NHL: Boston Bruins at Edmonton Oilers - Source: Imagn

3 least impressive Bruins players from 3-2 loss to Oilers feat. Nikita Zadorov

Modified Dec 20, 2024 14:12 GMT

For the first time this season, the Boston Bruins traveled to Alberta to take on the defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers hoping to make it a perfect 2-for-2 in the province.

They were coming off a 4-3 overtime win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome thanks to David Pastrnak's winning goal in the extra frame. Meanwhile, the Oilers wanted to rebound from a frustrating 6-5 loss to the Florida Panthers, whom they were defeated by in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

By the time it was all said and done, the Oilers earned a comeback win over the Bruins, a 3-2 final score in overtime to improve to 19-11-2. Meanwhile, the Bruins fell to 17-13-4.

Elias Lindholm scored for the second straight game to give the Bruins an early 1-0 lead; that was followed up by a tally from Mark Kastelic.

Boston took their 2-0 lead into the first intermission and appeared to have things well in hand. But the Oilers were determined not to suffer a second straight defeat on home ice at Rogers Place.

Zach Hyman remained red-hot for the Oilers, scoring his 11th goal of the year and cutting Boston's lead in half. And with Edmonton pressing, star captain Connor McDavid scored his 15th goal with just over three minutes left in regulation.

Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm ended the game with his fourth goal just 1:04 into the extra frame, securing the extra point for Edmonton.

Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman finished with 23 saves, while Stuart Skinner bounced back from Tuesday's poor performance with 24 saves in a winning effort.

3 least impressive Bruins players from 3-2 loss to Oilers

#1. Nikita Zadorov

The first-year Bruins defenseman didn't have his best game wearing a Boston uniform.

He finished with a -3 rating, having been on the ice for all three Oilers goals against while also committing a trio of giveaways. His performance has been good for Boston, but Thursday night wasn't his best outing.

#2. Mason Lohrei

The Bruins defenseman was caught badly out of position in overtime, as forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins fed the puck to the wide-open Mattias Ekholm in the slot.

Meanwhile, Lohrei was too late in getting back into position to try and block or deflect the shot from Ekholm. It's a play that likely gave him nightmares.

#3. Jeremy Swayman

Swayman has had better games.

He'd love another opportunity to stop Hyman's goal in the second period that cut into Boston's lead, as well as McDavid's game-tying goal late in the third.