News » McDavid fed the puck to Draisaitl

VANCOUVER Keith Yandle Jersey , British Columbia (AP) — There are the startling goals, the jaw-dropping passes and mind-bending moves. And in just two months, there are the rave reviews.Vancouver Canucks rookie Elias Pettersson is rocketing shots past goalies. He already has 13 goals and eight assists in 20 games, drawing comparisons to some of hockey’s best.“I think he’s possibly one of the best players in the NHL already,” Canucks right wing Jake Virtanen said. “He’s very fun to watch and obviously a treat to have on our team.”Wayne Gretzky recently spoke about Pettersson on a Vancouver radio station, saying he sees similarities in how they both play.Pettersson said being mentioned alongside Gretzky is a great honor, though it’s one he isn’t entirely comfortable with.“I don’t know if anyone should be compared to him because he’s the greatest ever,” he said.In October, Pettersson was named the league’s rookie of the month despite missing two weeks because of concussion from a hit by Florida’s Mike Matheson on Oct. 13. In early November, he became the youngest Canuck to have a five-point game when he helped Vancouver edge Colorado 7-6 in overtime.The 6-foot-2, 176-pound Swede is quiet and humble off the ice. On it, he has shown he is more than an offensive juggernaut. He blocks shots and delivers hard back checks.“I see shades of (former Detroit Red Wing) Pavel Datsyuk and those type of players in him Authentic Nick Bjugstad Jersey ,” Vancouver center Bo Horvat said. “Just his hands, the way he moves out there.“But I think he’s himself. I don’t think there’s any person in the league who’s like Elias Pettersson. He brings his own element to the game.”Virtanen is struck by Pettersson’s savvy and intelligence.“His IQ on the ice is beyond mine and beyond our team’s,” he said. “I think. It’s pretty funny. When you see him out there, he’s just thinking of stuff to do that no one else would really think of.”Andrew Calof played with Pettersson on the Vaxjo Lakers in Sweden last year. He says everyone knew right away he was a “special talent” with an insatiable work ethic.“He’s a perfectionist. When he sets his mind to something, he will accomplish it,” Calof wrote in an email to The Canadian Press from Russia, where he plays in the Kontinental Hockey League.He recalls Pettersson’s dedication — constantly watching video and working after practice on shooting and passing.“He just would spend so much time trying to improve every aspect of his game and that’s what makes him such a fantastic player,” he said. “And what’s scary is he will only get better and better.”Behind Pettersson, the Lakers captured the Swedish Hockey League championship. He led the league in scoring with 56 points and was the most valuable player.“Whoever was on his line knew they were going to get a couple of extra points that week because Elias would do something crazy and either give you an open net or score a shot that you’re think was impossible,” Calof said.Despite all the acclaim and attention, Pettersson insists he feels no extra pressure. He’s playing hockey and having fun.“I’m living my dream,” he said. EDMONTON Vincent Trocheck Jersey , Alberta (AP) — The longest point streak in the NHL this season will extend through the holiday break.Nikita Kucherov had a goal and four assists, Steven Stamkos and Tyler Johnson each scored twice and the Tampa Bay Lightning stretched their run to 12 games with a 6-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night.“I’m just playing hockey and trying to enjoy the game, trying to make the right play every time and sometimes it doesn’t happen, sometimes it happens and today it happened,” Kucherov said.J.T. Miller also scored for the NHL-leading Lightning (28-7-2), who are 11-0-1 in their last 12 games.“I think we played great,” defenseman Victor Hedman said. “Overall, it was a great performance by the guys and you can tell we really wanted to win this game and go into the break on a high note, and we’re feeling good about ourselves.”Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Alex Chiasson and Leon Draisaitl scored for the Oilers (18-15-3), who have dropped three straight. Connor McDavid had three assists.“Rather than relying on the same people every night to do everything, I’m trying to get people connected Adrian Kempe Jersey ,” Edmonton coach Ken Hitchcock said. “We’re going to have to figure out who’s helping and who’s hurting, for us to get to another level.“We can’t keep doing it the same way over and over. It’s not going to work.”Edmonton goalie Mikko Koskinen lost for the first time on home ice this season, falling to 7-1-0.The Oilers got on the board first midway through the opening period on a give-and-go play from McDavid to Nugent-Hopkins, who sent his 12th goal past Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.McDavid picked up his 200th career assist on the play, becoming the sixth player in NHL history to reach the milestone before his 22nd birthday — joining a club that includes Wayne Gretzky, Sidney Crosby, Mario Lemieux, Dale Hawerchuk and Ron Francis.Tampa Bay tied it on a power play with three minutes left in the first when Stamkos fired a one-timer past Koskinen for his 19th of the season.Koskinen made a huge save on Kucherov’s breakaway early in the second.The Oilers pulled back in front on the power play three minutes into the middle period when Chiasson tipped a point shot by Darnell Nurse.Kucherov got another clear breakaway with seven minutes left in the second and this time made no mistake in scoring his 16th goal.The Lightning went up 3-2 a minute and a half later as Miller redirected a shot from in front of the net.Tampa Bay added to its lead four minutes into the second when Johnson pounced on a big rebound for his 15th.Edmonton got that one back quickly on a power play as McDavid fed the puck to Draisaitl for his 17th of the season, but the Lightning put it away on Stamkos’ second of the game with five minutes left and an empty-netter from Johnson.“We’re going to need a little better out of everyone,” Chiasson said.UP NEXTLightning: Return home to face the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday after the Christmas break.Oilers: Host the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.