Oilers at Jets
Connor McDavid led the NHL in points each of the past two seasons and is off to a hot start again, but needs help from his fellow Edmonton Oilers entering Tuesday’s road contest at the Winnipeg Jets. McDavid has scored twice with three assists in three games, but the Oilers have scored five goals in a disjointed start to the season that opened with a loss to New Jersey in Sweden and an ugly setback in Boston before Edmonton beat the Rangers in New York 2-1 on Saturday.
“We took a step forward,” Edmonton coach Todd McLellan told reporters after Cam Talbot recorded 23 saves against the Rangers, after the Oilers surrendered nine goals in the two defeats. “We’re obviously happy with the win. We needed one.” The Jets also come into the matchup off a much-needed victory, a hard-fought 3-1 home triumph Sunday over Carolina that followed a 3-0 loss in Nashville in which Winnipeg was short-handed nine times. Backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit made the most of his Jets debut, recording 42 saves and keeping the game scoreless until Winnipeg netted three third-period goals. “Fortunately for us, our guy (was) fantastic,” Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice told the media in assessing Brossoit’s performance. “It was a continuation of his training camp, a very strong camp.”
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Sportsnet Oilers (Edmonton), TSN3 (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE OILERS (1-2-0): Edmonton killed off both Rangers power plays Saturday after its penalty kill gave up three goals in six chances in the opening two games. Center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins finished with a goal and an assist Saturday and has combined with McDavid to register seven points while the rest of the Oilers roster has combined for eight. Defenseman Darnell Nurse, who played in his 200th NHL game Saturday, has an assist in each of his past two games.
ABOUT THE JETS (3-2-0): Forward Kyle Connor scored an empty-net goal at the buzzer Sunday, his fourth goal in five games, and leads the Jets with five points. Defenseman Josh Morrissey picked up two assists Sunday and has four assists after recording 19 in 81 games a season ago, helping ease Dustin Byfuglien’s absence with an upper-body injury (he may return Tuesday). Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who finished 3-0-0 and stopped 94 of 99 shots last season against Edmonton, will start Tuesday.
OVERTIME
1. Following Tuesday’s game, the Oilers return home for six of their next eight contests -- starting with Thursday’s home opener against Boston -- while Tuesday marks the opener of a six-game homestand for Winnipeg.
2. McDavid has yet to score a goal against two teams in his career -- New Jersey and Winnipeg, although he has eight assists in eight games against the Jets.
3. Jets F Patrik Laine has two goals in five games -- both on the power play -- after leading the NHL with 20 power-play goals last season.