed the game if there were any doubt remaining with the 4-1 empty net goal in the dying seconds.

BRETT KULAK. 6. Had the puck on his stick but could not get the clear on the 1-1 goal against. Excellent play in the neutral zone on Scheifele in the second. Cleaner arial pass to Arvidsson who drained it for the 4-1 empty netter. Three shots in 23:13.

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TY EMBERSON. 5. First period shot as he activated from the point. Heavy hit early in the third, one of three.

ADAM HENRIQUE. 7. A steal and clear on the first period Penalty Kill. Rang the post before he eventually batted home a Perry pass across the crease from the Winnipeg doorstep for the 2-1. Fifty-eight percent on draws to lead the club.

COREY PERRY. 8. Had an “A” on his jersey for this one. Early turnover early in his own end. Crowned the Jets net on the PP and swatted a pass across the crease to a waiting Adam Henrique for the 2-1 marker. Wired home a hard wrist shot off a fine feed by Ryan to make it 3-1. His eighteenth of the year, 446 in his career. Named the game’s First Star.

DEREK RYAN. 6. His first NHL game since March 26. A shot on the short side on his first shift. Showed some rust with a few difficulties along the wall in the first twenty. Fed Kulak for a second period shot. A steal in the neutral zone then a cross-ice pass to Perry who made no mistake for the 3-1.

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CAM DINEEN. 5. A steady performance, stayed within himself and ended up with a single HDS For and Against 5v5. Skated 14:09. Could be an important depth guy if Ekholm remains out long term.

TROY STECHER. 6. Important shot block on a first period PK. And was having a fine game overall, until he came away awkwardly from a check around the five-minute mark of the third and did not return.

NOAH PHILP. 6. Punched on a loose puck at the six-minute mark of the first, almost scoring his first NHL goal. A shift next shift, too. Set up Jones for a jam chance. The coach showed trust in him by having him on late with the net empty and he delivered a solid zone clear. HDSC 5v5 3-0. Two hits, two blocks.

MAX JONES. 5. A jam chance in the second. Two shots, two hits. His game has evened out as of late.

KASPERI KAPANEN. 5. Good defensive stick in the second. A couple hits. Good PK work.

The Oilers season record goes 47-28-5, 99 points. That is third in the Pacific, two back of L.A. whom they play Monday. The Kings have a game in hand.

Now on Bluesky @kurtleavins.bsky.social. Also, find me on Threads @kleavins, Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at KurtLeavins@mstdn.social. This article is not AI generated.

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