GAME RECAP: Oilers 3, Ducks 1

ANAHEIM, CA - Welcome to the 100-point club, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Nugent-Hopkins collected an assist on Zach Hyman's empty-net goal in the final two minutes of Wednesday's 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks, sealing the first 100-point season of his career and becoming the third Oilers player this campaign to reach the century mark for points.
"I'm happy it went in, but definitely just happy that we got the win tonight," Nugent-Hopkins said. " It was a hard-fought battle. I thought they played well, we stuck with it and Soup made some unbelievable saves for us, so just happy to get the win.
The Oilers are the 14th team in NHL history to have at least three players with 100 points and the first to do it since 1995-96 when the Pittsburgh Penguins accomplished the feat through Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr & Ron Francis.
"I think it's pretty special," Nugent-Hopkins said. "Connor and Leon do it every single year. Just incredible players and incredible teammates, but for them to do what they do every year consistently is something that you don't see too often. For myself personally, I just try to help out when I can and I'm happy to be a part of this group."
Jack Campbell made it back-to-back strong performances with 27 saves, extending Edmonton's success in the crease over their last 12 periods to only two goals against.
Klim Kostin recorded a goal and assist in his 100th NHL game to provide some important depth scoring from the third line alongside Nick Bjugstad, whose fourth tally as an Oiler went down as the game-winner after Troy Terry made it 2-1 in the opening five minutes of the third period.
With their sixth straight victory, the Oilers moved to within a point of the Vegas Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division heading into Saturday's afternoon matchup with the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center.

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SAVE OF THE GAME

After contributing a shutout to a scoreless streak of 171:58 by the Oilers netminders that came to an end in Tuesday's win over LA, Campbell carried that momentum into a poised performance tonight.
The lowly Ducks, who own the NHL's worst record but the best odds (25.5 percent) to win the Draft Lottery and select Connor Bedard first overall, proved to be a tough out for the Blue & Orange by keeping things scoreless through the midpoint of the contest and keeping the Oilers on their heels all night.
Campbell came up with an important glove save on Isac Lundestrom by protecting the post with 13:18 to go in the second period after Cam Fowler's spin-around keep-in at the blue line got through to Terry, who set up Lundestrom at the opposite post for a dangerous chance but couldn't get it past the outstretched leather of the Oilers goaltender.
After Wednesday's victory, Campbell and Skinner have now combined to stop 126-of-128 shots sent their way over the last four games -- all of which have been victories for the Oilers.
"We couldn't be happier for Jack because he works and he's a great teammate," Woodcroft said. "For Jack to give up one goal in his last two games, that's a credit to him and all the work that he's putting in."

FIRST BLOOD

Scoreless past the midway point of the second period, Kostin made the 100th game of his NHL career one to remember by scoring the go-ahead goal in exciting fashion.
The Russian had a pass poked to him at the blue line by Vincent Desharnais before he flew in formation into the middle of Anaheim's zone alongside Mattias Janmark, who briefly took the puck off Kostin before kicking it back across for a quick one-timer.

With Bjugstad parked in front and Kostin, the 23-year-old put his shot through the legs of his linemate and under the left arm of Lukas Dostal for his 11th goal of the season and first in 13 games during his centennial appearance in the NHL.
"100 NHL games, I'm happy to share this moment with my team and my friends. It's a big moment for me," Kostin said.
Kostin would be back on the scoresheet just a shift later to help double Edmonton's lead over the bottom-dwelling Ducks.

BJUGSTAD PADS THE LEAD

The Oilers third line of Janmark, Bjugstad and Kostin came to play.
On their next shift after scoring the opening goall, the trio was back chipping in some critical depth scoring when Kostin turned provider from behind the Anaheim net to set up Bjugstad at the doorstep, who snuck Edmonton's second of the game under the left wing of Dostal just over three minutes after the Oilers delivered the game's first tally.
"Every NHL game, every team is hard to play against," Kostin said. "Last game was kind of playoff game. Sometimes the game goes not the way our top guys want, so we've got to step up and help them. That's what we did today."

