GAME STORY: Oilers 2, Jets 1

EDMONTON, AB – Air McDavid took flight against the Jets on Thursday.

Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored both of Edmonton’s goals as they edged Winnipeg 2-1 at Rogers Place and are now tied with the Toronto Maple Leafs for first place in the North Division.

Video: OILERS TODAY | Post-Game vs WPG 03.18.21

FIRST BLOOD

McDavid scored his 19th of the season 3:53 into the second period to give the Oilers a 1-0 advantage just moments after he hopped over the boards as part of a line change. Darnell Nurse blasted the puck into the attacking zone and it careened around the end boards up the far side wall, as McDavid kicked it from his skate to his stick, cut hard towards the net and beat Laurent Brossoit with a low wrist shot far side just under the goalie’s blocker.

PLAY OF THE GAME

After the Jets tied it up, McDavid’s second of the night and 20th of the season came at the 13:21 mark of the middle frame on a perfect passing sequence and fantastic finish. Tyson Barrie made a nice defensive zone exit up to Zack Kassian along the wall in the neutral zone and the winger made a short one-touch pass to the captain, sending McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in on a two-on-one rush. The NHL’s leading scorer called his own number and beat Brossoit on the blocker side again to make it 2-1.

SAVE OF THE GAME

After the teams skated to a scoreless opening frame, the Jets were the first to make some noise in the middle stanza, forcing Mikko Koskinen to make a series of impressive saves. A stop on Adam Lowry was followed immediately by a breakaway denial on Trevor Lewis which was followed immediately by back-to-back stops on Mathieu Perreault right off the ensuing draw as the veteran centreman got free in front of the net. Koskinen finished with 24 saves for the win.

Video: POST-RAW | Mikko Koskinen 03.18.21

TURNING POINT

McDavid’s second goal, which came just 38 seconds after Winnipeg’s equalizer, held up as the game-winner as the teams were scoreless in the final frame, just as they were in the opening stanza.

TOP PERFORMER

With his two-goal effort, McDavid extended his commanding lead in his pursuit of his third career Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s top point producer, now up to 58 in 33 games and nine ahead of teammate Leon Draisaitl for top spot. He’s also just one goal behind Toronto’s Auston Matthews for the league lead in that category as well with the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy up for grabs.

Video: POST-RAW | Connor McDavid 03.18.21

FACT CHECK

After getting held off the scoresheet in three consecutive games for just the third time in his career during the series against Toronto three weeks ago, McDavid has now recorded points in eight straight games with six goals and 12 assists in that scorching span.

With his two assists, Barrie is the first defenceman in the NHL to record 30 points this season (four goals, 26 helpers) and required the fewest games by an Oilers blueliner to reach the mark since 1986-87 when Hall of Famer Paul Coffey recorded seven goals and 23 assists in just 22 contests.

NEXT UP

The Oilers will conclude their brief two-game homestand on Saturday against the Jets again before embarking on a five-game road trip that will see them play in Montreal next Monday, Wednesday and Friday, followed by a pair of matchups with the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.

Video: POST-RAW | Ethan Bear 03.18.21

PARTING WORDS

“I loved the way our team played,” McDavid said of the effort against a Jets team ranked seventh in the NHL in goals for. “I thought we were solid all over and really did a good job of clogging up the middle. Our D really moved pucks well, broke it out well, and Koski held us in there when he had to.”

“We played a really solid game all over the ice,” said Koskinen, who raised his save percentage to .903 with his Thursday showing. “I didn’t think there were many odd-man rushes, which is pretty crucial for us, and we didn’t lose the puck at the blueline, so that was really good tonight.”

Video: POST-RAW | Dave Tippett 03.18.21

“I feel great, I don’t feel tired anymore,” Ethan Bear said of the concussion that sidelined him for most of February and his progress over the 12 games since his return. “I can just go, and that was something I was missing. It definitely helps my confidence and allows me to just have fun and play.”

“His offensive abilities and different ways to create offence is off the charts,” Head Coach Dave Tippett said of McDavid. “What I like most about him this year is he’s come in with a real determined mindset to defend well and be a real good solid player in our own end. Our whole coaching staff talks about it every day how much he’s dug into playing a real winning style of game.”