The Montreal Canadiens will have only themselves to blame for the result, Saturday night at Rogers Place.
The Oilers scored three consecutive power-play goals in the second period, Stuart Skinner made 30 saves and the Alberta team defeated the Habs 5-3.
Everything capsized when the Canadian took six consecutive penalties starting late in the first period.
And even though Martin St-Louis’ squad once again showed character by overcoming a two-goal deficit, the Oilers subsequently managed to regain control of the game.
Nick Suzuki, Evgenii Dadonov and Arber Xhekaj hit the target for the Canadian (12-11-1). Jake Allen, who was making his third straight start, stopped 17 shots.
Connor McDavid had two goals and two assists, while Leon Draisaitl had a goal and three assists for the Oilers (14-11-0). Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Darnell Nurse also scored. Zach Hyman and Tyson Barrie were credited with two assists each.
The Oilers finished the game with a 3-for-5 power play efficiency. The Canadian was 2-for-3.
Jordan Harris and Chris Wideman were left out at the Canadian. Johnathan Kovacevic and Rem Pitlick have been added to the lineup.
The Habs finished the game with one less defender. Joel Edmundson was ejected in the second period after cross-checking the side of Hyman’s head.
The Canadian will conclude his trip by facing the Vancouver Canucks on Monday, then the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday.
Wild evening
The Canadian controlled the game at five against five in the first period, but it was on the power play that he opened the scoring, with 3:23 to go. Suzuki outsmarted Skinner with an accurate shot from the near side.
A silly penalty from Xhekaj for blowing off McDavid’s skates behind the play started the Canadiens’ ride in the penalty box late in the first period.
The Oilers tied the game on a power play 1:25 into the second period. Nugent-Hopkins took advantage of a cross-handed pass from Draisaitl to get the ropes moving.
The sky fell on the Canadiens’ head when Edmundson received a major penalty and a game misconduct for a cross check. Hyman was cut in the face on the footage as he also crashed into the tape.
Finding themselves on the power play of two players, the Oilers took a 2-1 lead at 6:27. This time it was Draisaitl who scored on a one-timer following a pass from McDavid.
The Canadian looked like he could get away with it when Suzuki went to the dungeon for closing his hand on the puck, giving the Oilers another two-man advantage. McDavid completed the job himself, beating Allen at 9:36.
True to form, the Canadian showed character and resumed his wanderings.
Dadonov cut the lead to 3-2 with 6:34 left in the second frame, taking advantage of a generous comeback after a Joel Armia pitch.
Xhekaj then tied the game 3:12 later, when the Canadian found himself on the power play of two players.
However, Nurse restored the lead to the Oilers before the end of the second period. Kovacevic lost his balance behind the Canadiens’ net, then Nurse completed a nice exchange with Hyman and Draisaitl.
Joel Armia hit the crossbar early in the third period for the Canadian.
McDavid delivered the knockout blow with 5:20 to go. He beat Allen on a breakaway.