Oilers HC singles out Leon Draisaitl & Connor McDavid as "better players" after S/O loss, calls for "more out of everyone" else

The Edmonton Oilers were unable to protect a two-goal lead in the third period as they lost 4-3 to the Dallas Stars in a shootout on Tuesday. The Oilers had lost to the St. Louis Blues 3-2 in regulation the previous day in a winless road trip.

The Oilers scored through Vasily Podkolzin and Leon Draisaitl in the first period. Mikko Rantanen cut down their lead after the first intermission. But Edmonton re-established its two-goal advantage with captain Connor McDavid scoring at 7:51 in the third period.

Rantanen scored his second in under less than a minute before Miro Heiskanen tied the game at 3-3 to secure a point for the Stars, who are on a seven-game points streak. They got the extra point in the shootout with a Wyatt Johnston goal.

“It’s the type of chances where we lose focus, lose responsibilities and letting them in a good position to make a good play,” Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said after the game. (00:10) “It’s one thing if the opposition is making good plays and beating your coverage, but we’re just making mistakes where we’re giving them opportunities.”

The Oilers' inability to keep the lead has already cost them five points in fifteen games. They have a 2-1-3 record in games where they have surrendered a two-goal lead. According to Knoblauch, the supporting cast behind McDavid and Draisaitl hasn't generated enough.

"I think Leon and Connor were two of our better players, as expected, but we just need to get more out of everyone," Knoblauch said. (2:28)

McDavid has scored 21 points in 15 games and is currently leading in the NHL. Meanwhile, Draisaitl has 17 points in the same number of appearances. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is third for the team with 16 points, but the next best after the three forwards is defenseman Evan Bouchard with just 10 points.

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Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who recorded an assist on Tuesday, believes that the team has to collectively step up to get two points each night.

"I think our last two games, we've played well – it's just that we don't end up finding a way to get the two points," Nugent-Hopkins said during his presser on Tuesday. (00:10) "Tonight, you go into a shootout, and it can go either way, but last night, we gave that one up late. It's better hockey, but you've got to find a way to close them out."

The Oilers have earned 7 points from their last seven games. They have a mediocre 6-5-4 overall record.

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Edited by R. Nikhil Parshy