Wild Edge Oilers 1-0 in Tight Defensive Battle: Skinner Shines, Offense Comes Up Empty
The Edmonton Oilers dropped a hard-fought 1-0 decision to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night, in a game that had all the makings of a playoff-style chess match. Both teams brought intensity, structure, and goaltending - but it was Minnesota’s early tally that held up, despite a flurry of Edmonton chances, particularly in the middle frame.
Let’s break it down.
A Goalie Duel with Playoff Vibes
The first period was a tightly contested stretch of hockey, with both sides trading chances and playing disciplined, structured defense. But it was the Wild who struck first - and ultimately, last - with a point shot from Jonas Brodin that found its way through traffic and past Stuart Skinner.
The puck came off a clean faceoff win and was fired through a maze of bodies. Skinner, screened and reacting late, never really had a clean look at it.
From there, it became a test of will and goaltending. The Oilers cranked up the pressure in the second period, outshooting the Wild 16-6 in those 20 minutes alone.
But Minnesota rookie netminder Jesper Wallstedt stood tall, turning away everything Edmonton threw at him. The Oilers had chances - plenty of them - but Wallstedt didn’t blink.
Stuart Skinner: Deserved Better
Make no mistake: Skinner was excellent. He made a pair of key saves on Joel Eriksson Ek during an early Wild power play, then came up big again on Jared Spurgeon and Vladimir Tarasenko as the Oilers killed off the penalty. In the second, he denied Zeev Buium with a sharp pad save, and in the third, he tracked a tough deflection from Nico Sturm to keep it a one-goal game.
Skinner’s puck-handling also helped bail the Oilers out on a few penalty kill clears. He stopped 23 of 24 and was rightfully named the game’s Second Star.
You can nitpick the goal against, but the reality is this: when your goalie allows just one, you expect to win. The offense didn’t hold up its end of the bargain.
McDavid Contained, Power Play Misses the Mark
Connor McDavid had his moments - just not the finish. He set up Zach Hyman for a quality early look, then danced through three Wild defenders for a second-period chance that Wallstedt turned aside.
He drew a couple penalties, including one late in the game that gave Edmonton a crucial power play opportunity. But the execution wasn’t there.
At 5-on-5, McDavid still drove play with a 63% Corsi For, but he managed just one shot on goal. For a player of his caliber, that’s a quiet night.
And in a game this tight, the difference often comes down to special teams. Edmonton’s power play, which has been a weapon all season, couldn’t convert.
That stung.
Hyman and Savoie: Effort Without Finish
Zach Hyman was his usual relentless self - battling in the crease, drawing penalties, and getting to the dirty areas. But the finishing touch eluded him.
He had multiple chances in tight, including a pair off feeds from Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, but couldn’t solve Wallstedt. Hyman’s work ethic was there, the results weren’t.
Matt Savoie had a quietly effective game. He set up Mattias Ekholm for a dangerous look in the second and later found Adam Henrique for a near miss.
Defensively, he made a smart play to clear the zone under pressure in the third. It wasn’t flashy, but it was solid two-way hockey from the rookie.
Bouchard’s Best Game in Weeks
If there was one skater who consistently tilted the ice in Edmonton’s favor, it was Evan Bouchard. The defenseman was dynamic at both ends.
Early in the game, a quick clear in front may have prevented a sure goal. Later, he jumped into the play with confidence, nearly finishing a slick give-and-go with Draisaitl.
Bouchard showed off his hands and vision in the second, walking around Marcus Johansson at the blue line and drawing audible reactions from the crowd. He created multiple high-danger looks, including a smart shot-pass to Vasily Podkolzin for a deflection chance. He even deked Kirill Kaprizov in the third to generate another opportunity.
His 5-on-5 Corsi For was a team-best 74%, and he logged nearly 26 minutes of ice time. The only real knock?
Maybe a touch too selective with his shot choices. But overall, this was an excellent performance from a player who continues to grow into a top-pairing role.
Final Thoughts
This was the kind of game that reminds you how thin the margins are in the NHL. One screen, one bounce, one missed opportunity - that’s the difference.
Edmonton didn’t play poorly. In fact, they controlled long stretches and got strong goaltending.
But when the power play goes quiet and the finishing isn’t there, even a solid performance can end in a loss.
The Oilers will look to bounce back, but they’ll need to rediscover their offensive rhythm - especially with the man advantage. Because in a tight-checking game like this one, you don’t get many chances. And when you do, you’ve got to bury them.