Oilers top Predators for 16th win in row, 1 from tying NHL record
McDavid, Draisaitl combine for 7 points, Perry makes debut for Edmonton
By
Gerry Moddejonge
NHL.com Independent Correspondent
Edmonton tied the 2016-17 Columbus Blue Jackets for the second-longest winning streak in League history and can match the record set by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins when it visits the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 6 following the NHL All-Star break.
"They know about the streak only because you talk about it, they bring it up in the media, but we don't talk about in the room,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. “Maybe it's on their minds a little bit, but as boring as it sounds, we take it one game at a time and we're worrying about our opposition in the next game.
“Feels good to win any game, doesn't matter how many in a row."
Connor McDavid had a goal and three assists, Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist for the Oilers (29-15-1). Zach Hyman scored his team-leading 30th goal of the season, and Stuart Skinner made 29 saves for his 12th straight victory.
“It’s nice to score a few on the power play,” said McDavid, the Edmonton captain, after his team went 2-for-3 with the man-advantage. “It’s been an area that’s probably been our weakest through this stretch. We know that our power play can change games. It can be a huge asset for us, as we’ve showed over the past few years.
“If we can get that going over a high level and keep our game where it’s at, it only adds to the group.”
Colton Sissons scored, and Kevin Lankinen made 17 saves for the Predators (26-22-1), who have lost three of their past four.
“I thought we played a really good game 5-on-5,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. “Some self-infliction again tonight with careless penalties and the best power play and the best player in the world made us pay. I thought we created enough to win the game but I think we kind of gave up a little bit too much.
“The penalties and the power-play goals really hurt."
Nugent-Hopkins put Edmonton ahead 1-0 on its first power play 7:55 into the first period, taking a pass in the slot from Draisaitl, shooting through traffic and beating Lankinen to the stick side.
Draisaitl made it 2-0 on the Oilers’ next power play at 11:39 of the second period. He took a pass from McDavid at the bottom of the right face-off circle and put a one-timer behind Lankinen’s glove for his 800th NHL point.
McDavid pushed the lead to 3-0 at 9:12 of the third period. He picked up a rebound on his way behind the net and banked the puck in off Lankinen from below the goal line.
NSH@EDM: McDavid scores his 20th goal of the season in 3rd
Sissons cut it to 3-1 at 13:25. Luke Evangelista fed him from behind the net, and the puck bounced off of a couple of bodies before Sissons put it past Skinner.
The goal ended the Oilers shutout streak at 157:59.
Hyman scored into an empty net with 3:19 remaining for the 4-1 final.
“We obviously know what kind of team they are,” Predators forward Filip Forsberg said. “It doesn’t matter if they’ve won 16 or lost a bunch like they did earlier in the season when we played them. We know the firepower they have and we know how to beat them, and I thought we did about everything we could except score goals.
“And that’s the game of hockey.”
Corey Perry made his Oilers debut, finishing with two shots on goal in 12:44 of ice time after signing a one-year, $775,000 contract Monday. The 38-year-old forward hadn’t played since Nov. 19 with the Chicago Blackhawks, who announced on Nov. 28 they were terminating his contract after an internal investigation determined he had "engaged in conduct that is unacceptable and in violation of both the terms of his standard players contract and the Blackhawks' internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments."
On Nov. 30, Perry announced he was seeking treatment for mental health issues and his struggles with alcohol.
Perry, who played on the third line with Dylan Holloway and Ryan McLeod, said the fans made him feel comfortable.
“It is nice. I heard it during the national anthem,” he said. “It has been like that all week. It has been a warm welcome. I am excited to be here.”
He wasted no time getting into the faces of Nashville players.
“That’s the game he’s going to bring,” McDavid said. “Hard-nosed, gets himself to the net, keeps pucks alive. I thought he was really good for having some time off. I thought he looked real good, dangerous, made some plays. I thought that whole line played really well.”
NOTES: The Oilers have not allowed more than two goals in their past 14 games and have outscored the opposition 61-24 during the winning streak … Nugent-Hopkins passed Glenn Anderson for fourth on the Edmonton games-played list (846). He is five behind Mark Messier for third. … McDavid has an 18-game home point streak (38 points; 11 goals, 27 assists) for the second time in his NHL career. … Draisaitl has 801 points (329 goals, 472 assists) in 683 games, all with the Oilers.
