Leon Draisaitl scored twice in a three-point performance and Connor McDavid added a trio of helpers to lead the host Edmonton Oilers to a 4-2 victory over the league cellar-dwelling Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
Mattias Ekholm and Jason Dickinson also scored for the Oilers, who snapped a modest two-game skid and sit atop the Pacific Division.
Goaltender Devon Levi made 20 saves in his return to action after missing seven games due to an undisclosed injury.
McDavid extended his assist streak to 18 games, tying him with Adam Oates (1992-93 season) for the second-longest spree in league history, behind Wayne Gretzky’s mark of 23 set in 1990-91.
McDavid, the league’s points leader, has amassed 47 points (10 goals, 37 assists) while hitting the scoresheet in every contest this season.
Max Sasson and Brock Boeser replied for the Canucks, who have lost five straight games and have managed only one victory in their last 16 clashes (1-14-1).
Goalie Leevi Merilainen stopped 26 shots.
Ekholm opened the scoring before the midway point of the first period when he moved into the right circle and unloaded a one-timer from the dot.
Despite Edmonton controlling the bulk of the opening frame, Sasson tied the clash by netting a deflection tally with 8.7 seconds remaining in the opening frame.
Dickinson restored the Edmonton lead 49 seconds into the third period, sending home the second rebound chance.
Draisaitl extended the lead to 3-1 with a one-timer from his usual spot, the bottom of the right circle, for the power-play goal at 4:00 of the final frame. The Oilers have scored on the power play in 11 consecutive games.
Boeser made it a one-goal game with a deflection tally with the goalie pulled for the extra attacker with 2:35 remaining in regulation.
However, Draisaitl iced the game with an empty-net goal in the final minute.
Edmonton veteran forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins left the game early in the second period after he was hit in the face by a puck shot by teammate Ryan Shea.
–Field Level Media
