GAME STORY: Blackhawks 4, Oilers 3 (Game 3)

EDMONTON, AB - A late winner from defenceman Connor Murphy overshadowed a three-point night from Leon Draisaitl in a 4-3 defeat for the Oilers to the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of their best-of-five Qualifying Round series on Wednesday.

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Game 4 between the Oilers and Blackhawks will be played on Friday. The game can be seen on Sportsnet and heard on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED. Puck drop is 4:45 PM MT.
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The German equalized for Edmonton in the second period before captain Connor McDavid put the club ahead on the power play moments before the second intermission, but a third-period comeback from the 'Hawks that was completed with 1:16 to go in the third period puts the Oilers behind two-games-to-one heading into Friday's critical Game 4 rematch.
The red-hot Oilers power play that's produced four goals from its first nine opportunities this series struggled out of the gate early, failing to record a shot on their initial man advantage after a hooking call on Jonathan Toews in the opening three minutes.
Chicago pressed on from their early penalty kill and took the lead 9:14 into the opening frame when Olli Maatta's point shot alluded traffic in front before nestling inside the left post for the 1-0 advantage.
But just 28 seconds after Maatta's marker, Draisaitl buried the equalizer from his customary net-side location on a cross-crease feed by Tyler Ennis that the German shovelled home for his second goal of the post-season after registering zero shots during a quiet Game 2.
Penalty trouble in the final two minutes of the opening frame and a 5-on-3 opportunity for the 'Hawks would cost the Oilers before the intermission. With Kailer Yamamoto and Kris Russell in the box, a fanned-on attempt from Toews trickled under the outstretched paddle of Koskinen for the 2-1 lead with five seconds on the clock.
"It's obviously disappointing, no question," Draisaitl said post-game. "We have to be more disciplined. It kills the flow of the game with the penalties, but it's obviously a disappointing loss."
The parade to the penalty box stretched through the intermission, with the Oilers taking four-straight minor infractions across 8:34 of play. The 'Hawks were only 1-for-6 with the man advantage, but the parade to the box kept a number of Edmonton's big guns on the bench for a long stretch of the game.

"We didn't get off to the start we wanted," McDavid said. "I thought we took over the first period after we got one (penalty), and then just far too many penalties. The refs are calling a lot of stuff, we know that, and just have to be more disciplined."
Draisaitl was once again in the right position to pounce and shovel home his second tally of the contest over a sprawled-out Crawford to level the contest at 2-2 under five minutes into the second period.
After Chicago converted the late power-play goal in the first, the Oilers man advantage finally clicked at a big-time in the winding moments of the second.
McDavid scooped up the rebound from Draisaitl's low shot from the left circle and had all the time in the world to put home his fifth goal and seventh point of the series with eight seconds left before the intermission. An assist on the play would be Draisaitl's third point of the game, while a secondary helper for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins marked his sixth assist of the series.
After Matthew Highmore equalized the game for the 'Hawks at 3-3, another tally for the Blackhawks from the blueline, this time from Murphy, would be the dagger for the Oilers when the defender's wrist shot tipped off Ethan Bear's twig and into the top corner with 1:16 remaining in the game.

"You're tempting fate when you take penalties - especially when you have penalty-killers taking penalties," Head Coach Dave Tippett said.
"Then we made a couple of mistakes at the end that ended up in the back of our net on just deflections. You get a deflection that goes wide sometimes or hits the goalie, but these deflections found their way in."
Defenceman Adam Larsson was deemed unfit to play before tonight's game to hand Caleb Jones his NHL playoff debut.
"With Larsson, he's a huge part of our group," defenceman Darnell Nurse said. "He players heavy every night and puts his heart on the line every night. You miss him, but Jonesy stepped in and made some good plays and played solid."
Late in the second period, Tyler Ennis collided with Chicago forward Kirby Dach below the red line and left the ice favouring his right leg. The Edmonton, AB product did not return as Andreas Athanasiou filled his spot on a line with Draisaitl and Yamamoto.
"It's obviously disappointing to see that he had to leave the game," Draisaitl said. "I thought he was a great addition to our team and hopefully it's nothing too serious. I think our team's deep enough that we can compensate for everyone. Double-A played a great game again."
The Oilers enter must-win territory now, with Game 4 on Friday being a win-or-go-home scenario. Puck drop is slated for 4:45 PM MT.