Ryan Nugent-Hopkins converted for a shootout goal to complete a special return to the lineup as the Edmonton Oilers defeated the visiting Carolina Hurricanes 6-5 on Thursday night.
Leon Drisaitl and Connor McDavid each provided two goals and three assists, and Nugent-Hopkins also scored in regulation in his season debut for the Oilers.
Both of Drisaitl’s goals came on power plays. McDavid added to his record-setting assist total — now at 23 — across the first 10 games of the season.
Carolina’s Seth Jarvis scored in his first outing of the season, Sebastian Aho had a goal and an assist, and Jackson Blake, Logan Stankoven and Juuso Valimaki also scored for the Hurricanes. Jordan Martinook and Shayne Gostisbehere each assisted on two goals.
Oilers goalie Devon Levi stopped 22 shots. Brandon Bussi made 16 saves for Carolina.
With McDavid and Draisaitl converting, the Oilers scored twice in the first three minutes of the third period to pull even at 4-4.
Valimaki, in his second game for the Hurricanes, put Carolina up 5-4 with 2:40 remaining in the third period. McDavid tied it with 1:28 left.
Jarvis, a winger who was Carolina’s leading goal scorer last season and was activated for the first time since offseason shoulder surgery, broke a 2-2 tie with 7:01 remaining in the second period. He made a spin move from the right side around Edmonton defenseman Evan Bouchard and then beat Levi for the goal.
The offense began early. With Carolina’s Nicolas Deslauriers in the penalty box for tripping, the Oilers converted on the game’s first power play with Draisaitl scoring 8:04 into the game.
Less than 2 1/2 minutes later, the Hurricanes countered with Blake’s power-play goal. At that juncture, Blake had half of Carolina’s six shots on goal.
The Oilers finished the first period with four shots.
After Aho put the Hurricanes ahead with an unassisted goal 30 seconds into the second period, Nugent-Hopkins countered with a power-play goal at 4:20 of the second period.
Jarvis and Stankoven scored later in the period for the Hurricanes’ 4-2 lead.
The Hurricanes had Skyler Brind’Amour, son of coach Rod Brind’Amour, in the Carolina lineup for the first time this season.