Edmonton Oilers left wing Viktor Arvidsson, right, celebrates with center Leon Draisaitl (29) after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. Photo by Godofredo A. Vásquez /AP
“Never in doubt”, as our dearly departed colleague would have said…
The Edmonton Oilers kept their Pacific Division title hunt alive with a big two points in San Jose Thursday night. But…
Leading NHL MVP candidate Leon Draisaitl left the game with about six minutes left in the second and did not return. It appeared to me that he tweaked something off a faceoff, although he had a couple earlier tumbles as well. Either way, after that draw he persisted for a bit but then gingerly glided to the bench and down the tunnel. For what it is worth, it did not “look” like a reoccurrence of his more recent lower body injury. But I am not a doctor.
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.
- Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.
- Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
- Support local journalism.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.
- Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.
- Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
- Support local journalism.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account.
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
- Enjoy additional articles per month.
- Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
- Enjoy additional articles per month
- Get email updates from your favourite authors
Back to the game itself: Calvin Pickard had an excellent game in the crease for Edmonton and the Oilers benefitted from depth scoring in this one. Jeff Skinner had a particularly fine performance and was named the game’s First Star. And Edmonton’s blueline had a solid effort.
Here is the tale of the tape…
Edmonton Oilers Player Grades
CALVIN PICKARD. 8. Making his fourth consecutive start. Solid stops on Toffoli and Thompson early. No chance on a roofer that went in after a long Sharks cycle in the Oilers’ zone. A tough stop through traffic on Ferraro and then an excellent save on Lund’s rebound attempt to keep it 1-1. Stuffed Grundstrom just before the buzzer for his eleventh save to preserve the tie after twenty. Fought off a high hard one from Celebrini early in the second. Stopped Gregor on a partial break. Took a Grade “A” chance away from Toffoli late in the second. Did not see a puck until halfway through the third when he stopped a drive by Lund. Glove save off a point shot late in the third. A soccer-like header to deny a point-blank chance by Graf with the game on the line late. Stopped twenty-seven of twenty-nine for a big victory.
Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
LEON DRAISAITL. 5. Fired a shot off a fine pass from Podkolzin but was denied by a quick a blocker save. Fed Arvidsson for a shot in tight a shift later. A shot off the rush which Podkolzin just missed tipping in. Found Arvidsson for a chance later in the first. Was the high forward on the 1-1 but floated deep, allowing the San Jose D-man to walk in unbothered for the 1-1. Drew the second period PP, then a great keep and a fine pass for Arvidsson’s 2-1 goal. Giveaway at the attacking blueline led to an extended San Jose push. Fed Perry for a chance. Drew a second PP but both units came up empty. Looked to tweak something at 9:52 of the second…and did not return.
VIKTOR ARVIDSSON. 6. Excellent play on the wall to spring Podkolzin and Draisaitl for a chance early. A chance from a Draisaitl pass next shift. Returned the favor a couple shifts later. Could not get his stick on the puck along the wall on the 1-1. Hard shot off a Draisaitl feed late in the first. Hammered a Draisaitl pass off the post and in for his first PP goal of the season, making it 2-1. Goals in three straight for the dogged winger. Good defensive stick in the third.
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
VASIY PODKOLZIN. 5. A fine pass sifted into Draisaitl for an excellent chance early. Solid first period backcheck. Hard to the net on a Draisaitl chance later in the frame.
EVAN BOUCHARD. 6. Nasty first period turnover. Secondary assist on the 2-1. Got puck watching and lost his check on the 2-2. Tossed a puck through for the point for the 3-2 deflection goal. Strong defensive play in his own end late in the third.
JAKE WALMAN. 5. Headman pass for the second assist on the 1-0. A turnover in his own zone led to an extended San Jose cycle in Edmonton’s end. A blast from the point nearly tipped home by Hyman. Strong play in the slot to intercept what looked to be a developing Grade A chance. Unable to get a stick on the pass inside on the 2-2. Whistled for a borderline interference call in the second.
RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 4. Key part of the 1-1 PP goal sequence. Back to where he should have been initially on the 2-2 but he let up and could not get a stick on the cross-pass. Good feed across to Henrique for a strong PP chance. Managed a third period pass into the slot for a charging Troy Stecher. But this was not his “A” game.
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
ZACH HYMAN. 4. Nearly tipped home a Walman blast from the point. A couple good plays along the wall to win puck battles. But like his linemate…just “o.k.”
KASPERI KAPANEN. 5. Moved his feet. Two third period shots, one which apparently split the Shark goalie’s mask.
DARNELL NURSE. 8. Solid, reliable performance. A critical stick at his own crease probably prevented the 2-2 after the Draisaitl turnover. Good zone clear later in the second. Strong defensive play in the third on Dellandrea deep in the Oilers’ zone. Excellent defensive stick in the third. Vital clear in the dying seconds. Zero High Danger Chances on his watch 5v5. Four shots, a hit, and a block. Excellent showing.
TROY STECHER. 5. Could not corral his man behind the net on the 1-1. Nice deke part way through the third, but a quick pad denied him the 4-2. Gives you everything he has.
MATTIAS JANMARK. 7. Strong game. Effective net front presence on the 3-2. Thought maybe he got a stick on it before Skinner did. Just a relentless forecheck on the second period PK drained almost fifteen seconds off the clock. This line was very effective. Janmark finished +2. 5v5 CF 18-6, 75% while playing out of his natural position again, at pivot.
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
JEFF SKINNER. 8. Early shot in net from a bad angle. Drew two defenders toward him in the neutral zone before a perfectly placed pass to set Brown home free for the 1-0. A tidy strip at his own blueline to disrupt a San Jose sortie. A terrific pass through a seam that nearly found Draisaitl alone on the doorstep. A shot on the second period power play. A deft deflection on the 3-2 goal. Excellent positioning on that sequence. Set up Kulak for a chance in the third. A good stick in the middle of the ice settled down a breakdown in coverage late in the third. Hit the post with the net empty. 5v5 18-7, 72%. First Star.
CONNOR BROWN. 7. Took just a great pass from Skinner and burst through two defenders before burying his ninth for the 1-0. A shot off a turnover later in the first. A shot toward the end of the frame. Beat by his man off the point late in the third. Terrific 5v5, 19-8, 70%.
BRETT KULAK. 8. The Oilers’ best D-man. Skated miles and miles. Two shots on net late in the second including a Howitzer late in the frame forcing a fine glove save. Good third period shot. High Dangers 5-1 with him on the ice 5v5. A CF of 74%. His quick boots helped him win a lot of races to pucks, especially in his own zone. Seven (!) shots.
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
TY EMBERSON. 6. Appeared to be beaten to the outside but a nice recovery was made to knock his man off the puck. Indecisive play at the attacking blueline led to a Gregor break. But a strong end to the second with two PK clears and an effective play against Toffoli along the end boards. Solid play on Vlasic down deep. His best effort in a while.
ADAM HENRIQUE. 5. Sneaky steal in the first. Drilled a one-timer on the PP in the second but a terrific save by the San Jose goalie. Fifty-nine percent on draws.
MAX JONES. 4. Handcuffed Emberson with a pass at the attacking blueline, leading to a chance in the other direction. Did have five hits.
COREY PERRY. 5. Hard drive off a Draisaitl cross-ice pass. Whiffed on a sitter of a rebound chance late in the third.
The Oilers season record goes to 44-26-5, 93 points, third in the Pacific, two back of L.A. and five back of Vegas.
Now on Bluesky @kurtleavins.bsky.social. Also, find me on Threads @kleavins, Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at [email protected]. This article is not AI generated.
Recently, at The Cult…
These are the last three articles our friend and colleague Bruce McCurdy wrote for The Cult of Hockey. Please read them and enjoy…he loved doing them.
McCURDY: Edmonton Oilers go shopping for prospects in NCAA.
McCURDY: The NHL’s deadliest dual scoring threat
McCURDY: Leon Draisaitl returns to the Oilers.
STAPLES: “Heartbroken” – Hockey world reacts to passing of Bruce McCurdy
Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.
