Evander Kane scored in his first game with the Edmonton Oilers, who pounded the Montreal Canadiens 7-2 Saturday night.
“It’s nice to contribute on a new team coming in,” Kane said after the game. “You want to show what you can do and, obviously, it was great to get the boys on the board early and everyone kind of took-off after that.”
The Oilers have won four in a row.
It took Kane less than nine minutes to hit the scoresheet. He made it 1-0 when he deflected Evan Bouchard’s point shot past Sam Montembault 8:39 into the first. Zach Hyman tipped in a Kris Russell shot, then Leon Draisaitl potted his 30th of the season, giving the Oilers three goals in 1:47.
“We got out and got a lead in that game; first time in a long time,” head coach Dave Tippett said. “Our guys were excited about that. Kane got on the board early. Hyman and Nuge and Kassian were real strong, so all-in-all a pretty good team effort and good to get the first one on a road trip.”
The Canadiens had seven shots on goal in the first four minutes of the third and got on the board thanks to Josh Anderson. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Hyman scored to put the Oilers up 5-1. With Zack Kassian in the penalty box, Tyler Toffoli scored three seconds into the Montreal power play. Draisaitl replied 24 seconds later, giving the Oilers three goals on six shots in the period.
Cayden Primeau replaced Montembault to start the third. Derek Ryan beat him in the final minute of the game for the only goal of the third.
Russell played his 900th NHL game. Stuart Skinner made 21 saves for his fifth win of the season. Hyman had two goals and an assist.
“I thought all the lines played really well; played hard — we were rolling,” Hyman said. “And when you’re able to roll four lines, like I said earlier, it’s dangerous.”
The Oilers, 22-16-2, will play in Ottawa on Monday (630 CHED, Face-off Show 4 p.m., game at 5:30 p.m.).