EDMONTON, Alta. – Connor McDavid AND Leon Draisaitl both scored, a Edmonton Oilers offered Kris Knoblauch success in his first match behind the bench on Monday with a 4-1 win over New York Islanders.
Draisaitl had four points (1-3), while McDavid scored his first goal in nine games to give the Albertans a two-goal lead 1:56 after Zach Hyman gave Edmonton its first lead of the night.
It was the first time since his arrival in the NHL in 2015-2016. that the dangerous number 97 started the game after registering only one point in his previous five appearances.
The Oilers captain, who scored 153 points in 2022-23, now has three goals and nine assists toward his 12-game streak.
Edmonton has yet to win in its home amphitheater, its only home win to that point coming during the Heritage Classic, at Commonwealth Stadium.
Posted near semicircleIlya SorokinHyman deflected a lofted pass from McDavid behind the Russian goaltender at 7:35 of the third period.
Knoblauch, McDavid’s former instructor in the junior ranks of the Erie Otters between 2012 and 2015, replaces Jay Woodcroft, who was fired Sunday after his club started the season with a poor 3-9-1 record.
As recently as Sunday night, Knoblauch was at the helm of the Hartford Wolfpack in the American Hockey League.
One would think the Islanders (5-6-3) would tarnish this opener at Rogers Place, while Matej Barzal served a magnificent wrist shot Stuart Skinner from the 40th second of the game.
Sporting a 3.53 goals-against average and .861 efficiency before this game, Skinner turned away 33 New York shots.
And in his previous start he conceded only once, in a 4-1 win against Seattle Kraken.
Evander Kane rounded off the score in an empty cage at 17:33, during a numerical penalty. Draisaitl then scored his fourth point of the match.
It was the fourth straight loss in regular time for the Isles, who will continue their week at opposing rinks in Vancouver (Wednesday), Seattle (Thursday) and Calgary (Saturday).
