Oilers turn in smart, defensive game and Hyman hat trick for 4-1 win over Detroit: Cult of Hockey Player Grades

The Edmonton Oilers turned in a solid effort at home against the Red Wings on Thursday, with a 4-1 win that never really seemed in much doubt.

An even, fast-paced First Period ended 1-0 due to an Oilers power play marker. Edmonton out-scored Detroit in the second to take a 3-1 lead.

The Oilers subsequently turned in a solid defensive effort in the third with a few timely saves by Skinner before the 4-1 empty netter…

…and Zach Hyman’s hatty.

Here’s the tale of the tape…

 

 

 

 

STUART SKINNER. 8. Made a tough initial save and rebound off Edvinsson and Soderblom in the first. Just managed to stop Ramond on a one-timer near the end of the first. Just a terrific stop on a Detroit breakaway early in the second…his best of the evening. Stopped Soderblom point-blank in the second. PK stuff on Larkin. Another good one on Kasper. Handled a shot off the rush by Larkin in the third. Swallowed up rebound after would-be rebound. Stopped 27 of 28. Calm and composed between the pipes. Named the game’s Third Star.

CONNOR McDAVID. 9. In a quiet first minutes of this one McDavid had the most dangerous shot for, glancing off Talbot’s shoulder and out. Terrific patience on the doorstep before dishing to Hyman for the 1-0. Nearly outwaited Talbot again later in the frame. Dished the disk back to Ekholm on the 2-0. Pranced in and rifled a backhand off Talbot. Hi-lite reel assist on the 3-1, where he knocks down a puck then puts a backhand through his own legs to a waiting Hyman alone in the slot. An assist on the 4-1, for his forty-third four-point game. 63% on faceoffs. Second Star.

ZACH HYMAN. 9. Shovelled home a heady pass from McDavid from Hyman’s “office” in front for the 1-0. Fed McDavid for another chance shorty after the opening goal. Net front on the 2-0. Excellent chance in a McDavid rebound a shift later. Drew a PP right at the end of the second. Hard wrister on a partial break early in the third. A post with the net empty. But potted his next EN chance for the hat trick. Named the game’s First Star. Is he back? I think he is back.

RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 6. Zone entry and an assist on the 2-0. Smart, responsible game without the puck. 5v5 CF 55%.

EVAN BOUCHARD. 6. A couple failed efforts to clear the zone led to extended O-zone time for Detroit in the first. Good defensive stick a shift later. No assist but part of the sequence on the 1-0 goal. Lost a “jump puck” inside his own zone leading to a Detroit breakaway early in the second. Hard point shot on a third period PP. Smart defensive stuff on Raymond in the third.

MATTIAS EKHOLM. 7. Lowered the boom on Finnie in the first. Smart stick broke up a developing 2-on-1. Blasted one from the point that deflected off a Red Wing and in for the 2-0. His hook put the Oilers on the PK in the second. Two shots, 2 blocks, 2 hits in 20:29. The Oilers best D-man tonight.

LEON DRAISAITL. 7. Very nearly swatted in a feed from Savoie. Drew a Power Play, the snapped a pass in front to McDavid to earn the secondary assist on the 1-0 PP goal. Upended by the referee in the O-zone resulting in a glorious Detroit chance. No assist on the 3-1 but was a huge factor leading up to it. Fed Bouchard for a third period PP shot. Nasty turnover in the third but busted his ass back and helped break it up. Hard drive to the net in the third. Won a battle on the D-zone along the wall for the secondary assist on the 4-1. 50% on draws.

VASILY PODKOLZIN. 7. Effective early forecheck. Four hits over the first 20 minutes. Another heavy one levelled mid-way through the second. A strong clear up the wall to clear his own zone safely in the second. Effective third period back check. Ripped an empty net bid off the bar. Ended with 7 hits. Highly effective.

MATT SAVOIE. 5. Fought it a bit. A turnover and a shot block in two of his first shifts. In the middle of a couple opportunities in the opening 20 as well. PK clear in the second. Couple turnovers early in the third.18s, 27 stick,

DARNELL NURSE. 6. He and Regula collided on the 2-1 play. By my eye, Nurse was overly aggressive on the play. Secondary assist on the 3-1. Four shots and a hit in 21:57. High Dangers 5v5 8-2.

ALEC REGULA. 6. He and Nurse collided mid-ice, opening a lane for Detroit on the 2-1 sequence. HDSC 7-1. 5v5 C F 66%.

ADAM HENRIQUE. 5. Good chance on a second period deflection. Hard on his man leading to a PK clear in the second.

MATTIAS JANMARK. 4. Quiet game, crushed 5v5 (CF a mere 17%). Decent on the PK.

TRENT FREDERIC. 4. Could not completely tie up his man in front on the 2-1. Six hits.

BRETT KULAK. 6. Big block shot and clear on a first period PK. Very fine defensive play on Kane in the third. Three blocked shots. Very effective, moved exceptionally well.

TY EMBERSON. 6. Managed to intercept a dangerous-looking Detroit pass headed to the slot in the first. Second period blocked shot. Solid.

ANDREW MANGIAPANE. 5. Third period shot. Decent possession stats but I did not notice him all that much.

CURTIS LAZAR. 6. Tucked a lovely pass over to Tomasek on a latter first period two-on-one. Hard third period hit, one of four. 78% on draws.

DAVID TOMASEK. 5. Could not drain a feed from Lazar on a later first period odd-man rush.

The Oilers are now 14-11-6 on the season, alone in the first Wild Card slot in the West.

This article is not AI generated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Bruce McCurdy, 1955-2025.

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