Oilers top Avalanche to clinch playoff berth

Field Level Media|published: Fri 5th April, 23:59 2024

Mar 26, 2024; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch discusses a call with referee Jon McIsaac (2) in the third period against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre. credits: James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports

Connor McDavid and Evander Kane each scored twice, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a 6-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night.

Corey Perry and Mattias Ekholm scored the other goals for the Edmonton Oilers (46-24-5, 97 points), who officially clinched a playoff spot for a fifth consecutive season.

Cody Ceci, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard and Ryan McLeod each had two assists, and Stuart Skinner made 21 saves in the win.

Jonathan Drouin and Ross Colton scored for the Avalanche (48-23-6, 102 points). Alexandar Georgiev stopped 40 shots for Colorado, which lost for just the third time in 15 games.

McDavid and Kane each added their second goal of the game in the third.

McDavid's second of the night gave Edmonton a 5-2 lead. The Oilers captain tipped in a bouncing puck past Georgiev at 4:05 of the third for his 31st of the season.

Kane added his second of the night, squeezing a shot between the pads of Georgiev at 11:59 of the final period for his 23rd.

The Oilers scored two unanswered second-period goals to take a 4-2 lead into the third.

Ekholm gave Edmonton a 3-2 lead when the rebound from his shot was directed off Avalanche defenseman Artturi Lehkonen and past Georgiev for his 10th of the season at 8:55 of the second.

Kane doubled Edmonton's lead with 1.3 seconds remaining in the middle frame as the rebound of Ryan McLeod's shot deflected off Kane and in for his 22nd goal of the season and first in 22 games.

Edmonton outshot Colorado 16-6 after 20 minutes but the score was tied at 2-2.

Perry opened the scoring by tipping in a Darnell Nurse point shot 1:52 into the first period for his 11th of the season.

Drouin tied it 1-1, snapping a MacKinnon pass past Skinner for his 18th of the season at 11:58 of the opening period.

Colton gave Colorado its first lead of the game, cutting to the slot and beating Skinner far side for his 16th at 15:59 of the first.

McDavid tied it 2-2 with his 30th of the season, banking a shot off Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews and in at 17:18.

Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen took a big hit from Ekholm at 4:01 of the second period and did not return.

—Field Level Media

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