By Canadian Press

Edmonton Oilers score four unanswered goals to defeat Winnipeg Jets 4-2

Mar 20, 2021 | 10:59 PM

EDMONTON — Leon Draisaitl scored the game-winning goal in the third period as the Edmonton Oilers came back from a 2-0 deficit to win 4-2 over the Winnipeg Jets Saturday night at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

Connor McDavid scored a goal and an assist, while Darnell Nurse and Devin Shore also scored. Mike Smith made 29 saves (21-13-0). The Oilers have now won three consecutive games and are currently tied with the Toronto Maple Leafs atop the North Division.

Andrew Copp and Pierre-Luc Dubois scored for Winnipeg (18-11-2). Connor Hellebuyck made 33 saves in the losing effort. 

Copp scored the first goal of the game on a power play at 10:36 of the first period. Nikolaj Ehlers fired a puck that pinballed off an Oilers defenceman and Copp’s stick before finding the back of the net.

Dubois doubled the Jets’ lead with 4:33 left to play in the opening period. But McDavid responded almost two minutes later, cutting the Jets’ lead in half. 

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Neither side scored in the second period as both goaltenders kept the shooters at bay. Smith even made a highlight reel save after nearly costing his team a goal. 

Smith made an errant pass from behind his own goal that was intercepted by Jets forward Kyle Connor, who had an open cage to shoot at, but Smith caught the puck in mid-air with his glove. 

Nurse tied the game in the third period with his 10th of the season, beating Hellebuyck with a shot that nestled into the right-hand corner of the goal. 

Draisaitl capped off the comeback with a goal after coming up ice on a 2-on-1 with McDavid. The latter fed Draisaitl a pass that he slapped past Hellebuyck to take the lead.

Shore’s empty-net goal with 1:20 left to play in the game gave the Oilers all the breathing room they needed to secure the victory.

Edmonton returns to action Monday to play the first of three consecutive games against the Montreal Canadiens. Winnipeg will also play Monday, squaring off against the Vancouver Canucks. 

NOTES: Connor McDavid extended his points streak to nine games tonight. He has seven goals and 20 points in that span.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2021.

The Canadian Press