Oilers 5, Blue Jackets 1
EDMONTON, Alberta -- Rookie standout Connor McDavid did not disappoint.
In his highly anticipated return after a three-month absence because of injury, McDavid delivered a goal-of-the-year candidate and added two assists in leading the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
Center Leon Draisaitl, defenseman Eric Gryba, left winger Benoit Pouliot and right winger Jordan Eberle added goals as the Oilers prevailed in a battle between the last-place teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences.
McDavid, who had been out since Nov. 3 with a broken collarbone, made his presence felt on the first shift, using his speed to draw a penalty on defenseman Ryan Murray 26 seconds into the game. McDavid was dynamic on the ensuing power play, getting and setting up several chances, but none of the Oilers could connect.
The only goal of the first period came against the flow, when wingers Matt Calvert and Scott Hartnell stormed in on a two-on-one, with Calvert getting the goal to make it 1-0 for the Blue Jackets, who were being outshot 13-2 at the time. The first period ended 1-0, with the Oilers up 18-8 on the shot clock.
The Oilers tied it three minutes into the second period when Gryba's seeing-eye shot from the point found mesh.
Then McDavid put his stamp on the game, splitting defensemen Jack Johnson and Justin Falk and then undressing goaltender Joonas Korpisalo with a goal that brought the fans to their feet for an instant standing ovation.
It lit a fire under the Oilers, who made it 3-1 on Pouliot's power-play goal at 16:32 and 4-1 on a goal from Draisaitl just 29 seconds later.
McDavid set up Eberle's third-period marker.
The win snapped Edmonton's three-game losing streak, improving its record to 20-26-5, while the Jackets fell to 19-28-5.
NOTES: To make room for the return of C Connor McDavid, the Oilers assigned LW Rob Klinkhammer to AHL Bakersfield. ... D Justin Schultz (illness) missed Tuesday's game, creating an opening for newly acquired D Adam Clendening, who played his first game with the Oilers after being picked up on waivers during the All-Star break. ... Oilers D Brandon Davidson didn't play Tuesday, but he is fully recovered after leaving the last game before the All-Star break with a lower-body injury. ...Both of the Blue Jackets' starting goalies are still injured. Sergei Bobrovsky continues to wrestle with a recurring groin injury and Curtis McElhinney is skating again after hurting his ankle before the All-Star break. ... Columbus coach John Tortorella was back behind the bench after missing three games with broken ribs after colliding with Rene Bourque in practice. ... Blue Jackets D David Savard (strained oblique) is on the trip and skated on his own after practice Monday.