EDMONTON, Alta. (AP) — Zach Hyman had a goal and two assists as the Edmonton Oilers beat the Seattle Kraken 5-2 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight win.
Connor McDavid, Derek Ryan, Warren Foegele and Ryan McLeod also scored for the Oilers (25-18-3), which won only the second time in their last eight home games. Jack Campbell made 29 saves.
“We’re more happy with the way we’re playing, I think that’s key,” said Hyman, who has a career-high 29 assists.
“We’re playing the right way. We’re playing strong, mature third periods. That’s the key, playing our game and making sure we make it difficult for the other guys on the other side, and understanding the type game you’re in when you’re standing up. I think that’s really encouraging.”
McDavid leads the NHL with 38 goals. He extended his point streak to eight games and has at least one point in 25 of his last 26 games.
Daniel Sprong and Vince Dunn each scored a goal for the Kraken (26-14-4), who have lost two in a row after an eight-game winning streak.
“We spoke before the game – it’s a big game. We needed those two points. So it’s really disappointing not to get a result,” Dunn said.
“We had a good run, we let two games slip by. We have to go home and go back to work.
Seattle took a 1-0 lead 3:11 into the opening period of the power play as Sprong’s shot hit a defender and deflected past Campbell, who was making his fourth straight start. It was Sprong’s 15th of the season.
Edmonton tied the game with 5:52 left in the first period as McDavid moved coast to coast, taking on four defensemen and dancing past a few of them before unleashing a shot with his left foot which thwarted goalkeeper Martin Jones.
The Oilers took the lead 3:15 into the second when a rookie Vincent Desharnais shot snuck under Jones and was just sitting there before Ryan swooped in to guide in his sixth of the season.
Edmonton took a two-goal lead 12:30 into the second on a wild run in front as the puck came loose on Foegele, who sent a backhand into the net despite being sitting on the ice at that time.
There were a few odd goals to start the third.
Just 22 seconds later, Dunn unleashed a long shot Campbell would love to have back as he missed and flipped his glove and inside.
The Oilers responded 61 seconds later, however, as Eeli Tolvanen checked a puck away from Hyman, but directly into his own net in front of a startled Jones. Hyman was credited with his 21st goal.
Edmonton made it 5-2 midway through the third as Dylan Holloway hit a post and the puck went straight to McLeod at the side of the net for an easy entry. It was Holloway’s second assist, giving him his first NHL multipoint game.
“It was the 15th time we’ve scored five goals this year…and we haven’t lost when we’ve scored five goals or more,” Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said. “To do this at equal strength is a positive point.
“We put a lot of emphasis on defending in the right way, and I think we did a lot of really good things in that direction tonight.”
KANE’S RETURN
Oilers forward Evander Kane was back in the lineup, sooner than expected after a frightening injury when he was cut in the wrist by a skate blade Nov. 8 in Tampa Bay, causing him to miss 31 games. After the operation, Kane was originally expected to miss three to four months.
“It was good. No issues, other than my (lack of) finishing,” said Kane, who took seven shots. “I guess I can’t expect too much. But I got my look tonight , which is positive. I’m just going to try to build on that.”
To make room on the roster, forward Kailer Yamamoto and defenseman Ryan Murray were placed on long-term injured reserve, with Yamamoto not able to return until after the All-Star break. Edmonton defenseman Markus Niemelainen was traded to the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors on Monday.
NOTES: Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi was a healthy scratch. … Out with injuries for the Kraken were Joonas Donskoi (upper body), Chris Driedger (knee) and Jaden Schwartz (undisclosed).
NEXT
Kraken: Host the New Jersey Devils in the opener of five home games Thursday night.
Oilers: Host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.
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