Hockey roundup: Sandin-Pellikka scores AHL goal; McDavid hits 400-goal milestone
Axel Sandin-Pellikka scored a goal in his first game back with the Grand Rapids Griffins on Tuesday. The Griffins dropped a 5-4 overtime decision against the Milwaukee Admirals at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. Sandin-Pellikka was assigned to the minors after Monday's practice with the Detroit Red Wings.
He had six goals and 13 assists in 63 games with a minus-21 plus-minus rating. Forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard was sent to Grand Rapids on Tuesday. He had five shots and was scoreless against Milwaukee.
The Griffins' lineup included players from nine different birth countries, a first in the franchise’s 30-year history: Canada, Czechia, Finland, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Thailand and the United States. McDavid nets 400th career goal Connor McDavid scored his 400th and 401st career goals, the first of which gave the Edmonton Oilers the lead for good in a 5-2 win against the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday in Salt Lake City. Eight seconds after Utah's Lawson Crouse tied the game 2-2 at 11:59 of the second period, McDavid caught a break on a 2-on-1 and put the puck off the crossbar and in to put the Oilers back on top.
Jack Roslovic also scored twice and Evan Bouchard had three assists for the Oilers (35-28-9, 79 points), who had lost two consecutive games but passed the Vegas Golden Knights for second place in the Pacific Division. Matt Savoie added a goal, and Tristan Jarry made 16 saves. Alexander Kerfoot scored for the Mammoth (37-29-6, 80 points), who had won three of their previous four games.
They still hold the first Western Conference wild-card spot. Vitek Vanecek stopped all 10 shots he faced in relief of Karel Vejmelka, who allowed four goals on 15 shots over the first two periods. Following McDavid's goal, Roslovic extended the lead to 4-2 at 15:04 of the middle frame.