ESPN News Services12:51 AM ET2 Minute Read
EDMONTON, Alberta — Center Leon Draisaitl scored twice in Tuesday’s 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators, adding another memorable night to a season the Edmonton Oilers was full of offensive milestones.
Draisaitl’s performance earned him 100 points for the season, and NHL leading scorer Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist to win, taking the all-star center to 129 points. And for the second time in NHL history, the same teammates became the first two players to score 100 points in consecutive seasons.
“I thought the best player on the ice tonight would be Leon Draisaitl…by far,” said Edmonton manager Jay Woodcroft.
Draisaitl increased his goals of the season to 44 in total, and Edmonton captain McDavid had his 73rd assist in Draisaitl’s second goal and found the empty net at 2:13 for his 56th goal.
“I thought he played the game like he was on a mission,” Woodcroft said of Draisaitl. “I think he was 70 per cent in the faceoff circle, he felt good about both sides of the puck the whole game and I think when he plays in the middle he really gets going.”
However, as is often the case, Draisaitl was subdued after the performance in the dressing room.
“I feel very lucky,” said Draisaitl. “Of course I’m very happy about it, but that’s my job, that’s what I get paid for. And I couldn’t do it without one of these guys here.”
The last two seasons in which teammates became the first players to score 100 points in the NHL were 1973-74 and 1974-75, when Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr of the Hockey Hall of Fame did so for the Boston Bruins.
“For these guys to be in the company of these Boston Bruins, Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr are two good names to associate with,” added Woodcroft.
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 him 34 for the season. Brady Tkachuk added his 27th goal and Mads Sogaard stopped 27 shots. Ottawa has lost three times in a row.
Nugent-Hopkins gave the Oilers a 3-2 lead on a power play at 5:39 of the second period. He has scored 31 goals this season.
Bjugstad also scored for Edmonton with a second remaining in the third. But the evening belonged to Draisaitl, who made it 4:2 in the semifinals with 3:43.
“He’s hockey sense personified,” Woodcroft said. “He is the definition of what the modern power forward looks or should look like.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.