Connor McDavid scores in return as Oilers beat Kraken

Field Level Media|published: Tue 28th January, 24:22 2025

Jan 27, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Seattle Kraken forward Chandler Stephenson (9) tries to knock the puck away from Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) during the first period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Connor McDavid scored in his return from a three-game suspension as the Edmonton Oilers defeated the visiting Seattle Kraken 4-2 Monday night.

Mattias Janmark, Corey Perry and Mattias Ekholm also tallied for the Oilers, who won for the seventh time in their past nine games. Goaltender Calvin Pickard, getting the start with Stuart Skinner missing the game to be with his wife for the birth of their child, made 26 saves.

Eeli Tolvanen and Vince Dunn scored for Seattle, which had won three of its previous four games. Joey Daccord stopped 27 of 30 shots.

McDavid tied the game 2-2 at 1:57 of the second period on a three-on-two rush. He carried the puck into the offensive zone and took a shot from the slot that was stopped by Daccord, but McDavid pounced on the rebound and put it into the net.

McDavid was banned for cross-checking Vancouver's Conor Garland in the head late in a Jan. 18 game.

The Oilers took their first lead at 3-2 on a breakaway by Perry on a line change at 9:38 of the middle period.

Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse spotted Perry coming off the bench and sent a long stretch pass to the opposing blue line. Perry spun to take the pass and skated in alone, sliding the puck between Daccord's pads as the goalie attempted a pokecheck.

The tying and go-ahead goals gave the Oilers a league-leading 70 tallies in the second period of games this season.

Ekholm scored on an empty-netter at 19:02 of the third period to clinch the victory.

The Kraken opened the scoring at 3:37 of the first on an odd-man rush. Shane Wright sent a pass to John Hayden at the top of the crease, but Hayden's shot was blocked. Tolvanen followed the play and knocked the rebound into the net.

Janmark tied it at 14:27 of the first. He redirected Connor Brown's sharp-angled shot from along the boards on the left wing past Daccord.

Seattle regained the lead at 17:41 of the opening period on a goal from Dunn. His shot from the right point caromed off Perry's stick and into the net.

--Field Level Media

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