EDMONTON, AB – Next time we’re on home ice, points will be up for grabs.
For now, it’s another solid showing in the preseason from the Blue & Orange.
Forward Leon Draisaitl recorded two goals and two assists for the Edmonton Oilers, while their top line of Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and Trent Frederic combined for nine points on Sunday night to guide their side to a 4-3 pre-season victory over the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Place.
“Connor and Leon were their usual selves tonight,” Head Coach Kris Knoblauch said. “They were much better tonight, so that line was clicking a lot more.”
The Oilers’ top forward trio filled the scoresheet on both of Edmonton’s first-period tallies, building a two-goal lead off markers from McDavid and Frederic before the German blasted home his first goal of the game off a quick set play with the man advantage during the middle stanza for a 3-0 advantage.
The Canucks scored twice in 43 seconds in the final frame, receiving quick goals from Aatu Raty and Braeden Cootes, before Draisaitl was able to convert his second off a terrific pass from McDavid on a two-on-one later in the period, providing the Oilers with the insurance they needed after Jonathan Lekkerimäki made it 4-3 in the final four minutes left in regulation with Vancouver’s net empty.
McDavid posted a goal and two assists, Frederic contributed a goal and a helper, and Stuart Skinner stopped 25 of 28 shots in the victory, which was Edmonton’s fourth of the preseason to move their exhibition record to 4-1-1 with two more exhibition games still to play.