Oilers down 3-0 after 4-3 loss in game 3 at home

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It was the Sergei Bobrovsky show yet again in Game 3, in a painful 4-3 loss at home in Game 3.

The Oilers outshot Florida 35-23. But the Panthers’ netminder was flat-out terrific, Florida’s best penalty killer and made stops at key junctures of the game.

Edmonton had the better puck possession, shot count and zone time. But they also came up empty on 3 more power play opportunities. And they suffered self-inflicted wounds on the goals against, while allowing 3 second period goals against in just 6:19.

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Now? The Oilers face elimination in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday night in a deep 3-0 hole.

Here is the tale of the tape…

STUART SKINNER. 4. An early save on Carter Verhaeghe. Another on Lorentz. And managed a couple of flurries around his crease well. Not much of a chance on a deflection through legs of an attacker and defender on the 1-0. A tough stop through traffic on a puck fired by Montour. But then a big mistake on the 2-1, a mishandle behind his own net led directly to the go-ahead goal and really seemed to turn the momentum of the game. Stopped 19 of 23. I only fault him on one, but it was a dagger.

CONNOR McDAVID. 6. Darted up the middle for the first shot of the game off a Bouchard pass. Fired a pass from Hyman off Bobrovsky’s toe on the PP. Fed Draisaitl for a one-timer. Len fed him a lovely one, but McDavid could not cash on his best look on 3 in the first. Was back on the 1-0 play but unable to latch onto either a man or the puck. Good feed from low to high for Broberg to make it 4-2. Then found Kulak at the point on what turned into the McLeod 4-3 deflection. 5 shots. But still can not solve the Power Play puzzle.

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RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 5. Whistled for a first period interference call but his mates killed it off. Dinged the post in the first PP of the game. Had a sparkling 5v5 CF of 18-7, 72% to lead the team. A shot and 2 hits. But also part of the problem on the confounding Power Play outage.

ZACH HYMAN. 5. A terrific pass on the PP to feed McDavid in the slot. Drew the second PP of the opening period. Grade A chance in the second but Bob got his glove on it. Good chance late but did not get all of it. 3 shots 3 hits. Their 50-goal man has none in this series.

EVAN BOUCHARD. 5. Excellent keep followed by a super pass to a breaking McDavid for the game’s first shot. Could not contain Barkov along the wall on the 1-0. A fine pass through to Hyman for a chance in the second. Could not knock down the pass on the 4-1. A nice feed to Janmark for a late third period chance. Then, a point-blank chance in front but Bobrovsky stared him down and got the rebound, too. A fine pass between Draisaitl and Hyman for a good chance late in the second. Superb stick erased a 2-on-1. 5v5 Scoring chances were 12-3 with him on patrol. More good than bad.

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MATTIAS EKHOLM. 4. Could not corral his man in front on the 1-0. Then, an uncharacteristically poor read at the attacking blueline turned into a 2-on-1 and the 4-1 goal. The puck was generally headed in the right direction when he was on the ice. But he was directly involved in two against.

LEON DRAISAITL. 4. Fired a hard one-timer at the Florida net on the PP off a McDavid feed but was denied. Returned the favor to 97 on the second PP but McDavid could not cash on an excellent look. Triggered a great late second period chance but Hyman did not get all of the puck. Part of a heavy sequence that created the 4-3. 3 shots. Just 46% on draws. PP comes up empty again.

RYAN McLEOD. 4. Failed wall clear in the first. Had not had a good game at all. But the coach saw something in him and threw him out there in the third, and McLeod rewarded Knoblauch with a deflection on the 4-3. Then, he nearly tied it with a bang-bang play off a McDavid pass late. He will see that one in his sleep tonight.

COREY PERRY. 3. After a tough two periods, Perry was key to the 4-2 goal with a hard, persistent sequence behind the Florida goal line and then traffic net side as the puck went off a Florida defender and in. No assist but he was instrumental in it.

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DARNELL NURSE. 3. Smart play deep in his own end to earn the early PK clear. But a 5-alarm giveaway off his backhand after a hard Florida press, leading to the 3-1. Drew a hooking call late in the second. This pairing had a long night 5v5. CF for Nurse was 16-24, High Dangers 3-6. Has had a rough, rough postseason.

PHILIP BROBERG. 5. Early giveaway up the wall led to a Florida chance. A point shot that Brown almost found the twine with. Overmatched under heavy fire on the 3-1 sequence. Fired a puck at the net into traffic, and it deflected off a Florida man and in to draw the game to 4-2. Another shot later. But caved 5v5.

ADAM HENRIQUE. 6. Very effective game. First period shot block. Tremendous play off the wall on the 1-1, winning a board battle against two foes then sliding a perfect headman pass to a hard-charging Warren Foegele. Scoring chances 6-3 at 5v5. 64% on faceoffs.

MATTIAS JANMARK. 5. Dangerous wraparound effort in the first. Excellent chance off a Bouchard pass in the second. 3 shots 3 hits. A solid effort from the veteran yet again.

CONNOR BROWN. 6. Splendid PK shift in the first, including a shorthanded shot and another near miss. Tricky deflection off a Broberg point shot. Skated miles.

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BRETT KULAK. 6. Steady game. Fired a shot from the point on a Ryan Mcleod deflection to make it 4-3. HDSC’s 1-1 on his watch.

CODY CECI. 4. A good short side shot after an effective cycle by the Oilers 4^th line. Lost the puck battle created behind his own goal line after Skinner misplayed the puck, leading to the 2-1. Excellent keep at the blueline on the 4-3 goal.

DEREK RYAN. 4. Good clear on the early PK. The Fourth line generated an excellent cycle later in the first. On for the 3-1. 40% on draws.

DYLAN HOLLOWAY. 4. 2 failed clears along the wall in the opening frame. Good shot from the high slot in the second. Steal & shot next shift. But lost a critical board battle on the 3-1 sequence. -2.

WARREN FOEGELE. 6. Snatched a headman pass from Adam Henrique, steamed in all alone on Bob and fired wrist shot high glove for the 1-1. His first in 17 games.

Find me on Threads @kleavins, on Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, Mastodon at KurtLeavins@mstdn.social, and X @KurtLeavins.

AI was not used in the composition of this article.

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