Connor McDavid will aim to extend his point streak while also trying to get his team back in the win column when the Edmonton Oilers host the New York Islanders on Thursday.
The Oilers captain tallied two assists his last time out for 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) in 20 games, which is his longest personal point streak and the NHL’s longest streak this season.
Unfortunately for the Oilers, however, a slow start overshadowed No. 97’s record as Edmonton fell 4-3 in overtime to the host Nashville Predators on Thursday. Zach Hyman scored two goals and Leon Draisaitl tallied a goal and two assists, but it was Predators captain Roman Josi who buried the game-winning goal at 3:43 of overtime.
“I think we got off to a slow start and looked like we were a step behind,” Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said. “They looked a lot fresher and a little faster than us tonight. We just wanted to be easy. I know there were a lot of turnovers, which allowed them to get the puck and counter on us where we had to defend.”
There were some positives for Edmonton, however, since they got a few injured players back. That included netminder Tristan Jarry, who made 23 saves after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury.
“I think we’re coming along,” Hyman said postgame. “I think we have another level to get to. We’ve got some guys returning from injury, obviously, which is a great sign. I thought it was a good first game for them. I thought (Jarry) was outstanding, earning us the extra point.”
Luckily for the Oilers, they play nine of their next 11 games before the Olympic break at home, where they are 11-5-4. This could be unlucky for the Islanders, who are three games into a seven-game road trip and have lost twice.
That includes a 5-4 setback against the Jets in Winnipeg on Tuesday. Emil Heineman, Anthony Duclair, Kyle MacLean and Matthew Schaefer scored for the Isles, who rallied for three second-period goals within 2:41 to dig out of a 3-0 hole. MacLean tied the game 3-3 at 10:21 of the second frame, but Dylan DeMelo put Winnipeg back ahead two minutes later.
Ilya Sorokin made 17 saves on 22 shots for the Islanders.
“It felt like the game we expected tonight,” forward Anders Lee said. “I think we knew that this Winnipeg team is much better than where they are right now and can easily put a big push in. So, we had a big task at hand, and I think their skill was evident tonight. And more than anything, they worked for their goals tonight, and that was a big difference.”
Thursday’s game marks the second and final time the Oilers and Islanders will face each other this season. The Islanders won the first meeting in New York 4-2 on Oct. 16.
–Field Level Media
