Oilers 4, Flyers 2
EDMONTON -- Left wingers Matt Hendricks and Taylor Hall scored third-period goals at 6:13 and 7:40 to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a third-period comeback over the Philadelphia Flyers Tuesday at Rexall Place.
The 4-2 win came at a heavy price, though, as star rookie Connor McDavid left the game in the second period with an apparent shoulder injury.
The Oilers spent the last two days addressing their slow starts -- they've been outscored 12-5 in the first period of their last five games, going 1-4 in that span -- and it seemed to pay dividends against the Flyers.
At least on the shot clock.
Edmonton pounded Philadelphia 19-2 in first-period shots but Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth kept it scoreless for 19:56.
Finally, with 3.2 seconds left in the first period, the Oilers finally broke through on a power-play goal from center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
The assist to right winger Leon Draisaitl was his sixth point in three games since being called up from AHL Bakersfield.
The Flyers, who had lost four in a row and were playing their second game in as many nights, still had plenty of jump.
Despite spending the entire first period in their own end, the Flyers were still in it, and came to life in the second. Left winger Scott Laughton scored in the first minute and center Ryan White put them up 2-1 at 12:59. And just like that, despite being outshot 30-15 at the time, the Flyers were up 2-1.
It got worse for Edmonton, too. McDavid left the game after slamming into the end boards late in the second period. The Oilers didn't provide an immediate update, but the future of the franchise was seen with his arm in a sling outside of the Oilers dressing room.
Nugent-Hopkins added an empty netter to round out the score.
NOTES: Oilers C Connor McDavid was named NHL rookie of the month for October on the strength of five goals and seven assists in 12 games. ... Edmonton LW Taylor Hall is the NHL's third star of the week after posting two goals and seven points in three games. ... Oilers LW Matt Hendricks and D Griffin Reinhart returned to the lineup after missing seven and six games respectively with injuries. Veteran Oilers D Mark Fayne was a healthy scratch for the second straight game. ... Flyers off-season acquisition D Evgeny Medvedev had been playing with an upper body injury since Oct. 27 but has sat out the last two games. ... Flyers C Sean Couturier is progressing well from his concussion and is expected back soon. He rejoined the team in Edmonton on Tuesday. ... C Vincent Lecavalier has only played four of Philadelphia's first 12 games.