GAME RECAP: Oilers 5, Coyotes 3

GLENDALE, AZ - Three out of four ain't bad.
The Oilers have now collected six of a possible eight points in their last four games thanks to a 5-3 victory over the Coyotes on Wednesday on the second stop of their three-game road trip.
Edmonton's revamped top line of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zack Kassian combined for 11 points in the win, with McDavid and Draisaitl scoring twice and Kassian tallying once.

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FIRST BLOOD

For the ninth time in the last 10 games, the Oilers surrendered the game's opening goal as Clayton Keller claimed a 1-0 lead for the Coyotes 3:45 into the first period. Edmonton was pressing in the offensive zone but got caught with four players in deep when Arizona regained possession. On the odd-man rush up ice, Phil Kessel drew Philip Broberg to him and sent Keller in alone on Mikko Koskinen for a backhand deke just under the crossbar for his fifth of the season.

PLAY OF THE GAME

The NHL's leading goal scorer added another to his tally midway through the second period with an impressive display of awareness and release. After a Cody Ceci blast from the point struck Kassian in front of the Arizona net, Draisaitl pounced on the loose puck, recognized goaltender Scott Wedgewood was out of position and sent a blistering snapshot inside the near post for his 19th of the season.

SAVE OF THE GAME

Wedgewood was able to keep the Coyotes within a goal late in the second period thanks to an outstanding glove save on Kassian. Draisaitl made a perfect pass up to McDavid in the neutral zone to spring the captain and Kassian in on a two-on-one rush. McDavid waited until the last second to pass to Kassian on the doorstep but Wedgewood made a glove save to keep it 2-1 Edmonton with 3:47 to go in the frame.

TURNING POINT

The Oilers took a slim 2-1 lead into the final frame but Kassian's goal at the 7:45 mark of the period all but sealed the win for the visitors despite the slightly chaotic finish. The usual suspects struck again as McDavid sent Draisaitl cutting down the right wing and the German phenom found Kassian with a seeing-eye pass through traffic in front for a one-timer past a helpless Wedgewood. The secondary assist for McDavid was the 400th helper of his career in 426 games, fourth fastest in NHL history.

TOP PERFORMER

Draisaitl was an absolute force to be reckoned with throughout the game, scoring his NHL-leading 19th and 20th goals, adding two assists to give him an NHL-best 40 points, and crushing several Coyotes with some physical play particularly in the first period. He became the first Oilers player not named Wayne Gretzky to score 40 points in the team's first 19 games of the season. The Great One's 40 points in 16 games in 1983-84 is the franchise record.

PARTING WORDS

Draisaitl on his and McDavid's chemistry with Kassian:
"He knows how to play with good players. He reads the game really well. Big body, goes to the net. He knows where to go to be efffective and give us the room we need to make plays or create something. We love playing with him. He's a great player and he had a big night tonight."
Tyson Barrie on the blueliners battling through injuries to Nurse, Keith and Koekkoek:
"You never want to face injury trouble, especially to key guys, but I think guys are doing a good job stepping up. Some young guys are getting a chance to step in and play big minutes and they're playing well for us."

Head Coach Dave Tippett on McDavid's power-play goal kick-starting the offence:
"The power play gives you momentum but you get momentum by working. Winning races, winning puck battles, stuff like that. We were a little slow the first few shifts and then we got going. The power play got us revved up a little bit and we were better the rest of the game."
Coach Tippett on having McDavid and Draisaitl as the nucleus of the team:
"They're really good players and we have to continue to build our team around them. A lot of nights they'll do their part, but we've got to continue building our team game. They want to be part of a winning team. They do what they do, but we need to make sure we're playing the right way with everybody, them included, to give ourselves a chance to win every night."