Nugent-Hopkins has goal and assist, Skinner stops 27 shots as Oilers beat Avalanche 4-1

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Edmonton Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, front, puts a shot on Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev in the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Edmonton Oilers defenseman Brett Kulak is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring a goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Colorado Avalanche center Ivan Ivan, front left, drives past Edmonton Oilers defenseman Troy Stecher, back left, to put a shot on goaltender Stuart Skinner in the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, right, wraps around the net as Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse covers in the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, left, clears the puck while Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl, back right, and Avalanche right wing Logan O’Connor (25) look on in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Edmonton Oilers center Adam Henrique, right center, redirects the puck at Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, left, while driving between defensemen Devon Toews, back, and Cale Makar in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Edmonton Oilers right wing Corey Perry (90) fields a pass between Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) and defenseman Devon Toews (7) in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl, right, shoots the puck as Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) covers in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

By CRAIG MEYER

DENVER (AP) — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist, Stuart Skinner stopped 27 shots and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-1 on Saturday night.

Kasperi Kapanen, Vasily Podkolzin and Brett Kulak also scored as Edmonton won for the fourth time in five games.

Nikolai Kovalenko scored for Colorado, and Alexandar Georgiev had 28 saves.

Kovalenko had a power-play goal at 7:02 of the first period as the Avalanche went 1 for 5 with the man advantage.

Kapanen, playing his fourth game with the Oilers since being claimed off waivers on Nov. 19, tied it less than five minutes later. Connor McDavid brought the puck around the net, attracted the attention of much of the Colorado defense and hit an open Kapanen with a backhanded, cross-crease pass for his 19th assist of the season.

Podkolzin put the Oilers ahead for good with 6:12 left in the second period, scoring a goal for the third straight game. Troy Stecher had an assist on the play, extending his streak to three games.

Kulak made it 3-1 at 3:56 of the third and Nugent-Hopkins added an empty-netter with 1:32 to go.

Takeaways

Avalanche: Samuel Girard, playing in his 500th career game, had an assist on Kovalenko’s goal, tying Erik Johnson for sixth in franchise history with 178 assists

Oilers: Edmonton improved to 3-11-1 in their last 15 meetings with the Avalanche, including the playoffs. It also ended a six-game losing streak (0-5-1) in the regular season in Colorado.

Key moment

Podkolzin’s goal proved to be the winning goal and strengthened the Oilers’ grip on a game they largely controlled after the opening 10 minutes of the first period.

Key stat

McDavid’s assist gave him 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) in 22 career games against the Avalanche.

Up Next

Avalanche visit Buffalo on Tuesday, and Oilers visit Vegas.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL