Goaltender Calvin Pickard turned in a valiant performance for the Edmonton Oilers, but it wasn't enough to overcome a dominant Minnesota Wild team, which skated to a 5-2 victory on December 20, 2025.
A Lopsided Battle in Key Areas
The game's statistics told a clear story of Minnesota's control. The Wild significantly out-chanced the Oilers, generating 27 Grade-A scoring opportunities to Edmonton's 14. The disparity was even more pronounced in the most dangerous category, with Minnesota holding a 10 to 4 advantage in what were termed "5-alarm" shots.
Player Performance Breakdown
Connor McDavid earned a grade of 7 for his night. The Oilers captain was lethal on the power play, contributing to 11 major scoring chances overall. He scored Edmonton's second goal on a power-play scramble and delivered a notable hit alongside Zach Hyman on Quinn Hughes. However, a defensive misstep while chasing a puck disrupted the penalty kill and contributed to a Wild goal. His final Grade A shots tally was Even Strength: +6/-1, Special Teams: +5/-0.
Zach Hyman also received a 7, playing a high-energy game that resulted in eight major contributions to scoring chances. He made a key pass to set up Evan Bouchard for a breakaway and was instrumental in the net-front battle on McDavid's goal.
Leon Draisaitl had a difficult night, graded a 4. While showing some offensive pop and delivering a heavy hit on Jared Spurgeon, defensive lapses and turnovers plagued his game. He was out of position on an early Wild rush and took two penalties in the first period, one for arguing with an official. A third-period turnover directly led to Minnesota's 3-2 goal. He finished with a Grade A shots plus/minus of EV: +5/-5; ST: +5/-0.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was given a 5. He had a good look from the slot off a McDavid feed but couldn't convert and was involved in a defensive-zone communication error with Hyman that led to a Wild rush.
Pickard Stands Tall in Defeat
The clear bright spot for Edmonton was the play of netminder Calvin Pickard. Facing a barrage of high-quality shots, Pickard gave his team a chance to stay in the game with several key saves. His effort kept the score close for stretches, but the relentless pressure from the Wild ultimately proved too much to overcome. The loss underscores ongoing challenges for the Oilers in suppressing high-danger chances against top opponents.
