Nugent-Hopkins, Letestu each score twice as Oilers defeat Blues 6-4

Thursday, 03.17.2016 / 12:35 AM The Canadian Press

EDMONTON - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Mark Letestu each scored a pair of goals as the Edmonton Oilers snapped a two-game losing skid, holding on for a 6-4 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.

Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl also scored for the Oilers (28-38-7), who have won six of their last 10 games.

David Backes scored twice, and Jaden Schwartz and Patrik Berglund also replied for the Blues (41-22-9), who have lost two straight on the heels of a six-game win streak.

Edmonton took the lead eight minutes into the first with a rare power play goal, just their second in the last 33 attempts. Patrick Maroon chipped a rebound out in front to Nugent-Hopkins, who sent his ninth of the season past Blues starter Jake Allen.

The Oilers went up 2-0 with six-and-a-half minutes remaining in the opening frame as a big rebound came out to Hall, who beat a diving Allen.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Backes beat Oilers goalie Cam Talbot with a shot to the top corner just 45 seconds later.

The Blues tied the game six minutes into the second period as Schwartz tipped a Joel Edmundson shot into the net.

Edmonton got another power play goal a couple minutes later as Letestu scored on his own rebound.

The Oilers had what looked to be another power play goal by Draisaitl called back on a coach's challenge for being offside, but Connor McDavid fed him again to get the goal back later in the man advantage.

The Oilers got a fourth power play goal to make it 5-2 with two minutes left in the second period as Nugent-Hopkins beat Allen with a quick wrist shot for his second of the game.

St. Louis got a power-play goal early in the third as Berglund fought off a defender to bang in a rebound in tight.

The Blues battled back to 5-4 six minutes into the third as Backes blew a cannon of a shot past Talbot.

Letestu scored into an empty net to cap the scoring.

The Oilers next play host to the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.

Notes - The Blues had already defeated the Oilers twice this season and came into the game seeking a ninth straight win against Edmonton. The Blues were 13-1-0 in their past 14 games against the Oilers.

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