Oilers Late Push Falls Short in 5-4 Loss to Blue Jackets

From the Edmonton Oilers’ perspective, this one felt like a night where they spent most of the game chasing their own mistakes. Every time Edmonton clawed back — and Leon Draisaitl did plenty of clawing with his two goals — Columbus seemed to slip inside coverage and punch right back. Evan Bouchard kept feeding clean pucks to dangerous spots, Connor McDavid kept stringing that point streak along with two more assists, but around their own net, the Oilers were just too soft.

Kris Knoblauch said it directly. There were too many tap-ins, too many bodies allowed to set up shop in the slot, and far too much work asked of Calvin Pickard on a night when the group in front of him wasn’t sharp enough.

Sadly, the Oilers Showed the Team They Could Be in the Third, But …

The shame of it is that the third period showed what Edmonton can look like. Vasily Podkolzin’s goal sparked real momentum, and for about ten minutes, the Oilers were flying. They tracked down loose pucks, snapped passes, and pushed Columbus back on its heels. Draisaitl’s second made it a one-goal game, and from that moment on, they were swarming.

Watching the game, I could almost feel the equalizer coming, right up until the horn cut the Oilers’ chances short. The comeback energy was real, but you can’t spot a team three or four soft goals on the road and expect to escape. Edmonton had enough offense to win; what they didn’t have was the defensive hardness that keeps a night like this from getting away.

Three Key Points from the Oilers’ Perspective

First, McDavid and Draisaitl Carried the Load: McDavid picked up a couple of assists, extending his streak to seven games, and Draisaitl scored twice. They did what they could up front, but defensive hiccups and soft spots near the crease let Columbus grab a lead that was tough to shake.

Second, Falling Behind Early Hurt the Oilers: Columbus jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the second, taking advantage of a few loose pucks and turnovers. The Blue Jackets made the Oilers pay, and suddenly the team was chasing, showing that even the best players can be tested when the other side is sharp.

Third, the Oilers’ Late Push Shows Heart: Down 5-2 in the third, Edmonton didn’t just roll over. Podkolzin, Draisaitl, and the rest of the lineup kept buzzing around the net, forcing chances and pressuring the Blue Jackets. It didn’t get the win, but it showed the team’s fight and that sticking to the game plan can make them dangerous even in tough spots.

Final Note for the Oilers

It wasn’t the result the Oilers wanted, but there’s plenty to build on. The offense is firing, McDavid and Draisaitl are in rhythm, and the third-period surge shows this group refuses to quit. The Oilers need to clean up the defensive lapses, and the points will come.