Mikheyev, Maple Leafs hand Oilers fifth straight loss

TORONTO -- Ilya Mikheyev scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period, and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday.

Mikheyev made it 3-2 at 11:25 on the power play, beating Mike Smith glove side from the high slot after Slater Koekkoek couldn't clear the puck. It was the eighth straight game the Maple Leafs have scored on the man-advantage, and the fifth straight game the Oilers have allowed a power-play goal.
"Mikheyev makes us a better team, there's no question about that," Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. "And it's not just because he's scored here. We've known that as long as he's been with us. He makes us a deeper team, a better team."
Mikheyev has scored three goals in three games this season after missing the first 29 following surgery to repair a broken thumb in October.
"Of course it's good for me, but it's more important that I played good games the last few games, and it's important more than goals," Mikheyev said. "If I have a chance for a shot, why not? I'm going to try to just keep shooting."

William Nylander had two assists, and Jack Campbell made 28 saves for the Maple Leafs (22-8-2), who have won four in a row.
Leon Draisaitl and Brendan Perlini scored, and Smith made 29 saves for the Oilers (18-14-2), who went 0-3-2 on a five-game road trip and were playing without Connor McDavid after the forward was placed in COVID-19 protocol on Wednesday.
"It was good compete. I guess it could have went either way after the second, but yet we are standing here leaving again with no points," Draisaitl said. "You hope that there are better days ahead, but it's frustrating. No one wants to lose and we've been losing for a long time now. Eventually, it's time to win, so yeah, let's just leave it at that.
"We're not quitting on anyone, on our coach, ourselves as players, our team, our goalies, nobody. We're not quitting. There's still lots of season left."

John Tavares gave Toronto a 1-0 lead at 4:25 of the first period. Nylander's initial shot deflected off his leg before hitting the end boards, and as it ricocheted back out in front, it hit the right skate of Smith and redirected into the net.
Edmonton has allowed the first goal in 21 of its past 25 games.
"There was lots of try in our game, lots of push, lots of people trying to have an impact on the game, which is good to see," Oilers coach Dave Tippett said. "We just can't get that play made that makes a difference on the positive side for us. (This is a) game where every play counts and you need that play to get you over the top. They got it tonight and we didn't."
Perlini tied it 1-1 at 9:58 with a one-timer off a pass from Colton Sceviour, and Draisaitl put the Oilers ahead 2-1 at 11:12 with another one-timer, this time near the left post off a cross-slot pass from Kailer Yamamoto.
TJ Brodie scored in his third straight game to tie it 2-2 at 19:32 of the first. Nylander, who had the primary assist on the play, has scored 12 points (five goals, seven assists) on a seven-game point streak.
"I'm just trying to create space and get to open areas," Nylander said. "I'm playing with great players that can find me those areas. Our line (Tavares and Kerfoot) has been getting some really good chemistry and good looks as of late, so we want to keep building off that.
"It's nice to score goals, but what's most important is getting the wins."
After Mikheyev gave Toronto the lead, Alex Kerfoot shot into an empty net with 15 seconds remaining for the 4-2 final.
NOTES:The Oilers also played without center Derek Ryan and defenseman Tyson Barrie, who were also placed in COVID-19 protocol Wednesday. … Zach Hyman was minus-3 in 20:12 of ice time in his first game against the Maple Leafs since signing a seven-year contract with the Oilers on July 28. Hyman played his first six NHL seasons in Toronto, scoring 185 points (86 goals, 99 assists) in 345 games. … Tavares has scored nine points (three goals, six assists) during a seven-game point streak.