McDavid outshines Crosby as Oilers surge past Penguins 5-1

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Five strides. That's all it took for Connor McDavid to race by two Pittsburgh Penguins and deliver a magnificent goal in what is becoming anor masterpiece of a season for Edmonton star.

A fourth scoring title is in offing for McDavid. Perhaps a deep playoff run for surging Oilers too. postseason is far murkier for player McDavid replaced as face of NHL.

Sidney Crosby and Penguins are reeling, latest setback a 5-1 loss to McDavid and Edmonton on Tuesday that offered a portrait of two teams heing in opposite directions.

McDavid overwhelmed Pittsburgh with his speed and kind of dazzling playmaking that used to be almost exclusively Crosby's domain. 22nd four-point night of McDavid's career ended with a pretty shot from a tight angle 9:13 into third period.

With Edmonton on power play, McDavid took a pass from Leon Draisaitl high in slot, darted past Evan Rodrigues, n slipped by 6-foot-3 Jeff Carter before rifling a shot while gliding on one skate. His 44th goal of season gave Oilers a three-goal le and left 25-year-old smiling as he skated toward giddy Edmonton bench.

“Best player in world, right?” Oilers forward Zach Hyman said. “So that’s what you expect and that’s what you get."

Evander Kane scored his sixth goal in his last four games for Edmonton. Hyman, Evan Bouchard and Zack Kassian also scored as Oilers improved to 17-4-2 in ir last 23 games. Mike Smith stopped 33 shots to win his ninth straight start.

victory assured Edmonton of home-ice vantage in first round when chase for Stanley Cup begins in earnest next week. Not b for a team that was floundering around All-Star break. Not so much anymore with McDavid and Draisaitl in full flight and Kane on a tear.

“You want to be playing well going into playoffs,” Hyman said. "You don’t want to have a little lull because it’s hard to get that back, it’s hard to get to form.”

Penguins would know. Pittsburgh is 6-9-2 in its last 17 games after falling at home to Edmonton in regulation for first time since 2006. Crosby h five shots on goal but didn’t record a point as Pittsburgh spent most of night chasing after McDavid.

“y’re one of fastest teams in league,” Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson said. "We’re fast too. y just got better of us in speed department too. We’ve got to stay closer to m and not let m ramp up that speed.”

Carter scored his 19th goal for Pittsburgh and Casey DeSmith finished with 37 saves for Penguins, who played ir straight game without injured All-Star goalie Tristan Jarry. issue isn't DeSmith's play — he h a 52-save shutout against Boston last week — but what's going on in front of him.

Penguins have allowed at least 40 shots in three of ir last four games and let Oilers get off 16 of game's first 24 shots, several on breakaways and odd-man rushes. DeSmith stopped McDavid and Kane early, but Bouchard's wrist shot from near top of right faceoff circle zipped by goaltender's glove 12:47 into game to put Edmonton in front.

Carter evened game 5:23 into period when Mike Mason's blast from point went wide of net and right to Carter's stick at doorstep.

Twenty-five seconds later, Oilers finished off a pretty rush that ended with a drop pass from McDavid to Kailer Yamamoto, who n slipped puck cross-ice to Kane. Kane beat DeSmith for his 22nd goal in just 41 games played this season.

Hyman jammed in a shot from in front on power play 4:08 into third to make it 3-1 and McDavid pushed his point total to an NHL-leing and career-best 122 with his brilliant goal.

“It’s incredible,” Bouchard said of McDavid. “You wouldn’t think in this age that somebody would get that many points, but kind of doesn’t surprise me at all. Watching him all year, you really see kind of player he is.”

NOTES: Pittsburgh F Jason Zucker left in first period with a lower-body injury and did not return. ... Oilers were 2 for 4 on power play. Penguins were 0 for 4. ... Two Edmonton goals were overturned on review after successful Pittsburgh challenges for offsides.

UP NEXT

Oilers: Have two more games at home to end regular season, starting on Thursday against San Jose.

Penguins: Finish up regular season at home on Friday night against Columbus.

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