Oilers defeat Stars, extend lead for second in Pacific Division

EDMONTON --Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists to retake the NHL scoring lead, and the Edmonton Oilers won 5-2 against the Dallas Stars at Rogers Place on Wednesday.

McDavid has 113 points (43 goals, 70 assists), two more than Florida Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau (30 goals, 81 assists). Edmonton moved four points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings for second place in the Pacific Division.
"We've talked a lot about that stuff here," McDavid said. "It is what it is, and we have been here and done that, and we are trying to play good hockey and win games, and that is ultimately what we are focused on."
Evan Bouchard had two assists, and Mike Smith made 34 saves for his seventh straight win for the Oilers (45-26-6), who have won three straight and nine of 11 (9-1-1).
Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz each had a goal and an assist, and Scott Wedgewood tied his NHL career high with 45 saves for the Stars (43-29-5), who are two points back of the Nashville Predators for the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference and two ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights for the second.
"They've been off for three days and they had lots of jump in their legs tonight," Dallas coach Rick Bowness said. "We have to spend a little more time in their zone, we have to slow them up in the neutral zone, and then we have to end plays quicker in our zone; we have to get on them quicker. They had good jump and they were beating us to loose pucks, and they were able to keep moving the puck on the outside, and you have to try to end those plays as quick as you can."

Evander Kane gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead at 3:12 of the first period. He took a pass from McDavid, who had skated around defenseman Ryan Suter and sent a backhand pass from behind the goal line into the slot.
Derek Ryan made it 2-0 at 6:17 after collecting a rebound off the crossbar on a shot from Ryan McLeod. It was his first goal in 21 games.
"I thought we got off to a good start and put them on their heels," McDavid said. "They pushed back, and I liked our response when they pushed. It was another good game, a similar type of story as the last ones. I think guys are confident right now. Up and down the lineup, guys feel good about their own game and feel good about our team game."
Robertson cut it to 2-1 at 11:39 on a shot from the top of the left face-off circle after taking a drop pass from Hintz. It was his fifth goal in the past six games and ended Smith's shutout streak at 144:39 and Edmonton's shutout streak at 148:17.
Hintz tied it 2-2 at 5:06 of the second period. He was first to a loose puck in front and poked it in past Smith.
"It's playoffs, they have already started for us, so it's obviously disappointing because every game is huge for us," Stars forward Radek Faksa said. "We have to be tighter defensively and do what we have to to keep the puck out of our net."

Zach Hyman gave the Oilers a 3-2 lead at 12:39 on a rebound in front off a point shot from Leon Draisaitl.
Jesse Puljujarvi extended the lead to 4-2 at 18:00 when a point shot from Bouchard hit his skate and deflected into the net.
"I thought we were on our toes, we looked rested and we came out of the gate hot," Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft said. "All four lines, 11 forwards, were going. We simplified things early in the game and it allowed us to assert our will on the other team."
McDavid scored into an empty net at 19:57 of the third period for the 5-2 final.
"I think as a group we can do better in all areas," Stars defenseman Esa Lindell said. "They got a lot of shots today (50) and we need to be better at all the basics. When they had the longer possession our shifts got longer, and when we got into that three-quarter game, that's when we're going to pay for it. You get tired and they were able to get more chances."

NOTES: McDavid reached 70 assists for the fourth time in the NHL. … Edmonton extended its home point streak to 12 (11-0-1). … Oilers defenseman Duncan Keith was plus-5. … The Oilers are 22-8-3 under Woodcroft since he took over from Dave Tippett on Feb. 10. … Dallas had not lost at Edmonton since Nov. 27, 2018 (1-0 in OT). … Lindell returned to the lineup after sitting out a 6-2 loss at the Vancouver Canucks on Monday with an illness. He had three shots in 20:07. … Wedgewood made 45 saves March 19 in his final game with the Arizona Coyotes before he was traded to the Stars the next day. … John Klingberg had an assist, his 300th in the NHL. He is the third Stars defenseman with 300 assists, behind Sergei Zubov (438) and Craig Hartsburg (315). … Dallas plays at the Calgary Flames on Thursday. … Hintz has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in the past six games, with four multipoint games.