Oilers' star power takes over, edges Red Wings 3-2 in overtime

DETROIT — The Edmonton Oilers' superstars were somewhat silent through Sunday's game.

But with the game on the line, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid made an impact.

Draisaitl scored at 18 seconds of overtime — McDavid earned an assist — as the Oilers rallied for a 3-2 overtime victory.

Mattias Ekholm's shot pass to Draisaitl, alone at the post, was the game-winner. It was Draisaitl's sixth goal, and second of the game.

The Detroit Red Wings killed Andrew Copp's tripping penalty with 1:51 left in regulation, taking the game into overtime. The Wings killed two Edmonton power plays on the evening.

Edmonton's Evan Bouchard tied it, 2-2, at 10:47 of the third period, with his third goal of the season.

With the Wings seemingly, gradually, taking control of the game, Bouchard ripped a shot from near the top of the circle that goaltender Cam Talbot never appeared to get a look at, including getting screened in the final moments.

The Oilers, considered the Stanley Cup favorite by most analysts after losing in Game 7 last season to Florida, were held in check for most of the evening, though out-shooting the Wings 33-27.

Copp's goal at 9:28 of the second period, only 42 seconds after Edmonton had tied the game, proved to be the difference. Copp scored his fourth goal, tipping Jeff Petry's shot from the point past goaltender Calvin Pickard, quickly stifling any Oilers momentum.

Draisaitl scored his fifth goal, at 8:46, tying the game at 1-1. Draisaitl centered the puck from the corner and it bounced off defenseman Olli Maatta's skate and past Talbot.

The Wings had been plagued by allowing a high volume of shots and spending tons of time in the defensive zone in the last four games, but Sunday were largely better against the explosive Oilers, The Wings only allowed five shots in the first period, outshooting Edmonton 13-5.

Talbot stopped 30 shots and was at his best in the third period with Edmonton pressing. Talbot's best save, though, may have been in the second period, though, stopping Derek Ryan from in close sliding across the crease.

The Wings opened the scoring with J.T. Compher's third goal.

Copp won a puck battle along the boards and got the puck to Patrick Kane on the boards. Kane found Compher near the hashmarks and Compher quickly snapped a shot over goaltender Calvin Pickard at 3:08 of the first period.

Draisaitl and McDavid, Edmonton's two offensive stars, largely were held in check until the third period and overtime.

"Just real tough matchups," coach Derek Lalonde said before the game about the two Oilers. "It'll be a challenge. It's a little better feel having them at home but their one-two punch up the middle, generating offensively, is off the chart. It's almost like a cheat code-type numbers."

McDavid and Draisaitl carried the Oilers to the seventh game of the Stanley Cup Finals before Florida ended the Oilers' run. Both players are consistently among the league's scoring leaders and McDavid in the most valuable player discussion.

"Those types of players, there's a lot in this league, but these two are two of the better ones," Lalonde said. "There has to be some awareness of them (on the ice) and your challenge is not giving them easy offense. You have to be precise with them.

"We're sitting at .500 and have had ups and downs and we're trying to get a push and a little more against some of the elite (teams). This is how you can start and hopefully get over the hump."

The Wings saw their record dip to 4-4-1. After having gone a stretch of three games in four days, the Wings are now off until Wednesday when they entertain undefeated Winnipeg (8-0-0).

The Oilers, possibly going through a bit of a hangover after a long, tiring spring, are 4-4-1.

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