Derek Ryan Hat Trick And Oilers Drill Panthers

     Derek Ryan compiled his first career NHL hat trick as the Edmonton Oilers handled the Florida Panthers 4-3 at FLA Live Arena on Saturday. The Panthers, who have lost just six contests at home this season, dropped their third straight home game in this five-game homestand.

     The top three NHL leading point scorers were involved in the matchup. Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers was ahead for the Art Ross Trophy with 74 points while Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers both had 73 points each entering the game. 

     Edmonton(29-20-3) took a 1-0 with 9:46 left in the first period. Warren Foegele slid the puck from the left circle and Derek Ryan snapped a shot from the inner right circle by Sergei Bobrovsky for his fifth goal of the year. 

     Florida(35-13-5) evened the game up 1-1 with 8:10 remaining in the frame. Sam Reinhart centered a pass from the right-circle dot. Frank Vatrano made a between-the-legs backhand drop pass from the top of the crease and Anton Lundell put in a one-time forehand shot from the low slot past Mikko Koskinen for his 12th goal of the campaign. 

     The Cats moved ahead 2-1 on the power play with 3:22 to go in the first. Aaron Ekblad zipped a pass from the left point. Anthony Duclair released a wrist shot from top right circle that hit the right post, but Aleksander Barkov knocked the puck in from the left side of the crease for his 24th goal of the season. 

     In the second period, the Oilers tied it up 2-2 on a delayed penalty at the 7:29 mark. Ryan McLeod sent a cross-ice pass in the neutral zone. Derek Ryan raced down the right side and fired a snap shot from the top right circle for his second tally of the contest and sixth goal this season. 

     It became 3-2 for Edmonton at 10:04 of the second as they scored their third goal of the game on their 12th shot. Tyson Barrie passed from the right point to McDavid on the left point. He angled a pass to the right circle. Draisaitl delayed and then rifled a slap shot from right-circle dot for his league-tying 36th goal of the season. McDavid and Draisaitl tied Huberdeau for the NHL lead with their 74th points of the campaign. 

     Edmonton expanded it to 4-2 with 43.7 seconds left in the frame. McDavid pushed a pass to Evander Kane on the left wing. He made a diagonal pass and Ryan tapped in the puck from the right of the crease for the hat trick. McDavid passed Huberdeau in the scoring race on the play with his 75th point of the season. 

     The Panthers pulled their goalie with 4:28 remaining and it worked. They scored a power-play goal with 4:09 left and trailed 4-3. Huberdeau send a diagonal pass from the top left circle and Barkov one-timed a slap shot from the low right circle for his second goal of the game and 25th of the season. Huberdeau was able to extend his point streak to 10 games and tied McDavid as the National Hockey League co-leader in scoring with his 75th point.