The Edmonton Oilers scored three goals in a span of 2:03 in the third period to register a 6-3 win over the Arizona Coyotes Monday afternoon.
It took the Oilers only 2:12 to take the lead. Leon Draisaitl launched a power play shot over the right shoulder of Matt Villalta, who was making his first NHL start. Nick Bjugstad wired a shot off Stuart Skinner’s mask to tie it two minutes later. The Oilers quickly regained the lead when Mattias Janmark earned his first goal since Nov. 28, when he had Brett Kulak’s point shot go in off his body.
Clayton Keller blasted in a power play one-timer to make it 2-2 early in the second. Bjugstad struck again with 9:08 left in the second, coming down the right wing and snapping a shot inside the far post.
With a delayed penalty coming to Arizona in the third, Evander Kane popped a shot under the crossbar for his 20th of the season. Just 26 seconds later, Zach Hyman tallied his 33rd by deftly deflecting Mattias Ekholm’s point shot. Then Kane struck again when Ryan McLeod’s shot went in off his leg.
“We were a little slow in the second period and spent a little too much time in our own end. In order to win the hockey game we knew we had to come out and play in their end,” Kane said. “I thought we did a great job of getting on top of them a little quicker and being a little more connected on the forecheck and it led us to some scoring opportunities.”
Warren Foegele added an empty netter.
“We came out ready to play in the third period,” head coach Kris Knoblauch said. “I thought our level of urgency was a little bit higher in the third period and it paid off.”
Skinner earned the win with 22 saves.
The Coyotes are winless in 10 games (0-9-1).
The Oilers (33-18-1) will host the Boston Bruins on Wednesday (630 CHED, Face-off Show at 6:30 p.m., game at 8 p.m.).