COLUMBUS, Ohio — Mikael Pyyhtia made his NHL debut unforgettable by scoring his first career goal, contributing to the Columbus Blue Jackets’ impressive 6-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night. This win marks the Blue Jackets’ second consecutive success on home ice.

Sean Monahan emerged as a standout player with two goals to his name, while Cole Sillinger also had an impactful night, recording a goal and two assists. Adam Fantilli and Mathieu Olivier each added to the tally as well, with Kirill Marchenko providing two assists. Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins had a stellar performance, nearly completing a shutout until conceding a late goal after holding the Oilers scoreless for most of the game; he ended the night with 31 saves as the Blue Jackets maintained their unique pattern of winning every other game this season.

For the Oilers, Mattias Ekholm managed to score but it was not enough as goalie Stuart Skinner faced 19 shots during the game, marking the end of Edmonton’s two-game winning streak.

In terms of significant notes, the Oilers faced a major setback early in the match when star center Connor McDavid suffered a lower-body injury just 37 seconds after the opening faceoff due to a collision with the boards. Despite being ahead in shots for the first two periods, the Oilers were unable to convert on five power-play chances, demonstrating a struggle to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

On the other hand, the Blue Jackets consistently found success by scoring early, a trend that has allowed them to net six goals in each of their wins this season.

A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Viktor Arvidsson tripped Merzlikins behind the net just 1:36 into the game, granting Columbus their first power play. This resulted in Monahan’s first goal of the night. From that point forward, the Oilers seemed to lose their rhythm and found it hard to generate high-quality chances against the Blue Jackets.

In terms of statistics, the Oilers’ power-play woes continued, as they failed to convert on any of their chances, bringing their percentage down to an alarming 13%. Additionally, they hold the lowest penalty kill rate in the league at 60%.

Looking ahead, the Oilers are slated to visit Nashville for their next match on Thursday, while the Blue Jackets will host the New York Islanders on Wednesday.