EDMONTON — Matt Hendricks scored the winner on a late penalty shot and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a pair of assists as the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 on Wednesday to remain perfect in pre-season play.
Justin Schultz and Jordan Eberle also scored for the Oilers, who are 3-0-0 in exhibition action.
Ben Chiarot and Adam Lowry replied for the Jets (0-1-1), who dressed a lineup largely devoid of veteran players.
Edmonton struck first on a two-man advantage as Nugent-Hopkins spotted Schultz pinching in and he blasted his second of the pre-season past Winnipeg goalie Michael Hutchinson.
Oilers starter Cam Talbot turned aside 16 shots in the opening period.
The shots favoured the Jets 24-22 after a scoreless second period.
Eric Comrie replaced Hutchinson in the third.
Edmonton made it 2-0 early in the third period with another power-play goal as the rebound off a Benoit Pouliot tip was picked up by Eberle and sent into the net.
Winnipeg got back to within a goal five minutes into the third as a Chiarot point shot seemed to tip off an Oiler defender and past Talbot.
The Jets managed to tie the game 11 minutes into the third as Lowry sent a wrist shot over Talbot’s shoulder from the top of the circle.
With 2:12 remaining in the third, Hendricks was hauled down by Adam Pardy on a short-handed breakaway and was awarded a penalty shot. Hendricks had a somewhat sloppy attempt, but was able to outwait Comrie and slide it into the net for the victory.
The Oilers and Jets will face off again in Winnipeg on Friday.
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