Hockey is a funny game. Sometimes you throw everything—and the kitchen sink—at the net, and the puck just refuses to go in. That’s basically the story of the oilers score last night against the New York Islanders. If you just looked at the box score this morning, you saw a 1-0 loss. Boring, right? Wrong.
It was a goalie duel for the ages.
The Sorokin Wall at Rogers Place
Ilya Sorokin was honestly ridiculous. He made 35 saves, many of them the "how did he do that?" variety. The Oilers dominated the shot clock, finishing with a 35-18 advantage. They even outshot the Isles 13-4 in the second period alone. But it didn't matter. Every time Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl found a seam, Sorokin was there.
There was this one moment in the second where Zach Hyman looked like he had a wide-open net. He didn't. Sorokin’s glove was already there.
The Islanders’ defense deserves some credit too. They blocked 16 shots. They played that gritty, frustrating style that makes life miserable for high-octane teams like Edmonton. It’s the kind of game that drives fans crazy because the effort was clearly there, but the results just weren't.
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Breaking Down the Oilers Score Last Night
The deadlock finally broke late in the third period. It wasn't even a 5-on-5 goal. With about eight minutes left, Leon Draisaitl took a tripping penalty. It was a tough break—his stick just caught Matthew Schaefer’s skate.
The Islanders' power play hadn't been great lately, but they chose the perfect time to wake up. Anthony Duclair hammered home a snap shot with 6:18 left on the clock. The play was a beauty, honestly. Calum Ritchie spun 180 degrees and found Duclair right in the slot.
- First Period: 0-0. Both teams felt each other out. Shots were dead even at 12.
- Second Period: 0-0. Total Edmonton dominance, but zero finish.
- Third Period: 1-0 Islanders. The Duclair goal at 13:42 was the dagger.
Connor Ingram played a great game in the Oilers' crease, too. He made 17 saves on 18 shots. It’s gotta be frustrating to play that well and still take the "L" because your offense couldn't find a single crack in the opposing goalie.
McDavid’s Streak Comes to an End
The most surprising detail from the oilers score last night isn't just the zero on the scoreboard. It’s that Connor McDavid’s 20-game point streak is officially over.
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Think about that.
He hadn't gone a game without a point since mid-November. He joins Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey as the only Oilers to ever hit a 20-game heater. He almost kept it alive, too. In the final minute, with Ingram pulled for the extra attacker, McDavid set up Draisaitl for a one-timer. It looked like a lock. Then, Sorokin got a piece of it.
The puck hit the far post and stayed out. It was that kind of night.
What This Loss Means for the Standings
Edmonton now sits at 23-17-8. They’re still in the mix, but dropping points at home hurts, especially when you outplay the opponent that significantly. The Islanders, meanwhile, move to 25-16-5. They’ve had the Oilers' number this year, winning the season series 2-0.
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A lot of people are going to complain about the Lack of scoring. Personally? I think you win that game 99 times out of 100 with that kind of shot volume. You just happened to run into a goalie having a career night. It happens in the NHL.
Next Steps for the Oilers:
- Flush the Frustration: The team travels to Vancouver for a massive Saturday night showdown at Rogers Arena.
- Power Play Precision: Going 0-for-2 on the man advantage last night was a missed opportunity. They need to get that top unit clicking again.
- Focus on Finish: Evan Bouchard had six shots last night. He needs to keep shooting, but maybe look for the rebounds more than the clean look.
- Recover for the Back-to-Back: After Vancouver on Saturday, they’re right back at it Sunday against St. Louis.
Don't panic about the lack of goals yet. The process was mostly right; the puck luck was just non-existent. Watch for a bounce-back in BC this weekend.