Connor McDavid, Oilers blank Penguins in physical game

Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists, Darnell Nurse scored twice and Calvin Pickard stopped all 41 shots he faced Sunday as the visiting Edmonton Oilers blanked the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0.

Pickard, who briefly left at the end of the second but faced all the Penguins' shots, picked up his second shutout of the season, the sixth of his career and his first against Pittsburgh.

Mattias Ekholm added a goal and an assist for the Oilers, who had lost two in a row. They have won six straight against Pittsburgh.

Tristan Jarry made 38 saves for the Penguins, who have lost three in a row and six of seven.

McDavid gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead 1:08 into the game. Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, in his own end, let off an egregious pass that went straight to McDavid. Wide open in the slot, McDavid beat Jarry blocker side.

At 8:53 of the first, Ekholm increased it to 2-0. His shot from the top of the right circle deflected in off Pittsburgh defenseman John Ludvig in front.

At 10:35 of the second, Edmonton's Warren Foegele high-sticked the Penguins' Erik Karlsson, drawing blood. Ludvig stepped in to fight Foegele. In addition to the two fighting majors, Ludvig got an instigator minor and a 10-minute misconduct penalty, and Foegele got a double minor for high-sticking.

Things remained physical. With 2:55 left in the second, Pittsburgh's Bryan Rust got a goalie interference penalty for hitting Pickard, whose blocker and stick went flying. Pickard initially remained in the game but was replaced by Stuart Skinner with 1:16 left in the period.

Rust, who was activated from IR earlier in the day, returned after missing seven games because of an upper-body injury.

Skinner faced no shots, and Pickard returned for the start of the third.

Nurse increased Edmonton's lead to 3-0 at 10:42 of the third. McDavid, from the right half wall, fed Nurse in the far circle. Nurse beat Jarry on a rising shot short side.

Nurse struck again at 15:58 of the third on a screened shot from the top of the slot.

—Field Level Media