Saturday night saw the Toronto Maple Leafs come back to defeat the Edmonton Oilers.
On Monday night, it was Edmonton’s turn to do the same thing.
Darnell Nurse scored his 12th goal of the season just 17 seconds into overtime as the Oilers edged the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2.
“It was a big win for us, something to build off as we go into this final stretch of this season,” said the Oilers blueliner, who now leads all NHL defencemen in goals.
Oilers forward Josh Archibald slid a backhand through Leafs goaltender Michael Hutchinson’s five-hole for a breakaway goal before the game was seven minutes old.
Toronto forward Mitch Marner walked in front and tied it 1:44 later. The Leafs’ Auston Matthews would deposit his 23rd goal of the season to make it 2-1 Maple Leafs.
Oilers netminder Mike Smith had the top highlight in the scoreless second period, sliding across the crease to rob the Leafs’ Ilya Mikheyev.
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mike Smith (41) covers the net during scramble in front with Toronto Maple Leafs centre William Nylander (88) and Oilers defenceman Tyson Barrie (22) trying to get to the puck during first period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Monday March 29, 2021.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Edmonton tied it 1:20 into the third. Adam Larsson’s point shot deflected in off Kyle Turris, who was playing his first game with the Oilers since March 8.
Overtime saw the Leafs get the first chance right off the faceoff, as Smith stopped Matthews just eight seconds after the puck was dropped in the extra frame.
The Oilers then went the other way, with Connor McDavid setting up Nurse for the game-winner.
Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse (25) scores the game winning goal on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Michael Hutchinson (30) during overtime NHL action in Toronto on Monday March 29, 2021.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Smith made 29 saves to improve to 12-3-1.
While happy with the win, Oilers head coach Dave Tippett said after the game that he believes his team has room to improve.
“We didn’t start the game very well,” he said.
“We’ll take the points, (but) there’s still some work to do.”
It was the ninth and final meeting of the season between the two teams. The Leafs won six.
The Oilers (22-13-1) play in Montreal on Tuesday. The Faceoff Show will be on 630 CHED at 3:30 p.m. The game starts at 5 p.m.
–With files from 630 CHED’s David Boles
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