COLUMBUS, Ohio – By the time the third period face-off happened Tuesday night, the match was basically over as the Edmonton Oilers held a 5-0 lead over the Blue Jackets; the two clubs then traded goals in the third to make the final, 7-2.
Seven different skaters scored for the Oilers.
Connor McDavid had a big night with a goal and four points in the win.
“We were able to roll four lines,” McDavid said. “The specialty teams got going, power play especially. The penalty kill was pretty good too.”
Matt Benning, Mark Letestu, Jesse Puljujarvi Zack Kassian, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Milan Lucic all had goals in the win.
“We’re finding ourselves,” Letestu said. “We found early in the year we didn’t have a lot throughout the lineup. Now we’re deep.
“The special teams have obviously come around the last little bit here. The penalty kill is providing some offense and the power play is getting it going.”
Oliver Bjorkstrand and Jack Johnson scored for the Jackets.
“We gave them opportunities,” Johnson said. “They had odd-man rushes and they had empty nets to put them in. The most frustrating part is we didn’t give our goalies a chance.”
Laurent Brossoit made 28 saves to get the win; he also got in on the scoring as nearly everyone on the Oilers bench seemed with an assist.
“It’s coming together a little bit more for us offensively. The power play woke up on this trip. Maybe it’s our time right now. You go through dry spells and sometimes you score a lot. Right now, we’re finding the net,” Oilers head coach Todd McLellan said after the win.
[WATCH:Â All Oilers vs. Blue Jackets highlights]
Sergei Bobrovsky got the start for Columbus and yielded five goals and made 21 saves before being given the hook at the second intermission.
Joonas Korpisalo mopped up and made 10 saves over the final 20 minutes.
To say Columbus head coach John Tortorella was angry after the loss, would be an understatement.
“Listen guys, I know you have a job to do. I’m not answering any questions tonight,” Tortorella said. “There’s no sense in me even trying to answer questions about this evening. So, sorry about that. Have a good night.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.