Ryan Nugent-Hopkins tied a career high with five points (one goal, four assists) as the Edmonton Oilers pounded the Vegas Golden Knights 7-4 in Sin City on Tuesday night.
“He doesn’t get nearly enough recognition that he deserves”, Leon Draisaitl on Nugent-Hopkins. “The things he does are so subtle and most people don’t realize what he does out there. He’s just a phenomenal hockey player.”
“Offensively, our team’s been clicking all year. I think when you have team success, individual success follows us sometimes,” Nugent-Hopkins said on his success this year.
The teams combined for five goals in the first ten minutes of the game.
Jonathan Marchessault found himself alone in front and beat Stuart Skinner on the Golden Knights’ first shot, just 1:12 after the opening face-off.
Evan Bouchard ripped in a power play goal 37 seconds later.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins stole the puck and wired his 35th past Jonathan Quick to make it 2-1 Oilers.
“I see a strong, two way versatility to Ryan”, head coach Jay Woodcroft on Nugent-Hopkins performance. “I move him all over the lineup, he plays in every situation. Never complains, just does whatever the coaching staff or his teammates ask of him. He’s finding the offensive groove this year.”
William Karlsson tied it on a shorthanded breakaway. Leon Draisaitl came right back with a power play goal 24 seconds later.
Michael Amadio made it 3-3 with a goal early in the second, but the Oilers dominated after that. Darnell Nurse beat Quick with a slapper from a sharp angle.
Evander Kane scored off the rush for his 300th career goal.
“I thought we responded really quick, and really did a good job of limiting their chances”, Kane said. “We got pucks to the net and when you do that things come off of that and you’re able to make plays.”
Zach Hyman converted on the power play to make it 6-3 for the Oilers, who outshot Vegas 21-6 in the period.
Laurent Brossoit replaced Quick to start the third. Brett Kulak came out of the penalty box and beat Brossoit over the blocker for his third. Marchessault scored a late goal for Vegas.
Connor McDavid had three assists to get to 143 points. Kane had eleven shots on goal.
Skinner made 18 saves for his 22nd win.
Nugent-Hopkins had five assists in a 9-2 win victory against Chicago on Nov. 19, 2011.
“I don’t think we’re anywhere near our potential just yet. I think we’re working towards that. We’re building towards peaking at the right time which is in about three weeks”, Woodcroft said.
The Oilers, 43-23-9, will host the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday (630 CHED Face-off Show at 5:30 p.m., game at 7 p.m.)