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In the first Battle of the Connors, McDavid out-played Bedard and Edmonton Oilers beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1.

It was a low-event game, with the Oilers shutting down the Hawks, taking a 3-1 lead in the second period and cruising to victory.

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In total, when it came to Grade A shots (which go in 25 per cent of the time on average), it was Edmonton, 12, the Blackhawks, 8. In the subset of 5-alarm shots (which go in 33 per cent), it was Edmonton, eight Chicago, 2.

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Connor McDavid, 8. Two most excellent assists. Met Bedard’s great move in the first with one of his own, charging up ice and lofting a pass to RNH for the goal. He generally spent the rest of the game charging about, creating havoc, as well as a number of great scoring chances. Included with that was a nifty move down the wall and slick pass to Hyman for Edmonton’s four goal early in the third. Contributions to Grade A Shots (GAS): Even Strength +4/-1; Special Teams +1/-0.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 7. Fantastic snipe for Edmonton’s first goal. GAS: ES +1/-0; ST +0/-0.

Zach Hyman, 7. He was his usual Hymander self, serpentining around the ice with the puck. He spun a whirling dervish of a 5-alarm backhander on net off a McDavid feed in the second.  He cashed in McD’s great pass with a strong tip early in the third. GAS: ES +2/-0; ST +1/-0.

Leon Draisaitl, 7. He gave up a great shooting moment on an early 3-on-1, with his pass picked off — a most unDraisaitl-like moment. A moment later he set up Kane for a dangerous shot, then got another 2-on-1, this time launching a wicked shot. In the second period. Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch changed his linemates to Foegele and Gagner to try to get him going. He later got lucky, snapping a pass that Nikita Zaitsev’s deflected into the Blackhawk net. He was an ace on the face-off dot, winning 14 of 19. GAS: ES +3/-0; ST +0/-0.

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Evander Kane, 6. One good shot on net, some decent physical play. GAS: ES +2/-0; ST +0/-0.

Connor Brown, 5. He won a few battles to help set up Grade A shots. He got a shorthanded breakaway in the third but could not drain it. GAS: ES +2/-0; ST +1/-0.

Ryan McLeod, 5. He blew a tire, gave up the puck and allowed a Grade A shot in the first. GAS: ES +1/-1; ST +0/-0.

Mattias Janmark .6. He made a great tip on net early in the game, but no goal. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST +1/-0.

Warren Foegele, 5. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST +0/-0.

Derek Ryan, 7. Made a smart pass to set up Gagner, one more goal for the Three Wise Men line. GAS: ES +1/-0; ST +0/-0.

Sam Gagner, 7. A goal and an assist. He went hard to the net and cashed in Ryan’s pass late in the first. GAS: ES +1/-0; ST +0/-0.

James Hamblin, 5. He had the puck checked off of him in the first, leading to a 5-alarmer. GAS: ES +0/-1; ST +0/-0.

Darnell Nurse, 6. Solid game but almost deflected in a goal against in the third on the PK. GAS: ES +1/-0; ST +0/-1.

Cody Ceci, 6. His late line change was a factor in Bedard’s early goal. GAS: ES +2/-2; ST +0/-0.

Mattias Ekholm, 6. He failed to get stick-on-puck on Bedard’s early shot. GAS: ES +0/-1; ST +0/-0.

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Evan Bouchard, 5. The Oil got off to a sloppy start but he was the sloppiest, letting Connor Bedard of all people sneak in behind him for a break-in pass, which Bedard promptly placed top shelf. He was caught sleeping again a moment later as his check Foligno took a slot pass and drove a backhander on net. But he kicked off Edmonton’s first scoring sequence with a fine pass. He got a big cheer for slamming Bedard to the ice late in the game. Two assists. GAS: ES +1/-2; ST +0/-0.

Vincent Desharnais, 5. He was beat on an early rush by Foligno but was otherwise solid. GAS: ES +0/-2; ST +0/-0.

Brett Kulak, 7. His hard forecheck kicked off the Virtuous Cycle on Sam Gagner’s first period goal. GAS: ES +1/-1; ST +0/-0.

Stuart Skinner, 7. Quiet night. He got beat by Bedard’s high slot shot, but stopped five more Grade A shots in the first. He faced not one Grade A shot in the second and just two in the third,

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