MacDavid and the Oilers demolish the Penguins

Many were eagerly awaiting the rare showdown between Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, but the Edmonton Oilers outright beat the Pittsburgh Penguins by four more points Thursday night.

• Also read: Another volley of hats off to Tage Thompson

Thanks to McDavid’s ninth game of four or more points this season, the Alberta Pens were handily defeated 7-2 at PPG Paints Arena. It was a very long night for the Pittsburgh fans, who saw their favorites crumble under the Oilers’ powerful offense.

McDavid and Leon Draistel scored the first two goals for the visitors in a power play in the first half. The captain added two more points in the second half of the match, scoring an amazing penalty goal.

In front of a sparse crowd with 3:33 to go in regular time, No. 97 taunted Casey DeSmith. McDoid froze the Penguins’ goaltender in place. His 46th goal of the season was his 109th point in 59 games.

Dricetle, Tyson Barry and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each scored two points for the winners, who sent Tristan Garry to the sink after 40 minutes.

In the loss, Quebec defender Christopher Letang scored both of his goals.

Dawson Mercer burns

In Newark, Dawson-Mercer scored two more goals, including the overtime winner in the New Jersey Devils’ 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings.

Goalkeepers in the National League seem to have no more secrets about the Newfoundlander, who has hit the mark in their last five matches. She now makes it seven hits and nine hits during that sequence.

Mercer and fullback Dougie Hamilton put the Kings’ defense to sleep in overtime to defeat the Phoenix Copley. The visitors themselves looked tired, aiming only 22 rounds towards the opposite cage.

Sean Dorzi made it 3-2 at the end of the third period, but Nico Hischier forced overtime by rocking the ropes with 39 seconds left in the period. Thomas Tatar was the scorer for the other Devils.

Ovechkin’s contract is under scrutiny

In Washington, Alexander Ovechkin returned after missing four matches, but the Russian player was limited to the role of a spectator in the Anaheim Ducks’ 4-2 victory over the capital.

The captain returned home to be at his father’s side, who sadly passed away on the 15th of February. Ovechkin attempted five shots at the net against the “Ducks” and finished with a -2 lead.

The “caps” led 2-1, but the guests scored three times without a response and never looked back. Isac Lundestrom, Troy Terry and Jakob Silfverberg all found breaches in the weak shield of Charlie Lindgren, who only conceded 20 shots.

Still busy this season, John Gibson has stood up to 41 shots.

The Capitals have been defeated in their last five games.