Recap: McDavid Scores Twice, Leads Oilers to Win Over Coyotes

GLENDALE -- The Coyotes began 2019 the same way they ended 2018: by scoring just one goal in a home loss to a Pacific Division rival.
Connor McDavid notched two goals and one assist to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a 3-1 victory over Arizona on Wednesday night at Gila River Arena. The defeat followed Arizona's 5-1 loss to Vegas on Sunday night.

"We played hard," Head Coach Rick Tocchet said. "(The players) brought energy tonight. I'm glad after that third period against Vegas. I liked the way we responded. Obviously I don't like the result, but I do like the way they responded ... If we came out tonight and had a stinker and no effort, I'd be like, 'Oh my God, this team's in trouble.' But we did work hard."

The Coyotes led 1-0 after one period, but the Oliers scored twice in the second period, and McDavid added an empty-net goal within the game's final minute to secure the win.
"I don't think we gave them a lot," Tocchet said. "They didn't even have a (scoring) chance in the third except the empty net. We talked about Connor McDavid. He was the difference."
McDavid scored the game-winning goal with 6:17 left in the second period with a nifty backhanded shot on a breakaway that went between rookie goalie Adin Hill's legs.
"I thought I played OK," said Hill, who made 21 saves in his 10th start of the season. "(I) made a couple good saves, but I think I've got to save that second goal by McDavid. They scored a few minutes before that to tie up the game, and I've got to keep it at a tie there."
Leon Draisaitl pulled Edmonton into a 1-1 tie when he redirected a shot by Adam Larsson through Hill's legs at 2:29 of the second period.
• Brad Richardson returned to the lineup after missing three games because of the flu. Although not playing at 100 percent healthy, Richardson made an impact by scoring Arizona's lone goal at 12:08 of the first period. Stationed at the top of the crease, Richardson defelected a shot by Richard Panik past Oilers goalie Mikko Koskinen for his team-leading 11th goal of the season.
Richardson took a team-high five shots and skated 18:34 in a game he probably should have watched from home.

"I can't wait to get to bed," Richardson said afterward. "I don't think I left bed for five straight days. My parents are visiting, and when you have to go and wake up your mom, you know it's bad. She took care of me ... it was pretty brutal, but I'm coming around."
Like Tocchet, Richardson was pleased with Arizona's effort but displeased by the result.
"It was better, but it still wasn't good enough," Richardson said. "We had lots of shots ... we just have to find a way (to score). They'd lost six in a row coming in, and I think it was a team we could beat. It's disappointing."

• The Coyotes played minus center Nick Schmaltz (lower-body injury) and Alex Goligoski (illness). They joined regulars Antti Raanta, Michael Grabner, Jason Demers and Christian Dvorak as non-healthy spectators.
"It's tough," Tocchet said. "We're a little challenged right now (by injuries) ... This is the world that you live in. This is important. I've got to show leadership. We can't hang our head. We've got guys playing out of position, we know it. Fourth-line guys are playing higher than they should, but it's opportunity. Guys have a chance to play in certain situations. It's only going to help their career, I think. And it's how you deal with it. And it's how the coaching staff deals with it."
• Stats that jump off the Event Summary: Vinnie Hinostroza took four shots on goal, Alex Galchenyuk won five of six face-offs and Lawson Crouse delivered seven hits and blocked three shots.