Red Wings Streak Snapped in Edmonton as McDavid, Hyman Lead the Way
There was no mystery going into this one. Edmonton is a tough building on any night — and it’s even tougher when you’re walking in on the second half of a back-to-back, after playing in Calgary the night before, against a team featuring two of the top 10 scorers in the NHL.
That reality showed Thursday night, as the Detroit Red Wings saw their season-high six-game point streak come to an end with a 4-1 loss to the Oilers at Rogers Place.
This wasn’t about effort or structure. Edmonton’s best players were simply the difference.
📊 Stats Capsule (3 max per category)
Final Score
- Oilers 4
- Red Wings 1
Game Factors
- Shots: EDM 29, DET 28
- Hits: EDM 25, DET 9
- Blocked shots: EDM 20
Oilers Impact
- Hyman — 3 goals
- McDavid — 4 assists
- Skinner — 27 saves
Stars Decide It
When Connor McDavid gets going, games tilt quickly. He finished the night with four assists, dictating pace and pulling defenders out of position. Zach Hyman was on the receiving end, burying a hat trick, while Leon Draisaitl added two helpers of his own.
Interestingly enough, Detroit actually entered the game with more points in the standings (37) than Edmonton (32) — a reminder that context matters over the course of a season. But on this night, the Oilers’ top end did exactly what top-end talent is supposed to do.
A Tough Spot on the Schedule
It wasn’t an ideal setup for Detroit. The Wings were wrapping up a back-to-back in Alberta and playing their fifth straight game on the road, while Edmonton was comfortably settled into its fifth consecutive home game. That difference showed.
The shots were nearly even (29–28 Edmonton), but Edmonton controlled the physical side, out-hitting Detroit 25–9, and blocked 20 shots, cutting off chances before they could become dangerous. The Wings had zone time and looks — they just didn’t finish, and they didn’t get enough pucks through.
Head coach Todd McLellan said afterward that, oddly enough, he thought this was one of Detroit’s better-played games of the trip. The structure was there. The scramble wasn’t. The problem was offense — not enough at the net front, too many blocked shots, and not enough reward for the chances created.
Captain Dylan Larkin echoed that sentiment: the Wings generated, but Edmonton capitalized.
Game Flow
Edmonton struck first on the power play late in the opening period when Hyman tipped home a goal to make it 1-0. Detroit nearly answered on its own man advantage before intermission, but Stuart Skinner slid across to deny Lucas Raymond on a one-timer that could’ve changed the night.
Early in the second, a long defensive shift led to Mattias Ekholm’s point shot getting through to make it 2-0. Detroit responded when Simon Edvinsson, who was a game-time decision due to injury, jumped into the play and finished cleanly to cut the deficit to one.
It was a good moment for Edvinsson — and encouraging — but it wasn’t the story of the game.
Another Detroit power play came up empty, and late in the second, Hyman struck again off a McDavid feed to restore the two-goal cushion. From there, Edmonton managed the game, clogged the middle, and didn’t give Detroit much late.
Hyman’s empty-netter sealed it.
Lineup Notes
- James van Riemsdyk was a healthy scratch after scoring in four of his previous five games, as Detroit opted for fresher legs on the back-to-back.
- Jonatan Berggren dressed in his place.
- Cam Talbot finished with 25 saves, keeping the game within reach when it mattered.
Bottom Line
This wasn’t a bad loss — it was a realistic one. Edmonton’s stars showed up. Detroit didn’t finish enough chances. The schedule didn’t help. And sometimes, that’s hockey.
The Wings still sit at 17-12-3, still firmly in the playoff mix, and now turn their attention to wrapping up the road trip in Chicago on Saturday. Handle business there, get home, and move on.
Where do you rank Connor McDavid among the all-time greats? Drop a comment below or join the conversation in the Red Wings Wheelhouse — where fans break down every game, every angle.
Info gathered from team reports, pressers & trusted media outlets — the way we always do it at Mitten Sports Talk.
