EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon scored the decisive goal in a shootout and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 on Monday night.
Sam Malinski scored in regulation for the NHL-best Avalanche, who have won three of four overall and seven straight road games.
Connor McDavid scored his 48th goal for the playoff-bound Oilers, who have lost four of five. Edmonton fell two points behind first-place Vegas in the Pacific Division.
McDavid
leads the league with 134 points and needs one more to become the seventh player in league history to reach 135 at least twice. The others are Wayne Gretzky (12 times), Mario Lemieux (five), Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Marcel Dionne and Steve Yzerman.
Scott Wedgewood made 30 saves for Colorado, and Edmonton’s Connor Ingram also stopped 30 shots.
In the shootout, McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored in the first two rounds for Edmonton, and Valerie Nichushkin and Martin Necas replied for Colorado. Wedgewood then stopped a wrist shot by Jack Roslovic, opening the door for MacKinnon's game-winner.
The Avs were missing Nazem Kadri (finger), Cale Makar (upper body) and Josh Manson (upper body) as they prepare for the playoffs.
The Oilers remained without forwards Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman, although both resumed skating with the team on Monday.
Necas was held scoreless and still needs one point to reach 100 for the first time. Only four Avalanche players have ever hit the century mark — Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.
Avalanche: At the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.
Oilers: Host the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.
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