Oilers beat Blackhawks 2-1 to extend win streak to 8 games
By Tim Cronin, The Associated Press on January 9, 2024.
CHICAGO (AP) – Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl scored goals as the Edmonton Oilers extended their NHL winning streak to eight games with a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night. The Oilers also won eight straight from Nov. 24 to Dec. 12. The current streak started Dec. 21 with a 6-3 victory at New Jersey. McDavid scored the winner by beating Petr Mrazek on a breakaway 1:32 into the second period. McDavid took Mattias Eckholm’s stretch pass at the Chicago blue line, raced past Jarred Tinordi and shovelled the puck past the outstretched Mrazek’s right foot for a 2-1 lead. He also extended his point streak to eight games and 14 points during that stretch. Chicago’s Jason Dickinson picked up a loose puck and sent a wrist shot past the blocker of Stuart Skinner at 5:52 of the first period to open the scoring. It was his team-leading 14th goal of the season. Skinner stopped the Blackhawks’ other 25 shots. Chicago’s lead lasted just over two minutes. Draisaitl scored his 19th goal of the season to square the score, flipping the puck by Mrazek’s blocker at 8:05 of the first. Two Edmonton goals were disallowed. McDavid’s was negated by goaltender interference shortly after his second-period score. Zach Hyman’s goal in the third period was disallowed after a five-minute review determined Draisaitl was offside carrying the puck into the zone. Mrazek made 13 saves. The injury-riddled Blackhawks had two forwards return to the lineup. Taylor Raddysh (left groin) and Joey Anderson (left shoulder) played right wing on the top two lines after missing five and 10 games respectively. There is still no timetable for the return of Blackhawks’ star rookie forward Connor Bedard, out since breaking his jaw Friday in New Jersey. UP NEXT Oilers: At Detroit on Thursday. Blackhawks: At Winnipeg on Thursday. — AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl 15-14
