McDavid extends point streak to 16, Oilers top Jets in shootout

EDMONTON --Connor McDavid scored to extend his season-opening point streak to 16 games, and the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in a shootout at Rogers Place on Thursday.

Stuart Skinner made 46 saves for Edmonton (12-4-0), which was coming off a 5-2 loss at Winnipeg on Tuesday.
"It was an exciting game," Skinner said. "It was a hard-fought battle all night between both teams. It was a hard-fought win. It was huge getting [McDavid's] goal to tie it up, and then the kill in overtime really got us the momentum going into the shootout and we were able to capitalize. It was huge that we got the win."
Nikolaj Ehlers scored, and Connor Hellebuyck made 31 saves for Winnipeg (9-3-4), which had won three straight but is 3-0-2 in a five-game point streak.
"It was a good game, it was a [heck] of a game," Jets coach Paul Maurice said. "It had all the right elements for hockey. It had a little bit of physicality and it had lots of skill and lots of smart, hard play. It was a heck of a game. I really enjoyed that one."
Ehlers gave the Jets a 1-0 lead at 13:57 of the third period with a one-timer after taking a drop pass from Mark Scheifele.
"We didn't give them too much throughout most of that game … we liked a lot of our game," Winnipeg forward Kyle Connor said. "I think we could have buried a couple more chances. Their goalie played well and I think [Hellebuyck] played well, too. I think it was a really good game; it was back and forth. I think if we keep playing that game, nine times out of 10, we win, so we're happy with that."

McDavid scored 28 seconds after Ehlers to tie it 1-1, puck-handling through three Jets players before shooting the puck past Hellebuyck's blocker. McDavid has scored 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) during his point streak.
"He's a pretty special player," Oilers coach Dave Tippett said. "You could put him in with a handful of guys in the League that are dominant like that. I was fortunate to play a year with Mario Lemieux (1992-93) and saw some things like that out of him. But he's a special player, he can make something out of nothing.
"The thing that makes it unbelievable is the timing that he does it. Two of those highlight goals this year are ultimately important goals. That's just what he does."

McDavid was assessed a double-minor for high-sticking Scheifele at 19:16 of the third period, but Skinner made two saves before the end of regulation and eight more in overtime to force a shootout.
"I thought both teams were really good," Hellebuyck said. "I don't think it was just a goaltender battle. I think every person on both teams was playing well. It almost had that playoff vibe to it, and it was a grinder, two good teams going at it."
Hellebuyck stopped Leon Draisaitl in the shootout before McDavid and Kyle Turris scored for the Oilers. Skinner stopped Connor and Scheifele.
"I just try to chip in where I can and contribute," Turris said. "Everyone has a role on the team. I'm just trying to help out. It's nice to have the vote of confidence to shoot third tonight. I work with Dustin Schwartz, the goalie coach, and we talk about shootouts often. We work on them quite a bit and watch video before every game. It's something I take seriously and take pride in."
NOTES:Oilers defenseman Slater Koekkoek sustained a lower-body injury in the first period. He returned briefly for the start of the second period but left shortly after for the remainder of the game.