The Canadian Press
EDMONTON—On paper it looked like no contest but the rookie-laden Winnipeg Jets gave the mainly veteran Edmonton Oilers all they could handle last night.
Matt Hendricks scored the winner on a late penalty shot, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a pair of assists, as the Oilers remained perfect in pre-season play after edging the Jets 3-2.
Justin Schultz and Jordan Eberle also scored for the Oilers, who are 3-0-0 in exhibition action.
“The Jets had a lot of guys who were trying to make their team, and sometimes those are the tougher games to play because they had so many guys with something to prove,” noted Schultz.
“We had a slow start but we came on after that.”
Hendricks’ shootout winner was far from a beauty as he lost the handle on it, but was able to recover and out wait goalie Eric Comrie to slide it in.
“I think there was a divot there when I tried to put it in, but I’m glad I got enough to get it over the goal line,” he laughed.
Ben Chiarot and Adam Lowry replied for the Jets (0-1-1), who dressed a lineup largely devoid of veteran players.
“For the most part, it was a pretty consistent game for us,” said Lowry, the only player dressed who figured into the top 18 in scoring for the team last season.
“We did a good job battling back.
“They had some of their big horses in the lineup tonight, and other than our penalty kill, I thought we did a good job neutralizing them,” he noted.
The Oilers and Jets will face off again tomorrow night in Winnipeg.
