Ryan McLeod had two goals and an assist for his first career three-point game as the Edmonton Oilers blasted the Arizona Coyotes 6-1 Monday night at Rogers Place.
The Oilers, who have won seven straight at home, scored on their first shot of the night just past the four-minute mark. Oilers captain Connor McDavid showed exquisite patience in front and lifted a backhand past Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka for his 36th goal of the season.
Ryan McLeod made it 2-0 when his pass from behind the net banked in off Vejmelka.
“Everyone was pretty frustrated, and we came out pretty motivated,” McLeod said after the game, referring to the Oilers’ 9-5 loss to the Calgary Flames over the weekend.
“It was good to see a response and it’s a good test down the stretch for us.”
The Coyotes got one back on the power play. Clayton Keller’s pass ticked off an Oilers defender and eluded Edmonton netminder Mikko Koskinen.
The Oilers poured it on in the second. McLeod split the defence and put a backhand under Vejmelka for a power-play goal. Warren Foegele banged in a Tyson Barrie rebound for his ninth and then Zack Hyman made it 5-1 with his 22nd.
Koskinen did his part with by extending his left leg for a great save off Keller.
Oilers forward Evander Kane had his name all over the scoresheet. He took a coincidental penalty with Dyson Mayo in the final minute of the second. In the third, he was slapped with three minors in the first seven minutes.
Oilers winger Jesse Puljujarvi set up Leon Draisaitl for a tap-in with just over 10 minutes to go. It was Draisaitl’s 48th goal of the season.
“It’s a full credit for the players in our dressing room for honestly looking at their own personal games — at our team game — and trying to serve us well down the stretch,” Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft said.
McDavid stretched his point streak to 10 games. Puljujarvi had two assists.
The Oilers (37-25-5) will host the L.A. Kings on Wednesday.
–With files from James Dunn, 630 CHED
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