Nugent-Hopkins' shootout goal lifts Oilers past Hurricanes 6-5
Connor McDavid extended his season-opening point streak with a three-assist, two-goal night as Edmonton improved to 8-1-1.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the shootout winner Thursday night as the Edmonton Oilers edged the Carolina Hurricanes 6-5, extending Edmonton's win streak to three games and improving its record to 8-1-1. Nugent-Hopkins, playing his season debut after a lower-body injury in training camp, also scored in regulation and added an assist, becoming the franchise leader for most seasons played with the Oilers at 16.
Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid each recorded two goals and three assists. McDavid's goal came with Edmonton's net empty and 1:28 left in regulation, deflecting off Jesperi Kotkaniemi's skate to tie the game. The point extended McDavid's streak to every game this season, pushing his league-leading total to 31 points through 10 games, a mark matched in NHL history only by Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky.
Oilers goaltender Devon Levi stopped 22 shots. For Carolina (8-2-2), Jackson Blake, Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Logan Stankhoven and Juuso Valimaki scored in regulation, with Jarvis returning from off-season shoulder surgery to net his first goal of the season. Brandon Bussi made 16 saves for the Hurricanes, who have lost two of their last three games.
Carolina continues its five-game road trip in St. Louis on Saturday, while Edmonton continues its homestand against the Toronto Maple Leafs the same day.
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