The Edmonton Oilers didn’t need their top-line firing on all cylinders to secure a win against the New Jersey Devils.
Alex Chiasson notched a goal and an assist, while Mikko Koskinen made 26 saves as the Oilers snapped a two-game skid with a 4-0 victory over the Devils on Friday night.
Leon Draisaitl, Gaetan Haas, and James Neal also found the back of the net for the Oilers (11-5-2), who improved their home record to 6-2-1. Although Draisaitl and Connor McDavid were limited to just one point each, Edmonton’s depth stepped up after carrying much of the team’s load this season.
“We had contributions from different guys tonight,” said Oilers head coach Dave Tippett. “The other three lines really made an impact with their work ethic. It was a solid team win.”
Chiasson, who scored his first goal of the season after tallying 22 last year, was relieved to contribute finally.
“I’ve said this time and time again: when you have guys stepping up on any given night, it makes this team dangerous,” Chiasson said.
The Devils (4-7-4) dropped their second consecutive game.
“It’s a tough league, especially on the road. You have to find your game early,” Devils forward Taylor Hall said. “A couple of bad shifts and the puck ends up in the back of your net. We had some good stretches where we probably deserved a goal or two, but that can happen, especially against a team playing as well as they are right now.”
The first period ended scoreless, with New Jersey’s best opportunity coming when Taylor Hall hit the post on a breakaway with nine minutes left.
Edmonton broke the deadlock two minutes into the second period when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins sent Draisaitl in on a breakaway. Draisaitl converted with a backhander past Devils goalie Cory Schneider, extending his points streak to eight games. Oilers defenseman Joel Persson earned his first NHL point on the play.
The Oilers doubled their lead with four minutes left in the second period when Haas deflected Matt Benning’s shot from the point into the net.
Just 66 seconds later, Neal made it 3-0, scoring his 12th goal of the season by pouncing on a rebound from a Persson shot.
Edmonton capped off the scoring with a power-play goal six minutes into the third period as Chiasson tipped in a Nugent-Hopkins shot.
Game Notes
- This was the second and final meeting between the two teams this season. Edmonton won both games, including a 4-3 shootout victory in the first matchup.
- Devils defenseman Sami Vatanen left the game in the first period with an injury and did not return.
- The game featured five of the last ten first-overall NHL draft picks: Connor McDavid, Jack Hughes, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall, and Nico Hischier.
- The Oilers welcomed back forwards Riley Sheahan and Josh Archibald from injury. Jesper Bratt also returned from an upper-body injury for the Devils.
Up Next
- Devils: Conclude their five-game road trip in Vancouver on Sunday.
- Oilers: Begin a two-game road trip in Anaheim on Sunday.
