McDavid leads Oilers past Red Wings

Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist as the Edmonton Oilers started an eight-game homestand with a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

Zack Kassian, Jordan Eberle and Patrick Maroon also scored for the Oilers (35-22-8), who have won two games in a row.

Anthony Mantha, Darren Helm and Dylan Larkin responded for the Red Wings (25-27-11), who have lost two straight.

McDavid turned on the jets to blaze past a pair of defenders and beat Detroit goalie Petr Mrazek on the backhand for his 22nd goal of the season just two minutes into the game.

Mantha tied it up for the Red Wings with five minutes left in the opening period. Henrik Zetterberg fed it in front to Mantha, and he sent his 14th of the season past Oilers starting goalie Cam Talbot.

Matt Hendricks gave the home fans a rise late in the first, hammering Detroit’s Ryan Sproul with a hit that send him flying into his own bench.

Seconds later it was 2-1 for Edmonton, as newcomer David Desharnais won a draw back to Adam Larsson and his point shot was tipped in by Kassian.

There was no scoring in the second period, with Edmonton holding a 27-12 edge in shots after 40 minutes.

The Oilers took a 3-1 lead seven minutes into the third as Eberle picked off a pass and beat Mrazek on a backhand shot.

Detroit cut into that lead midway through the third as Helm was sent in on a breakaway and put a shot through Talbot’s legs.

Edmonton made it 4-2 with six minutes left as Leon Draisaitl put it in front to Maroon for his 21st of the season.

The Red Wings made for a terse final 35 seconds after Larkin scored with Detroit’s goalie pulled.

Both teams are off until Tuesday, when the Red Wings travel to Toronto and the Oilers play host to the New York Islanders.