Edmonton Oilers fall 3-2 to Blues as late Suter goal seals comeback

The Edmonton Oilers’ quest for consecutive victories came to a heartbreaking end on Monday night at Enterprise Center, where they surrendered a commanding two-goal lead in a devastating 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues. The defeat was particularly painful as it came in the final 83 seconds of regulation, with Pius Suter’s late rebound goal sealing the comeback for a Blues team desperate to end their seven-game losing streak. For Edmonton, it marked yet another close game that slipped through their fingers, dropping their record to 6-5-3 and raising questions about their ability to protect leads in crucial moments.

The loss stung even more considering how well the Oilers had played for the majority of the contest. After building a 2-0 advantage through power-play excellence and offensive execution, Edmonton appeared poised to secure back-to-back wins on the road. Instead, they watched helplessly as St. Louis scored twice in a 2:30 span during the second period before Suter delivered the dagger with just 1:23 remaining, turning what seemed like a certain point into a complete collapse.

Edmonton Oilers 3-2 loss to St. Louis Blues recap: Power play prowess couldn’t save the night

The Oilers’ power play continued its torrid start to the season, operating at an elite level that has become the hallmark of this franchise. Jack Roslovic, who has been tasked with filling Zach Hyman’s shoes on the top unit while the winger recovers from injury, netted his second consecutive power-play goal with just 1:22 remaining in the first period. The sequence showcased everything that makes Edmonton’s man advantage so dangerous.

After Matt Savoie drew a hooking penalty on Oskar Sundqvist in the neutral zone, the Oilers wasted no time getting to work. Roslovic positioned himself perfectly in front of Jordan Binnington’s crease, creating the screen and presence that has made this unit unstoppable. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, working his magic from below the goal line, threaded a beautiful pass to the net-front area where Roslovic snapped it over Binnington’s left shoulder just eight seconds into the power play.

The goal was particularly significant for Roslovic, who has been on a learning curve trying to decode the unique chemistry shared by McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Bouchard, and Nugent-Hopkins. Before the game, the 28-year-old forward spoke candidly about adapting to what he described as “code signs and code words” that the regular unit members use. His success in cracking that code has been evident, with three goals and two assists over his last six games after a slow start to his Oilers career.

Connor McDavid earned the secondary assist on the play, reaching the 1,100-point milestone in his illustrious career. The assist was McDavid’s second of the night and a reminder of why he remains the most dominant playmaker in hockey. Nugent-Hopkins’ primary helper was equally historic, making him the fourth player in franchise history to reach 300 career power-play points, joining Wayne Gretzky (439), McDavid (373), and Leon Draisaitl (337) in that exclusive club.

The power play’s success has been one of the few bright spots during Edmonton’s inconsistent start to the season. Operating at an elite level once again, the unit looks like it did during the Oilers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final, with Roslovic proving to be a more-than-capable replacement for Hyman in the net-front role.

Edmonton Oilers 3-2 loss to St. Louis Blues recap: Doubling down on dominance before disaster

Andrew Mangiapane extended Edmonton’s lead to 2-0 just 2:27 into the second period, and for a brief moment, the Oilers looked like a team in complete control. The sequence started in the defensive zone, where Mangiapane made an excellent block on Colton Parayko’s point shot, showcasing the two-way commitment that head coach Kris Knoblauch demands from his forwards.

The blocked shot sparked a lightning-quick transition up ice. Mangiapane moved the puck to McDavid in the neutral zone, and the captain immediately recognized Nugent-Hopkins crossing the blueline with speed. McDavid’s tape-to-tape pass hit Nugent-Hopkins in stride, and No. 93 wasted no time firing a pinpoint feed across the slot. Mangiapane, having hustled up ice after his defensive play, cradled the puck inside the right circle and ripped it over Binnington’s left pad for his fourth goal of the campaign.

The goal was a perfect example of Edmonton’s transition game at its finest—defense creating offense, with McDavid orchestrating the play and role players finishing the chances. Nugent-Hopkins recorded his second assist of the night on the play, continuing his point-per-game pace through 14 games this season. With 15 points (5G, 10A) in that span, the longest-tenured Oiler has been one of the team’s most consistent performers.

For those who followed the Edmonton Oilers vs St. Louis Blues projected lineup and preview, the early 2-0 lead seemed to validate expectations that Edmonton would handle a struggling Blues team. The Oilers were buzzing, controlling play, and executing their game plan to perfection. Everything that could go right was going right.

But hockey is a game of momentum swings, and St. Louis was about to author one of the most dramatic comebacks of their season. The final five minutes of the second period would prove disastrous for Edmonton, as the Blues found their legs and turned a comfortable Oilers lead into a tied game heading into the third period.

Edmonton Oilers 3-2 loss to St. Louis Blues recap: The blue and yellow revival that stunned Edmonton

The Blues’ comeback began with a power-play marker from rookie Dalibor Dvorsky at 16:08 of the second period, cutting Edmonton’s lead in half. With McDavid serving a penalty, St. Louis finally found life in front of their home crowd. Justin Faulk set up the play from the left circle, firing a pass to Dvorsky, who dropped to one knee and one-timed it inside the near post past Calvin Pickard for his first-ever NHL goal.

