Honestly, if you were looking for the score of the Oilers game from Thursday night expecting a high-flying offensive clinic, you probably walked away feeling a bit cheated. The Edmonton Oilers fell 1-0 to the New York Islanders at Rogers Place, and while a single goal might sound boring on paper, the context of this loss is actually pretty wild. It wasn’t just a loss; it was a wall-to-wall goaltending clinic that ended one of the most impressive individual runs we've seen in years.
Ilya Sorokin was the story. Pure and simple.
He stopped 35 shots, effectively turning the Oilers’ high-powered offense into a group of frustrated guys looking at the rafters. Edmonton outshot the Isles 35-18. They dominated the second and third periods. They hit posts. They had a goal overturned by a hair. But at the end of the day, the scoreboard only cared about the power-play goal Anthony Duclair tucked away with just over six minutes left in regulation.
What Happened to the Oilers Offense?
It’s rare to see a team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl get blanked, especially at home. But that's exactly what happened. The most jarring detail? This game officially snapped McDavid’s career-high 20-game point streak.
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Think about that for a second.
Twenty games. He had 19 goals and 27 assists during that stretch. He was playing like he was in a video game on the "rookie" difficulty setting, and then he ran into Sorokin. McDavid played over 25 minutes, fired five shots on net himself, and set up a half-dozen other chances that normally result in a goal.
Sometimes the puck just doesn't go in.
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The Turning Points That Defined the Game
If you're dissecting the score of the Oilers game, you have to look at two specific moments in the third period.
- The Ghost Goal: Just 32 seconds into the third, Evan Bouchard thought he’d broken the ice. He took a cross-ice feed from Draisaitl and snapped it toward the net. It looked like it went in. The crowd roared. But after a video review, it was clear the puck hit the inside of the post, rattled along the goal line, and somehow stayed out.
- The Draisaitl Penalty: With about eight minutes left, Leon Draisaitl got caught for tripping. It was one of those "unfortunate" penalties where a stick just gets caught under a skate. The Islanders, who hadn't scored a power-play goal in six games, finally broke their slump. Mat Barzal—who notched his 500th career point on the play—found Anthony Duclair in the slot.
Boom. 1-0.
Edmonton tried to push back. They pulled Connor Ingram (who, to be fair, was excellent with 17 saves on 18 shots) for the extra attacker. Draisaitl had a one-timer in the final minute that looked like a sure thing. Sorokin didn't even see it; it just hit the post and stayed out. When the universe decides you aren't scoring, you aren't scoring.
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Looking Ahead: The Vancouver Back-to-Back
So, where does this leave the Oilers? They’re currently sitting at 23-17-8. It’s a solid record, keeping them second in the Pacific Division with 54 points, but the lack of secondary scoring is starting to become a "thing" again.
They don't have much time to pout about the Islanders loss. They’re heading into a massive weekend back-to-back starting tonight, January 17, at Rogers Arena against the Vancouver Canucks.
Key Takeaways for Fans
- Goaltending is a Rollercoaster: Connor Ingram is proving he can hold his own, but the Oilers need to find ways to win when their stars aren't on the scoresheet.
- Special Teams Matter: The Oilers went 0-for-2 on the power play while the Islanders went 1-for-1. In a one-goal game, that's the whole story.
- The Pacific Race is Tight: With 54 points, the Oilers are looking over their shoulder at teams like the San Jose Sharks.
If you're tracking the score of the Oilers game tonight against Vancouver, expect a much more desperate Edmonton squad. They’ve earned points in five of their last six games, despite the shutout loss, so the foundation is there. They just need to stop hitting the iron and start hitting the mesh.
Check the late-night box scores for the Vancouver result, as puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 PM EST. If they can split the weekend, the mood in Edmonton will stay relatively calm. If they drop both, expect the "bottom-six scoring" conversation to get a lot louder on local sports radio.
To stay ahead of the next puck drop, monitor the official NHL injury reports for any updates on the Oilers' defensive pairings, as depth on the blue line will be tested during this travel stretch.