WHAT'S NEXT
The Oilers hit the road Monday for a battle with the Vegas Golden Knights. The game can be seen on Sportsnet One and heard on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED. Puck drop is 8:08 p.m. MDT.
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John Gibson made 30 saves on 31 shots, having his shutout spoiled in the third period by Sam Gagner's sixth goal of the season. Milan Lucic recorded the primary helper for his 500th point in the NHL as a late consolation.
"We haven't had one of these for a long time, but we didn't stay with it," Oilers Head Coach Ken Hitchcock said. "He made some big saves in the first period, a couple went in on us, and we were far too easily discouraged and tried to hit home runs.
"You can't win in this league when you're that easily discouraged, and that's what we were."
The loss takes the wind out of the sails of Edmonton's playoff push after leaving the Oilers eight points adrift of the final wild card spot with only four games and eight possible points remaining.
"Just playing for each other and competing," Lucic said of the final stretch of games. "Unfortunately it's going to be a long summer here, so we have to go out there, play for each other, and have fun doing it. It's going to be a long four games if we play sloppy and careless."
Mikko Koskinen surrendered four goals on 21 shots in his 10th straight start for the Oilers, who conclude a five-game home stand 2-1-2.
"I think we've been playing really important games for a while here, and our emotional level has been really high," Gagner said. "We've got to find a way to get our emotional level up even when things go wrong, and we didn't do that tonight. Definitely a frustrating loss."
In somewhat of a bizarre beginning, the attention turned to the Anaheim bench when Jake Dotchin was sent to the dressing room by the officials. The defenceman was listed as a scratch on the game sheet, and the Ducks would have to play the rest of the game down a blueliner.
A collision mid-ice between McDavid and Sam Carrick just over seven-and-a-half minutes in drew the gasps of the crowd after the Oilers captain was sent flying through the neutral zone. Thankfully, both parties involved were able to get up unscathed and rejoin the play.
A powerful clapper from Jakob Silfverberg struck both irons, then the Ducks were on the board first with 4:43 left before the intermission when Corey Perry ripped a wrist shot that trickled over the line past Koskinen after the netminder got a piece of it.
Leon Draisaitl, in his quest for 50 goals, nearly had number 48 and the equalizer on the breakaway but was denied by the post in the Oilers last opportunity before the end of the opening frame.