The 19-year-old, selected 10th overall in the 2023 draft, immediately dropped to one knee and pumped his fist in celebration, igniting the Enterprise Center faithful. The goal was a watershed moment not just for Dvorsky’s career but for the Blues’ confidence in this game. Suddenly, a team that had lost seven straight found belief that they could complete the comeback.

Less than three minutes later, former Oilers defenseman Philip Broberg played a key role in the tying goal. Broberg and Jimmy Snuggerud entered the offensive zone with speed, exchanging passes before Broberg unleashed a one-timer from the slot. The shot missed the net but caromed hard off the back boards, creating a fortunate bounce. Robert Thomas, returning to the lineup after missing four games with an upper-body injury, collected the rebound at a tight angle and banked it off Pickard’s back and into the net with 1:22 left in the period.

The goal was equal parts skill and fortune, but it completely changed the complexion of the game. From a comfortable 2-0 lead to a 2-2 deadlock in just 2:30 of playing time, the Oilers had watched their advantage evaporate. Head coach Kris Knoblauch later lamented his team’s defensive lapses during that stretch, noting that the Blues’ defensemen were beating Edmonton’s forwards up the ice and that the Oilers were playing the rush “a little bit soft.”

Mattias Ekholm echoed those concerns after the game, admitting that once St. Louis scored their first goal, Edmonton “got on our heels a little bit.” The veteran defenseman acknowledged that while there were positive elements to the Oilers’ performance, they needed to do a better job of imposing their will, especially in hostile environments on the road.

Edmonton Oilers 3-2 loss to St. Louis Blues recap: Heartbreak in the dying moments

The third period unfolded as a tense, back-and-forth affair with both teams generating chances but neither able to break through. As the clock ticked under two minutes, it appeared the game was destined for overtime—a familiar scenario for the Oilers, who had gone to sudden death in their previous two contests. Both teams seemed to be playing for the extra point, defending well and waiting for a mistake.

Then came the sequence that will haunt Edmonton for days. With 1:23 remaining in regulation, Colton Parayko fired a seemingly innocuous shot from the point. The puck traveled low toward Pickard, who got his right pad on it, but the rebound died directly in front of the crease. Pickard scrambled to locate the puck, but Suter had already pounced, pulling it around the helpless netminder and sliding it into the back of the net.

The goal was a gut-wrenching way to lose, particularly for an Oilers team that had controlled large portions of the game. “It looked like it was going to go to overtime. It didn’t feel like we were sitting back,” Knoblauch said afterward, clearly frustrated by the outcome. “I thought we had a lot of push and had our chances. Not that we were playing it safe. It’s unfortunate that with a minute and a half left, we gave them that goal like that.”

The loss was especially painful considering Edmonton had held a two-goal lead. As Knoblauch noted, “It’s tough, especially when we’re up 2-0 and then end up not getting any points.” For a team fighting to establish consistency early in the season, giving up a two-goal lead and leaving with nothing is simply unacceptable. As detailed in the Blues rally past Oilers 3-2 analysis, St. Louis earned their first victory since October 18, snapping their seven-game skid in dramatic fashion.

Jordan Binnington finished with 24 saves for the Blues, while Pickard made 19 stops for Edmonton. Thomas finished with a goal and an assist in his return from injury, providing the veteran leadership St. Louis desperately needed during their losing streak.

Edmonton Oilers 3-2 loss to St. Louis Blues recap: What it means moving forward

The defeat raised serious questions about Edmonton’s ability to close out tight games. With a 6-5-3 record through 14 games, the Oilers have been involved in far too many one-goal contests that have slipped away. Whether it’s a failure to defend leads, a lack of killer instinct, or simply bad luck, the pattern is becoming concerning.

Ekholm was candid in his assessment, acknowledging that while the team has positive elements in their game, there’s room for improvement, especially in close contests. “It’s early in the year, so I don’t think any team is perfect at this time of year, but I think we can obviously do a better job in these close games,” the Swedish defenseman said. “Getting points all the time matters a lot, so I think that there’s room for improvement.”

The silver lining, if one exists, is that the Oilers had no time to dwell on the loss. They traveled immediately to Dallas to face the Stars on Tuesday night in the second half of a back-to-back. Ekholm emphasized the need to move on quickly: “You can’t even think twice about this game. It’s behind us now. We’ve got to focus on tomorrow. It’s a big test for us. Obviously, we know what team they are and the challenge that they bring, so just move on.”

For Nugent-Hopkins, the performance was another chapter in what has been an excellent start to his season. With two more assists, he maintained his point-per-game pace and continues to be one of Edmonton’s most reliable producers. McDavid’s milestone of 1,100 career points is a testament to his otherworldly talent, but even his two-assist night couldn’t prevent the loss.

The Oilers’ power play remains a strength, now with Roslovic firmly establishing himself in Hyman’s absence. The unit’s ability to generate goals in critical moments has kept Edmonton competitive, but the team needs to find better ways to protect leads and close out games. Defensive lapses in the final five minutes of the second period proved costly, as did the inability to clear the front of the net on Suter’s winner.

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This loss serves as a harsh reminder that in the NHL, no lead is safe and every shift matters. For Edmonton, the focus must shift to learning from these mistakes and finding ways to secure points in winnable games. With a challenging schedule ahead and divisional points at stake, the Oilers cannot afford to continue squandering opportunities. The talent is there, the execution in spurts is there, but the 60-minute commitment to defensive details and lead protection remains a work in progress.