Oilers complete disappointing homestand with loss to Leafs

The Edmonton Oilers wrapped up their longest homestand of the season on Tuesday with a 5-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, closing the door on an eight-game stretch that offered far more uncertainty than clarity.

The result, much like the homestand itself, felt like a missed chance. Another mid-pack opponent arriving in Edmonton on the second night of a back-to-back after playing in Calgary, and the Oilers once again failed to take advantage.

After eight games of inconsistent effort and leaky defensive play, the home crowd at Rogers Place had little left to give. By the third period, chants of “Go Leafs Go!” echoed through the building, overpowering the usual “Let’s go Oilers.” What started as a back-and-forth between fan bases quickly turned into an uncomfortable soundtrack as Toronto cruised to the finish.

The game was tightly contested through the opening 20 minutes before the Leafs broke through seven minutes into the second period. Jake Walman pulled the Oilers even midway through the frame, but the momentum lasted just nine seconds before Matthew Knies restored Toronto’s lead. Former Leaf Kasperi Kapanen tied the game again early in the third, setting the stage for what appeared to be a down-to-the-wire finish.

That balance disappeared in a matter of seconds. Interference and high-sticking penalties taken six seconds apart gave Toronto a golden opportunity, and the Leafs capitalized immediately. After going two straight games without a power-play chance, Toronto scored twice with the man advantage to take a 4-2 lead and effectively decide the contest. Bobby McMann added an empty-net goal with just under three minutes remaining to seal the win.

The victory capped a strong push for Toronto heading into the Olympic break. With a shootout win in Vancouver on Sunday, followed by back-to-back victories over Calgary and Edmonton, the Maple Leafs carry a three-game winning streak into the pause and sit just four points out of a playoff spot in a tightly packed Eastern Conference. That position could force management to rethink its approach ahead of the trade deadline.

For the Oilers, the questions remain. Edmonton is tied with the Vegas Golden Knights for first in the Pacific Division with 64 points, though Vegas holds two games in hand. With one game remaining before the break, a Battle of Alberta on Wednesday, the Oilers sit at 28-21-8 through 57 games and are still searching for consistency.

What initially looked like a stabilizing stretch at home instead became another reminder of how slim the margin for error is. After opening the homestand with a commanding 5-0 win over the Blues, the Oilers allowed 32 goals over their next seven games. They finished the eight-game stand at an even 4-4, with just two regulation wins to show for it.

What they said…

Winger Kasperi Kapanen on the Oilers not being able to keep the puck out of their net…

“We can’t be letting in five, six, seven, goals per game, it’s just too much. It’s just not the right way to win. I feel like we’re just always trailing by two, three goals and they’ve scored four or five. As a good team, we can’t be doing that moving forward, and it’s something that we’ve addressed.

“You know, it doesn’t happen overnight. We’re trying, guys. We’re trying, and we want to be better defensively, but that’s just the way it went tonight.”

Toronto goaltender Anthony Stolarz on the Leafs playing must-win games…

“Obviously, right now, points are at a premium and we need every point that we can get. So, any time you can go out there and give your team a chance to win, make some big saves and do your job back there, it felt good to be able to do that, and I’m happy for all the guys.”

Defenceman Darnell Nurse on Edmonton’s struggling penalty kill…

“We need to step up and get the kills, and we weren’t able to do that. That’s the difference. At 2-2, everyone’s trying to do the right thing, and we gotta keep chipping away at it and make sure it becomes a strong point for our team.”

Nurse on the Oilers finishing their eight-game homestand with four wins and four losses…

“You want to have a better result than .500 at home, obviously. There are adjustments I think our team can make. We have a big game [on Wednesday] against Calgary, and we have to learn from this.”

Up next…

The Oilers don’t have much time to think about this one because they’ll be back in action again on Wednesday for a Battle of Alberta match in Calgary. After that, the NHL will have a three-week break for the Olympics.