McDavid nets winner as Oilers defeat Panthers in OT
EDMONTON, Alberta -- When the Edmonton Oilers play, it's guaranteed nailbiter night.
Connor McDavid's breakaway winner with just 2.6 seconds left in overtime capped off a three-point night, and gave the Oilers a 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers.
Panthers netminder James Reimer reached back to snatch McDavid's backhanded effort, but replays showed that Reimer's glove was on the wrong side of the goal line.
Three of the last four Oilers games have been decided in overtime or a shootout. Sixteen of the team's last 22 games have each been decided by a single goal.
The Panthers took the lead with just 5:15 left in the third, as Greg McKegg batted in a puck that Jaromir Jagr floated towards a crowded goalmouth area.
But, the lead was short-lived. Jordan Eberle broke a scoreless drought that had dates back to Dec. 6 as he beat Panthers goalie James Reimer on a two-on-one chance. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins created the chance with a deft defense-splitting pass that sent Eberle off to the races.
In overtime, Nugent-Hopkins set up Eberle in front of the Panthers net with a great pass, but Eberle slid his backhanded effort just wide.
Oilers left winger Jujhar Khaira, who scored his first NHL goal on Monday, left the game after the first period and did not return.
The Panthers unleashed five shots on goal in the first three minutes, signs of life from a team that totaled just 22 shots on goal in Tuesday night's loss to Calgary.
But the Oilers took the lead at 6:10 when McDavid stole the puck at the boards, streaked down the right wing and then laid a pretty pass for Zack Kassian to tap into a wide-open net. For McDavid, it was his 100th career point in just his 92nd career game, and he did it with thanks to the trademark burst of speed we've come to take for granted from arguably the NHL's most explosive skater.
The Oilers made it 2-0 at 13:04, just seconds after the Panthers took a penalty for having too many men on the ice. Mark Letestu tipped home a pass from McDavid.
The Panthers halved the lead at 17:13, with Vincent Trocheck ripping a shot over Talbot's shoulder Trocheck scored both Panthers goals in the previous night's loss to the Flames.
Florida tied the game with just 1:25 left in the second. With Oiler Benoit Pouliot in the penalty box, Michael Sgarbossa banged home a rebound for his first NHL goal, in his 30th career game. It was no less than the Panthers deserved -- as the visitors dominated the second period, outshooting the home team 11-6.
NOTES: Panthers D Mark Pysyk enjoyed a homecoming. He played major junior hockey for the Edmonton Oil Kings and hails from the Edmonton suburb of Sherwood Park. This was his first NHL game in his hometown. ... Panthers C Derek MacKenzie skated in his 500th career NHL game. ... The Oilers scratched C Matt Hendricks, and D Matthew Benning was removed from the lineup right before game time and replaced by D Eric Gryba. ... The Panthers scratched C Seth Griffin, D Jakub Kindl, and C Denis Malgin. ... Tonight marked the first time that NHL leading scorer Connor McDavid faced Panthers RW Jaromir Jagr, the NHL's second-all-time top point-getter.