Draisaitl, Hall lift Oilers over Devils 5-1
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) Leon Draisaitl is making life without injured young star Connor McDavid a little easier for the Edmonton Oilers.
Draisaitl and Taylor Hall each recorded a goal and two assists and Edmonton beat the New Jersey Devils 5-1 on Friday night to end a three-game losing streak.
''Every time (Draisaitl) has the puck, he's poised, he's patient, he's making plays, it's good to see,'' Oilers forward Jordan Eberle said. ''He had kind of a tough time last year and to come back and to rebound and to play as well as he is right now, it's awesome. Especially with McDavid being out, he's filled in really well.''
A second-year German-born forward, Draisaitl has 17 points in 10 games since being called up from the American Hockey League, moving him into second in team scoring. Last season, the third-overall pick in the 2014 draft played in 37 games and had just nine points before being sent back down to the Western Hockey League.
''It's nice, it's a lot of fun,'' Draisaitl said. ''It's the best league in the world. I play with some great players and they make it easier for you.''
Oscar Klefbom, Eberle and Mark Letestu also scored and the Oilers won for just the second time in seven outings. Anders Nilsson made 19 saves.
The Devils lost their second in a row. Kyle Palmieri had their lone goal.
''We didn't play to our capabilities and the result was what it was. We didn't really play well enough in any facet of the game to find a way to win,'' Devils coach John Hynes said. ''You have to give credit to Edmonton. They got off to a good start and played solid when they had the lead. On the flip side, we didn't have one of our better efforts.''
Edmonton started the scoring 7 minutes into the opening period when Hall made a terrific feed in front and Draisaitl was able to deflect the puck at full speed past goalie Keith Kinkaid. It was the seventh goal and 15th point in 10 games for the German-born forward. He also has 17 assists.
The Devils tied the game on the power play 6 minutes into the second period when Palmieri walked in and picked the top corner on Nilsson.
Edmonton got that goal back a minute later. Teddy Purcell spotted Klefbom creeping in from the point and the Oilers defenseman was able to send the feed into a wide-open net.
The Oilers made it 3-1 early in the third on the power play. Eberle was allowed to take several whacks at the puck from the side of the net before banking it in off the skate of Devils forward Lee Stempniak.
With 7 minutes left, Letestu picked off a pass and sent a shot that went off Kinkaid's glove and in.
The Devils pulled their goalie with more than 3 minutes remaining, and Hall scored on the empty net with an assist by Draisaitl.
Notes: The Devils return to the ice on Sunday, finishing off a three-game Western Canadian swing in Vancouver. The Oilers kick off a five-game trip in Washington on Monday. ... Out of the lineup for the Oilers were McDavid (collarbone), Justin Schultz (back), Rob Klinkhammer (leg), Luke Gazdic (illness) and Andrej Sekera (illness). ... Missing with injuries for New Jersey were Tuomo Ruutu (foot) and Patrik Elias (knee). ... Backup goalie Kinkaid made his fourth start of the season in place of Cory Schneider.