The Toronto Maple Leafs established a significant lead and managed to secure a 6-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night.
The Oilers got a power play opportunity early in the game, but were unable to take the lead. Bobby McCann provided the Leafs with a lead 4:17 into the game when he was unmarked in front of the net and scored against Stuart Skinner. William Nylander redirected his 39th goal of the season into the net late in the first period during a power play, making it 2-0 for Toronto.
The Leafs dominated in the second period. Following some sloppy play by the Oilers, Pontus Holmberg redirected a pass from Max Domi to make it 3-0. Holmberg scored again just over two minutes later, finishing off a three-on-one opportunity just after the Leafs successfully killed a penalty. McMann scored his second goal of the night to make it 5-0.
Skinner, who let in five goals on 23 shots, was substituted by Calvin Pickard at the start of the third period. The Oilers finally scored five minutes into the period when Zach Hyman scored a power play goal for his 49th of the season. Corey Perry added another power play goal less than four minutes later.
Pickard was replaced by an extra attacker with 4:54 remaining. Draisaitl managed to score his 36th with 3:39 left, with Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov getting injured on the play. He was replaced by Martin Jones.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins hit the goal post on an open look with 2:20 left. Auston Matthews scored a late empty net goal.
Connor McDavid provided three assists, bringing his total to 89 for the season.
With a record of 42-22-4, the Oilers will play against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday (630 CHED, Face-off show at 2:30 p.m., game at 4 p.m.).
