McDavid held in check, 1st period meltdown, and more: 3 reasons why Edmonton Oilers lost 3-2 to Vancouver Canucks

The Edmonton Oilers were unable to complete their comeback bid, dropping a 3-2 decision against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night at Rogers Arena. The Oilers fell into a 3-0 hole after 20 minutes. While the Oilers pulled to within one goal, they weren't able to get the equalizer.

Leon Draisaitl scored twice for the Edmonton Oilers. Quinn Hughes scored two power play goals for the Canucks, with Danton Heinen adding the other for Vancouver.

So, let’s take a look at the three key reasons why the Edmonton Oilers lost to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.

3 reasons why Edmonton Oilers lost to Vancouver Canucks

#3 Sputtering offense

The Edmonton Oilers managed just 15 shots on goal throughout the entire game. In particular, the Oilers got just three shots in the third period, as they attempted to push to get the equalizer.

While the Oilers showed resilience in attempting to come back after falling behind 3-0, the lack of offense is somewhat concerning, particularly when considering the amount of firepower on the Oilers’ roster.

The lack of offensive output came on the heels of a tight 4-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in their last outing, where they overcame a three-goal deficit to win. The Oilers will need to get their offense going to get back in the win column.

#2 First-period mini-meltdown

The Edmonton Oilers gave up all three goals in the game during a three-minute span in the first period. The mini-meltdown began with the Oilers taking two penalties in a row, setting up the Canucks with two power play opportunities.

The Canucks made the most of their chances, getting two quick power play goals from Quinn Hughes. Specifically, the Oilers’ penalty kill did not look organized, allowing the Canucks to create plenty of traffic in front of the net, leading to several scoring chances.

The Oilers eventually dug themselves into a hole they could not climb out of despite a strong second-period effort in which Leon Draisaitl scored twice.

#1 Connor McDavid kept in check

Despite Draisaitl’s two goals, Connor McDavid was relatively quiet on the night. McDavid ended the night with one assist in over 24 minutes of ice time. He notched two shots on goal while ending the night a +1.

The Vancouver Canucks were able to keep McDavid in check. The Canucks did a good job of keeping McDavid from breaking the game open, preserving the one-goal in the third period.

The Oilers will be back in action on Tuesday night as they host the Washington Capitals at Rogers Place.