Connor McDavid scored his 40th goal and Zach Hyman had a goal and three assists as the visiting Edmonton Oilers extended their win streak to a season-high six games with a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
The Oilers, who took the NHL’s best power play into the Pacific Division clash against the team with the league’s worst penalty kill, held on for the win as they improved to 7-2 in their last nine games and are knocking on the door of first place in the division.
NHL scoring leader McDavid needed just 48 games to become the first in the NHL to reach 40 goals. He is also on a 10-game point streak.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and two assists, Leon Draisaitl also scored and goaltender Stuart Skinner made 27 saves for the Oilers.
Andrei Kuzmenko and J.T. Miller each scored and Spencer Martin made 25 saves for the Canucks, who are likely on the verge of a coaching change.
The Vancouver Sun reported earlier Saturday that the Canucks’ management is poised to replace Bruce Boudreau with Rick Tocchet in the coming days.
Canucks president Jim Rutherford said earlier in the week he has spoken to potential candidates about a replacement for Boudreau. Former NHL player Tocchet is the most frequently mentioned as a possible replacement.
It was apparent from the opening minute that the Canucks were going to have difficulty with the Oilers’ blazing speed.
Just 86 seconds in, McDavid took a stretch pass from Hyman and scored on a breakaway, beating Martin between the legs.
The dynamic duo reversed roles on the second goal as Hyman finished off a two-on-one with McDavid at 8:31 of the first on the power play.
Hyman set up Draisaitl with a nifty one-handed pass for a goal halfway through the second to give Edmonton a three-goal cushion.
The Canucks started a rally late in the second. Kuzmenko scored with just over three minutes left to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Miller then scored 3:26 into the third to make it 3-2.
Nugent-Hopkins scored an empty-net goal with 35 seconds left.
–Field Level Media
