The regular season is almost over.
If you didn’t know that already, you could tell from the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings’ game on Monday night. The game was long on penalties and short on action, with just 16:48 of the first two periods occurring at five-on-five. The injury-depleted Oilers lost 5-0, officially ceding home-ice advantage to the Kings in their upcoming first-round series.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
Key Player Grades
Calvin Pickard: B-
Five goals on 36 shots is obviously not good, but Pickard was in the trenches all night. The Kings went 2/8 on the powerplay, peering Pickard with at least ten shots in each period. Without him, this could have easily been an 8-0 game by the end of the second period.
Calvin Pickard keeps this a two goal game with this clutch save!
🎥: Sportsnet | #LetsGoOilerspic.twitter.com/nVOXYJNJZ7
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) April 15, 2025
Trending Oilers Articles
Messier Would Love Oilers To ‘Bring It Full Circle’EDMONTON – “It was incredible to be in the rink in Game Six last year.”
Oilers Banking On Skill With New Prospect
Oilers Evander Kane & Fiancee Make Big Announcement
Oilers Injury Update: Ekholm and Kane’s Playoff Status
Oilers Projected Lineup Today: Quinn Hutson Makes NHL Debut
EXCLUSIVE: Mark Messier On Oilers, Budweiser, His Future & MoreEDMONTON – Mark Messier loves Edmonton.
Darnell Nurse: D
Nurse was fine in his limited ice time, but his night was cut short in the second period when he received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for this hit on Quinton Byfield:
Darnell Nurse was issued a major penalty and a game misconduct for cross-checking Quinton Byfield. pic.twitter.com/J7yFs492ce
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 15, 2025
With the game already out of hand and just one more remaining in the playoffs, a suspension-worthy hit is the last thing you want to see. Considering the laundry list of injuries on the Oilers’ blueline, it’s even worse. While it’s hard to see the NHL suspending Nurse into the playoffs, I wouldn’t put it past them to make an example of him ahead of what will be a heated playoff series.
Oilers’ Scratches: A+
They didn’t have to play in this mess of a game. Though the referees put their whistles away in the third period, the first two periods were a parade to the penalty box, with 16 minor penalties, two 10-minute misconducts, and Nurse’s major-and-game combo. It wasn’t the best game I’ve ever seen; let’s put it at that.
Though Monday night was a dud, it does promise a hard-fought, nasty first-round series between these two teams. The Oilers have one more game, in San Jose on Wednesday, before they head to Los Angeles to kick off the playoffs this weekend.
Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
Read the full article here