Skip to content

Reuniting McDavid, Draisaitl pays early dividends for Oilers

Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / Getty

The Edmonton Oilers entered Tuesday on a four-game losing streak, scoring just six goals during that stretch. In an attempt to spark the slumping offense, head coach Todd McLellan reunited Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the top line, and it paid off.

Edmonton's dynamic duo combined for six points in the Oilers' 6-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night. McDavid had three helpers, while Draisaitl notched a goal and two assists - all of which came at even strength.

Drake Caggiula, the third member of Edmonton's revamped top line, shouldn't go without mention. He picked up a goal on three shots, added three hits, and was plus-3 in the contest.

McDavid and Draisaitl have had plenty of success playing together in the past - most notably during the 2016-17 season - but the Oilers split them up this season with the intention of rolling out a more balanced offense.

It's safe to assume the Oilers will line up the same way Saturday against the provincial rival Calgary Flames. From there, the recipe to keeping McDavid and Draisaitl on the same line is probably quite simple: win.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox