The Edmonton Oilers are back in the win column, and they did it by tightening things up at the right time.
After two games that produced 27 combined goals between Edmonton and the Vancouver Canucks, Saturday night looked a lot more controlled from the Oilers. They beat Vancouver 4-2, and the difference came in the final 40 minutes, when Edmonton took over and never let go.
The opening goal came quickly. Just four minutes in, the Oilers moved the puck end to end with every skater touching it on the zone entry before Mattias Ekholm settled into open ice and buried a one-timer off a Connor McDavid pass. That made it 1-0 Edmonton.
Vancouver answered late in the first. With less than a minute left before intermission, Jamie Oleksiak fired a shot from the point and Max Sasson got a tip on it to tie the game 1-1. From there, both teams went scoreless through the second period, setting up a third frame that decided everything.
Jason Dickinson gave Edmonton the lead for good early in the final period. His first shot was stopped, but he stayed with it and punched in the rebound to make it 2-1. A few minutes later, McDavid set up another clean finish with a cross-ice feed on the power play, and Leon Draisaitl hammered it home to push the Oilers ahead 3-1.
Vancouver made one last push after pulling its goalie, with Brock Boeser deflecting a puck past Devon Levi to cut the gap. But Draisaitl shut the door with an empty-netter, sealing the 4-2 result.
McDavid kept his remarkable run rolling. He picked up an assist on Ekholm’s goal and added two more on Draisaitl’s tallies, extending both his point streak and assist streak to 18 games. He now has 10 goals and 47 points over those 18 games, putting him on pace for 219 points.
There are milestones creeping closer, too. McDavid’s 18-game assist streak to start the season is already the longest ever, ahead of Wayne Gretzky, Ken Linseman, and Sebastian Aho at 12.
He’s now five games away from matching Gretzky’s all-time assist streak of 23 games, set in 1990-91 with the Kings. His 18 straight games with a point to open the season also ties Marcel Dionne and Bill Cowley for sixth all-time.
Gretzky owns the record there as well, with a 51-game point streak to begin the 1983-84 season.
Devon Levi was back in net for the first time since October 22 against the Carolina Hurricanes, and he handled himself well. He stopped 20 of 22 shots for a .909 save percentage and -0.27 Goals Saved Above Expected, according to Hockeystats. Both goals he allowed came on deflections, and he made several important saves along the way.
Zach Hyman also returned to the lineup for the first time since October 26 against the Detroit Red Wings. He finished with an assist on the empty-net goal and logged 20:56 of ice time, giving him his second point in seven games this season.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, though, left the game after taking a puck to the face in the second period. The broadcast said he would try to return with a bubble, but he was ruled out for the third period.
The Oilers got production from their depth, too. Dickinson scored his second goal of the season, with Ty Emberson and Mathieu Joseph collecting the assists.
It wasn’t a flawless night, especially after Edmonton was outplayed in the first period, but the response was strong. The Oilers controlled the last two periods and left Vancouver with a 4-2 win.
Next up is a rematch with the New York Rangers on Monday at 7:00 PM MT. Earlier this month, Edmonton beat the Rangers 4-1 at Madison Square Garden.
In Other News...
Oilers Make A Blue Line Move That Puts Depth In Focus
The Oilers made a blue-line move that underscores how much roster depth matters early in the season, placing defenceman Atro Leppnen on waivers. Leppnen, who signed a one-year contract extension over the summer, has not yet appeared this season while working back from injury, leaving Edmonton to sort out where he fits once he is healthy enough to return.
If he clears waivers, Leppnen would head to the AHLs Bakersfield Condors, a familiar next step for a player trying to get his game back on track. For the Oilers, the decision keeps the focus on managing depth on defence while waiting to see how the rest of the roster settles in around him. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Suddenly Have A Goalie Decision As Help Arrives Up Front
The Oilers got a timely lift on both ends of the roster heading into their game against Vancouver, with Devon Levi and Zach Hyman coming off injured reserve. Levi, who was acquired in the offseason and had been handling the crease before his injury, gives Edmonton another option in goal, while Hymans return from a neck injury adds a needed jolt up front after he missed several games.
The roster shuffle to make room for those moves sent Matt Tomkins down to the AHLs Bakersfield Condors, and it leaves Edmonton with a fresh decision in net as the lineup gets healthier. Hymans presence should help the Oilers forward group, but the bigger immediate question is how the team chooses to manage the crease now that Levi is back in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Get A Needed Lineup Reset Against Vancouver
The Oilers are getting a much-needed reset against Vancouver, and it starts with a healthier-looking lineup than they have been able to ice lately. Devon Levi is back in goal for the first time since Oct. 22 after missing seven games with an undisclosed injury, giving Edmonton a chance to settle back into a more familiar rhythm behind a group that has been juggling bodies and roles.
Zach Hyman is also set to rejoin the mix, while Trent Frederic and Ty Emberson are expected back after recent absences. Tristan Jarry will serve as the backup, and Matt Tomkins has been sent down to the AHL, giving the Oilers a clearer picture of their depth as they try to stabilize things heading into a key stretch. [Read more 🡒]