Stuart Skinner backs Edmonton Oilers to beat Blue Jackets – Edmonton | The Canadian News

Stuart Skinner made 36 saves as the Edmonton Oilers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2 on Thursday night at Rogers Place.

The victory ends the Oilers’ six-game losing streak.

The Oilers exploded for three goals in the first period. The Blue Jackets took two penalties on the same play, giving the Oilers a five-on-three. After Tyson Barrie’s shot went wide, Jesse Puljujarvi hit the rebound off the back boards to make it 1-0.

Still in the power game 46 seconds later, Puljujarvi took advantage of a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins pass for his 10th goal of the season. Derek Ryan pushed a rebound under Blue Jackets goalkeeper Elvis Merzlikins to make it 3-0. Brendan Perlini assisted on the play for his first point as an oiler.

Perlini then pocketed his first goal as an oiler late in the second, firing on the rebound of Zack Kassian’s shot.

Joonas Korpisalo replaced Merzlikins at the Columbus net to start third.

Gustav Nyquist put Columbus on the board 6:28 in the period. Justin Danforth cut the Oilers’ lead to 4-2 with 3:24 left. Edmonton forward Warren Foegele quickly crushed the Blue Jackets’ dreams of a comeback with an empty net.

Puljujarvi had two goals and one assist. The Oilers outscored the Blue Jackets 45-38.

The Oilers (17-11) will play in Seattle on Saturday.