DON'T DUCK AWAY

It was quite clear the Ducks weren't going to go quietly.
Anaheim was always in the game even after falling behind 2-0 in the middle frame, and it was well and truly on when Terry tabbed the second goal against an Edmonton netminder in their last 12 periods just before the five-minute mark of the final period.
"We had a hard-fought win last night against a team we're battling for the standings," Campbell said. "Anaheim came out and played well. They've got some young skill and stuck to their game plan, but we just stuck to ours and ended up getting a nice two points."
Terry was sorely missed on Anaheim's last road trip that swung through Edmonton and included a 6-0 loss at Rogers Place. You could see the forward's value to the struggling franchise with over 15 minutes to play. when he unleashed an unstoppable wrister over the left shoulder of Campbell to cut the lead to 2-1.
Game on.

RYAN NUGENT-HUNDRED

There was only one man the Oilers were concerned with getting the puck to with the net empty.
"That was incredible," Campbell said. "I think it was the most electric empty netter I've been a part of, and it was pretty cool."
With the Ducks pulling Dostal for the extra attacker with two minutes remaining and Edmonton heading up the ice on an odd-man advantage, all avenues to the empty net led through Nugent-Hopkins as both McDavid and Hyman looked to get the puck to No. 93, who was on the verge of his first 100-point season coming into tonight.
"Connor picked it up and I kind of saw him scan the ice looking for me," Nugent-Hopkins said.

The puck was kicked wide to Nugent-Hopkins before it was graciously returned to McDavid, who slid it across to Hyman for the empty-netter that sealed the two points for Edmonton and the the 100th point of the season for 'Nuuuuuuuuuuuuge!'
"I never really thought I'd get to it to be honest, but I'm definitely proud to be able to do it with this group," Nugent-Hopkins, a former first-overall pick by the Oilers in 2011, said. "I get to play with some amazing players all throughout the lineup. We have such a good team in here and we've got steps that we want to keep taking, but definitely just proud to do something like this with this group."
Nugent-Hopkins' pursuit of his first 100-point season has been a major rallying event for this team and its fans getting to watch the club icon earn the accomplishment after 12 seasons in Blue & Orange where he'd experienced every up and down imaginable.

"I feel like I got 100 points, actually," Kostin said, summarizing the sensation on the bench of watching Nuge put up his 100th point. "I'm so happy for him. He's he's great guy, great teammate and great person."
"Talk about someone who's popular in our city, popular in the organization, and certainly popular with the players and the coaches," Woodcroft added. "To see someone like that hit a milestone of that magnitude is very exciting for everybody."
After the game, the achievement drew its biggest roars in the Oilers dressing room where players, coaches and staff showed their appreciation for Nuge's ability and everything he's given to Oil Country.
"I think our team wanted to show Ryan how important he is to the team and how happy everyone was for him that he hit that personal milestone today," Woodcroft said.

PARTING WORDS

Nugent-Hopkins on the Oilers staying composed despite the 0-0 score past the halfway mark:
"I think even the way that we played [in LA], I think it's a good sign for our group. We're not getting frustrated with these tight-checking games and not trying to force things. When you try to force things, every team has skill and they can make you pay for that. So I think we've matured as a group in here and been able to find ways to win in every situation."
Campbell on Nugent-Hopkins' push for 100 points being a team-building experience:
"It definitely builds that chemistry. I think just him being that kind of guy already builds that chemistry all year long and throughout his whole career here with the people that have been in here a long time. So even us guys that just came in this year, you can see how much he means to the whole group and it's really special to see him accomplish something so significant."
Campbell on what he's learned about himself over a challenging season:
"It's humbling for sure, especially when I expect to play the way I do, but you learn a lot about yourself, I guess. You don't really want to go through it quite as long as I did, but I'm definitely feeling great right now and just want to keep that feeling going."
Woodcroft on Nugent-Hopkins' achievement:
"I can tell you that I've seen a lot of growth in his game this year, not just in the points. Getting to 100 points is so special, but just he's used in every situation and he flies a little bit under the radar because we have some other special players here as well. But you know what? He's certainly appreciated by his coaching staff and his teammates because he's a winner. He does a lot of little things that go into team wins, and we're lucky that we have him on our team."