By: Anthony Sevilla
EBC Sports International
Canada Bureau
(Eagle News) The Edmonton Oilers defeated the NHL’s top team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, through a spectacular
performance from Connor McDavid.
A career night for the Oilers’ captain who finished the game with 4 goals, 1 assist, 9 shots, and 9 scoring chances who is now tied for 3rd in the NHL scoring race and just 5 points shy of Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov.
Cam Talbot also had a solid game in the net for the Oilers, who made 32 saves.
Leon Draisaitl and Iiro Pakarinen also added a goal each for the Oilers for Draisaitl’s 19th this season and Pakarinen’s first.
A quiet night for Tampa Bay’s All-Stars, as both Nikita Kucherov and captain Steven Stamkos failed to make their mark on the box score. Stamkos and Kucherov both finished the game with a minus 2 rating.
The Lightning went 1-3 on the power play and managed 34 shots on net. However, their struggles were in the 2nd period where Tampa Bay were only able to get 4 shots on net that entire period.
Despite the loss, the Tampa Bay Lightning still sits atop the NHL and the Eastern Conference with 75 points, still on pace for the best record in franchise history. The Lightning conclude their 8-game road trip and will return home to face the Los Angeles Kings.
The Oilers get a huge win against the Lightning who have struggled against Eastern Conference teams all season. Connor McDavid stated how important that was for his team.
“Anytime the number one team rolls into your building, you need to be up for it. You need to be ready to go. We’ve played a few games on the East Coast and we needed a good one against an Eastern Conference team.”
They will begin their 3-game road trip in Los Angeles, California to take on the Kings at the Staples Center. (Eagle News)