JUST IN: Leafs’ Ryan Reaves suspended 5 games for illegal check

The Edmonton Oilers’ season has been anything but smooth, with nearly every facet of their game facing struggles. To add to their growing list of concerns, another glaring weakness has emerged, costing them crucial points. In Saturday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Oilers let a one-goal lead slip away in the final minutes. Despite scraping out five points, this marks the third consecutive game in which they’ve blown a third-period lead.

Getting a lead is one thing; holding onto it is another, and that’s where the Oilers continue to falter. In four of their last five games, they’ve surrendered third-period leads in the final minutes. Against the Vegas Golden Knights, they gave up three goals in the last ten minutes, squandering a 2-1 lead and losing the game. The trend continued against the New York Islanders, where they allowed two late goals, forcing overtime. In the following game, the Nashville Predators netted an equalizer with just three minutes left, and the same scenario played out against the Maple Leafs. Even though the Oilers managed to secure wins against the Islanders and Predators, the pattern is becoming increasingly concerning.

Many of the issues stem from brutal, but avoidable mistakes. Against the Maple Leafs, Bouchard banked a clearing pass off McDavid in one play and failed to backcheck in another. Versus the Islanders, McDavid too a penalty and Mattias Ekholm was on the ice when Anders Lee got a wide-open look in the slot for the tying goal. Against the Predators, Jeff Skinner missed a gaping net in the second period to extend the lead over Nashville, only for the Preds to come back when the Oilers got caught in the offensive zone and allowed a breakaway in the final three minutes to tie the game.