Honestly, it’s been a weird week for the Edmonton Oilers. If you’re looking for the score in the oilers hockey game, you might’ve expected a high-flying offensive explosion or another Connor McDavid masterclass. Instead, Rogers Place went quiet on Thursday night. The New York Islanders rode into town and managed something almost impossible in the modern NHL: they completely blanked the best player in the world.
The final score was 1-0 in favor of the New York Islanders. It was a frustrating night for the home crowd. You’ve got the league's most potent offensive duo in McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and yet, Ilya Sorokin stood on his head with 35 saves. It wasn't just a loss. It was a statement. The Islanders broke a scoreless deadlock late in the third period—with only 6:18 left on the clock—when Anthony Duclair rifled home a power-play goal. That was it. One shot, one goal, and a whole lot of disappointed fans in orange and blue.
The Night McDavid’s Streak Died
The most shocking thing about the score in the oilers hockey game wasn't actually the loss itself. It was the end of an era. Or at least, the end of the most dominant stretch we've seen this season.
Connor McDavid entered Thursday with a 20-game point streak. Think about that for a second. Twenty games of finding the scoresheet. He was chasing franchise legends like Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey, and he was arguably playing the best hockey of his life. But Sorokin had other plans.
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- McDavid's Streak Stats: 19 goals and 27 assists over 20 games.
- The Result: 0 points against the Islanders.
- The Context: This was only the second time in his last 25 games he didn't record a point.
It felt like the puck just wouldn't bounce. Edmonton outshot New York 35 to 18. Usually, when you double an opponent's shot total, you walk away with two points. But hockey is a cruel game. The Islanders only had two shots in the entire third period, and one of them ended up in the back of the net. Basically, the Oilers dominated the play but forgot how to finish.
Defensive Grit vs. Offensive Firepower
When you analyze the score in the oilers hockey game, you have to look at the goaltending matchup. Connor Ingram was actually quite solid for Edmonton. He only faced 18 shots and stopped 17 of them. In any other scenario, a .944 save percentage wins you the game.
But he was outdueled.
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Ilya Sorokin was a brick wall. He leads the league with five shutouts now, and this might have been his most impressive. The Oilers threw everything at him. Power plays, breakaways, greasy scrambles in the crease—nothing worked. It’s kinda rare to see Edmonton’s power play go 0-for-2, especially when they're desperate late in the game. New York’s penalty kill was aggressive, forcing McDavid to the outside and clogging the lanes for Draisaitl’s signature one-timer.
Standings and the Bigger Picture
Where does this leave Edmonton? They’re currently sitting with a record of 23-17-8. It’s not a disaster, but they’ve lost three of their last four. The Pacific Division is getting tight. While the Oilers are still firmly in the playoff hunt, these 1-0 losses are the kind that haunt you in April.
New York, on the other hand, snapped a six-game losing streak in Edmonton. They hadn't won at Rogers Place since 2017. Imagine that. Nearly a decade of frustration wiped away by a single Anthony Duclair snap shot.
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What’s Next for the Oilers?
The team doesn't have much time to dwell on the score in the oilers hockey game. They have a quick turnaround with a trip to Vancouver to face the Canucks. That’s a massive divisional rivalry game that could swing the momentum back in their favor.
If you're an Oilers fan, you aren't panicking yet. McDavid is still McDavid. Draisaitl is still putting up elite numbers. But the secondary scoring needs to wake up. When the big guns get shut down by a world-class goalie, somebody else—maybe Viktor Podkolzin or Jeff Skinner—needs to find a way to "grease" one in.
Keep an eye on the goaltending rotation. With a back-to-back schedule, we might see Tristan Jarry or Calvin Pickard get a look. The defense has actually been okay, but they can't afford these mental lapses on the penalty kill late in the third period.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
- Watch the Vancouver Game: This is a "get right" game for the offense. Expect McDavid to come out flying after being held scoreless.
- Check the Power Play: If the 0-for-2 trend continues, the coaching staff might shuffle the units.
- Monitor the Standings: The Oilers are currently battling for home-ice advantage. Every point matters in this January stretch.
- Player to Watch: Keep an eye on Leon Draisaitl. He was noticeably frustrated after the Islanders loss and usually responds with a multi-point night.
The NHL season is a grind. A 1-0 loss is a blip on the radar, but it’s a wake-up call that talent alone doesn't always win games. Sometimes, a hot goalie and a lucky bounce are all it takes to ruin a historic streak.