The Edmonton Oilers are heading into the Olympic break on a sour note, dropping their second straight game - and this one stung just as much as the last. After a lopsided 7-3 loss, Edmonton fell 5-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, once again losing to a team playing the second half of a back-to-back. For a club that’s been surging in the standings, this was a step back - and a reminder that lapses in discipline and execution can still undo them.
Let’s break down what went wrong - and what, if anything, went right - in this one.
A Game of Momentum - And How Quickly It Can Vanish
The first period didn’t offer much in the way of offense, but things opened up in the second - and not in the way the Oilers would’ve hoped. Seven minutes in, a poorly timed line change left Edmonton exposed.
Toronto jumped on the opportunity, creating a two-on-one that Connor Ingram initially handled well. But after a pair of stops, the puck cycled back to the point, and Jake McCabe’s shot was tipped home by Matias Maccelli to put the Leafs on the board.
To their credit, the Oilers responded. Midway through the period, Jack Roslovic won an offensive zone draw with help from Josh Samanski, feeding Jake Walman at the point. Walman didn’t hesitate - he stepped into a shot and beat Anthony Stolarz clean to tie the game 1-1.
But that tie lasted all of nine seconds.
Right off the center-ice faceoff, the Leafs dumped the puck in, and Ingram made a costly turnover behind the net. Matthew Knies, cutting through the slot with speed, capitalized on the mistake and tucked one home to restore the Toronto lead. Just like that, the Oilers were chasing again.
Third Period Collapse: Penalties Prove Costly
Early in the third, Edmonton once again clawed back. Vasily Podkolzin made a slick behind-the-back pass to Kasperi Kapanen, who drove into the slot and ripped a shot past Stolarz for his fourth goal of the season. The building had life, and the Oilers looked like they might tilt the ice in their favor.
But then came the unraveling.
Matthew Savoie took an interference penalty, and just six seconds into the kill, Mattias Janmark was whistled for high-sticking. That gave the Maple Leafs nearly two full minutes of a five-on-three - and with a top-five power play in the league, they didn’t need long to make it hurt. John Tavares buried one to make it 3-2, and just 31 seconds later, Maccelli struck again to push the lead to two.
From there, the Leafs locked it down. Bobby McMann - a name that’s been floated in Oilers trade rumors - iced the game with an empty-netter in the final minutes.
Goaltending Battle: Stolarz Outduels Ingram
Connor Ingram had an uneven night. He stopped 22 of 26 shots for an .846 save percentage, and while he came up with some big saves in the second period, the turnover that led to the Knies goal was a momentum killer.
On the other end, Stolarz - a former Oiler, albeit briefly - was sharp throughout. He turned aside 34 of 36 shots for a .944 save percentage and was a steady presence in net all night.
Physicality, Frustration, and a Few Bright Spots
This one had some bite to it, especially in the second period. After Connor McDavid took a hard hit from Brandon Carlo, Darnell Nurse stepped in and dropped the gloves with Carlo on the very next shift.
Trent Frederic was also on the ice when McDavid was hit, but instead of going after Nurse, he set his sights on Jake McCabe. Emotions were running high, but the Oilers couldn’t channel that energy into a comeback.
There were a few positives to take away. Kapanen’s goal was a beauty, and Podkolzin’s assist showed real poise and vision.
Josh Samanski quietly picked up his second NHL point, a nice milestone for the young forward heading into the Olympic break. But the top guns - McDavid and Leon Draisaitl - were held off the scoresheet, and when that happens, the Oilers need more from their depth.
Looking Ahead
The Oilers have one more chance to reset before the Olympic pause, and it’s a big one - a trip down Highway 2 to face the Calgary Flames. That rivalry always brings the heat, and with both teams looking to build momentum heading into the break, expect a playoff-like atmosphere.
Puck drops at 8 PM MT. For Edmonton, it’s not just about bouncing back - it’s about proving that these last two games were a blip, not a backslide.