McDavid with two points, Oilers down Kings split-squad 3-2 in pre-season

VERNON, B.C. — Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist as the Edmonton Oilers beat a Los Angeles Kings split-squad 3-2 on Sunday in NHL pre-season play.

Jesse Puljujarvi and Jordan Eberle also scored for the Oilers at Kal Tire Place, home of the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers. Laurent Brossoit got the win.

Paul LaDue and Brayden McNabb found the back of the net for the Kings. Jack Campbell took the loss.

Puljujarvi opened the scoring for Edmonton in the first period when he cut across the blue line and snapped a wrister over the blocker of Campbell.

McDavid made it 2-0 early in the second, eventually batting in his own rebound from the side of the net past Campbell after originally starting the play in the neutral zone.

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LaDue put a wrist shot past a screened Brossoit 4:50 into the third period from the blue line to close L.A.’s gap to one, but Eberle restored the two-goal lead less than a minute later, finishing off a 2-on-1 feed from McDavid.

McNabb brought the Kings within a goal again midway through the third after stepping into a shot from the top of the face-off circle. 

Milan Lucic dressed against the Kings for the first time since signing a contract with Edmonton in the off-season as a free agent. He played on the Oilers’ top line alongside McDavid and Eberle.

Edmonton defenceman Brandon Davidson and forward Iiro Pakarinen both left the game (undisclosed injuries) and did not return. Kings forward Tanner Pearson was handed a game misconduct for an illegal check to the head after appearing to connect his shoulder to Davidson’s chin while finishing a check 11 minutes into the second period.

The Canadian Press