On Tuesday, the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 7-4 at T-Mobile Arena with a goal and four assists from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Nugent-Hopkins’ first five-point game since Nov. 19, 2011, against the Chicago Blackhawks. He has 96 points (35 goals, 61 assists) in 75 games, an NHL and ice hockey betting career-high.
“Our offense has been great all year. I’m playing with greats, “Nugent-Hopkins stated. “I’m simply helping offensively more than last year. Individual achievement often follows collective success.”
The Oilers (43-23-9), who won 5-4 against the Arizona Coyotes on Monday, are 7-0-1 in their last eight games. Connor McDavid had three points, Leon Draisaitl scored and assisted, and Stuart Skinner made 18 saves.
“Lines mattered. Good power play. Great PK, “Draisaitl commented. “Good indication. Overall, we dominated the game.”
Edmonton fell one point behind the Kings for second in the Pacific Division and three points behind Vegas. Kings and Knights have one game in hand.
“We’re nothing near our potential,” Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said. “We’re trying. Our squad showed promise. … While we weren’t great in each game, I believed we had much to work on to win. In three weeks, we’ll peak.”
Golden Knights (46-22-6) Jonathan Marchessault scored twice. Laurent Brossoit, who made four saves, replaced Jonathan Quick in the third period after he conceded six goals on 34 shots.
“We attempted to win by playing their game,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We attempted unrealized plays. We sought to outscore them. That’s wrong. The League’s greatest offense. We’re not Edmonton Oilers offensively. We’re excellent offensively, but not them. No way.”
Marchessault scored a five-hole backhand at 1:12 of the first period after Nugent-Hopkins threw the puck away.
Evan Bouchard tied it at 1:49 with a power-play goal.
“[Bouchard] can read the play,” Nugent-Hopkins added. “His power play confidence helps our team.”
Nugent-Hopkins scored from the left hash marks at 8:20 after Nicolas Roy overskated a loose puck.
At 9:24, short-handed William Karlsson knotted it 2-2. He shoved Bouchard off the ball along the right boards, skated in, and scored five-hole on Skinner.
At 9:48, Draisaitl redirected a McDavid centering pass to give Edmonton a 3-2 lead.
“We gave up a couple there, maybe needlessly,” Draisaitl remarked. “We won from there.”
At 3:13, Michael Amadio equalized. When Phil Kessel deflected Philip Broberg’s behind-the-net pass, he scored on the rebound.
At 6:01, Darnell Nurse’s left-circle slap beat Quick short side to make it 4-3 for the Oilers.
At 13:30, Evander Kane one-timed a Draisaitl backhand cross-slot ball under the crossbar to make it 5-3.
McDavid’s power play pass to Zach Hyman made it 6-3 at 15:34.
Brett Kulak scored off the right circle post at 4:24 in the third period to make it 7-3. His first goal since Dec. 7 (48 games).
Nugent-Hopkins said it was wonderful. “He pounced when he had the chance.”
Marchessault’s second at 18:28 made it 7-4.
Marchessault said the first period went nicely. “If you give them opportunities in the penalty box, they’ll feel good about playing. Our game was challenging. Our attempt sucked.”
McDavid has 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) during a nine-game point run. Draisaitl has 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in a 10-game point run. Kane’s 300th NHL goal. Shea Theodore (undisclosed) missed the third period. Cassidy said he was being assessed but had no news.
