It didn’t take lengthy for Oilers ahead Zach Hyman to make his presence recognized in his return from harm.
Hyman, who missed the final 5 video games with an harm, scored the primary of two targets halfway by way of the primary interval because the Oilers stormed to a 6-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.
“Being again is the most effective,” Hyman mentioned. “To get a win and with the ability to contribute feels good.”
It hasn’t been the most effective begin for the 32-year-old Toronto native, who got here into the competition with simply three targets on the heels of creating a giant leap ahead final season with a career-high 54 targets.
Hyman mentioned the time away nursing his harm was constructive.
“I believe it was a very good reset,” he mentioned. “I clearly didn’t have the best begin. It was a very good first sport again. Once I say the best begin, I simply wasn’t scoring. I believed I used to be taking part in fairly good and getting seems to be and getting probabilities and whatnot. Finally they had been going to go in.”
It was Hyman’s twenty first multi-goal sport since becoming a member of Edmonton, eclipsing Doug Weight for thirteenth most in franchise historical past.
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“Lacking any time shouldn’t be straightforward to come back again, so actually spectacular,” mentioned Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who had 4 assists within the win. “Credit score to our employees, we’ve received the most effective medical employees right here in Edmonton. And credit score to (Hyman) for working and ensuring he was able to roll.
“I believed he was simply sharp, good across the internet, prepared for it.”
McDavid grew to become the third participant in Oilers historical past with 10 profession four-assist video games, becoming a member of Wayne Gretzky (51) and Jari Kurri (10). It was his fortieth profession four-point night time.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch mentioned having a wholesome Hyman might be key for the Oilers.
“It’s good that he took the additional time, and he’s wholesome and able to contribute,” he mentioned. “Simply having that man who can put the puck within the internet is essential for us.”
“He’s an elite expertise. He scored, what, 70 targets final yr, together with the playoffs? He’s a fairly good participant.”
Leon Draisaitl additionally had two targets to maneuver him right into a tie for the league lead with 19. Mattias Ekholm and Jeff Skinner additionally scored for the Oilers (14-10-2), who’ve received 4 of their final 5 video games.
Calvin Pickard was solely required to make 19 stops in internet for the Oilers.
Kevin Lablanc, Damon Severson and Cole Sillinger replied for the Blue Jackets (11-11-3), who’ve misplaced two straight on the heels of a 6-1-1 run.
A key second within the contest got here on Draisaitl’s purpose early within the second interval.
The Blue Jackets felt that Hyman interfered with goaltender Daniil Tarasov on the play and challenged the purpose, however had been unsuccessful. Ekholm scored on the ensuing energy play to place Edmonton up by a pair.
“Clearly a giant second within the sport with the goalie problem, it’s a 1-1 hockey sport and by the top of the entire sequence it’s 3-1,” mentioned Columbus coach Dean Evason. “We’re making an attempt to get an evidence as a result of our view is completely different from what they mentioned they’ve seen.
“I don’t blame the refs as a result of they’re taking a look at a little bit iPad. However after I got here in right here, our guys had been adamant that he received hit within the head, he couldn’t transfer his stick as a result of (Hyman) went freely within the crease, a foot and a half, so Tarasov couldn’t recover from to make that save.”
Tarasov recorded 31 saves for the Blue Jackets.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
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