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Leon Draisaitl scores his second goal of the game
Connor McDavid sets up Leon Draisaitl’s one-timer to extend the Edmonton Oilers lead.
EDMONTON, Alta. — Center Leon Draisaitl scored twice in a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, adding another memorable night to an Edmonton Oilers season filled with offensive milestones.
Draisaitl’s effort gave him 100 points for the season, and NHL leading scorer 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 land 100 points in consecutive seasons.
“I thought the best player on the ice tonight was Leon Draisaitl…by a mile,” Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft said.
Draisaitl pushed his season tally to 44, and Edmonton captain McDavid got his 73rd assist on Draisaitl’s second goal and scored into an empty net with 2:13 left for his 56th goal. .
“I thought he was playing the game like he was on a mission,” Woodcroft said of Draisaitl. “I think he was 70% in the face-off circle, he had a good self-awareness the whole game when it came to both sides of the puck, and I think when he plays center , he really moves his feet.
As is often the case, however, Draisaitl was overpowered in the locker room after the performance.
“I feel very lucky,” Draisaitl said. “Obviously I’m very happy about it, but it’s my job, it’s what I get paid for. And I couldn’t do it without one of these guys here.”
The last two-season streak in which his teammates were the first players to score 100 NHL points dates back to 1973-74 and 1974-75, when Hockey Hall of Famers Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr l have done for the Boston Bruins.
“For those guys to be around those Boston Bruins, Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr, those are two great names to be associated with,” Woodcroft added.
Derek Ryan, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nick Bjugstad also scored for the Oilers, and Stuart Skinner made 29 saves.
Tim Stutzle scored twice for Ottawa, giving it 34 for the season. Brady Tkachuk added his 27th goal and Mads Sogaard stopped 27 shots. Ottawa has lost three in a row.
Nugent-Hopkins gave the Oilers a 3-2 power play lead at 5:39 of the second period. He has 31 goals this season.
Bjugstad also struck with a second left in the period for Edmonton. But the night belonged to Draisaitl, who made it 4-2 with 3:43 left in the period.
“He embodies the meaning of hockey,” Woodcroft said. “He is the definition of what the modern power forward looks or should look like.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.