Oilers 2, Jets 1
WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- The game between the Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers on Sunday did not have the dozen or so goals that contests between the two teams regularly had in the 1980s, but it was no less entertaining.
On a day when the NHL announced the Jets will host the Heritage Classic outdoor game against the Oilers on Oct. 23 at Investors Group Field, the home of the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Connor McDavid-lead Oilers defeated the Jets 2-1.
It was a back-and-forth affair that featured more than 70 shots and many top-notch scoring opportunities and in end it was McDavid who provided the spark, even though he was held off the scoresheet.
The rookie sensation set the stage for the winning goal by driving hard toward the Jets goal late in the second period. Seconds later, Andrej Sekera found Lauri Korpikoski in the slot, who fired home his eighth of the season from close range.
The Oilers opened the scoring at 5:25 of the second period when Taylor Hall fed a pass from the corner to Patrick Maroon, who wristed a shot behind Pavelec for his sixth goal of the season, and second for Edmonton since being acquired from Anaheim at the deadline.
Less than a minute later, Jets forward Mark Scheifele continued his red-hot ways, snapping home a pass from Blake Wheeler from the slot to even the score at 1-1. Scheifele is coming off a three-goal performance against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.
The Oilers retook the lead at 16:20.
NOTES: Winnipeg is buzzing over the official announcement Sunday that the Jets will host a Heritage Classic outdoor game Oct. 23 against the Oilers. Of particular interest was the news that Dale Hawerchuk, who played nine seasons with original Jets franchise, and Wayne Gretzky, who led the Oilers to four Stanley Cups, will captain the alumni teams for a game the day before. ... The Jets honored Canada's military in a pregame ceremony that featured four soldiers rappelling from the rafters down to ice level. ... The Oilers finish their road trip 3-1-0. They had allowed two goals or fewer in six of their previous seven games. ... In the press box for the Jets were RW Anthony Peluso (upper body), LW Nikolaj Ehlers (face) and D Josh Morrissey. Joining them from the Oilers are LW Luke Gazdic, RW Iiro Pakarinen and D Nikita Nikitin.