EDMONTON, Alberta – Center Leon Draysatel scored twice in a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, adding another night to remember to a season full of offensive milestones for the Edmonton Oilers.
Dressall’s effort gave him 100 points for the season, and NHL scoring leader Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist in the win, pushing the All-Star center to 129 points. And for only the second time in NHL history, the same teammates were the first two players to score 100 points in consecutive seasons.
Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft said, “I thought the best player on the ice tonight was Leon Draisitl … by a country mile.”
Draysatel brought his season goals total to 44, and Edmonton captain McDavid made his 73rd assist on Draysatel’s second goal and scored into an empty net for his 56th goal with 2:13 remaining.
“I thought he played the game like he was on a mission,” Woodcroft said of Dresstail. “I think he was 70% in the faceoff circle, he had a good conscience the whole game in terms of both sides of the puck, and I think when he plays the middle, he’s really on his feet.” advances.”
100 for Leon!
Leon Draisital became the second player to score a century this season, following teammate Connor McDavid (@cmcdavid97, pic.twitter.com/dNNCb8Wfle
— NHL (@NHL) March 15, 2023
As is often the case, however, Drizzt was subdued in the locker room after the performance.
“I feel very lucky,” Draisetel said. “Obviously, I’m very happy about it, but it’s my job, it’s what I get paid to do. And I couldn’t be here without any of these guys.”
The last two seasons in which teammates were the first players to score 100 points in the NHL were 1973–74 and 1974–75, when Hockey Hall of Famers Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr did so for the Boston Bruins.
“Two good names for those guys to be in the company of those Boston Bruins, Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr,” Woodcroft said.
Derek Ryan, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nick Bjugstad also scored for the Oilers, and Stuart Skinner made 29 saves.
Tim Stutzl scored twice for Ottawa, giving him 34 for the season. Brady Tkachuk scored his 27th goal and Mads Sogaard stopped 27 shots. Ottawa has lost three matches in a row.
Nugent-Hopkins scored at 5:39 of the second period to give the Oilers a 3–2 lead on the power play. He has 31 goals to his name this season.
Bjærstad scored for Edmonton with one second to go. But the night belonged to Draisital, who made it 4–2 with 3:43 left in the period.
Woodcroft said, “He is the personification of the understanding of hockey.” “He is the definition of what modern day power looks like, or should look like.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
