Oilers run win streak to 5 with defeat of Blackhawks
The streaking Edmonton Oilers pulled into a tie in points for the top spot in the Pacific Division after earning a 3-1 home victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.
Adam Henrique scored for the first time in 51 games, while Matt Savoie and Vasily Podkolzin also tallied for the Oilers (39-28-9, 87 points) en route to their season-best fifth consecutive victory.
Tristan Jarry made 17 saves for Edmonton, which has played one more game than Anaheim, the other team atop the division.
Nick Lardis tallied the Blackhawks' lone goal. Spencer Knight made 31 saves for Chicago (27-35-14, 68 points). Arvid Soderblom had four saves in a brief replacement of Knight due to a skate issue.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins eyed the game's opening goal less than three minutes into the game after he beat Knight on the far side, but his powerful wrist shot bounced off the post.
Ty Emberson found the iron as well minutes later as he found himself with an opportunity on a delayed penalty.
Anton Frondell hit the post at the other end with his one-timer opportunity late in the first while the Blackhawks were on the power play.
Darnell Nurse found a streaking Henrique just over five minutes into the second and after failing to score on his first attempt, he sent the rebound past Soderblom to make it 1-0 for Edmonton at the 5:32 mark.
Knight returned to the crease with 11:45 remaining in the second.
Edmonton doubled up their lead on the man advantage with 7:47 remaining in the second as Savoie's jam attempt bounced off a defender's skate for his fourth goal over the past five games.
Jarry shut the door on a Blackhawks odd-man rush as he slid across to deny Ilya Mikheyev with the pad with 5:07 left in the middle frame.
Savoie appeared to bury his second goal of the period with 2:28 remaining, but it was overturned due to offside following a successful coach's challenge by the Blackhawks.
Chicago came in on a 3-on-1 early in the third, but Ryan Donato sent his shot wide of the net.
Lardis cut the deficit to one just over five minutes into the third as his rebound attempt crept across the line after hitting a defenseman's skate.
Podkolzin wrapped up the result on an empty-net goal with 1:01 remaining.