Zach Hyman netted a hat trick and Connor McDavid collected four assists to lead the host Edmonton Oilers to a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.
Mattias Ekholm also scored for the Oilers, who are on a 5-2-2 run after struggling to find momentum through the first two months of the season.
Goaltender Stuart Skinner made 27 saves. Edmonton jumped into the Western Conference’s first wild-card spot and now heads out on a five-game road trip.
Leon Draisaitl collected two assists.
It is the 43rd time McDavid has recorded a four-point game. The Oilers captain has netted five goals and seven assists in a four-game point spree.
Simon Edvinsson scored for the Red Wings, who saw their three-game winning streak snapped and lost in regulation for the first time in seven games.
Goalie Cam Talbot stopped 25 shots.
Hyman’s power-play goal opened the scoring at 14:25 of the clash. McDavid was in a position to shoot, but waited for an opening to slip a short pass to Hyman at the edge of the crease for the easy re-direct.
Ekholm doubled the lead by unloading a rocket of a point shot set up by a drop pass at 2:46 of the second period.
Edvinsson provided a much-needed jolt for the Red Wings three minutes later by finishing an odd-man rush with a tally that put them on the board.
However, Hyman restored Edmonton’s two-goal edge before the second intermission. He was parked in the low slot when McDavid from deep in the zone back-handed a pass between his own legs to Hyman, who quickly battled a one-timer at 17:48 of the middle frame.
Hyman recorded his sixth career hat trick by hitting the empty net with 77 seconds remaining on the clock.
Detroit has one more game remaining on its six-game road swing, Saturday in Chicago.
–Field Level Media
