OilersNation has reported:

The Edmonton Oilers lost their first game in regulation this season Thursday, falling 4-2 to the Utah Mammoth after a late second-period goal that head coach Mike Babcock called a “freebie.” The loss came despite Edmonton’s pushback against Utah’s physical play, which included several scrums and a confrontation after a dangerous hit on Leon Draisaitl. The teams will meet again Saturday night in Utah, giving the Oilers a quick rematch.

The goal that drew Babcock’s criticism came when Vincent Trocheck drove wide and low against Ty Emberson into Edmonton’s zone. In front of the net, six-foot-five Shakir Mukhamadullin lost a battle with Logan Cooley, who outmuscled him to reach a pass and deflect it past Oilers goaltender Devon Levi. Babcock said the defender needed to prevent Cooley from reaching the net.

“Yeah, that one was ugly, can’t let him get to the net,” Babcock said of the goal, scored late in the second period. “I mean, just deflect him, and he doesn’t get to the net. That was a freebie.”

Utah opened the scoring through a sequence involving former Oiler Kailer Yamamoto, who battled past Evan Bouchard and drove the puck to the net. Barrett Hayton then collected the rebound and scored. On the Mammoth’s second goal, Connor Murphy got his stick on a pass through the middle of the ice, but the puck still reached Cooley, who set up Clayton Keller for a clear scoring chance.

Babcock returned to the third goal when discussing the cost of defensive mistakes. “But the third one kills you because you can’t give that up,” he said. “That’s a freebie.” Mukhamadullin later scored for Edmonton in the third period, when his point shot deflected off Mammoth defenceman Andrew Peeke and into the net. He played a season-high 13:58.

The Oilers were missing another forward Thursday after Jason Dickinson was shaken up during the morning skate and did not play. Babcock said Dickinson’s absence was unrelated to the ankle injury that flared up last year and kept him out of the first three games this season. “He’s not out because of the ankle, so I’m not concerned about his ankle. So we can put that to bed.”

Edmonton did not back down from Utah’s physical approach. Scrums broke out in the second period after Mammoth centre Jack McBain delivered a dangerous hit from behind on Draisaitl. Connor McDavid and Bouchard immediately jumped McBain, triggering a larger scrum. The incident followed Draisaitl’s goal, which had brought Edmonton within 2-1.

That Oilers goal came after Draisaitl and McDavid worked a give-and-go, with Draisaitl sliding the puck through Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka’s five-hole. The Oilers’ effort to answer Utah’s physicality unfolded while the team was short on forwards and relied heavily on several key players.

McDavid played 25:52, Draisaitl logged 23:00, Vasily Podkolzin played 22:13 and Bouchard was on the ice for 27:03. Babcock said the score and injuries shaped those workloads, leaving him with little choice but to lean on them. He said he reviews the minutes each night and questions his decisions, while trying to get through the current stretch.

“It has to stop,” Babcock said. “I look at it every night, and I go, ‘What the heck am I doing?’ But I’m also trying to survive right now.” He added: “A lot of our other guys have done a phenomenal job for us. We’re in a good spot right now, and I’m just hoping that we bought enough time to get some guys (back from injury).”

According to Frank Seravalli, the expected order of injured Oilers returning is Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Colton Dach and then Matt Savoie. Whether Hyman will play Saturday was left open. Tristan Jarry is scheduled to start in goal for Edmonton in the rematch.

The game in Utah is the next chance for the Oilers to face the Mammoth after Thursday’s loss. The first meeting featured both a disputed defensive breakdown and the second-period confrontation sparked by McBain’s hit. Edmonton will travel south for Saturday night’s game as the teams continue their season series.

Zach Laing is managing editor at Daily Faceoff Edmonton and news director at The Nation Network. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing or contacted by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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