On the one hand, the Edmonton Oilers got a point, showing some resilience despite being outshot and outchanced by the Utah Mammoth.

On the other hand, the Oilers squandered three leads, struggled to break out of their zone, and seemed far too loose for a team readying itself for the playoffs. The game was a mixed bag in Game 78 of the season in a 6-5 overtime loss: one built for October or November, not so much in April.

For a team playing shorthanded without Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman, they got depth scoring, but were far too sloppy.

“We obviously gave up too many chances. When you’re trying to score six to win the game, it’s tough to get that done,” said Darnell Nurse post-game, one of the team’s defensive bright spots. “We can definitely up the details in our own zone, especially when you’re playing against a team with firepower like they did.”

After going down 1-0 just 1:53 into the hockey game, Curtis Lazar replied just 11 seconds later to tie it. The Oilers were threatening to chase Karel Vejmelka after Connor McDavid’s beautiful end-to-end rush on the power play, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ripped the puck blocker-side. Three goals on seven shots in the frame.

But the Oilers holding a multiple-goal lead this season has been anything but automatic. In fact, this is the seventh time this season the Oilers have lost after leading by two goals or more.

Once the Mammoth had climbed back to level 3-3, Vasily Podkolzin replied just 47 seconds later, restoring the lead. The Oilers were closing the second period with a power play and a chance to expand their lead back to two.

The key turning point of the game: Jack Roslovic throws the puck into the slot on the five-on-four. The crisp turnover leads to a rush down the wing for Nick Schmaltz. Evan Bouchard seems to have time to close the gap, but doesn’t get there, and Schmaltz rips it past Jarry’s glove.

A breakdown at multiple levels, on the power play, up by a goal with under a minute left in the second period. It summed up the night, where some Oilers were quite engaged. Others struggled mightily.

“Not being able to hold a lead,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch on the key struggles. “It’s unfortunate. It was nice to see the offence was there, the goals, but just too many chances against.”

Taking........

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